A New Report On 2021 Salary Cap Stability
December 6th, 2020
Great news for Lavonte David and many other big-name Bucs who are just weeks from free agency
Great news this morning for those who can’t sleep because the NFL has been expected to let the 2021 salary cap drop between $20 million and $30 million per team.
That’s been the reported line for months, but the landscape has changed, per NBC Sports super insider Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com.
Florio detailed today that optimism surrounding a vaccine disabling The Sickness and a subsequent return of in-stadium attendance has the NFL considering keeping the cap ceiling stable, which is a common hope of the league, players and fans.
Per a league source, the possibility that stadiums will be full for the 2021 season could prompt the league to not tie the hands of teams by dropping the salary cap by more than $23 million per team, from $198.2 million. Although the 2020 season will indeed result in lower revenue than usual, the potential of a return to something normal or close to it plus the coming TV deals may result in the league keeping the cap in the range of $195 million.
This especially would be great news for Bucs fans. Many big-name Bucs are without a contract for 2021, including Lavonte David, Shaq Barrett, Ndamukong Suh, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Succop and more. (No, Joe’s not listing Antonio Brown or Leonard Fournette. Joe expects them to have new addresses next season.)
December 6th, 2020 at 11:53 am
I hope we have to slash 14 million from the books next year.
Now who do we have that makes 14 million and sucks?
Bye bye Donovan.
December 6th, 2020 at 12:05 pm
In the last two years, team Glazer has spent more money on roster and coaching staff then at any other time!!!!!!!!!!! The “Real” fans hope that team Glazer will re-evaluate the failure of their return on money!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Tough timing for Godwin
December 6th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
Duh. This is the obvious move. Whoever thought the cap was gonna plummet is in fantasy land.
December 6th, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Maybe we’ll have enough room to sign M Stafford to backup Brady.
BA would love him… all he does is throw downfield.
December 6th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
“just weeks” = 14
December 6th, 2020 at 1:57 pm
El Buco Realisto: I think most Bucs fans would rather watch reruns of Lovie Smith’s “Simple as that” press conferences than read your posts. Why did you quit posting for a few months when the Bucs were 6-2? Will you quit posting if the Bucs go on a winning streak to end the regular season?
December 6th, 2020 at 2:16 pm
DooshLaRue … Since you’re so anti-Donovan, I assume that next year you’re all for using our 1st Rnd draft pick to grab a LT to replace him and save most of his $14 mil? And since we’ll probably be drafting in the 20’s, when all the really good LTs are gone, you’re apparently willing to ‘settle’ for whichever LT still remains?
And of course that also means you couldn’t draft a QB in the 1st Rnd to sit for a year & learn from Tommy. And oh ya, neither could you draft a sorely-needed pass rusher or a DT in the 1st Rnd to replace Suh (who’ll likely be retiring, but is a FA anyways).
Hmmm, given our other NEEDS, I wonder if MAYBE Donovan really isn’t THAT bad after all. He’s under contract for 1 more year & we sorta kinda do have a LOT of other pressing NEEDS coming up shortly.
December 6th, 2020 at 2:26 pm
Gronk has made it very clear he’s done with football after this year but who knows. I’m gonna have to replace Suh or Shaq money with JPP. Draft a strong bg body DT in the first or second. And get a starting OT in the first or second to replace Butterball Smith.
Seems like there might be a new coaching staff so who knows…
December 6th, 2020 at 2:27 pm
Awesome news.
December 6th, 2020 at 2:34 pm
“Many big-name Bucs are without a contract for 2021, including Lavonte David, Shaq Barrett, Ndamukong Suh, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Succop and more. (No, Joe’s not listing Antonio Brown or Leonard Fournette. Joe expects them to have new addresses next season.)”
Joe, agree with you 100%. Godwin, JPP, Suh, Shaq, Gronkowski, Succop and David. In that order.
December 6th, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Defense Rules
“Hmmm, given our other NEEDS, I wonder if MAYBE Donovan really isn’t THAT bad after all. He’s under contract for 1 more year & we sorta kinda do have a LOT of other pressing NEEDS coming up shortly.”
Hahahaha. Sorry about that. You really think Smith is top dollar LT?! My side hurts. Wirfs will be swung to the LT and they can draft a RT in the first or second. Drafting a LT early is always a bad idea in my book. Need to take that $14 million and find a vet premier CB.
