Ryan Jensen Talks Free Agency Decision
February 3rd, 2022
Joe caught up to Bucs center Ryan Jensen today at Pro Bowl practice in chilly Las Vegas.
Jensen was all fired up and enjoying the stargazing with so many studs of the game around.
Joe asked Jensen whether the Buccaneers’ quarterback decision will be a factor in his looming free agency decision.
“You know, I don’t think that’s a huge factor for me right now,” Jensen said of the future Tampa Bay quarterback. “I’m just kind of riding through the waves and whatever happens happens. That’s kind of how I’ve always been. I’m not too worried about looking into that at this moment.”
Jensen added how much he loves the Bucs’ tight locker room and he has confidence a lot of players will want to keep that rolling.
Of course, money drives the bus. Maybe the Bucs can pay Jensen enough to return, maybe not.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:21 pm
Hope so! Been fun to have a dog like him on our team!
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 pm
He’s old so that’s going for the buccaneers resign
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:23 pm
If Hainsey is ready to step up, paying Jensen would seem to be a luxury… but I’d love to have him back. If we didn’t have Godwin, Davis, Whitehead, Gholston, maybe Suh, maybe Gronk, and a veteran QB (possibly) to fit under the cap, I’d want to pay him. I just don’t see how we can do it. We’re also eating a bunch of dead cap for the next 2 years. We have to dial it back a bit.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:25 pm
He gonna be gone. total rebuild.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Yeab sasquatch. For interior we have marpet, Jensen, Cappa, stinnie, and hainsey. Chances are at between Cappa, stinnie, Jensen at least one is gone. I like Jensen nastiness, but comes down to money. I actually think I want to keep stinnie the most…
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:28 pm
he is or was our lines personality…
he rubbed off on the rest of them…
#BigFiestyRed #MessWithTommyMessWithBigRed
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Like sensible people say the quarterback doesn’t matter as much as others want it too
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:34 pm
If he leaves it will all be BAs fault
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:35 pm
Seems like just yesterday casuals were saying Jensen was washed up, now they want him back.
One hopes he is honest with his “the QB really doesn’t matter much” statement.
There are not many teams with the Bucs OL that need a center.
MY gut says he’ll stay a Buc when the dust settles. At his age and in a nice environment, the team, location, and personal, why change too much at the end of a good career?
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:40 pm
Him, or Cappa, can’t see them signing both.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Keeping Jenson would Attract a free agent QB like Wilson. Knowing he’s not going to be sacked 29 times in 11 games compare to Brady 10 times in 17 games with this OL kept in tact.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Cobraboy … I HOPE your gut’s right on Jensen re-signing with us. He’s the leader of our OLine IMO, and sets the tone (no one messes with his QB). Hainsey MIGHT be ready, but nothing he did this year tells me that. Only dressed for half the games & only got 31 offensive snaps TOTAL in 4 games (all blow-outs, so those were likely garbage-time snaps). He’s a tackle by training, and seems strange to me that coaches opted to put in one-legged Wells at RT in our playoff loss rather than put in Hainsey.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Oh he’ll take the money and run if it means a better chance at a ring , IMO.
Times are a changing…
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Bucluck: It would cost at least 2 #1’s and a #2 to get Wilson, and he would have a cap hit for the Bucs of like $37m in 2022 and $42m in 2023.
I dunno, but with that cap penalty and spent draft capital, I do NOT want a Russell Wilson…or Watson, or any “big name” (I suspect McDaniels will want to keep Carr.)
Unless Licht pulls a rabbit out of the hat, Jimmy G might be the only affordable “big name” option without detonating the cap and future draft capital.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:59 pm
I hope he comes back….we need our viking!
Still hoping we draft Chasen Hines somewhere around 3rd or 4th….he’s played C and G.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:59 pm
@DR: I do not see Hainsey as big or strong enough, at present, to be an NFL starter…at any OL position.
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:06 pm
NO Jittery G Cobraboy Please!!
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:09 pm
This dude is a creature!
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:11 pm
@ Cobraboy
Jimmy G’s contract is probably still too much for the Bucs to pay if they want to keep guys like Godwin, Davis, Jenson, Whitehead, Fournette, etc…
$27 million for a mediocre QB who is injury prone?
No thanks.
Plus we would probably have to give up draft picks to SF…
Double no thanks…
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:11 pm
Hopefully they re-sign him. He is more valuable than Cappa if they have to choose one or the other
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Bucs aren’t going to mortgage the draft for a free agent QB. Also, we have a boatload of our own FA’s to sign.
Keeping guys like CG, Lenny, Jensen, Whitehead, etc. makes more sense than rolling the dice on a marginal QB.
Ease in Trask after Gabbert.
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Would like to keep Jensen. But I doubt we can keep both him and Cappa. There is a monster from U of Minnestota with a lot of upside available around the time we pick. Keep building the lines!
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:28 pm
He’s the glue. We can move the kid from Notre Dame to guard if Kappa leaves.
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:35 pm
He gone lol when guys are coy you already know
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:35 pm
Some need to think before they start wishing for Wilson, Watson (great face of the franchise) Rodgers…..or even Jimmy G. These guys make a ton of money and we would have to give up draft picks to get them. Ain’t gonna happen.
We are better letting BA have some drinks (a bunch of drinks) with his old QB Andrew Luck…….good price….no draft picks.
