Demar Dotson On Notice
March 5th, 2019
With the Buccaneers signing Donovan Smith to a fat contract today (see home page), the team now has three offensive linemen 27 years old and younger making massive cash.
In October, Ali Marpet nailed down $11 million per year on a long-term deal. A year ago, the Bucs made Ryan Jensen the highest paid center in the game when the free agency dinner bell rang.
Simply stated, teams can’t pay everyone. And when your quarterback is earning a shade under $21 million, and you’ve got big money tied up at receiver and tight end, something has to give.
Right tackle Demar Dotson turns 34 in October and is due $4.8 million this season. Joe expects the Bucs will be looking very long and hard at saving money at that position, as well as getting younger. It’s hard to imagine Dotson being part of the Bucs’ next Super Bowl run at his age and with his history of injury. Joe suspects the Bucs would rather invest that kind of money at right guard versus the edge.
Joe certainly could see good-guy Dotson having some sort of draft-day trade value, especially since he’s considered 100 percent healthy right now.
March 5th, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Has Dotson ever REALLY been 100% the last few years? Honestly, he’s good in pass protection but he’s too slow in the run game. Sadly his time has come..
March 5th, 2019 at 1:53 pm
would be great if he took a pay cut and was just depth.
March 5th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
With the Smith deal complete, free agent RT Ja’Waun James (Dolphins) and OG Chris Lindstrom in the second round.
March 5th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Replace him if Joe is serious about a run game. You can buy all the premium RB’s in the NFL you want but it don’t mean squat if you don’t have an o-line that can run block.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Bucs will draft their starting RG who will potentially challenge Caleb Benenoch for starting RT in 2020. The hope is Cappa can become the versatile T/G. there will need to be a vet at RT to play next to a rookie RG.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:02 pm
There were some decent RT prospects in this years draft so sounds like a good time to get younger and cheaper. I would like them to look at a good RG/Center prospect. Not sure what their commitment is to Jensen in terms of years but think they could probably do better at less money down the road.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Joe certainly could see good-guy Dotson having some sort of draft-day trade value, especially since he’s considered 100 percent healthy right now.
Maybe for a 100 count bottle of Geritol but at 34, I don’t see it.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:10 pm
I’m sure he’s prepared to be cut, we need a guard badly and at some point every team except the bucs has had recent success going young at a position previously held by a veteran and there’s no reason one of the guys currently on this roster can’t do better than a rookie tackle because it would be a slap in the face to licht if not
March 5th, 2019 at 2:21 pm
dotson should have been a ball boy not a rt…. he is easily one of the worst players for either team each sunday… another career loser who bucfan confuses nice guy and popularity with being a good football player. worst rt in league by far. that poor kid playing rg never stood a chance playing next to this bum.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Re-sign Leonard Wester and Michael Liedtke. Wester can replace Dotson…at least until we can upgrade. And he might just excel there.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Demar’s been “on notice”. We’ve known that we need to replace him for some time now.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:40 pm
Draft Jawaan Taylor!!
March 5th, 2019 at 2:41 pm
I can’t believe the last coaching staff did not develope one MF lineman in three freaking years.
What a friggen disgrace!!!! This is bottom tier coaching right there. Not 1 player. This is why we are spending so much money ney for n this line.
Just look at C. Their plan was Marpet and that blew up right in Dirk’s dumb ole face. That why we had to buy one from a team that knows what they are doing. Honestly Dirk, go bleep yourself.
Not even 1 guard in three years. This is a big part of what got us to back-to-back 5-11.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Bonzai that move is a downgrade. If that guy was better he would of replaced Dotson last year or the year before that. Or the one before that.
Let’s get better not worse.
March 5th, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Our last coaching staff didnt develope one Lineman in 3 seasons. This is the exact reason why we have to spend so much to keep a half competent OL on the field.
Sorry if this is a repeat but I cussed out Dirk pretty hard and I don’t think it post. Joe triggered me pretty hard when I read this article. Came unglued for a bit there.
March 5th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
I just wish we drafted a true RG last year vs Cappa or Benecoch or these hybrid versatile but not really great at any one thing players.
Ali Marpet probably never should have moved from RG.
I’m OK with Jensen if we just add anyone other than Benecoch next to him.
Since we have 3 big contracts it makes a lot more sense to address RG/RT in the draft than another FA band aid. If we do it right we can have an entire line under 27 and ready to go for 3 years before we have to worry about it.
R1-Best defensive blue player available unless we trade back and Taylor is sitting there
R2-go get your RG for the next decade. Not some hybrid guy like Alex Cappa where you don’t know where he should play still an entire year later. Just get a f*cking straight up OG plz
R3-BPA RT or RB/defense if the value is there
R4-RT if you didn’t draft one yet
Hopefully we hear how Alex Cappa has transformed himself or something as an offseason storyline and is dominating at RT
March 5th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
Dots has trade power Joe??? REALLY?! Put down the Riesling sir. This is 4 days straight of drunk posts.
