Free Agency Countdown: 29 Days — Big Talent, Big Risk With E.J. Gaines
February 13th, 2018
You might be noticing a theme on these pages: desperation.
That’s where the Tampa Bay mindset should be when it comes to cornerback.
Does Joe really need to rehash the variables at play with the Bucs’ own free agents at the position, and the shaky young Bucs under contract? No. Not now.
One stud cornerback who seems destined to be on the free agent market in 29 days is Buffalo’s E.J. Gaines. As with many free agents, there’s a dangerous catch: he gets hurt often.
But Gaines has huge upside. Why? Because he’s a damn good player. A Rams sixth-round pick in 2014, Gaines is a versatile force — selected just three picks after the Bucs grabbed Wyoming wide receiver Robert Herron. Ouch!
Here’s how ESPN Rochester eloquently broke down Gaines’ worth to Buffalo:
Gaines may be the toughest decision and situation facing the Bills as far as their own free agents this offseason. They were a much better defense and overall team when he played last year. His presence allowed others to play more natural positions and the defense to play more diverse coverages. In fact, the Bills were 8-3 in games Gaines started. They were 1-4 in games he didn’t. But that’s where the issue comes in. Gaines, acquired by the team in a trade for WR Sammy Watkins during the preseason, missed five games with injuries. He also left three other games with injuries. That’s half the games the Bills played that Gaines either got hurt during the game and didn’t finish, or didn’t play at all.
The injury problem wasn’t new to Gaines in 2017, either. After starting 15 games and having a very good rookie season in 2014, he missed all of 2015 due to a foot injury, then missed five games in 2016 with a thigh injury. He’s played a total of only 37 of a possible 64 games through four NFL seasons.
Gaines is an excellent tackler, which head coach Sean McDermott values immensely in his cornerbacks. He’s also very good in zone coverage, something the Bills play a lot of, understanding angles and help. He’s the perfect fit for McDermott on the field.
But McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane also put a tremendous value on “availability,” and Gaines just hasn’t been available enough to justify investing several years of big money. And he’ll probably get just that when he hits the open market. A recent “calculated market value” for Gaines done by the website Spotrac pegged his value at about $9.3 million per season on his next deal.
If the Bills could get Gaines for a short-term (1-2 years) deal at a lower price, his talent and impact may be worth the gamble. But I don’t think they’ll be able to do that. His price tag will probably be too much to bring back.
Joe doesn’t like the gamble because of those injuries, though Gaines might be worth it if his price comes down and the Bucs are able to bring back both Brent Grimes and Robert McClain.
Banking on injury-prone players is about as wise has counting on a bad running back to turn good.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:18 am
Trumaine Johnson says hi
February 13th, 2018 at 11:21 am
Sooo why would we want another injury riddled cornerback? The best ability is availability! Id rather grimes, Talib and maybe another proven vet in the secondary i.e Trumaine Johnson
February 13th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Dre, I don’t know about Talib; I think there is as good a likelihood he has more assaults then picks next year. Have to think there is a better option.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Jason Licht is going to do the same thing he always does in free agency every year. Look for below average bargain players who always end up either flopping or becoming average role players.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:49 am
Jason Licht needs to stop free agency shopping at Big Lots and go to Louis Vuitton.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:50 am
TBBucs3, I don’t think that’s true. Jackson and Baker were prime targets last year. I don’t think he goes below average, he just gets poor results.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:56 am
A lot of these defensive free agents were drafted in 2014. I have always said that the 2014 draft would come back and bite the Bucs. The Draft was loaded with defensive gems from rounds 1-7. And what did the Bucs do? Draft all offensive players.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:58 am
SC
I’m still on board with Jackson and I think he breaks out next year once we figure out that he’s not just a deep threat. He also a “quick game specialist”. He’s the rare expecting to Jason Lichts bargain FA habit. As far as Baker he was decent on the redskins but showed no evidence of a consistent quality player.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
In 10 games in 2017, Gaines recorded 51 tackles, seven passes defensed, one interception and two forced fumbles. (PFF) has Gaines listed as 29th ranked cornerback. What I don’t like about Gaines is he is just 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds and doesn’t have great speed. That and the injury’s that have kept him off the field raise concerns. There are other CB’s that make more sense.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:22 pm
The CB that makes a lot of sense is Nickell Robey-Coleman. I’m not hyping him because he’s from Polk County. I’m hyping him because he’s a solid slot CB. And he’s still young (turned 26 last month) and won’t demand a lot of money.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Haven’t the Bucs learned to stay away from CBs named EJ?