Or…..bring in the dreaded Bridgewater or Jameis……and then ease in Trask.
Or……to hell with Bridgewater or Jameis…..and just go with Trask…..use the savings for our other FAs…..
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Bucs are big on resigning players they drafted. Also it sounds like money is more important than which qb it is.
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Jensen isn’t coming back, his interview demeanor suggests that he’s going to the highest bidder. He knows the Bucs have other priorities, like signing Godwin, Carlton Davis, and Whitehead. Licht knew affordability would be an issue, that’s why he drafted Hainsey.
Jensen is looking at his last big dollar contract. It’ll probably take something in the neighborhood of $10 million per season, perhaps over 3 or 4 years.
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:52 pm
@PassingThru-
Exactly right on those priorities.
Godwin, Davis, Whitehead
That’s 45-55 APY commitment between those 3.
After that Gholston, which is lower $$, Suh if not retiring, Gronk if not retiring, Lenny if he doesn’t pull too much..,
Then, we get to Jensen. Not because he’s not great. I’d love to see him back, but his loss would have less impact overall and he’s gonna get paid 12-14 million… How could we possibly afford that and take care of the other needs?
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:54 pm
Keeping Jensen and the line together is more important than who plays QB. Without the big bad line, no QB will be effective. Pretty hard to draft a real plug and play center. Those guys don’t come around often.
February 3rd, 2022 at 4:56 pm
Jensen is going to be paid in Tennessee….why?
…”Aaron Rodgers is moving to Nashville”…..
pure speculation, but is very loud one…..
Bucs are out of national football interest. Rightfully so.
They have a great coaching staff, we don’t.
We were ALL Brady.
Still speculation, but make sense.
February 3rd, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Jensen is a keeper and it definitely sounds like he wants to stay here. This is the best O-line the Bucs have ever had AND the best in the league. Would be insane not to keep it intact.
I dont suppose the league would allow Jensen to wear those shades on the field. That is a very intimidating look!
February 3rd, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Jensen is our most important lineman on offense or defense. Vita Vea is more dominant but only plays half the snaps. Wirfs is also equally important but he has years left on his contract. If we want to keep our Oline being dominant then we need Jensen. Let Capps or Stinnie go. Let Suh and JPP go and get younger.
February 3rd, 2022 at 5:49 pm
Not disagreeing at all, Marine.
I would be fine with a “bridge” (water) short term. He’s had his NFL moments. I still remember him spanking the Bucs with NO…where he was 5-0 while Brees healed his mitt.
When he’s been surrounded by decent players, he’s won. When surrounded by garbage he’s not won. Nor has anyone else.
If he can come in and play decent, low-mistake QB, he’d be a low-cost asset while Trask gets more experience, and the team would not have to spend draft capital or a lot of cap $$$…so most of the core could return.
People forget that one area Belichick spent time and $$$ was the OL. Brady is the GOAT, but he never really played behind a crap OL…and that helps any QB.
February 3rd, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Key takeaway: Money Talks in FA.
February 3rd, 2022 at 7:17 pm
@ Cobra
How much will we need to pay Bridgewater?
About the same as we will pay Carlton Davis and Godwin…
Salary cap dollars are tight this year.
Be wise how you distribute them.
Is Teddy B any better than Gabbert/Trask?
February 3rd, 2022 at 7:21 pm
One positive about Teddy B is unlike Rodgers, Wilson, Jimmy G is that we don’t have to trade draft picks for him.
He is a free agent.
Probably for good reason…
February 3rd, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Jenson is a tone setter up front. They need his energy and passion. I’d argue he is the best o lineman outside Wirfs. His Intangibles are unmatched on that line
February 3rd, 2022 at 8:03 pm
Is Jensen a priority over Godwin, Davis, and Whitehead? I don’t see it. David and Whitehead are too important to our defense, and Godwin is essential for the offense.
February 3rd, 2022 at 11:01 pm
Well If he comes back great but I trust the front office enough not to worry if he does leave..This isnt a rebuild its a reload ! I will say it now that Aaron Rodgers or Jimmie G will be our QB next year. The same thing that attracted brady will atteact either one of them go tampa ,!! Fournette will be back and Suh and JPP are in their mid thirties. The rams exposed that big time !!
February 3rd, 2022 at 11:52 pm
I know we drafted that Robert Hainsley in hopes of becoming a starting center. But Please please resign this man! Licht if I’m right will not let him go. One of the best free agent signings we have ever had. His tape is awesome 🤣 bless your not. BUCS fan lol.
February 3rd, 2022 at 11:52 pm
Unless not bless.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:35 am
@mad max
He’s a CELT. A GAEL.
Not a Viking.
February 4th, 2022 at 12:37 am
It appears some don’t understand that there’s a salary cap, and last year was a magic act we’re not likely to pull off again. Where do you put Jensen on the list of priorities?
February 4th, 2022 at 1:21 am
Jensen probably wants to know if the defensive coordinator has a 12 man blitz package in his defense.
February 4th, 2022 at 1:55 am
Is he wearing a Giants’ jersey?
February 4th, 2022 at 2:07 am
Every time I see the name Bridgewater,I quiver. No thanks
February 4th, 2022 at 7:05 am
Brady left, because the defense gave up 30 points to the Rams and possibly cost him a Superbowl.