Bucs No Longer Interesting In Free Agency?
March 12th, 2023
Rough position.
When you have a boatload of salary cap room and are a decent or better team, free agency becomes very intriguing.
When you are raking your fingers between couch pillows looking for dimes and nickels, then you don’t have cash for free agents. And when you lose the best quarterback in history and claim his heir apparent will “compete” for a job, well, that won’t get many folks on the edge of their seats waiting for your next move. Rather, fans will dread the next “move,” a player leaving.
That’s where the Bucs find themselves just hours from when free agency kicks off Monday at noon. Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports listed all 32 teams ranked by free agency intrigue. The Bucs are near the bottom at No. 25.
Instead of adding players to win games, the Bucs are likely to lose players to stay under the salary cap.
Different times now. Different goals.
March 12th, 2023 at 8:30 am
Bucs look like a 2 win team in 2023. Wonder if Jason can ruin another #1 Draft Pick! You bet your sweet Aspercreme he can!
March 12th, 2023 at 8:33 am
2020 Super Bowl rings still look intriguing. Worth it.
March 12th, 2023 at 8:33 am
The Bucs are no longer interesting for free agents because they’ve decided to tell the world the believe the incapable Kyle Trask is good enough to be their starter. Nobody is coming here to play with that level of ineptitude at the QB position
March 12th, 2023 at 8:33 am
You would think we’d have one surprise in store for us along the way. Some player getting traded, or cut we didn’t see coming maybe. For Buc fans there should be a lot of interest. Two veteran QBs have to come from somewhere no matter who they are. I still think there’s a good chance we resign Gabbert. This will not be a boring offseason.
March 12th, 2023 at 8:43 am
If the Bucs are able to sign LVD and SMB I will be pleasantly surprised…
Most of the free agents we sign will be cheap dime store additions that will cost under $2M per season.
Look for Mike Evans and Devin White to be extended soon (or maybe traded).
Gage, Mason and Succop are also options to – trade, cut or restructure.
March 12th, 2023 at 8:47 am
Lol đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł Check what gives you the indication that Trask can’t play?? I’m so glad that Todd Bowles and Jason Licht said that it was never a competition between Trask and Gabbert. And the reason why I’m saying this is because I know that’s been the on going narrative on this site. I’m sure a lot of people though Purdy wasn’t going to be good either. Why don’t yall just wait and see if he’s good or not?? If the bucs tank we are going to lose the next 10 years this is why the fans suck on this site. Most of you on here has a losing mind set on this site. Name one time when the bucs tank we didn’t lose the next 5 or 10 years?? Plus I told y’all Brady didn’t change the culture of the Bucs!!
March 12th, 2023 at 8:50 am
No. And the whole idea that Brady was supposed to lay a winning foundation/culture long after he left – bullshi. We had our giggles and laughs and boat parade in 2020. It was great, but we canât be in 2026 and throw out âyeah but we caught lightening in a bottle for a yrs of relevance with a 42 yr old quarterback.â The Panthers understand that the key to being relevant year in and year out is by moving up to draft a franchise quarterback. They know that receivers are fungible assets. Now, more than anytime during league history is it more important to have that guy. Whether itâs Jalen hurts, Trevor Lawrence, Herbert, Tua, Mahomes, Allen etc. You will be off the radar, irrelevant, forgotten absent a marquee player at that position. Exception to the norm like the 49ers does not strengthen an argument to the contrary because we do not have their brilliant system or their top/down talent and toughness. The eagles – after they won their superbowl, did it RIGHT. They forecasted properly. The Bucs got drunk and EMOTIONAL, by resigning everyone.
March 12th, 2023 at 8:53 am
A plus photo selection. Itâs really looking like we are coming back to the days of Joe entertaining me more than the bucsđ
March 12th, 2023 at 8:54 am
I’m curious to see what happens with Shaq Barrett.
Coming off what is a career ending injury for most players and making $21M…
Perhaps they are able to reach an injury settlement with him or something.
March 12th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Marine – I hope so. I love Shaq, but he was already super fringe athletically to begin with and an over achiever. An inspiring, productive over achiever for a few yrs to be sure but heâs small, not very strong or fast, 30 and coming off Achilles making 21. On top of that, our anchor in the middle and best player on the line plays MAYBE 50% of the time. JTS is unproductive and weak, and whoâs gnna line up next to vita? Will gholston is older and lost a step. We have major, MAJOR issues on the defensive line and edge. Iâm not interest in resigned LVD, because the Bucs need to get much bigger, they need to get younger and they need to get tougher and faster. I kinda hate the very construct of this team in its present state
March 12th, 2023 at 9:13 am
It’s amazing how a team can go from winning a SB almost going to another. (Thanks Blows). Now revert back to the comfort of cellar dwelling in the NFL. This goes to prove when you hire repeat offender born loser coach, you get what you pay for. NO elite player will come to Tampa to play for Blows unless they’re paid through the nose. Licht should.have done his due diligence and JOB. He took the least path of resistance listen to BA and sank this team. Oneilsuckyall, enough with the Brady shat, he brought you a SB and almost another, grow up.