February 13th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Malcolm butler….rashaan melvin…..Patrick robinson….kyle fuller….tj carrie
all great options imo…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 13th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
EJ Biggers was a solid CB
February 13th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Was just a joke. He was fine for a 7th rd pick Lakeland. But “solid”?? Um – No.
If Biggers was a solid CB – he’d still be playing in the league at 30 years old. He did really good though managing to eke out a 6 year NFL career as a back up CB. Even got a few starts along the way. That’s a pretty successful career by any measure considering that the majority of 7th rd picks never even get to play in a real NFL game.
February 13th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
He had his best seasons with Raheem Morris. In Tampa and Washington.
February 13th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
Sign a CB (or two) and draft one. Isaiah Oliver out of Colorado has a lot of tools to work with. Wouldn’t mind giving him a look if he falls to the bottom of the second/ top of the third. However, there’s a good chance he blows up the combine making him a first/second.
February 13th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Also like CB Jaire Alexander out of Louisville.
February 13th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Poosible late round gem, Michael Joseph. Kid comes from a DIII school is 6’6 with good speed and has good ball skills. 15 interceptions in the last 3 years. Possible 6th rounder.
February 13th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Glazers no way in hell are going to make any kind of splash in FA. They are going to let next year ride out then purge. They won’t invest in a lame duck coach and GM.
February 13th, 2018 at 2:13 pm
I still think we need taller CBs. But the pickings are slim in free agency.
Can we use cap money to BUY PICKS from other teams? lol
February 13th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
LakeLand Says
“The CB that makes a lot of sense is Nickell Robey-Coleman. I’m not hyping him because he’s from Polk County. I’m hyping him because he’s a solid slot CB. And he’s still young (turned 26 last month) and won’t demand a lot of money.”
VHIII turned out to be a great slot CB.
February 13th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
Every year the media is here saying this team is desperate for something. We were desperate to get weapons for Winston which yielded nothing because the o line sucked so they let him and Ryan Griffin get hurt. No team coaching staff and front office in desperation mode will win anything. The media and fans are in desperation mode, this team has the money to be players in free agency and know they get players but they just don’t know who. The team will look a bit different in defense but the big question after all this trine should be will it actually matter or make a difference. Doesn’t matter how good any player that Congress here was before he got here, if they don’t have an impact heads will roll
February 13th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Smh – I want on a 6 month rant about – Us drafting this kid.
2014 Draft Joebucsfan
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2014/05/nfl-draft-day-3-live-blog/
February 13th, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Smh – I *went on a 6 month rant about Us drafting this kid.
February 13th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
@derrickbrooksforGM … “Glazers no way in hell are going to make any kind of splash in FA. They are going to let next year ride out then purge. They won’t invest in a lame duck coach and GM.” Purge? I assume that you’re talking about ‘purging’ the coaching staff & GM, not players up for contract like Jameis, Marpet, D Smith (purging our experienced young guys would be akin to the Glazer Boys committing hara-kiri).
Licht needs to sign TWO experienced outside corners in free agency or we’re in serious doo-doo (hopefully Brent Grimes is one of them). We also need to draft a CB relatively high (would love for that to be Minkah Fitzpatrick but I doubt he’ll last until #7).
February 13th, 2018 at 7:18 pm
Bonzi,
VHIII turned out to be a great slot CB.
are you f**ing insane….. VH3 is 100% bust. He was not good at anything other than celebrating after he was burnt and the qb overthrew the receiver that burned his sorry arse. vh3 is not a player nor will he ever be. homerism at it’s fines. just another failed local feel good story and another reason the bucs remain in the basement you can not throw away first round picks much less throwing away 1st and 2nd round picks in the same draft. vh3 was a 5th rd talent taken way to high and will never ever be a serviceable cb in league.
February 13th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Bonzi
For a writer you really have a poor grasp on the word GREAT…. At no time has vh3-BUST lived up to the definition of GREAT!
great
ɡrāt/
adjective
adjective: great; comparative adjective: greater; superlative adjective: greatest
1. of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average. “the article was of great interest”
2. of ability, quality, or eminence considerably above the normal or average. “the great Italian conductor”
February 13th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Hope he can cover for a long long long time.
There is no way I’d come here as a db
February 13th, 2018 at 10:20 pm
There is a plethora of real good free agent corners and the Bucs need three , yes three
February 13th, 2018 at 11:54 pm
Yep not sure what Bonzi is smoking cause there will be lots of good cornerbacks becoming available this free agency.
February 14th, 2018 at 11:31 am
IMO the Glazers are just bidding there time till they sell the team. (maybe wishful thinking on my part)
February 14th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Lakeland,
I was touting Nicel Robey Coleman a couple months ago … I think the Rams let him go if they re-sign Trumaine and/or Joyner and he’s a solid young corner who would be relatively inexpensive! Good call!