Unlikely Roster Cut
May 20th, 2021
Seems safe.
With rookies beginning to sign contracts across the NFL, one NFL columnist believes teams could be shaving salaries of veterans as the rookies come into the fold.
Over at CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso looked NFL veterans who may not be as safe as we think. Trapasso believes Bucs defensive lineman Will Gholston could be a salary cap cut.
William Gholston
Cap savings if released: $5M
Potential rookie replacement: Joe TryonThe second-longest tenured player on the Buccaneers roster after Lavonte David, Gholston was a fourth-round selection in 2013 and has appeared in 119 regular season games for the team that drafted him.
To summarize Gholston’s NFL career, he’s never been bad enough to be a wart on the roster but has never resembled a star. And he’ll be 30 in July. Not really old. But that round number has a negative connotation in the NFL.
And, unfortunately for Gholston, the Buccaneers used a first-round pick on Tryon, a thick, high-motor defensive end certainly capable of setting a rock-solid edge against the run.
What makes this scenario fascinating — Gholston set a career high with 56 pressures in 2020 on just 57% of the defensive snaps.
His previous high in a single season was 34, and that came all the way back in Jameis Winston’s rookie season of 2015. Traits-wise and due to age, Tryon has more pass-rushing upside. But was that 56-pressure 2020 an aberration from Gholston or a sign of a late-career resurgence? Tampa Bay is loaded up front and we know they made it a priority to bring everyone back from their Super Bowl win a few months ago. But this battle on the edge is definitely worth monitoring this summer.
Now Joe doesn’t think Gholston is in danger of being released at all. He is what former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter would refer to as a “glue guy.”
If you compare Gholston to Tryon as far as a pass rusher, yeah, Joe could see how someone could conclude Gholston’s roster spot may be vulnerable.
Joe doesn’t believe the Bucs necessarily look at Gholston as a pass rusher (though he led the team in quarterback hits). Joe believes the Bucs look at Gholston as a run-stuffer, unlike Tryon who is looked at as an edge rusher.
As a run-stuffer, Gholston is good and may be underrated.
We all know how much Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles believes in stopping the run first. For the Bucs to get rid of one of their best run-stoppers on the defensive line, that just seems out of character.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:42 am
I agree, Willy G is a glue guy.
So the article begs the question @Joe, what if any of our vets will be a cap casualty this year, in order to sign our Rookies?
Is it possible we could lose a Scotty or perhaps someone along the either line?
May 20th, 2021 at 8:44 am
Willie also plays inside, we don’t know if Tryon can do that yet. We didn’t draft any DT’s because Will can play there. So I don’t see him going anywhere unless another player becomes available where that 5 million would be better spent. Can’t think of a better place to spend money then on our D line.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:44 am
Ewww… that is a very scary thought, he is much more than a unsung hero, he does the dirty work that allows the big plays by big names, only until a youngster can beat him out on the field and not on the cap chart !
May 20th, 2021 at 8:50 am
Everyone knows what the Ghost is in the line up to do….stuff the run, and he’s one of the best in the game at !!
May 20th, 2021 at 8:52 am
I thought Gholston had a very nice year last year and was important to the Bucs success. I think the Bucs need to look elsewhere for cuts.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:52 am
William Gholston isn’t much as a passing rushing DE but he is great against the run defense. Bucs will extend him to a cap friendly contract before cutting him.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:53 am
Miller is under contract through 2022.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:55 am
What an idiot this Trapasso guy is.
#1: Gholston was a key member for that front three. Didn’t he lead the team in QB hits in 2020? The Gholston/Vea/Suh front three is close to perfect as a 3-4 gets.
#2, Tryon does NOT play the same position as Gholston.
Gholston is a beast. Tryon is a fancy-pants pass rusher, not a beast.
May 20th, 2021 at 8:56 am
Don’t think he’s going anywhere. Given the team’s mindset of keeping players from last year, and Licht’s ability to effectively work the cap, he should be fine. Things may change for the 2022 season, but not worried about this year.