March 12th, 2023 at 9:19 am
Bucs offer a place to work with no state taxes and best weather , always two big draws there. Bucs WILL WIN this division again-mark the tape.
March 12th, 2023 at 9:22 am
Reality_Check…. I think you are the one needing a reality check. I guess throwing for 4125 yards, 43 touchdowns, 5 INT, and being a Heisman finalist while playing in the toughest conference in college football is not good enough for you. I guess throwing for 408 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 INT, and scoring 46 points in the SEC championship game against Alabama is not good enough for you. If you take the time to go back and look at his game film you will see a QB that throws the ball accurately and on-time. His ball placement is superb. He has great size, moves well in the pocket, and is unafraid to take a hit. And if that’s not enough then all you hear about from coaches and players is how great his work ethic is. If your standards consider all of that as incapable then I feel sorry for your wife. Of course with standards that high you probably don’t have one.
March 12th, 2023 at 9:51 am
Dave Canales is bringing a supposedly QB friendly system to Tampa. Let’s see what Trask has to offer in that system before claiming he’s an outright bust. Until then, it’s all speculation.
March 12th, 2023 at 9:52 am
NEfan, give it a rest dude.Itâs the same shat from you bashing Bowles and bucs..
We get it you donât like bowels.. Tom isnât here anymore, why be a troll? Your post a while ago suggested that youâre not one so why continue with the bashing?
March 12th, 2023 at 9:54 am
Thank You BUCman! Spot on!
March 12th, 2023 at 10:03 am
hy·per·bo·le
/hÄ«ËpÉrbÉlÄ/
noun
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Guys I get that this is a SPORTS blog and sports discussions are generally prone to hyperbole. But must we get carried away? Can we not make some valid points instead of spewing pent up frustrations.
“Bucs look like a 2 win team in 2023.”
Well Vegas would beg to disagree. They see the Bucs repeating last year and going 8-9 in a weak division.
I’m more optimistic than 8-9. But I’m not going to go off the rails with hyperbole and say the Bucs will go 12-5 because that would fit the definition of “hyperbole”. I do believe the Bucs have a great shot at 10 wins however.
As for looking like a 2 win team, that poster can go to Vegas and load up on that bet all day long and bet against the actual handicappers.
March 12th, 2023 at 10:04 am
#99, just pointing out Blows isn’t a draw for FA’s, that’s all. I think I saw BL at an intersection in Clearwater with a cardboard sign. He didn’t seem to be making any $. I assume his sign was to read, “Will Work for Food!” Unfortunately he had a spelling error, it read, “Will Twirk for Food!”
March 12th, 2023 at 10:10 am
Bucs may be planning on getting one QB in the draft and bringing back Gabbert. Todd will not be blamed for our three wins and and will remain as the coach.THIS IS MY NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!
March 12th, 2023 at 10:16 am
Can the same 5 trolls please go get a life?! You don’t know if Trask is or isn’t capable. You repeat the same negative takes EVERY day(boring). Are the Rams in a good place right now? Please just stfu until we know more about what this kid can do.
March 12th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Yeah, “Bucs look like a two win team”, ok so when they get to 4 wins you never post on this site again? And if they only win 2 I will never post again? Deal Jeff?
March 12th, 2023 at 10:26 am
Canât we all just get along?
March 12th, 2023 at 10:43 am
Hard to get along with Trolls.
March 12th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Free agency is (usually) over priced system players that struggle once they hit the big payday. There are a handful of players that can play in any and every system but they are few and far between.
Lamar Jackson is a system QB that would struggle on just about every team except the Ravens and maybe the Steelers.
March 12th, 2023 at 11:05 am
Ruck up Buc Fans. 6-11 here we come at blazing speed.
March 12th, 2023 at 11:11 am
OBP =SVB
March 12th, 2023 at 11:11 am
It isn’t bowles that are keeping premier free agents from coming to Tampa it is the fact that they can’t afford them if they had the money some would signed in Tampa. Fans are so wild with their hate go bucs.
March 12th, 2023 at 11:13 am
@ Jeff
“Bucs look like a 2 win team in 2023.”
To quote the amazing Greta Thunbturd – How dare you!!!!
The Bucs will win at least 3 games in 2023.
You are way off pal…
March 12th, 2023 at 11:31 am
CalebâŠ..welcome to Tampa Bay!
March 12th, 2023 at 11:48 am
We’re an opportunity destination since we’re looking for young, inexpensive guys who can come in and get significant playing time.
March 12th, 2023 at 11:53 am
Significant playing time on defense for a losing team.
We know what kind of players that attracts.
