Jamel Dean brings ball-hawking skills and a hard-hitting style to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a reputation as a physical team, which is part of the reason veteran cornerback Jamel Dean signed with them last week.
The seventh-year pro agreed to a three-year, $36.75-million contract. While Dean is known as a good cover corner, his appetite for physical play further aligns him with the Steelers' style.
"Physicality," Dean said, “That's just the nature of the game. There's no room not to play physically. It's better to give the blow than take it."
In addition to valuing Dean's physicality, the Steelers appreciate that he can take on the outside cornerback role opposite Joey Porter Jr. Last season, Dean notched three interceptions for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and returned one for a touchdown.
Dean is looking forward to pairing with Porter.
"I'm excited because I've been watching him ever since he got to the league," Dean said of the three-year pro. “He has great technique at the line of scrimmage. He's going to compete. You can't ask for a man to do more than what he is already doing, work the way he is."
Dean energized the Buccaneers for seven seasons after being their third-round selection in the 2019 draft from Auburn. Now, at 29, he has racked up 96 regular-season appearances, starting in 77.
Dean has 359 career tackles, 285 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 61 passes defended. In addition to his three picks last season, Dean had 46 tackles in 14 games with 38 solo stops, his first career sack, one forced fumble, and nine passes defended.
Pro Football Focus gave Dean a season grade of 80.6, which ranked fifth among the 118 NFL cornerbacks who played enough snaps to qualify. He was also universally considered the best cornerback available in free agency.
The Buccaneers made the postseason for five straight seasons from 2019-24, but after losing the NFC South title to the Charlotte Panthers last year on a tiebreaker, Dean clashed with coach Todd Bowles and sought a change of scenery.
Dean is excited for a fresh start with the Steelers, who were AFC North champs last year.
“It's about the culture that has been built here over the years," Dean said on why he chose the Steelers. “They have a winning culture. And then the defense, the brand of football they play. It fits my play style. "I'm going to come in and do my job and play football the best way I can.”