Pair Of Contracts That Could Be Extended
March 3rd, 2021
One way for the Bucs to free up cash to keep their Big 8 free agents is to extend contracts.
To do this, of course, the player has to be kosher with it.
Now a lot of folks are fixated on the contract of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, trophy-throwing Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Last week Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said he is open-minded to extending Brady’s contract, which expires at the end of the 2021 season.
Joe wrote a week ago about Licht potentially doing the same thing for left tackle Donovan Smith and center Ryan Jensen. Like Brady, both have contracts expiring after the 2021 season.
Jenna Laine of ESPN laid out the numbers yesterday. And added another offensive lineman to the mix.
Smith and Jensen will count $14.25 million and $10 million respectively against the cap … But Licht said both would be returning in 2021, giving the Bucs all their starters from 2020. New deals for both could help alleviate their cap situation. Marpet already agreed to restructure once last year, which freed up $4.125 million. With a $12 million cap hit this year, it could certainly help if he did it again.
Here is the thing Licht has going for him: If guys get backloaded new contract extensions. It is believed the salary cap will jump next year and maybe even more so in 2023.
Joe guesses that with more and more people getting vaccinated, officials will allow more fans in NFL stadiums. At least an average of half-capacity across the country ?
Also, the NFL is just about finished finalizing its new TV contracts. The NFL’s goal was to double current TV revenue. It may not be that much but Disney/ABC/BSPN just went from paying the NFL $1.9 billion a year to $2.6 billion annually, an increase of some 30 percent.
Those TV deals will certainly bump up the salary cap.
Despite Smith’s avowed and devout haters still lying awake at night wanting him run out of town, the Bucs have a significantly higher opinion of Smith and from what Joe can gather, they have no desire to see Smith walk out the door after the 2021 season.
Jensen, too, is a guy the Bucs like and this past year he had his best season with the Bucs.
Jensen will be 31 after the 2021 season, Smith 28. So it is not like the Bucs would be extending old men.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:03 am
Correction……Durable Donnie would loaf out the door Joe.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:06 am
Joe,
So in an earlier article you state:
This past season, Reddick blew up with 12.5 sacks in a contract year (which smells out loud). His previous high was four sacks.
But Donnie underperformed until Brady got here and a fire was lite under his azz.
Kinda the same thing isn’t it?
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:11 am
I love Jensen but maybe its time to draft his replacement, would save us alot of money.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:16 am
Dont forget a 17th game and the tv and fans that go with that. Most stars dont play in preseason so they will want bigger contracts for extra beating of a game. Cap will definitely go way up.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:17 am
Keep the o-line & d-line together or i will spin violently in my grave
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:32 am
pewter941 I like Jensen, he brings the nasty to the O line.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:46 am
Keep/extend both of these guys……reliable….continuity on the Oline important.
Draft Dlinemen…..
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:48 am
SC Bucs Fan. I know, we cant keep everyone forever though.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:54 am
@Bird: I am not sure if 17th game nets more $$$ since PS games are the same price.
It does make the TV contract bigger.
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:54 am
It’s POSSIBLE we’ll end up in salary cap hell like the Eagles, but with our current GOAT status, is say it’s worth the risk
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:03 am
Win now dont worry about future
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:03 am
Thats a lot for 2 OL, but protecting TB needs to be top priority. like someone else said, DS will loaf later. I think Jensen’s nasty mentality is one of his biggest positives to the group and TB seems to have him under control penalty wise. These guys probably know it though and have a lot of leverage. good luck getting them to restructure.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:19 am
Alex Guerreau is Brady’s trainer, Jensen is his body guard, he ain’t going anywhere!
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:25 am
one more year and we should see where to go from there
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:33 am
Absolutely they should extend them both. This entire line is younger than people think. Spread the money out. Extend Brady, spread the money out. Restructure Evans.
They need to do everything they can to retain Shaq & LVD & Suh & Godwin.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:37 am
@Pewter941 … “I love Jensen but maybe its time to draft his replacement, would save us alot of money.”
I like him too, a lot (he’s my kind of nasty OLineman who loves smashmouth football). And ‘stability’ on the OLine is advantageous IMO, BUT … it’s also essential to keep ‘new blood’ flowing into that position group (preferably serving initially as depth, then eventually taking over for starters).
A reasonable way (I think) to evaluable a position group’s cost is ‘Average CAP Dollars’. Bucs’ current active 2021 roster has 9 Olinemen under contract at an average cost of $5,011,624. We rank #3 in the NFL using that criteria, close behind the Saints (#1) & Falcons (#2) (our OLine is costly IOW). That amounts to almost ONE-QUARTER (23.8%) of our adjusted CAP dollars BTW.