Going to be a depressing Wednesday evening when teams start celebrating their big names
March 12th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Reality check your a fair weather fan. Wish you would comment somewhere else. No one had seen Trask play with starters and your casting judgement. Go home. until you have something to back it up let me know. Btw I hate the gators but Trask was fantastic there. Look at the numbers
March 12th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
stpetebuc – I’ll take the under on 10 wins all day every day. How much?
March 12th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
Come on Optimist. With a little luck, I can see this team winning 5 games. Atlanta, Houston, maybe Atlanta gain…. HELP ME OUT MAN…. I’m stuck on three. LOL.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
This is the kind of year where we know the only people we are signing come with question marks, clouds, and baggage
The goal is to hit more than you miss and hope for the best
5 wins max as it stands today and that is being kind
March 12th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
I honestly can’t tell whether we go 6-11 or 11-6, too much up in the air, first and foremost being Trask
March 12th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Thanx to our division we still have a shot at the playoffs. I don’t think Carr will help the saints much. The Panthers will need time to break in the rookie they’ll be drafting and they’re giving up a kings ransom. Atlanta is Atlanta.
If Kyle Trask is good we’ll be good. If not we get a high pick.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Voice…it is being kind… I’m looking at Tennessee, Indy, the Saints once, Chicago? I’d be surprised if we do better than split those games. And we might not beat Atlanta twice. So five, at this point, looks like the voice of optimism.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
I think some of you totally underestimate Derrick Carr. Jameis made one probowl as an alternate, one time. And some are crying for us to sign him, Carr is a 4 time probowl player. Yeah, let’s hope his best days are behind him. But I sure wouldn’t count on it, or bet on it. NO is the favorite right now. Period. And if Carolina’s DB’s didn’t sheet the bed, we may not have won that game… with Brady. So time for a little reality check.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Beej Says:
March 12th, 2023 at 12:23 pm
Well, I don’t think 11-6 is a real possibility.
Think 9-8 if things go well. That would actually pretty decent seeing as we’re going to be playing a significant number of new players on defense, a new QB, and reshuffled O-line.
This year should be measured by progress from week 1 to week 18, not the final record.
Don’t shoot the messenger. Just being realistic.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Every day for the so called non Bucs fan careful heâs real sensitive
March 12th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
WC Fields laid down a great quote many years ago … ‘I’ve been rich, and I’ve been poor. I’d rather be rich’. I suspect that a lot of JBFers feel exactly the same way, but alas we is poor. Little church mouse poor.
Bucs don’t have too many arrows left in the quiver to get far enough UNDER the salary CAP to make a real impact in free agency. We’re currently $3.9 mil OVER our adjusted 2023 salary CAP according to Spotrac.
o Releasing Fournette & Brate, as well as Succop, would save us about $9.3 mil and put us $5.4 mil UNDER the salary CAP.
o Releasing Shaq Mason would save another $5.6 mil, putting us $11 mil UNDER the salary CAP.
o Offering Mike Evans a new contract (his ends at the end of this season) COULD have a bigger impact than all of those actions put together. We could easily ‘save’ $5-$15 mil by doing that. Just depends on how much we need to do what we need to do in free agency AND sign our draft class.
The latter BTW doesn’t cost nearly as much as many think, because the majority goes to the Top-3 Rnds picks. All the rest make far less … and bump off someone from the Top-51 when they get signed (usually someone making the same or less than them).
March 12th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Well, the Bucs couldn’t ask for a much easier schedule in 2023, so I’d be more inclined to think that they will be closer to 500 (perhaps on the short side) than a two win season.
Falcons (2x)
Panthers (2x)
Saints (2x)
Packers
Texans
Colts
Titans
Vikings
Bears
Lions
Jaguars
49ers
Eagles
March 12th, 2023 at 1:38 pm
Oops, I forgot to add the Bills!
March 12th, 2023 at 2:01 pm
If we only go with players that we draftâŠ..
Donât expect to win many games.
March 12th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Scotty…so funny. Only a questionable call helped us beat the Falcons the first time, when they were really playing for something. NC? If not for the DB’s shatting the bed, they might have beaten us. NO with a four time pro bowl QB, to replace a never was and crab leg pilferer? Chicago might be better than us with their boatload of picks, and a couple FA’s. Detroit, Vikings, probably beat us. GB might be better if Love is the real deal. Indy and Tennessee…OK we probably win at least one. Houston? Yeah, we should win that one. But all the rest of the teams are probably better than us. I see more like 5 or fewer wins, instead of a “easy schedule”.
March 12th, 2023 at 6:22 pm
Bucs weren’t “interesting” in free agency last season. Borderline disastrous, more like it. The walking wounded (Gage, Hicks, Julio, Ryan), the wasted (Kyle Rudolph), the JAGs (Nassib), the disappointments (Neal, Ryan).
March 12th, 2023 at 6:29 pm
Wait until Vegas list their over under for the season. Then you have real sense where the Bucs stand as far as record for the season.
March 12th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Don’t count out Houston, Jimmy G may end up there.