Money To Spend
January 11th, 2013
One reason the Bucs offense put up franchise-record numbers in 2012 is because the Bucs not just drafted Doug Martin, but the Bucs also upgraded the wide receiver position by dropping a load (of cash) on Vincent Jackson.
Jackson wasn’t the lone player the Bucs bought, but that shouldn’t be the end. Per multimedia guru Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com, by way of “The Professor,” John Clayton of ESPN.com, the Bucs have a good chunk of change for free agents this coming season.
On Clayton’s list, the Buccaneers rank fifth in available cap space, with $31.3 million. That total includes $8.5 million in carryover space; the Bucs had far less of this than they did last year after spending heavily in free agency to get Jackson, Carl Nicks and Eric Wright. However, as General Manager Mark Dominik recently pointed out, the Bucs’ available space was helped significantly by the decision to restructure contracts for Jackson and Nicks. Dominik said the resulting cap space will allow the team to dive into free agency again if such a move would help but also to work on keeping the talented nucleus of the existing roster intact.
Here is where Joe thinks some of the cash is headed: The cornerback market is soft in free agency, but there will be decent players. In other words, a buyer’s market.
So Joe believes Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik will land two — maybe three — lower level cornerbacks, if for no other reason than to give the Bucs depth at the position.
Then, Dominik will draft a corner no later than the third round and still have cash for other areas and to secure current players (like Michael Bennett).
It is depth, not so much a stud starter, that the Bucs need most at cornerback.
January 11th, 2013 at 9:12 am
its good to know that after 2-3 years of good free agency’s that we will have a average team finally. I cannot wait to see the result of the 8 year Pop-star rebuilding period.
Just for giggles i read a mock 2014 draft prediction and had the Bucs in 4th place in the division again. rofl
January 11th, 2013 at 9:14 am
If we sign a couple FA DB’s for starters, you naturally create depth. We should be looking for starter material and I still think our first pick is a corner.
Looking forward to the draft.
January 11th, 2013 at 9:15 am
Buckle your seatbelt, I’m going into a little capology (I’m using Pat Yasinkas/ESPN numbers). The 2013 cap is expected to be 121mil. We currently have 96.3mil allocated to the cap. That leaves 24.7mil unallocated. Add to that 8.5mil carryover from 2012 making a total of 33.2mil unallocated or as they say, cap space.
PFT has verified PR’s inside scoop that Eric Wright (7.75mil) will be released before OTAs. It is doubtful that Quincy Black (5.75mil) will return. The best thing that could happen is for Quincy to fully recover and continue his career elsewhere or the Bucs may have to pay an injury settlement which the new CBA limits to 50% of the players salary or 1mil whichever is less in the 1st year and 30% or 500k in the 2nd year. Quincy has 3 years left on his contract and should that route be taken, his own LTD insurances would take over after year 2. I didn’t include a settlement in my final numbers and is not sure if it would even go against the cap.
If we add the amount saved (13.5mil) from the Wright and Black contracts, 2013 cap space goes to a grand total of 46.7mil (cap space could reach 50mil if other cuts are made that are not UFAs like Cody Grimm, Myron Lewis, etc). If that number becomes a reality, and it is highly likely, we should have no problem signing our key UFAs, DRC (top CB), Henry Melton (top DT), or your own favorite UFAs. If we just do that in FA, it opens up a lot of options to be taken in the draft and especially the 1st round pick(s).
January 11th, 2013 at 9:32 am
Joe,
Check out Trestman to Chicago, meaning Sullivan is safe. No more scheduled interviews.
January 11th, 2013 at 9:39 am
This is why I said we shoulda gone hard after Courtland Fennegan last off season. It felt like Dominik became desperate to land a corner last year and overpaid an average corner just to make a splash. I’d rather the bucs just focus on the draft and be patient than to overpay again.
January 11th, 2013 at 9:48 am
@Macabee
Great post, thank you.
January 11th, 2013 at 10:00 am
DRC. Jammer. Edelman. and pay Bennett and Roy Miller.
my wishlist.
January 11th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Trade down. Draft Te’o. Draft Logan Ryan and a TE. and then i will throw a party
January 11th, 2013 at 10:06 am
Bucs are gonna make a run @ the SuperBowl and peak in 2014 & 2015 (wildcard playoff yeam next year) Yessssssssss……….
January 11th, 2013 at 10:28 am
We need another really solid DT Hankins or Lb/De Dion Jordan if we can’t get up to get Millner
January 11th, 2013 at 10:43 am
i would not trade up. milliner isnt that much of a cant miss. and there are players just as talented at positions we also need. and there are CBs in the second that are quite serviceable
January 11th, 2013 at 11:04 am
This is just BS, joe.
“It is depth, not so much a stud starter, that the Bucs need most at cornerback.”
We need 2 stud starters AND depth. And the stud starters are more important than the depth at this point. This is an incredibly wrong headed comment about our corner situation.
January 11th, 2013 at 11:08 am
Meh:
Just who are those “stud” corners who will be available on the free agent market this spring?