Still, we won the Super Bowl; the other 31 teams didn’t. And in 2020 we had a very solid OLine, as well as a very solid DLine. Maybe we’re doing something right? Our starters on BOTH lines were beasts, and held up VERY well over our 20-game season. Probably a good idea to keep them together for one more run at the roses, BUT … add depth via the draft and potentially in free agency.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:39 am
Dipstick from Hell, another swing and a miss, douche bag.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:46 am
Keep Jensen and smith another 3 yrs. just have good depth.
One thing about licht and staff is how the contracts are done. Very good job.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:47 am
Rumor coming down. Godwin and David are going to remain Bucs.
Gholston. Pinion , brate cut.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:52 am
As soon as they give lazy ass Smith an extension he would go back to his lazy ass ways. Just because he had a few good games at the end of the season does not mean he’s a pro bowler. Since the time he got drafted he played when he felt like it. It was the same way in college. He is what he is. One big lazy ass.
March 3rd, 2021 at 10:59 am
I’m of the mind that the Bucs should draft and OG, and quite possibly a developmental LT and C. I’d prefer stability, especially with a relatively immobile QB who plans to play for at least two or more years. The problem is that there’s a salary cap problem. It’s easy for fans to say, “one for all and all for one” but NFL players need to look for making money with shortening shelf-lives. The Bucs have over $24 million in a starting C and LT, that’s a lot of cap space on a team that needs flexibility for guys like Vea and White will soon need big paydays sooner than you think.
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:01 am
Here is a thought.
Stinnie played very well. What if we trade Smith. Move Marpet to tackle where he played in college with Stinnie at guard. Draft replacement Tackle as it is deep draft for it. Get a late 1st for Smith….
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:04 am
@Adrnagy
That’s what I was talking about yesterday. The decision at TE is to either cut Brate or try trading OJ (who is probably worth a 5th round pick at best). Gholston and Brate seem expendable because it looks like there will be vet TEs and DEs available due to cap cost cutting.
I really like Brate, he’s solid. But if someone like Kyle Rudolph wants to chase a ring with a very team-friendly contract, the savings could be used to help ease Godwin, Shaq and David back onto the roster.
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:04 am
You started off really well… BUT… Marpet is not a tackle.
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:07 am
Joe doesn’t think OJ is tradeable. He’s coming off a messed up Achilles. Joe doesn’t know of too many
suckersteams who are willing to part with a draft pick for damaged goods.March 3rd, 2021 at 11:07 am
You are forgetting who his quarterback is.
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:15 am
@Canabuc
LT is a tough position to replace. I’d rather draft a developmental OT within the first three rounds and have him work as a potential swing tackle. If the draftee develops, you give him a larger workload as the season progresses. LT is one of those positions that is littered with lots of draft busts, so seeing what you have in a second or third round draftee is a good idea before throwing him into the fire. Marpet is a tad undersized for a LT and though he’s athletic, I’m not so sure he can more laterally well enough for the speed rushers. Marpet is an elite G so keep him there.
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:16 am
On this episode of “Douche Hates Donnie”, a former JV standout takes a left tackle to task while longing for the days/daze of Kenyatta Walker and/or Anthony Collins.
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:18 am
@Joe
You might be right. A fifth round pick is pretty optimistic for OJ. I’m just hoping that some GM with a dire roster need (hello Bill Belichick) decides that a fifth is worth a one year tryout (just think of the upside Bill!).
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:19 am
LOL Well done!
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:26 am
Duemig from HELL Says:
March 3rd, 2021 at 9:17 am
Keep the o-line & d-line together or i will spin violently in my grave
-‐———————-
Tmax, is that you? You sound like a dick, just like tmax…
March 3rd, 2021 at 11:47 am
One TE will be gone.Brate or oj. Unless they take a pay cut. And brink back gronk. 2yrs. Option on 2 Yr. I do like to keep tanner.
Pinion cut. Give that money to succop. And carry a rookie punter. No difference in paying a punter 3m or rookie. In stats.
Evans contract can free AB money.
Oline contracts can get Godwin money.
And all the extra cap space for David. Suh. Shaq.
March 3rd, 2021 at 1:06 pm
What Winney said….
March 3rd, 2021 at 1:21 pm
The Bucs have $148-million in cap space next year, and that’s before the cap goes up… They can bring back everyone if they want to — and if the Glazers are going to spend the cash to make it happen. I’m not on the Glazers are cheap bandwagon like so many of the dopes around here were, but still, it will take a lot of cash over the next 15-months if they want to take advantage of this opening.
March 3rd, 2021 at 1:29 pm
I don’t believe the Bucs can do anything with OJ’s contract from a restructure standpoint, it’s a rookie deal so I think he’d have to be cut to resigned to do anything.