May 20th, 2021 at 9:00 am
THis is a case of the national media not understanding the roster. My best guess for a surprise veteran cut would be Kevin Minter or Anthony Nelson.
May 20th, 2021 at 9:05 am
You can’t name a guy that plays a different position as the replacement to justify a cut. Tryon is playing more of the JPP/Shaqking role. Gholston doesn’t get the sacks but he does cause pocket disruptions that open lanes for the outside pressure.
May 20th, 2021 at 9:16 am
Keep an eye on DE Davis … he really came on strong during the post season, flashed into the screen just off the hit . I am not suggesting anything other than keep an eye on on him and see if he continues to improve
May 20th, 2021 at 9:23 am
No way. Gholston had a career year last year rushing the passer. He averaged just over 6 qb hits his entire career and last year he had 20 QB hits and was excellent in run support. He must play out his contract at least.
The player on the roster that is up and coming behind Gholston is DE/DT Khalil Davis. Keep an eye on his play this year. He flashed in the little time that he played.
May 20th, 2021 at 9:30 am
gholston suffered years of improper coaching with schiano and smitty….no way he’s cut…
never knew 4th round picks were suppose to become stars…lol…
GO BUCS!!!!
May 20th, 2021 at 9:37 am
Gholston has a $5.5m non-guaranteed salary for 2021 and is a FA in 2022.
Licht could offer him a 2 year guaranteed salary of $8mil……..$3 in 21 & 5 in 22…..That would save us 2.5 mil on the cap and give Will some guaranteed money.
Gholston is important rotational piece in our Defense.
May 20th, 2021 at 9:46 am
he gets bigger and better every year. More like a DT now. KEEP HIM!
May 20th, 2021 at 9:46 am
Actually Schiano seemed to have the right idea how to use Gholston. Schiano had played Gholston as a tackle. The Smiths tried to turn Gholston into an end. smh
May 20th, 2021 at 10:14 am
Gholsten is so much better as a 3-4 end, than he was as 4-3 end or Tackle.
He is very good at holding his ground. Almost a prototype 3-4 end.
His job is to free up our LBers, and Gholsten is great at it.
Hes made a great career, out of hard work.
I also would be surprised to see him get cut
May 20th, 2021 at 10:18 am
Gholston’s safe this year.
May 20th, 2021 at 10:19 am
He’s made a nice career for himself. Posters here have been trying to run him out of town for years.
May 20th, 2021 at 10:39 am
Such a bad take by CBS. They don’t play the same position, period.
May 20th, 2021 at 10:43 am
He’s a keeper. Besides don’t want him to miss out chance for second ring! GO BUCS!
May 20th, 2021 at 10:47 am
A few years ago, I would have said it’s a good possibility he gets cut due to the salary cap, but not now. He’s playing great football at a reasonable cap hit. We need quality depth on the D Line and he can play inside out.
May 20th, 2021 at 10:55 am
You don’t bring back all the starters … to cut a starter.
May 20th, 2021 at 10:56 am
This is comical. Realisto must have found a job writing for Say-BS Sports!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2021 at 10:57 am
Tryon is not readay yet t play that position, would be very surprising if Gholston is cut…..He is not a superstar but he is an extremly reliable player….
Can´t imagine this happening
May 20th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Pretty sure that I read here that Golston had the best run stuffing grade from the stat nerds. I doubt he’s going anywhere.
May 20th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Why would the Bucs cut Gholston & insert Tryon in his place? Gholston is a key player in stopping the run game & Tryon is being brought in as a pass rusher to someday possibly replace JPP.
Joe, this article makes no sense at all. Gholston is a pure run stopping DE & Tryon is a pass rushing OLB.
May 20th, 2021 at 11:15 am
Chris Trapasso wins the Dead Carp award for most ignorant Bucs take by the media, for all the reasons mentioned. And that carp got paid to write that bile.
May 20th, 2021 at 11:25 am
Mr. Trapasso’s analysis suffers because of the distance from which he views our situation. If he had watched how JL has operated for the past four or five years and then seen how well he has worked with BA he would not have made those remarks.