January 11th, 2013 at 11:09 am
Need a DT to go wit GMC
January 11th, 2013 at 11:26 am
“DROPPIN’ LOADS (of cash) ALL OVER YOUR ROSTER!! UNGHHHH YEAH!!” – Mark Dominik
January 11th, 2013 at 11:27 am
Few decent corners on the market + many desperate teams with a need at corner = a buyers market? Sounds more like some scrubs getting the “Eric Wright Experience” of being grossly overpaid. Youre right though joe, get plenty of young (cheap) talent and throw em against the wall til one of em sticks.
January 11th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
There are none Joe, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need them. This is a horrible year to be looking for corners, which is why Dom deserves a LOT of heat about our secondary situation.
January 11th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
We Dont need 2 stud corners. Most teams dont even have 2 stud corners. We do need 1 stud though and a very capable starter on the opposite side. As far as depth goes, Biggers, LJ and Gaitor as 3, 4 and 5 is good enough.
January 11th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
FA – J. Byrd, Sean Smith, DRC, Brent Grimes
Secondary Fixed
Draft – BPA
January 11th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I would like to see us add Glenn Dorsey, mike jenkins and add either Dustin Keller or Jared cook in free agency. I don’t see anyone of these players breaking the bank and addresses major needs for this team. Then focus on MLB, CB, ROT, and Safety in the draft .
January 11th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
If we’re going to keep blitzing like we have been, we need two stud corners.
January 11th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Well in that case why stop there? Let’s just get 11 stud players. Sounds like a plan to me!
January 11th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
OK Meh, if Joe writes the Bucs cannot buy a stud corner in free agency, and you admit there are no available stud corners in free agency, then how is what Joe wrote then BS?
January 11th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
How about we play more cover 2 then we don’t need Derelle Reavis in the Defensive Backfield. I don’t know just an opinion.
The best two cover corners available are a Talib clone aka Adam “Pac-Man” Jones and Sam Shields (although he is a restricted free agent). We could sign the Bennett brothers and that would improve the tight end position and provided our line comes back healthy perhaps improve the pass rush. Also since Miller is a free agent why not upgrade there as well ?? T
January 11th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
We need 2 big physical corners that can jam a receiver at the LOS and then keep them covered for 2 to 4 seconds (that doesnt require studs). Anything past that is on the Defensive line. If we cant at least move the QB out of the pocket then we need to concentrate on getting players who can actually get to the QB.
January 11th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Many experts consider Brent Grimes as a legitimate shutdown corner (hence the reason why the Falcons franchised him). However, he is viewed as undersized, injury prone, and overly concerned about landing a big payday but he can “ball”.
Some good cover corners available are a Talib clone aka Adam “Pac-Man” Jones and Sam Shields (although he is a restricted free agent). The rest are remarkably average.
We could sign the Bennett brothers and that would improve the tight end position and provided our line comes back healthy perhaps improve the pass rush. Also since Miller is a free agent why not upgrade there as well ?? Two best there are Desmond Bryant and Henry Melton.
Finally, we need an offensive-tackle there are presently 5 stud offensive tackles in free-agency that would be an improvement over what we have. A lot of experts predict upgrading left tackle and moving Penn to Right Tackle where he could be more dominant.
January 11th, 2013 at 3:46 pm
(Per John Clayton)
Team Carryover Total space
Cincinnati $8.5M $55.1M
Cleveland $14.3M $48.9M
Indianapolis $3.5M $46M
Miami $5.3M $35.8M
Tampa Bay $8.5M $31.3M
Jacksonville $19.5M $22.1M
Buffalo $9.8M $20.6M
Tennessee $12.8M $19.4M
New England $5.6M $18.6M
Seattle $13.2M $18.6M
Denver $11.5M $18.5M
Kansas City $14M $16.1M
Minnesota $8M $16.1M
Baltimore $1.2M $15.7M
Chicago $3.2M $13.3M
Houston $2.4M $12.9M
San Diego $995,000 $8.7M
Green Bay $7M $7.1M
Philadelphia $23M $5.2M
Atlanta $307,000 $4.9M
San Fran $859,000 $3.9M
St. Louis $247,000 $1.8M
Arizona $3.6M -$723,000
Detroit $486,000 -$1.1M
Washington $4.2M -$4M
Oakland $4.5M -$4.5M
NY Giants $1M -$4.7M
Pittsburgh $758,000 -$10.8M
Carolina $3.6M -$11.8M
New Orleans $2.7M -$14.7M
Dallas $2.3M -$18.2M
NY Jets $3.4M -$19.4M
January 11th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
In my opinion, Sean Smith is pretty damn close to being a stud corner, but I don’t expect Miami to let him walk.
January 11th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
There are ATLEAST two stud corners available in FA Joe
Brent Grimes is pro bowl caliber despite his injury
Sean Smith
Jammer is older albeit but is a consistent stud, not flashy but has been doing it year in and year out
DRC starting caliber not top flight
I’ll say it lol if healthy and out of trouble Talib can definitely be a stud lol
January 12th, 2013 at 11:11 am
Joe, because it is not depth we most need at corner.
January 12th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
c.williams from baltimore or smith from miami are the two best corners in free acency. I also like toler alot too.