The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving quickly to address their secondary, agreeing to a one-year deal with cornerback Chase Lucas. The move comes shortly after the departure of longtime starter Jamel Dean in free agency.

Lucas, a former seventh-round pick by Detroit in 2022, joins the Bucs after the San Francisco 49ers opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent. While he saw limited defensive action in San Francisco, Lucas carved out a significant role on special teams, playing over half of their snaps in that phase last season.

This signing is unlikely to fill the void left by Dean directly. Instead, Lucas projects as a key special teams contributor and depth piece in the defensive backfield. He'll compete with other recent additions like Kemon Hall and a group of returning players for a spot behind expected starters Zyon McCollum and Bryce Hall.

For Lucas, it's a fresh start with a Tampa Bay team known for its defensive scheme under Todd Bowles. His proven special teams prowess offers immediate value as the Buccaneers continue to reshape their roster for the upcoming season.