Will Anyone Be Granted Early Release?
March 9th, 2022
Punter Bradley Pinion
Back in 2014, the Bucs granted their starting quarterback an early ejection so he could get a head start on free agency.
Either that, or Team Glazer’s cleaning crew insisted it was necessary to sanitize One Buc Palace.
Yes, a full month before free agency began in 2015, the Bucs let go of veteran quarterback Josh McCown. It’s the kind of move dealt to a respected veteran. Why? It gives the guy a jump on free agency, so he can meet with teams sooner than others are allowed to, and to presumably have a better chance at landing a job.
It was announced today that the Seahawks have cut future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner, five days before the free agency siren blows. So now Wagner can take a deep breath and get his agent working immediately.
So what about the Bucs? Will they launch anyone early?
Given the boring rules of the NFL salary cap, it’s unlikely, though punter Bradley Pinion may not want to look at his phone today. He’s ripe to get chopped to save a few million.
For guys like Cameron Brate and Ryan Succop, the Bucs are probably better off waiting until after June 1.
March 9th, 2022 at 9:23 am
I’m really hoping we can get this guy McBride but he won’t be there at number 27
March 9th, 2022 at 9:40 am
agreed…McBride’s a player, #27 isn’t too high.
March 9th, 2022 at 9:42 am
cool guy but he deserves to be cut
March 9th, 2022 at 9:44 am
I guess the most successful teams have a certain percentage of their players always on rookie contracts. I don’t see how you can be successful year in and you’re out otherwise
March 9th, 2022 at 10:13 am
Wrong post to discuss draft prospects, guys! But a TE Rd1?? Really??? Haven’t you learnt your lesson?
March 9th, 2022 at 10:29 am
Bucs NEED salary CAP money to re-sign any of our own FAs like Cappa, Stinnie. Whitehead & a host of others (I’ve already written off Jensen & Davis). We NEED salary CAP money to sign any decent FAs to replace future HOFers like Suh & JPP (I HOPE both get re-signed, but I doubt they will). We NEED salary CAP money to sign our draft picks. Etc, etc, etc.
Right now we’ve got $2.1 mil. Whooppee! That’ll buy … oh ya, nobody. Replacing Pinion with a rookie saves about $2.0 mil. Replacing Succop with Borregales saves about another $2.5 mil. Assuming that the bottom 10 don’t make the team saves another $7.8 mil. Ali Marpet’s still counted (as of today) in the 46 on our roster, so when his retirement takes effect Bucs should save another $5.6 mil (there’s a lot of Dead CAP to be accounted for with Ali).
That’d bring our available salary CAP to $20.0 mil to sign or re-sign roughly 20 FAs/draft picks. Double whooppee. Yes we could restructure several contracts (and may well have to). Yes we could release a couple more guys to free up more $$$, but then THOSE HOLES would have to be refilled too.
THIS is the price of going all-in for 2020 & 2021. And we won’t just be paying it in 2022; that price extends to 2023 & 2024 too. Folks can talk about making a run at the SB this year all they want, BUT … the math simply doesn’t work.
March 9th, 2022 at 10:31 am
I like the TE from A&M, but he will be gone at some point in the 2nd. I also like the TEs from UVA and UCLA. I think they are 3rd or 4th rd picks.
March 9th, 2022 at 11:28 am
Replace Pinion with Matt Araiza….he can kick fg’s too.
March 9th, 2022 at 2:57 pm
Please keep #33pitt
March 9th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
I think Brate has gas left in the tank. He never had much of a chance with Brady/Gronk connection playing out and BA and Lefty being ignorant on using TEs in the mix. Just sayin.
March 9th, 2022 at 9:17 pm
Jensen is our 2nd priority after Godwin. So why you on here saying Jensen is a done deal.