The PewterReport.com Roundtable features the opinions of the PR staff as it tackles a topic each week that involves the Bucs.

This week’s topic: Which Young Bucs DB Has The Brightest Future?

Scott Reynolds: CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

It’s been a bit of a rocky rookie season for Tampa Bay cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, the team’s second-round pick this year. After receiving a ton of hype in the offseason and during training camp, Murphy-Bunting had a rough preseason with penalties and big plays surrendered and hardly any splash plays. Part of that can be attributed to the fact that Murphy-Bunting was being cross-trained at both slot cornerback in nickel situations, as well as outside cornerback. Murphy-Bunting played both spots at Central Michigan, but the NFL stage is much grander and every NFL receiver is good.

Murphy-Bunting beat fellow rookie cornerback Jamel Dean onto the field on defense because of his ability to play inside at the slot position and he quickly proved to be a better NFL cornerback than Vernon Hargreaves III, who was cut last month so Murphy-Bunting and Dean could see more action and develop quicker during their rookie campaign. Murphy-Bunting recorded his first interception in New Orleans while covering Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara back in Week 5. And while he’s had some growing pains along the way, Murphy-Bunting is becoming more and more confident.

While he doesn’t have the number of pass breakups (six) that Dean (14) and second-year cornerback Carlton Davis (17) have, Murphy-Bunting does lead the team in interceptions with two. His second one came at a critical time in Jacksonville in the end zone to prevent a second half comeback by the Jaguars.

Part of the reason why Murphy-Bunting has fewer pass breakups and tackles (30) than his fellow Tampa Bay defensive backs is because he’s doing a really good job with tight coverage, and forcing quarterbacks to throw the ball elsewhere. That’s the first job of any cornerback: cover the receiver and prevent him from catching the ball. Pass breakups and interceptions are secondary aspects of playing cornerback, and Murphy-Bunting has shown that he can do both when given the opportunity. Right now, Murphy-Bunting is playing with a great deal of confidence in coverage and run support. His arrow is definitely pointing up and I think he has a very bright future in red and pewter.

Mark Cook: CB Jamel Dean

General manager Jason Licht and the Bucs front office can’t be accused on not trying to upgrade Tampa Bay’s secondary over the last few years. From Vernon Hargreaves III being drafted in the first round in 2016, to spending three more draft picks on defensive backs in 2019 to try and upgrade a dismal unit, the draft capital has been spent.

The results? Mixed at best.

But as of late, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. And one of those bright spots is rookie cornerback Jamel Dean, who stepped into a tough situation in November against Seattle and looked like a clueless rookie, but now is one of the best – if not the best – cornerback on the Bucs roster.

In just three starts, Dean already has 14 pass breakups, which is second on the team, and an interception. To put that in perspective, Carlton Davis, a second-year player has 17 pass breakups but has started 11 games for the Bucs. And Hargreaves, who is no longer with the team after being cut last month, started nine games for the Buccaneers but had just four pass breakups during that time. Dean has started a whopping three games, and already is second on the team in that statistical category.

Besides having a knack of being in the right place at there right time, Dean has been very good at not drawing many penalties, something young, physical corners tend to do in the NFL. Just ask Davis.

Head coach Bruce Arians claimed the secondary was fixed back in the offseason following the draft, and that may have been premature and his most regrettable statement since taking over Tampa Bay. But with Dean on the field, you can see what Arians was envisioning when he made that proclamation. The press-man scheme is here, and now some of the talent is starting to show why Arians was confident Tampa Bay’s pass defense would be better in 2019. It has taken longer than expected, but with Dean showcasing his talents, there is a reason to be optimistic moving forward.

Trevor Sikkema: CB Carlton Davis

When the Bucs selected Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, there was a lot to get excited about. His long frame and aggressive press coverage kind of play style gave Tampa Bay a type of defensive back they haven’t prioritized in years – one that could allow them to play man coverage instead of soft zone.

Davis made 12 starts in his rookie season, which was probably more than what even those who believed in him most expected. Because of his youthfulness as a starter, he struggled. Instead of being savvy with his physicality, Davis was continually called for penalties, often grabbing offensive players when he got beat, which happened a lot as he was acclimating himself to NFL game speed.

Davis was slotted as the team’s starting cornerback again for the 2019 season, and this year has been a total turnaround. Though Davis did continue to commit penalties early on, those have since stopped and have been replaced with big-time plays. Davis is using his physicality and becoming a sticky player more than a struggling player. He is a guy whom the Bucs can continually rely on to go head-up with an offense’s biggest and most physical receiver. Davis is not only comfortable in his preferred press coverage role, but also now in off coverage as well, as the anticipation he has gained from early experience seems to be paying off.

Davis leads the Bucs with 17 pass breakups this year and recorded his first career interception at Atlanta a few weeks ago. Because of his length, skill set, his aggressive nature, and how scheme versatile he is becoming, I believe Davis can be a potential CB1 for this team.

Matt Matera: SS Jordan Whitehead

When I look at safety Jordan Whitehead as a player, it doesn’t start with physical ability for me. It’s the mental aspect of the game that sticks out. Whitehead is a charismatic, vocal, and confident player who is comfortable in his assignments just two years into his career. With the charisma that he brings to the field each game, Whitehead has the chance to be a future captain of the team down the road.

Having a high football IQ and mental toughness is important, but a player has to have the physical traits as well, which Whitehead does. Another characteristic Whitehead brings to this Bucs’ defense is an attitude. Whitehead has made the type of hits that make your head turn when you hear the collision of the pads. He’s as physical as it gets on this defense when it comes to the 2019 version of the NFL, and it’s that kind of nature that’s helped the defense turn things around as of late.

Whitehead has really shown a great deal of versatility this season. He’s played a big role in the Bucs’ being one of the top run stopping defenses in the league. With 67 tackles, Whitehead is third on the team in tackles this season with many of those tackles coming in the run game.

Whitehead is also third on the defense with eight passes defended, showing his ability to make an impact in both parts of the game. That’s the versatile nature of his game. Whitehead has one interception and one fumble on the season, so next up in his progression is to make those splash type of plays, but that will come in time. Whitehead has quickly shown in two years his importance to the Bucs defense and leadership qualities with the play to back it up.

Taylor Jenkins: CB Jamel Dean

When Jamel Dean was thrown to the fire in Seattle after Carlton Davis suffered a hip injury that would cause him to miss the Bucs’ Week 9 match-up against the Seahawks, he was bullied. Dean was targeted often, giving up multiple touchdowns in coverage en route to an overtime loss for Tampa Bay.

Despite the less-than-optimal start, Dean harnessed that feeling and began showing up to the Bucs’ practice facility early with his fellow defensive backs to watch film with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. The film work certainly helped as Dean bounced back and was a dominant force against Arizona the following week, defending four passes while adding a tackle for loss and a game-saving interception that allowed Tampa Bay’s offense to drive down the field and win the game. His performance earned him Pro Football Focus’ highest defender grade in Week 10.

Physically, Dean is a force. Despite multiple knee injuries that plagued him at the college level, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound cornerback still posted a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and he has continued to grow his game rapidly since that fateful day in the northwest.

Dean would later add another five pass breakups against Atlanta and find himself near the top of the league in that category despite only seeing action in three games (14).

Dean has prototypical size and speed and his coverage skills have began to flourish as his playing time has grown. He’s the mold for what Bowles wants in his cornerbacks, and if he continues to improve on his already solid rookie season, the sky’s the limit for Dean moving forward.