“All About Fit” Versus Money
February 28th, 2023
“The value might be there, Mr. Glazer.”
Joe suspects the latest quarterback shopping news means the Bucs are not out of the Derek Carr chase.
Not every player is all about money when he hits free agency, especially guys who already have earned more than $100 million like free agent quarterback Derek Carr has. The three-time Pro Bowler is a quality starter, not great, and he’s in the rare position of being an unrestricted free agent before free agency officially begins in 13 short days.
Carr visited the Saints and the Jets but walked away without a contract. NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport said yesterday Carr will be meeting in person with various teams in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Per Rapoport, Carr is not shopping for the best offer because the Carr camp “is all about fit” for Carr personally.
“Derek Carr has not had any substantial discussions about price or value with any of these teams. It has been all about fit. That is the most important thing [for Carr],” Rapoport said.
Joe thinks that puts the Bucs back in the discussion.
Some fans might hate the idea of Carr, but as Joe has stated previously, count on Todd Bowles being very interested in a quality, durable veteran like Carr. Bowles wants to win now, not later. He might need to win now to keep his job.
As for Carr, he’s a religious guy with a bunch of kids, and his brother made it clear on NFL Network that Carr has never played on a team with a top-15 defense.
Tampa has a team with a strong defense and a community in which Carr seemingly could be very comfortable. There also are three stud offensive linemen in the house and two top-10 receivers.
Carr even has a close friend in the neighborhood.
What if Carr is willing to play at a bargain discount for his preferred team, say $25 million per season?
The Bucs could make that contract quite flexible and the honchos at One Buc Palace might be aroused by the thought of again being the favorite to win the NFC South.
And that’s exactly what they’d be with Carr on the roster in two weeks. The attraction of a winning vibe and a quarterback easily sold to team sponsors can be a powerful force.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:03 am
Highly doubt the Bucs even meet with him.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:14 am
Sure, why not, give him one of those prove it deals, with a short rope and a no quit clause if he gets the hook in favor of Kyle Trask.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:21 am
If the Bucs sign a veteran quarterback, it will be someone like Jacoby Brissett. Todd Bowles is not going to spend $20 million on a quarterback when he has key defensive players that needs to be re-signed.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:29 am
You never know whats behind door #2. One thing I do know Trask will not be the starting quarterback. There is something about him they don’t like. Maybe Joe knows he seems to have the same feeling.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:42 am
Carr is just like his brother all the tools but way overrated. They always bring lame excuses for the Carr’s brothers lack of performance stupid stuff like “never played with a top 15 defense”. Carr is not a leader and doesn’t have potential, something that the next Bucs QB has to have.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:00 am
Carr went to the pro bowl three years in a row and then Chucky showed up the ultimate quarterback destroyer just saying.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:08 am
No vet QB worth anything is not going to follow Brady, and come to Tampa. The GOAT did that, drop the mic don’t even try it. Next Joe will be bringing Wentz’s name up. What, he did? Just what our new QC wants at QB a turnover machine.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Carson Wentz please, hes a team moral destroyer with borderline talent. Thats all we need.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:37 am
He’s somewhere between top ten and top fifteen, about what the Titans finally concluded with Tannehill
February 28th, 2023 at 7:40 am
$25 million could go a long way towards resigning Nelson, Edwards, RNR & SMB….probably get all of them plus a player.
As far as fit……the community of Charlotte would be one of the best for his family….but I’m not sure about the team’s lack of weapons.
I still think we should save the money & go with Trask.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:54 am
Why does Joe keep repeating the silly statement that “the Bucs have 3 stud offensive linemen”?
We have exactly 1 stud lineman, Wirfs. Jensen is playing on a destroyed and rebuilt knee that players never fully recover from, and his one game performance in the Wild Card game against Dallas was nothing like his old self. Smith was horrible all season long, leading the entire league in sacks given up and offensive line penalties committed.
One stud lineman does not make a stud offensive line. Any older veteran quarterback concerned about his health and longevity will treat the present state of the Bucs O line as a major liability.
If the Bucs are to have any hope of improving our offensive performance in 2023, Licht must successfully rebuild the line, and hope that Jensen can return to some semblance of his former condition.
February 28th, 2023 at 8:22 am
He’s a more than “serviceable” QB. For the right price, sure, it’s not like we have a roster chock full of seasoned veteran QBs! At the right price though.
There’s still some tread on those tires at least.
February 28th, 2023 at 8:40 am
Joe … ‘Tampa has a team with a strong defense.’
I think there’s a misspelling in there Joe; methinks you meant ‘Tampa HAD a strong defense’. Bucs finished #8 in 2020, improved to #5 in 2021, then fell all the way to #13 in 2022 after we lost Suh & JPP (and Shaq to injury). Over half of last year’s team are free agents (16 FAs) to include starters like LVD, Hicks, Gholston, Dean, Edwards plus key rotational guys like RNR, Nelson & SMB. Bucs’ defense will be very fortunate to finish mid-pack again this year.
