Jets Lineman For Sale?
May 19th, 2019
Available?
Very interesting developments in New Jersey that Bucs fans should monitor.
Right now the Bucs defense looks like a coming horror show that not even the fertile, twisted mind of Stephen King could concoct. There is a very real possibility the Bucs could be down 21 sacks from the previous year on a defense that was still subpar in getting after the quarterback.
It is not a stretch to envision the Bucs without Jason Pierre-Paul, Gerald McCoy and Vinny Curry, the guys who totaled 21.5 sacks last year.
JPP fractured his neck last month and at best, will miss several games this season, provided he’s not released. GMC remains in roster purgatory. Rumors are rampant the Bucs want to trade him but seemingly only one other team is serious about going after GMC. The stumbling block is his $13 million salary. Curry was already released and re-signed with Philadelphia.
Well, word out of New Jersey from long-time Jets beat guy Rich Cimini of BSPN is that defensive end Leonard Williams, 24, who went to high school in Florida, is not a favorite of new Jets ringleader Adam Gase. In fact, Cimini believes Gase wants to unload Williams.
He’s due to make a guaranteed $14.2 million in the final year of his contract. Gase hasn’t said anything about Williams that would spark speculation, but it’s not hard to connect the dots when examining the defensive line situation. The Jets already have $32.5 million invested in rookie Quinnen Williams (once he signs) and $17 million invested in Henry Anderson — all guaranteed money.
Yeah, Williams is not cheap; he is scheduled to make $1 million more than GMC. But note earlier last week, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik stated frankly on SiriusXM NFL Radio there were still ways Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht could finagle the salary cap to keep GMC in the wake of JPP’s accident.
Bucs fans know all too well the team is currently in salary cap hell and GMC’s contract is preventing the Bucs from signing their rookie draft class.
If the Bucs release JPP, that’s roughly $7 million right there (Pat Kirwan of SiriusXM NFL Radio stated JPP was already paid a roster bonus of $7.5 million as of March 17), waving goodbye to GMC saves $13 million and if you also boot, say, underperforming Will Gholston, that’s nearly another $4 million. So the Bucs could easily shave $20 million from their current budget.
The bummer here is the Jets would have to deal with $14 million in dead cap if Williams is cut. Does Gase hate Williams that much?
Now of course, Williams doesn’t have the sack production of JPP, but he does have more quarterback hits through the past four years than McCoy. And you figure Williams is a helluva lot better than Gholston.
And here are the kickers that add ammo to the notion of the Bucs trading for Williams.
Who coached Williams, the sixth-overall draft pick in 2015, the past four seasons? That was current Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. In fact, Cimini reports that while with the Jets, Bowles, who oversaw the team drafting Williams, lobbied Jets management to extend Williams’ pact with Gang Green.
Could this be why Bucco Bruce Arians earlier this month was so calm in stating Bucs fans don’t need to freak out over the defense because the roster reloading isn’t finished?
May 19th, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Bowles would know just how good he is. I dont think we need another DT but I think he was used in different spots under Bowles. He didnt exactly light it up in that defense tho. Most sacks in Bowles D seem to come from the blitzers. There will be lots of them. Im not as worried as you Joe because Bowles isnt afraid to send as many as it takes. This isnt sitbacksmitty. The press corners were drafted for a reason.
May 19th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
In this case the math says 24>30…especially with a restructured salary for Leonard Williams…we’ll just have to make due without the fastest first step that never really led anywhere or anything
May 19th, 2019 at 1:10 pm
@Joe … “Could this be why Bucco Bruce Arians earlier this month was so calm in stating Bucs fans don’t need to freak out over the defense because the roster reloading wasn’t finished?” That’s worth repeating Joe. And with all the cutdowns that will surely come by Sept, there’ll more than likely be plenty of talent available. The only question is … can the Bucs afford some of that talent?
Not sure how Leonard Williams fits into the Bucs’ NEEDS at $14 mil annually. Obviously good against the run … he’s averaged about 30 solo tackles, 55 combined tackles & 4 TFLs each season in his 4-year career. But he’s only averaging 4 sacks/year, although he did contribute about 20 QB hits on average each season. In other words, just a tad less than what GMC has been averaging. However, he hasn’t missed a game in his 4 years; durability for a DLineman is a huge plus in my book. In any event, it’ll be fun to see what shakes out. Time will tell.
May 19th, 2019 at 1:23 pm
Sit-Back-Smitty, I like that! We’ll be okay without Leonard Williams. Seems like Joe gets excited about guys that were drafted high over actual productive players (see Solomon Thomas and how he wasn’t on the field on passing downs for the 49ers).
