NFL Confirms Bucs Have Fifth-Most Cap Room
March 5th, 2016
For some reason, the NFL and its teams share all kinds of mind-numbing stats on a regular basis but shy away from official proclamations of teams’ available salary cap dollars.
It’s as if they like to pretend the NFL isn’t a ruthless business.
Today, however, is a different story. A piece on NFL.com actually lays out salary cap availability as the new league year nears with the ringing of the free agency dinner bell on Wednesday, March 9.
The NFL shared the five teams with the most cash to spend, and your beloved Buccaneers made the cut. And if Logan Mankins and his $7 million salary retire, then the Bucs will have the third-most money to throw around.
Connor Orr of NFL.com says the Bucs have no business paying Doug Martin giant cash.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cap Space: $49,427,574
Outlook: Doug Martin will be the first domino to fall here. Hopefully, the Bucs do not fall into the trap of overpaying for running backs, no matter how spectacular Martin can be at times. This money is significant and should be devoted to the two things Jameis Winston needs to succeed: A good offensive line and a better defense. General manager Jason Licht has made some shrewd moves so far, and should not have as difficult a time this year convincing established veteran talent to play down in Tampa Bay.
Whatever. Joe is dumbfounded that yet another analyst thinks the Bucs should devote more resources to their offensive line.
That written, the Bucs need an edge rusher in free agency, but the big problem is half the NFL does, too. That includes the Jaguars and Giants, two teams with more available cash than the Bucs.
March 5th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Still think they should’ve franchised Martin. Of course he’s not worth $11 million annually, but for one year, a year in which you have $49 million in cap space, WHO CARES? If he rushes for another 1400 yards next year, then they’re in the exact same spot they’re in now. I think a 1 year/$11 million deal is much better value than 4 years of with an AAV of $7-8 million.
March 5th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
^^^
I agree..
March 5th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Add another 7 to 10 million when other players cut. Carter, Brandon Meyers , Evan smith etc etc. this hole thing with Doug Martin is crazy. I think he signs with bucs. Smart for both sides. If licht fails to sign then u have to question what he is doing. I understand he is from belicheat school of hard knocks but that organization is a winner. They are the patriots. Here in Tampa we need to offer a little more. Can’t play same hardball as patriots and tell players they will go to super bowl every year.
March 5th, 2016 at 4:48 pm
Lots of competition. Any quality DE won’t come cheap but the Bucs have no choice but to upgrade their defense, starting with the DLine I think.
Panthers DTs this year had almost as many sacks as their DEs, with DT Short providing many more (11) than anyone else on their DLine. Since this year’s draft looks to be somewhat stronger in DTs than DEs, wonder if the Bucs might use their 1st round pick on a highly rated DT rather than on a lesser rated DE or CB. Pressure is pressure, and if the interior of our DLine blows up the opposing OLine, our DEs should benefit a bunch.
March 5th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
I think Doug Martin will find out in free agency that his market value is $5 million annually, for three years and the BUCS are smart to allow him to find that out on his own. This year, the BUCS must spend their cap money, according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and once training camp begins, we will know how “smart”Jason Licht has been while putting the 2016 BUCS together. There is NO excuse for failure this coming season !!!
March 5th, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Cherilus,Dotson might be an issue on o line in near future.there also is
lack of speedy receiver. Time for Bell to step up!
March 5th, 2016 at 5:19 pm
How can anyone think about cap room or players with a piece like that staring right at you? Dam! I’ll knock the dust off that snatch!
March 5th, 2016 at 5:45 pm
That chick is at least as hot as Rachel Watson Joes……Money somehow makes her hotter too.
Anyways, money is what you make of it, and life is nothing but a series of choices. The life of a Bucs’ fan has been very frustrating. I think it is all changing for the good. Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end or something like that?
March 5th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
So some think we should’ve franchised a player for 11.8 million when he may have trouble getting half that on the open market? That’s just not smart. That is not how successful teams manage the cap. I don’t care how much cap space they have, you just don’t do that.
March 5th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Oh……..and you guys are gonna be really happy when we sign DM on Tuesday to 6.2 Mil for four years with 15 guaranteed vs. the 11.8 he woulda gotten for One yr. Then we can focus on more pressing needs like getting Sterling Moore re-signed and addressing Lansannah’s replacement.
March 5th, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Bucs SB with Jameis. You and I have been on the same page on almost every thread….until now. This chick isn’t even in the same ballpark as Rachel Watson. Rachel is among the elite 10% of beautiful women. This chick is just like an NFL RB, a dime a dozen. You guys see what I did there?
March 5th, 2016 at 5:57 pm
I C what you did there Cmurda. It is Saturday and I am consuming some fine local bourbon. She looks hotter than the pic Joe always links. Maybe he should link a better pic. Though this means that I have shown my hand and have not Googled Rachel Watson either
March 5th, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Lovie Smith got a job?