February 28th, 2023 at 8:41 am
@ Joe
“Joe thinks that puts the Bucs back in the discussion.”
Hey Joe – please show me your “road map” that the Bucs will use to clear the needed cap space in order to sign Carr, Smith Jimmy G. or any other QB who will want $25-$35M per season.
Get real…
We still sit at minus $57M salary cap dollars… We need to clear over $90M just to get to plus $30M cap dollars.
Please – I am begging you… Show us your plan to clear $90M-$100M.
We have 4 or 5 contracts to restructure. Maybe 2 or 3 contracts to extend. Maybe 2 or 3 cuts to make.
The Bucs will have @ $35-$40M TOPS to spend and our draft picks will eat up @ $8M of that.
Come on man!!!!
February 28th, 2023 at 8:48 am
TBBF … ‘$25 million could go a long way towards resigning Nelson, Edwards, RNR & SMB….probably get all of them plus a player.’
Agree totally TBBF, and I think it’s just silly talk about a team like the Bucs with our ludicrous salary CAP situation even talking about picking up Derek Carr. I actually like him, but he can’t carry a team like Mahomes can. And because of that, he’d end up surrounded by meh players (because we couldn’t afford better) & we’d end up with meh W-L records for years.
We can’t clean up all our salary CAP mess (MINUS $57 mil to start & needing to sign a BUNCH of FAs/draft picks beyond that) in 2023 (that’s unrealistic) but we can make a pretty good dent in it, UNLESS we go buying groceries we can’t pay for. And that’s exactly what Carr would be.
February 28th, 2023 at 8:49 am
We all want a good vet who would make the bucs competitive. Bucs don’t seem to be interested though. Seems like it isn’t their plan.
February 28th, 2023 at 8:54 am
The Bucs are out of the 2023 season!
Run FA’s run !
February 28th, 2023 at 8:58 am
Correct. Bowles needs to win. Hope Trask starts though
February 28th, 2023 at 9:09 am
I am with TBBF as well. Use the money to resign our YOUNG defensive players and fill-in FA players. Carr at $25MM and passing up keeping our D intact is good enough to keep us in a mid-level draft slot for years where we will not be in position to find the NEEDED FRANCHISE QB on a rookie deal.
In going with Trask, he either flourishes, or he might get us a top 5 draft pick – the aforementioned FRANCHISE QB. If that is the case, the Bucs still have a quality D to go with a young QB
February 28th, 2023 at 9:13 am
Yeah. I thank you I’d rather just go in with trask then oh a mid qb like carr 30 million a year no thank you.
February 28th, 2023 at 9:20 am
All the QB speculation is exhausting. Nobody has any idea who will be the starting QB this September but everyone likes to think they have some inside track on the information. If you name every possible available QB you are bound to get one right – Derek Carr, Jimmy Garapolo, Aaron Rogers, Baker Mayfield, Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Tannehill, Taylor Heineke, Jacoby Brissett, Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask, Carson Wentz, Geno Smith, Cooper Rush, Mike White, Sam Darnold, Tyler Huntley, Andy Dalton and Lamar Jackson are in the list of potential QB’s I have seen. I am sure I am missing a few that the “:talking heads” think will be the Bucs starting QB. I will wait until camp before I have a comfort level about who will be the QB.
February 28th, 2023 at 9:32 am
How about the coaches don’t fit and the Bucs have no money.
February 28th, 2023 at 9:33 am
The Bucs are going to use Trask as a scapegoat to buy Bowles another losing season.
February 28th, 2023 at 9:35 am
For what, 8 weeks of play time, maybe 9 before another injury? No thanks!!
February 28th, 2023 at 9:37 am
Why any quarterback 25 to 30 mil to come here to win 3 or 4 games. We only won 8 with the goat.
February 28th, 2023 at 9:56 am
Mishew can be bought for cheap
February 28th, 2023 at 9:58 am
Not a snowballs chance in hell.
Part of Carr’s “fit” is going to be an annual salary of $30-35+ million per year.
Lets get real here. It’ll be Trask and probably two cheap veteran QBs. Trask is either going to show development and deem himself worthy of having the roster built around him, or he falls flat on his face and we earn a top 5 pick and pick a new QB.
This team needs at least 5 years of QB’s playing on rookie deals to dig out of this salary cap grave.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:02 am
Get a QB on the cheap. Maybe 2, if they’re cheap enough.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:03 am
What I keep thinking about in regards to Carr is that he has been in the NFL for going on a decade with some very good teams where he has consistently failed to meet expectations, but the worst part is that in all that time the next playoff game Carr wins , will be his first! Not good.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:08 am
Why with the cap problems would they want to go with Carr for $25m? Especially when they have a friendly contract with Trask and Gabbert would return for what he made last year?
What is Carr going to do under Bowles? Go 8-9 and lose on the first round? That was disgusting last year with Brady and this team. It was coaching.