He would have seen how Gholston fits as several people have pointed out here.
May 20th, 2021 at 11:25 am
The two most underrated players on the Bucs roster are Gholston and Anthony Nelson. WG stuffs the run, and Nelson comes in to give JPP and Shaq breaks and you never even notice. Nelson pressured Carr into throwing the INT to David, and even in the SB on KCs 3rd (maybe their 2nd) he was the guy in Pats face on the screen causing him to get rid of the ball way to early for the screen on 3rd down.
Will is just Will… and its perfect for the Bucs. He can win one on one’s, and he keeps OL off the LBs. He’s not going anywhere. I actually think player who will be cut is Minter at LB. I think Britt shows he can play ST and is a better LB, and I think Grant is the ST captain come 2022….
May 20th, 2021 at 11:33 am
I agree Minter is the one vet on the DL at some risk, but he’s better than we think, he’s way smart and knows the calls — no rook could come in for either LVD or DW the way Minter can.
May 20th, 2021 at 11:39 am
Only buffoons think Gholston would be cut. Look at a stat sheet and see he isn’t loading up on sacks and TFL… maybe a stats geek would think he isn’t worth it. Watch a game, and you’ll see that’s wrong. Gholston didn’t just set his own record for QB hits… he led the team. Plus, he’s a monster against the run. You don’t cut guys like him, especially when they are bargains like him.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
This would be COMPLETELY moronic. Gholston belongs on this team. Tryon? Jury is way, way out.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:19 pm
This looks a lot like the Scotty/Jaelon argument, but on defense.
May 20th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
You don’t need much cap to sign rookie class. The Cap only counts for top 51 guys and most of the draft class won’t fall into that.
May 20th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Watson would be my roster concern
May 20th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
What a misleading way to describe someone else’s news report.
May 20th, 2021 at 1:28 pm
The problem with this idea is that this reporter apparently hasn’t looked at the body type difference. Tryon is a lean 265 lb. edge rusher, which is an OLB in our scheme. Gholston is a big DE, a run stopper… Tryon is not a DE in our scheme. One day, if he gets bulked up, maybe, but I don’t think that’s where they envision him in a Bowles defense.
The reporter who suggested this doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about. Or perhaps the NFL offseason speculation industrial complex forces stupid ideas.
May 20th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Pretty much!
May 20th, 2021 at 2:42 pm
I dont know much about Tryon but I though he was an edge player.
He sure as hell dont look big enough to play inside next to Vita like Will does. I dong know maybe he is big enough. I guess we will see. But my kneejerk reaction is that this guy from CBS dont got a clue what the heck hes talking about…….Does he think Ghston is an OLB or that Tryon is an interior lineman? This take is very confusing to me.
May 20th, 2021 at 2:54 pm
This is a crazy idea–Gholston broke into the top ten DL’s in the NFL for QB pressures adjusted for number of snaps played.
Also, as mentioned, he’s very different from Tryon–in his recent presser on the Bucs website he says he’s keeping his weight over 300, as opposed to 262.
May 20th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
One of the most underrated and under appreciated players on our team. Would hate to see Will be a cap casualty, keep the man.
May 20th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Gholston is the Pillar of Sparta!!!
He’s my favorite player!
From homeless to a hero!!!
He is the perfect 3-4 DE!
He sets the edge EVERY FREAKING TIME!!
Willie will retire a Buc!
He’s a legend!!!
May 20th, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Bucs are not deep on defensive line. No way they cut him.
May 20th, 2021 at 6:48 pm
Not a chance Gholston gets cut. Anthony Nelson I could see being cut.
May 21st, 2021 at 4:10 am
Blaine Gabbert would be my pick for veteran least likely to be here in September. Bruce Arians talking him up all of the sudden seems fishy
May 21st, 2021 at 10:57 am
!st off BA loves Gabbert. Griffin is more likely to be cut or traded. A few years ago I was ready to wave bye to Gholston but since then he’s become an important part of the team as well as Minter. Neither should be going anywhere. If anything I’d say good bye to Howard.