March 5th, 2016 at 5:59 pm
He also mentioned Casey Luckey too recently. She is totes mc gotes over Rachel Watson
March 5th, 2016 at 6:35 pm
Nope. She’s not hotter than Rachel either.
https://www.joebucsfan.com/rachel-watson/
March 5th, 2016 at 6:39 pm
That writer is an idiot. Our o line is fine and won’t take a fortune to fix.
A QBs best friend is a good running game. We have a good running game. No need to mess with a good thing.
Or we could do like this idiot said and spend the money on Anthony Collins and Micheal Johnson. That worked out so well the last time.
March 5th, 2016 at 7:04 pm
Lovie to coach Illini
March 5th, 2016 at 7:32 pm
How about some eye candy for us ladies too? Julian Edelman and Danny Amendelo, heck throw Gronk and his body their too..lol… are my hot picks..but then again, I hate their team..but rumor has it Danny and Julian are gone next year..and that info I got from a friend who is pretty connected with NE Pats..
Like someone mention..yes, I think this is the year of the spending and setting up for the 2016 and 2017 year…Me like…
March 5th, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Our coming out party is in 2016,2017 we seriously go after what will be the first of multiple championships. No doubt about it. Be patient my bros allow Licht and Koetter to work they’re magic. Both of whom are pretty savy dudes.
March 5th, 2016 at 8:06 pm
This league is for the taking,Goodell and co. are hell bent on insuring that the Pat dynasty is done. According to reports the appeals process is favoring the NFL, the golden boy is going to serve four games. The teams with the baddest QB and the most diligent spenders will be in line to snatch that torch I’m telling you all. Again be patient, these boys in they’re early 20s. Just wait one and see this materialize in front of you. We are on the brink of becoming the most arrogant fans in the entire league.”Just wait on it”..
March 5th, 2016 at 8:19 pm
We do have an army of old men holding down 3/5ths of our O-Line. According to our top shelf GM, the draft is for 3 years down the road where they could all be living together in the Bahamas!
March 5th, 2016 at 8:46 pm
Are national-level sportswriters just breeding with each other now? How else to explain The Dumb? There’s this guy, the guy who apparently doesn’t know (or didn’t remember, or doesn’t care) that Monken was just hired as our coordinator, the other guy who thinks upgrading our O-line is a priority, the many guys who can’t fathom how Lovie Smith could’ve lost his job…
March 5th, 2016 at 8:49 pm
Illnoise, is that just BS that Lovie was hired as head coach there? If so I see a pattern going, Lovie would be the next Zook. Good luck with that. Is it Illinoise, a tough word to spell.
March 5th, 2016 at 8:52 pm
I assumed the droogs weren’t listening when Licht spoke of a 3 year plan last week.
Translation: “We’re going into the season with about $25M in cap. We have a number in our head. We plan to draft a core and be able to pay our keepers when it’s time.
Keeping Martin? “We really like Doug”. Translation: “We are not as bold as Philadelphia’s former best Chip Kelly” Licht knows he’s in a precarious position and is smart enough to not cave here. He won’t be the poster child fool to overspend on a RB. Imagine the Belichick stare of shame? Jeez. The entire NFL is watching this move.
Look at some of the teams in cap jail. Philly, Miami, Buffalo, Saints and others. Losers in our own special footprint. Denver is the exception but they spent at the right time hoist Vinny’s grog.
We will see some FA moves no doubt. But the painful reminder of recent FA disasters is not happening again.
March 5th, 2016 at 10:22 pm
Looks like Miami restructured Suh’s contract and let go Greg Jennings..wonder if it means they are making a deal with Mario????
March 5th, 2016 at 11:18 pm
Its not rocket science. Either you do/you don’t/you will/you won’t! If you truly want a player..you make a way. But we want cheap players. Thus we end up with..cheap losing records time and time again. We wil pay Mankins 7 mil a yr, Vjax a bundle. Yet we won’t pay one of the biggest stars of our offense. Rationalizing Running backs are not that important. OK cheapo’s. Do your thing. So our Bucs think..any old running back will do. I gotta see this magic trick.
March 6th, 2016 at 12:02 am
let’s see what happens Martin could be back! it’s not over yet!
March 6th, 2016 at 1:40 am
We need another LG and could use another RT. And there is no way in hell Doug Martin is worth 11 million a year. For one season or 10. Thats why he didn’t get franchised. There are several good RBs in the draft and a few in FA. Kenyan Drake and Keith Marshall are both nice backs and could be had in the middle rounds.
March 6th, 2016 at 5:11 pm
Forgetting to add the $7M+ freed up from rolled over cash revealed last week. We really have $57+ million