May 19th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that productive guys cost an arm and a leg to acquire. Two is, generally teams don’t want to unload productive guys. Only the Bucs are dumb enough to get rid of want to get rid of productive guys.
May 19th, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Jason Light needs to act fast if Adam Gase starts shopping Leonard Williams because he won’t last long.
May 19th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
Good points, Joe. In your article you talk about Arians being calm, like it’s already taken care of…A friend of mine was a middle linebacker/kicker at Vanderbilt when Bill Parcells was the Defensive Coordinator there (New York media asked Parcells who his favorite kicker was, he said Mark Adams, who was also his MLB)…Anyway, my point is that when Parcells was with the Cowboys it was known months in advance that they’d sign Drew Bledsoe (I think he was still on Buffalo’s roster at the time).
May 19th, 2019 at 1:56 pm
Wait ’till Adam Gase finds out McCoy might be available
May 19th, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Mo Wilkerson..
May 19th, 2019 at 2:05 pm
At that price, this is a pipe dream. Not even worth mentioning, unless they find a way to clear about 20 million first. How can you be talking about adding a 14 million dollar guy if they can’t even sign their own draft picks right now?
May 19th, 2019 at 2:15 pm
It always helps to read. Go Bucs!
May 19th, 2019 at 2:21 pm
So are you saying that Bowles coached an underperforming #6 overall pick? Man good thing he gets to coach a #5 overall pick now, performance should be much much better. 🙄
Btw Bowles def gave up 28 ppg last year in a much weaker division but wtfdik
May 19th, 2019 at 2:25 pm
Williams has been a decent DT but nothing spectacular. I wouldn’t give up more than a 4th for him. If he had another year or 2 left on his rookie contract he may be worth a 3rd but a 1 yr rental isn’t worth much IMO.
May 19th, 2019 at 2:33 pm
The Succaneers are the laughing stock of sports
May 19th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
#REPOST
May 19th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
#Repost
May 19th, 2019 at 3:01 pm
#Repost
May 19th, 2019 at 3:02 pm
Hey I like the idea of this guy on the front line. To replace McCoy right now though is tricky. Me personally if I were GM I would just go young right now and be done with McCoy I just don’t think ownership likes his intensity anymore. Another move I would do would be to ship JPP off either via trade or release and trade the bottom of the draft for both Williams from the Jets and Thomas from the 49ers and the defense is reloaded just like that. Tbt and TBH they can keep both McCoy and JPP but I feel they really want to move on from McCoy at this point and I feel this JPP neck thing will keep him here for another year but the trade is there McCoy for Williams straight up. Thomas is that waiver wire free agent they keep saying they money tba to sign. They will have that cash or they could trade Gholston and a draft pick for the guy right now.
May 19th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
I think you rattled Joe in MI Joe. I have no idea what his point is based on his reply to you.
May 19th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
I say go get him. Dude is 24. We need depth. He hasn’t missed a game in 4yrs that alone is worth an the fact that he would be a big upgrade over goldston. Tell glazers to throw out some more money we all know they got it
May 19th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Knicks are actually the laughing stock.
May 19th, 2019 at 4:04 pm
Whats up with the best Joe here? Ira’s insight is why I even stomach the Web of Depression. AKA JBF. Joes gone all in on the hate and depression propaganda. Sprinkle in some sheep herding wack job… and there you go. Your daily Bucs news.
May 19th, 2019 at 4:20 pm
There’s no need to monitor this situation unless dude is willing to takea pay cut, he’s ok but ain’t worth that kind of money. I don’t hate Geraldine I just think he’s average but it would be stupid and a slap in the face to pay Williams 14 million. Might as well keep Geraldine if Williams is the best we can do
May 19th, 2019 at 4:42 pm
Well, he’s got the hair.
I know how important that is for a lot of Bucs fans.
May 19th, 2019 at 5:12 pm
BucsBall I don’t why they feel the need to insert “only the Bucs are dumb enough to get rid of productive players” when that’s not true at all. Sure they have made their mistakes but they are not alone but this the den of depression in here.
May 19th, 2019 at 5:35 pm
The negativity is always so high around here…
Bucs are not even on the radio for being the laughing stock…
Jets with their latest moved surpassed the Giants, but luckily they have the Knicks to kick around. Listen to NFL on Sirius XM and here the fans of the Steelers, Bengals, Cardinals and Packers (to go with all the NY/NJ teams).
May 19th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
And if somebody else gets this player are we going to freak out? Or are we going to trust that Bowles knows this guy and knows if he’s worth it?
May 19th, 2019 at 6:03 pm
I know Todd Bowles is our savior but I am concerned. He was fired, and he is getting praise like he won a super bowl before. Why are we getting all for his former players? Or interested in them in these stories? Remember, lovie recruited his former players and we were left with guys like Conte for years.