March 5th, 2019 at 3:40 pm
If we end up trading down at #5 then we could use our extra pick to select a RT/G.
Regardless, I think we keep Dotson another year. He may restructure slightly for a guaranteed salary.
March 5th, 2019 at 3:51 pm
LC
you think we have our replacement for dotson on the roster?…..
i think wester and liedtke are ready to compete for both openings at RG & RT…..ramon foster would be ideal….
but i like that draft strategy…and hope cappa, wester & liedtke are ready to take the next step….i would still draft tytus howard….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
March 5th, 2019 at 4:31 pm
Considering the money Dotson has made from the Bucs hes screwed himself. But easily he’s a solid player and I have much respect for him.
March 5th, 2019 at 4:33 pm
$4.8M isn’t a killer, even @ 34yr.
I’d rather move on from Beau Allen’s $5M & keep Dotson 1 more yr.
March 5th, 2019 at 4:33 pm
$4.8m for a starting tackle who is really solid is quite a deal. The idea of trading away guys or dumping them in order to put all your faith into a rookie is really stupid. Yes, they should be drafting a guy for the future – but the key is the word future. Just like you don’t draft a d-lineman and expect him to start from day one, you really shouldn’t be doing that on the o-line either.
March 5th, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Did you see how many RTs the Bucs have been interviewing at the combine? Demar Dotson is as good as gone or he’s going to be a backup.
March 5th, 2019 at 4:36 pm
A great guy whose game is now marginal, as he can’t stay healthy on the field. His days are numbered, but wish him the best of luck.
March 5th, 2019 at 4:39 pm
813
I just hate that our “potential” guys haven’t been really used / developed enough to see what we have.
Maybe Cappa/Liedke/Wester are future stud starters in waiting but I’m scared to count on it.
Same with Rojo. It was criminal the way they used someone they spent that much capital on. They basically had no plan at all for him and did nothing to get him going.
Or Ryan Smith not getting much starting time outside after giving us the best CB performance we had all year in any one game.
I have hope in the depth guys we have at RG/RT, but it’d be nice to just know our line is set. I’d still prioritize DL/defense over OL though philosophically.
Would rather keep our avg O-line in pass pro / sub par O_line in run blocking + a top 12-15 scoring defense
vs an above average o-line in pass pro / avg run blocking + still sh1t defense that is bottom 3-5.
Hopefully coaching elevates O-line/run game/defense alone without considering personnel
March 5th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Catcard202 you hit the nail on the head.i can think of a few underachievers that should walk the plank and leave the money. Draft a youngster that can slide into Dotsons spot next year.
The Bucs are under the current cap bye 17 mil now and the cap will increase bye about 14 mil before the roster cut down .I dont see both GMC and Desean coming back ,so theres another 10 million that should be plenty of cap space to get deals done this year
March 5th, 2019 at 4:59 pm
813bucboi
wester and liedtke have not been signed and will become FAs……most fans don’t realize that we have 23 FAs from last year that are unsigned…..
When we talk about our cap situation, you have to consider that…..we have LBs, K, Backup QB, Barber, and several other backup positions unsigned.
March 5th, 2019 at 5:47 pm
This is all bulll crap should not be an issue this man has playedhard for years sacrificed his body for the game he most certainly deserves compensation. NBA players making stupid money Baseball too NFL and the owners need to pay their players MORE!
March 5th, 2019 at 6:18 pm
just saw that we are the only NFL team with 3 O Lineman making over $10 M per season. Think about that and the lack of production we get from that line. Honestly, outside of Marpet, they have done a really poor job of assessing talent on the OL since Jason’s been here.
Hoping that BA and his group changes the direction in that regard because it’s been hard to watch.
March 5th, 2019 at 6:26 pm
The guy is 34yrs old can’t stay healthy and even when he is healthy he doesn’t move well. Time to move on this is a business I’m so frustrated with fans writing that some of these under achieving players deserve this or that NO they don’t. Us fans deserve to have a team that isn’t the laughing stock of the league. Take notice Buc fans Cleveland is picking after us. They’re building something scarey over there. It’s time we start building a force in Tampa. I think we’re on the right track with the coaching hire.
March 5th, 2019 at 8:49 pm
30 plus million dollar threesome and not a pro bowl sniff for any of them . I sure hope these three play a hell of allot better this year .
March 5th, 2019 at 9:02 pm
Bucs4Ya
excellent commentary from you
I feel the exact same, NO! to Dot,NO! to Kwon, and horrors–NO! to Cam Brate! Move on from these Buc for life teamers. We need and deserve better! and rework McCoy while we are at it.
March 5th, 2019 at 9:22 pm
Demar is a good value…Benenoch is the cost savings move that needs to happen. Benenoch is set to be paid $2million for being a mediocre back up? Cut that dude or restructure if he’s willing
March 5th, 2019 at 10:30 pm
Max Scharping, 4th!
March 6th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Knowing Licht he will give him a 2-3 yr. extension & a hefty raise. Licht may have taken over the top spot for worst GM in Bucs history. If I had more time I would tell you how I really feel.