December 6th, 2020 at 2:59 pm
Gronk said this year is really the last?
December 6th, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Hill signed an extension through the 2021 season in April that was due to pay him $21 million, with $16 million being guaranteed and another $1 million possible in incentives.Nov 22, 2020
December 6th, 2020 at 3:20 pm
Every team in the league would be in trouble if the salary cap was to drop 20 to 30 million, it would cause mayhem cutting player wise so I believe the NFL will try its best to not have a huge drop like all the Chicken Little’s in the media have been predicting.
December 6th, 2020 at 3:24 pm
SOEbuc … We’ll see; my gut feel is that the Bucs will live with Donovan for 1 more year, at least. We know what we need on the DLine (at least 2 high-round draft picks … DT & DE/OLB). That’ll be the priority, UNLESS a QB happens to fall into our laps early in the draft.
December 6th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Fingers crossed!
December 6th, 2020 at 3:37 pm
The league is not in trouble if the cap took a hit nor are teams. Players are. Cap is directly tied to salaries. It is what it is. The teams that are in the best positions to capitalize on FAs whether it’s cap casualties or expiring contracts will be able to get good talent relatively cheaply. Now not lowering the cap means league should use it as “Good Will” as they look to sign a new CBA.
December 6th, 2020 at 4:58 pm
SOEbuc is full of it. Gronk never said this is his last year. He’ll be back next season as long as Brady is on the team which he will be.
December 6th, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Why do people make stuff up and post it? It’s fine to give your opinion, but please do not say something is fact when it is just your opinion.
December 6th, 2020 at 5:28 pm
DR
If Wirfs wasn’t so awesome right now, they might resign him with a big pay cut. But Wirfs has been pancaking the best of the best all year and that’s who you want on the back end. Can use a lot less than $14 million on a good RT.
December 6th, 2020 at 5:42 pm
I missed this amazing news…
Cappa is the leading vote getting at guard in pro-bowl voting?
That’s why you don’t let fans vote, they’re literally idiots.
I know it sounds like I’m bagging on Cappa, I’m not, he’s been solid – but better than Marpet? LOL!
Also Delvin White is the top vote getting at ILB? Wow, again, wow. Idiot fans. White has, mostly, had a nice year – but David is by and far the better LB at this point their careers.
These results are amazing.
Those are the only two that show up as the top vote getters at the moment.
December 6th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
thats bs man…
gronk is tied at the hip with brady…
if brady is here so goes gronk…
garan fuggen teed
December 6th, 2020 at 7:10 pm
Honestly Gronkowski is a shell of his former self. If OJ is back next year that will be a huge upgrade at the TE position.
December 6th, 2020 at 7:16 pm
DR,
Calm down Chief.
Who says you have to draft a quality LT in the 1st round?
If one is there, then sure, but a first round grade doesn’t guarantee success now does it.
Moving Wirfs to LT is an option and a very good one IMO.
Then we could draft a RT to replace him.
Watch Donovan like I do and you’d see total ineptitude.
He is bad.
No, he sucks plain and simple.
He’s got to go.
December 6th, 2020 at 7:29 pm
DooshLaRue
I see it every week. It’s a joke when they call Smith good when he has a good game once in a blue moon.
December 6th, 2020 at 9:02 pm
Reading all the comments this week. In my mind the fanbase has gone crazy and trying to run off the coaching staff.
I just dont know what to say after the last 20 years of 4-5 win seasons. I though yall would be happy with a solid 7-5 start. I can understand freaking out during the middle of our 4-5 win seasons but why now?
Football seasons are roller coasters. Expect maybe the 86′ 49ers or the 08′ Patriots. Football seasons have ups and down. You were all talking SuperBowls back in Week 7. Now Week 12 its fire everybody!!!! NOW!!!!! Yall got problems.
I got news for you. If we get into the dance and gotta play the Saints or Packers again…….You are going to change your tune again depending on which way the wind blows. So quite calling for peoples heads dumbasses. This team has tons of room for improvement. Enjoy the game on Sunday and seeing how much better they can get.
GO BUCS!!!