So clean up the cap in 2023. If Bowles can win the division and go above .500, fine. But I doubt it because players don’t want to play for him. That was proven in Carolina, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:13 am
We need to pay the piper and clear the cap space. Let’s roll with Trask and rebuild through the draft.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Bucs went 8-10 with Brady. Carr knows that. He’s not interested.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:23 am
That’s a LOT of cap cans to, once again, kick down the road.
Fix the cap NOW. With Bowles, 2023 is a lost season anyway.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:24 am
The difference between Carr and Trask is maybe 3 wins.
Is that worth the additional $25,000,000?
February 28th, 2023 at 10:29 am
Cobra, I don’t disagree with you, but if that difference is from 5 to 8, or 6 to 9, that’s the calculus I would assume the brain trust is dealing with. But again, even eight or nine wins with a playoff appearance where we get obliterated, I’m not sure that’s worth it. In fact I’m pretty sure it’s not. Clean up the mess first.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:43 am
Joe would take Hillary Clinton at quarterback so long as it keeps Kyle Trask from getting a legitimate shot.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:47 am
chickster Says: “Trask has to be given a chance or lose him”
I’ve been saying this all along. If I were Trask and read all the asshats here trashing him when he hasn’t even taken a snap with the starters, I would ask to be released or traded. I have sources inside two NFL teams and they tell me teams would snatch up Trask immediately.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:06 am
Mariota released by the Falcons. Joe, time to start writing the “Marcus to the Bucs” article! He could be a game changer here in Tampa Bay.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Bowles wants a running game just center the ball to the running backs to hell with the quarterback. Permanent wildcat offense.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:36 am
I guess Jason Licht is at the combine making his rounds to see whats behind door #2. Hes opens up the door out pops Wentz, Mayfield, Donald and a pile of crap. I would sign the pile of crap first.
February 28th, 2023 at 11:38 am
Carr would bring excitement to the Bucs!
IF not, Mariota would be better than Wentz and many other low grade QBS…
IF Canales was at all responsible for Geno Smith success then he should be able to elevate Mariota with ease…
February 28th, 2023 at 11:53 am
If Bucs sign Carr, that means they’re giving up on Trask, whom Licht has said he just needs competition.
There is no way Bucs are paying $25 million for a backup QB
February 28th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Joe, You gotta stop with this nonsense and grasp a little reality. This is a nothing burger and you are living in a fantasy world.
Why don’t we not resign any free agents and trade Mike Evens and Godwin to make cap space for Carr?! That seems like a logical fantasy plan!
February 28th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
The addition of Carr would bring some sort of hope to the Bucs. Starting Trask brings alot of unknowns and learning mistakes. I’m good either way. May the best man take control!
February 28th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
I have not heard a peep on interest for Carr from the Bucs leadership. Carr might be a serviceable, bridge QB on a 2 year contract until Tampa finds a long-term solution. They are not going back to the Superbowl any time soon. They got there with the GOAT and that was a remarkable feat. Bowles is useless as a HC and next season will prove it. Go Bucs.
February 28th, 2023 at 12:49 pm
Brissett or Mayfield would be inexpensive. Maybe even Wentz at this point?
February 28th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
I personally think Carr is still a franchise QB. If we can get him and figure out the books to keep him surrounded by talent, I would be all in.
February 28th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Keep the money we have too many other players to sign. $25-35 million gets us resigning a corner and a safety as well as Lavonte David.
What we have in our draft pick Kyle Trask and if he doesn’t pan out then we will be picking near the top of the drive the following year and will not be in salary cap
Hell.
February 28th, 2023 at 3:24 pm
You think $25 million is in the Bucs’ price range for a QB right now? 🤣🤣🤣
Friggin’ hilarious.
If it’s more than $10 million, it ain’t happening. Especially if, as Licht says, they hope Trask takes the #1 job. Does anyone think Trask would have a chance to start if they are paying another QB $25 million. That makes NO sense.
February 28th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
If the Bucs really wanted to sign Carr, and Carr was willing to be flexible, Tampa can get something done. I wouldn’t do it, but it can get done. Just using guarantees, void years, roster bonuses, etc, all the stuff they did with Brady to get his cap hit down to like $5m or whtever it was last year. You can always push things off into the future to a large degree. It certainly does limit what you can (for example it would be difficult to sign Carr and Dean and SMB and David, all using the same accounting tricks).
February 28th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Not to sure about that too top 15 defense Joe. We’ve got a ton of FA to try and sign and as we all know we don’t have a lot of money to do it with. Either way please no Carr. Living in Cali I’ve seen enough of him to know he’s not the answer. Problem is Bowels is possibly coaching for his job this season so it may be difficult to just roll with Trask (I wanna see the kid play with the 1s to see what we have or don’t have) bringing in someone like Carr unless it’s a very very good deal would mean he’s the starter. Bringing in a less expensive vet and an UDFA allowing them to battle it out would be the best route due to our money situation.
February 28th, 2023 at 9:32 pm
A.J. McCarron or Cooper Rush or both
February 28th, 2023 at 9:46 pm
A) Carr will not even consider a deal for anywhere close to $25 million.
B) There is no way the Bucs will have a top 15 defense this year.