As for who to keep, the choose would be easy if OJ was healthy, he’s the much much better talent and better blocker, which is important in this offense. Brate was barely playing before OJ got injured, and that was for a reason. Brate has good hands (unless he’s dropping passes on 4th down with 3 mins left to lose you the Houston game), but he’s going to be 30 this season and can’t get open if he had to start. OJ was basically playing the role of the #1 TE before he got hurt and while Gronk was still getting in shape.
BUT OJ isn’t healthy, and has a history of injuries. Personally, if I’m the Bucs, I’m keeping OJ, he could be a monster in this offense if he can just stay healthy, and while $6m is a good amount of money, even backup TEs are now getting that money. As stated above the Bucs can’t, I don’t think, restructure his deal – so it’s a take it or leave it offer, unless the Bucs want to cut him and resign him (again, I think that’s how it would work, I’m not certain).
Brate at $6.5m, as a #2, is OK, I guess, but he’s a legit #2 who can’t be your top guy and who will hurt your team as a #1 TE. To me, that’s too much money. At $4m I’d like him a lot more.
March 3rd, 2021 at 1:33 pm
Be careful extending D Smith too long (1-2 yrs). We’ve seen how he can be. Don’t let the last 8 games fool you.
The Bucs had a significantly higher opinion of LT Kenyatta “the pinata” Walker after we won the last Super Bowl when he got hot at the end of the season. We all know how that turned out.
March 3rd, 2021 at 1:41 pm
“Bucs Guy Says: Be careful extending D Smith too long (1-2 yrs). We’ve seen how he can be. Don’t let the last 8 games fool you.”
He’s literally been a completely average LT who never misses a snap his entire career. Literally average, meaning like the 12-20th best LT.
Those guys, who are middle of the pack but never miss a game are incredibly valuable since they don’t hurt you and don’t get your QB killed.
March 3rd, 2021 at 2:57 pm
“The Bucs have $148-million” Not after we sign this years FA and after restructure existing players.
March 3rd, 2021 at 2:59 pm
It ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Draft BPA, if that’s a LT, or center so be it. Don’t reach. It’s hard to win the SB, harder to repeat. Do whatever it takes to give these guys an opportunity to repeat.
March 3rd, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Rod, cap space is will be scarce next year. The reason why it looks so bloated is because so many key free agents this season (Shaq, Godwin, David, Suh, Brown, Gronk, etc.) are unsigned, and many key free agents after next season (Brady, Marpet, Smith, Jensen, JPP, Vea, etc.) are also unsigned. If you add their collective market values together, you’ll see that the value is well above $148 million.
March 3rd, 2021 at 5:16 pm
People panicking about only having $148m available next year?!? WOW. Also, note, that $148m is BEFORE the cap goes up, which is likely to happen, likely by $20m at least, meaning you’re looking at $170m basically. If you can’t build a roster with that, you’re a very very bad GM.
Anyways, on your list of guys… for 2022 JPP is gone, Jensen will likely be gone (it’s why you draft a center this year), Vea is on the 5th year of his rookie deal, which means he goes up but isn’t a FA, and I’m not paying a guy who only plays 40% of snaps and misses time every year huge money in any case. Marpet is under contract. As for the other guys, David will hopefully still be here, but almost certainly Suh and Brown are not. As for Gronk, he’s basically a value signing – and same for Brady, unless he demands $40m a year – which is unlikely.
In any case I said to push things to 2023, which the Bucs can do with guarantees. If we’re one of the top teams in football in 2021 and 2022, but that comes with paying a price in 2023 of being in “cap hell” (which isn’t real), then whatever, I’ll live with it. This isn’t the mid-to-late 90s Bucs where we drafted a bunch of HOF’ers who were all in their prime when they won it all, only to have an incompetent coach blow it up – this team is a rental, and I’m OK, but a rental also comes with an end date, which I’m also OK with.
March 4th, 2021 at 3:27 am
I like this offensive line if healthy.
Should be their last year if we can draft their replacement
Loving the fact if teams start jumping for Harris and Toney we might could land Teven Jenkins from OK ST.
He could fill in at RG year 1 and even slide to RT if Wirfs can play LT.
O Line gets better and post Brady line is young and good.
Otherwise you gotta go D Line and do the same for JPP and Suh.
Barrett becomes an absolute necessity until we find the right replacements.
Hence, Free up that money on the O Line.
March 4th, 2021 at 8:46 am
Keep the defense together and the Kicker. I think the offense will be okay if Lenny and Godwin left in FA. You can bring AB back on and pair with Evans and that will be a good 1 to 2 punch along with Johnson, and Miller. Not to mention you get OJ back.