December 6th, 2020 at 9:07 pm
OT, DT and, DE. Given the Bucs will probably pick 20-something, I think you go BPA in one of those 3 positions. My preference would be DE in the 1st with RT in the 2nd (if the plan is to move Wirst to LT) unless you can get the #1 or #2 DT instead of the #4 or #5 OT or DE. Very good DTs can be found in the 2nd or 3rd round usually. Besides I think Suh would come back for another year. I believe there are a number of players willing to stay as long as Brady is here. But then there may be an exodus of players by their choice or the GMs due to $ (D Smith, Gronk, Jensen, Brate, Suh, Griffin, Gabbert, Gholston) for younger less expensive options.
Taking the 3 positions mentioned along with C, G and WR this year would be a start on the plan. With OJ’s return and possibly keeping Brate after Gronk leaves could allow you to wait on TE until 2022. Backup QBs are always available in FA.
That leaves the TB12 replacement in 2022. We’ve seen lots of QBs step right in during year 1. Bucs will need to trade up using at least both 2022 and 2023 1st rd picks to get a top QB in the draft. But if you have a strong team around him, that will be more beneficial than sitting on the bench for a year.
December 6th, 2020 at 9:10 pm
As for the article. Defense Rules we cant keep D.Smith bro. He hasent been able to handle the Saints not once in his 6 years here. He simply is not good enough.
You drafted Wirfs in Round 1. He should be good enough to move to LT. He certainly looks good enough.
Then you fill in at RT. Draft one, maybe 2, in the middle rounds. And we have been very good at finding solid veterans(Watford, Shipley) who can keep us solid. Or you sign a bigger name with the money saved at LT. Lots of options.
The rest of our free agents are good debates. All except Succop. Any Bucs fan that doesnt want to keep Succop can walk off the skyway.
December 6th, 2020 at 9:17 pm
People were excited at 6-2, but are now very upset ar going 1-3 in the 3rd quarter. If we go 3-1 in the next 4 weeks and end up 10-6 or better, you will hear cheers again — especially if we can win 1 or 2 playoff games after that.
I don’t believe the Glazers are looking to make a coaching change. Arians will get at least another year because of the Corona virus (no real off season, many changes). The only way a coaching change happens is if the Bucs fall apart in Q4 also and don’t even make the expanded playoffs.
December 6th, 2020 at 9:25 pm
1. Sign Godwin to a long term deal.
2. Sign David to a final contract.
3. Sign Shaq to a readonable contract based on last year and this years’ average.
All of these could be 4 or 5 years.
4. Sign JPP for 2-3 more years.
5. Sign Suh and Gronk for one more year, but Gronk needs to take a significant pay cut.
6. Give Succop what he wants — we don’t want another 10 years of K problems.
December 6th, 2020 at 9:40 pm
Some people think the Bucs still need a RB. While not a Rojo fan, he has proven himself as a runner (still needs to work on pass catching). I don’t see Fournette or McCoy here next year; so they will need to be replaced with a FA or UFA. RB just isn’t going to be a priority in the 2021 draft. Maybe the 2nd rd of the 2022 draft after you decide if you will keep Rojo or not since he’ll be in the final year of his rookie contract in 2021.
Keep Pinion for his KOs for another year, but he needs to improve his punting distance or the Bucs need to find someone better.
December 6th, 2020 at 10:24 pm
Godwin is a core player.
Everyone else is a nice to have… mostly due to age…
JPP, David, Shaq, Suh, Gronk
Goodbye AB, Shady, Fournette… and hopefully Left Sandwich.
December 6th, 2020 at 10:31 pm
Gotta replace David. He’s good but if he wants to stay has to take apaycut. He drops many ints other linebackers dont. Make offer 5mill
Godwin, succoup and jpp in that order are priority.
Donny gets 10 mill take it or leave it.
Cb de dt maybe ot in draft
December 7th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
@Defense Rules- you do realize Smith is due to make $17.25mil next year, right? He is getting cut period, there is no way they’re keeping him for that much for what he has shown. We will probably look to replace him in free agency or in one of the first 3 rounds. If the salary cap is around $195mil we will have around $50mil in cap space.
December 7th, 2020 at 6:10 pm
KC’s Top 8 salaries count for $135M.
They’ll have $60M to pay the other 48 players?
It’s going to be a FA Bloodbath in 2021.