May 19th, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Vinnny Curry and Desean Jackson will both play their arses off this season and prove the players found it hard to play with motivation under BAD COACHING!!!
May 19th, 2019 at 6:23 pm
Sure BucEmUp. Chris Baker too no doubt.
May 19th, 2019 at 6:27 pm
Come on guys..lets keep it real here. The Bucs are looking for a..Bargain Basement DE. And..thats always been our problem. Shopping at Goodwill and praying….
May 19th, 2019 at 6:53 pm
Williams is a good player but not a 14 million a year player, much less the 18 million plus he will command after his rookie deal is up. I’d pass and hope some cheap rentals become available after roster cuts.
May 19th, 2019 at 7:20 pm
Bucemup,
How would you have handled the QB situation? You say bad coaching, true, but since the QB situation caused a division in the team and caused DeSean Jackson to come out and state he wished to be traded. How would you have handled it.
May 19th, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Get serious.
$14 million.
Case closed.
May 19th, 2019 at 8:10 pm
I like the way the Browns are just automatically gifted success. It still has to be earned on the field. The Browns have won the offseason but they still have to win on the field. Until that helps, the Browns are still the laughing stock and sadly, we are right behind them. If Arians health and desire remain, he will change this culture. It may not all happen this year but I trust this dude.
May 19th, 2019 at 8:15 pm
GMC likely does not want to play for BA and be held accountable for the first time in his long career of being pampered and he definitely does not want to play in a 3-4. What he needs to do is restructure his contract for purposes only of being traded for another player but require it be a 4-3 team. So he could then be dealt to the Browns for Johnson. That would solve our cap problems and it might bring more teams willing to trade for him.
May 19th, 2019 at 8:21 pm
All these scenarios for a team that has sucked for decades
——-The final solution_______
Another suck season on the Horizon
May 19th, 2019 at 9:00 pm
Did GMC have a good relationship with Jon Robinson in Tenn? He has the great first step but not worth 13 mil for what we get after that. I could see him in Nashville with Hump.
May 19th, 2019 at 9:11 pm
I like the site but not a fan of these articles. The Bucs are never ever going to spend 14M on a guy that is not even on the market. Joe throws out a lot of these articles and they never happen. Just throwing darts and none of these Madden Football scenarios Joe dreams up happen.
May 19th, 2019 at 9:11 pm
@Buczilla
If Williams actually thinks he’s worth $18 million he has another thing coming. These athletes always overvalue themselves.
May 19th, 2019 at 9:13 pm
If this happens, and if this goes down, and then this comes to fruition, and if that goes this way, and if up goes down, we’re gonna win the Superbowl!
May 19th, 2019 at 9:45 pm
When you suck at drafting this is the game u play
May 19th, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Pass!
He sucks.
May 20th, 2019 at 4:18 am
Potential Line-Up
DT Leonard Williams || Terry Beckner Jr.
NT Vita Vea || Beau Allen
DE Carl Nassib || Anthony Nelson
DT
• Leonard Williams (Age:24) 6′ 6″ 302 lbs
• Terry Beckner Jr. (Age:22) 6′ 4″ 305 lbs
NT
• Vita Vea (Age:24) 6′ 4″ 347 lbs
• Beau Allen (Age:22) 6′ 3″ 327 lbs
DE
• Carl Nassib (Age:26) 6′ 7″ 275 lbs
• Anthony Nelson (Age:22) 6′ 7″ 271 lbs
**Average Age: 23.33
May 20th, 2019 at 4:37 am
**Film Study – Leonard Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-CueO4tnQg
May 20th, 2019 at 6:06 am
DB55- I suppose you’d rather have ‘ol Smitty?! Yea, me either.
May 20th, 2019 at 6:09 am
LUV called this one. Give me Williams for GMC straight up. At least with Williams you know at 24 that he’ll be around for a while.
“Underperforming Will Gholston”?!!! Joe, you are waaay too kind. It is a mystery to me how this bum is still on the roster.
May 20th, 2019 at 8:45 am
Good link, Luv.
My only complaint is that 3-4 plays were chosen from various games…easy…we didn’t get to see a more indepth look.
May 20th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Give them McCoy & a 3 or 4 for Williams.
Then go OL & Edge R1/R2/R4 next year and stop f*cking around
May 20th, 2019 at 1:06 pm
Salary cap hell is dead money. The BUCS never have dead money because they don’t extend people. They will find the flexibility and be up against it all year. I guess this storyline of Salary Cap Hell pulls clicks but in many ways it is dishonest. They also don’t need to be under the cap until the season starts to my knowledge. I may be wrong?