Take Alshon Jeffery Off Your Wish List
February 27th, 2017
Market changes
UPDATE 11:20 a.m.: Joe either misread the scrolling NFL Network report, or it was wrong and corrected. Regardless, this post has been corrected to reflect.
It’s getting wild in a hurry in the free agent market for wide receivers.
No surprise.
Welcome to a passing league where money talks and fantasy football fill owners’ bank accounts. And there’s the Falcons, who just threw their way into the Super Bowl with an average defense.
Running backs largely are considered a dime a dozen. But receivers? They’re the top commodity after quarterbacks.
Consider big-time Bears talent Alshon Jefferey. The 27-year-old has battled injuries and suspensions through the past two seasons, yet fans across the NFL want him badly on their team. Last year, the Bears slapped the franchise tag on Jeffery and NFL Network is reporting this morning that they won’t do it again in 2017. Ian Rapoport specualted on Twitter that Jefferey could cost $17 million per season.
Regardless, cross Jeffery if your Bucs wish list, if he was even there. If that’s really the price, then likely too expensive.
Joe isn’t that high on Jefferies. Joe would prefer a more durable and/or experienced receiver.
February 27th, 2017 at 10:45 am
Mike Evans price tag keeps movin on up to the east side…movin on up!
February 27th, 2017 at 10:46 am
He was never on my wish list Joe.
February 27th, 2017 at 10:52 am
He was always on my wish list, the man can run crisp routes and has hands for days, with a non-existent QB situation in Chicago I would hope we at least throw an offer at him.
February 27th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Joe
There was an update on NFL com 20mins ago says Jeffries will NOT be tagged this year.
February 27th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Well I would pass at anything close to 17 mil a year for Alston!! I would also pass on Stills for 12 mil a year. That being said I’d throw a 3 year 35 mil contract for Pryor
February 27th, 2017 at 11:11 am
DB55 is right. Article by Kevin Patra couldn’t be more clear.
Does this article qualify as “fake news?” 😉
February 27th, 2017 at 11:15 am
Spotrac has his estimated market value at 12.2 mil a season. That suspension and his injury history might cost him a few mil per year.
February 27th, 2017 at 11:15 am
Yeah…I heard the opposite. Check Ian Rapoport tweet saying Bears are not expected to francise Alshon Jeffery again.
February 27th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Hmm looks like someone has some ‘splainin’ to do about this article… 😜
February 27th, 2017 at 11:41 am
Joe I live on this site and from what I can tell from the comment sections is this…Buc fans want Pryor above all else.
February 27th, 2017 at 11:49 am
Agreed, it should be Pryor that we sign. Tall, big, fast, hard worker, wants to win, changed positions to stay in the NFL. That is the type of player you want.
February 27th, 2017 at 11:50 am
I’d throw a 3 yr 35million at Pryor for sure. And then throw a 5 yr 65million offer to Evans and we’re set
February 27th, 2017 at 11:55 am
Agree with Joe … cross him off the list (he’ll be too expensive). Chicago has albeit washed their hands of him, but he’ll purportedly get lots of other suitors (Eagles, Colts, Rams and many others supposedly). Considered to be a Top-10 WR so let the bidding wars begin. Several good ‘bridge WRs’ should be available for considerably less who can meet our needs while we develop our own draft picks.
February 27th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Joe’s article clearly states “Last year, the Bears slapped the franchise tag on Jeffery and NFL Network is reporting this morning that they WON’T do it again in 2017”. What’s the problem?
February 27th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Look like all the top FA receivers want $10-plus a year. We need to resign Mike Evans now before we sign any of them. Yes we need a top #2 receiver but we can’t pay him more than Evans. Pay Evans and then sign one of these top YOUNG free agents so Jameis can weapons for years to come.
February 27th, 2017 at 12:09 pm
I’m with SOEbuc. He was never on my list.
February 27th, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Mixxx, Joe already changed it. It used to say they will do it again.
February 27th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Joe Joe Joe…all these big name players over 30 have one thing in common….THEY WANT THAT SUPER BOWL RING TO COMPLETE THEIR CAREER!….and who better to help them get it than an explosive defense(Tampa Bay),a quarterback that isn’t afraid to let loose and is passionate and has the entire team behind him(Jameis Winston),and play making teammates (Mike Evans,Brate, & Humphries. Money talks and so does Jameis.if AP thinks Tampa is on the verge of being a champ who else hasn’t noticed all the Boise coming out of the bay?
February 27th, 2017 at 12:55 pm
3 years 35 mill is way too much for Pryor. Waaay too much. At this point, he is nothing more than a one-year-wonder. This team’s fans always fall for such players, and 8 times out of 10 they do horrible here.
3 years 24 mill might be okay, but I would try for less. Otherwise, I’d rather draft a WR.
You know, just because the Bucs have money, that doesn’t mean they should spend it unwisely. Licht and Lovie made that huge mistake in their first year and look where it got them.
February 27th, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Buc 4ever Says
“Look like all the top FA receivers want $10-plus a year.”
They may want that, but it doesn’t mean they will get it. The market isn’t set until at least two WRs get deals. One team almost always over pay, and those are usually the teams that are basement dwellers.
The Bucs have a little bargaining power right now. Use it.
February 27th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
$17 million a year is steeeeep. He wasn’t all that high on my list (4th or 5th option for me) but if that price is true then yes, he is completely off my list.
February 27th, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Let me put it this way…Vincent Jackson was a proven WR with years of consistency. He got 5 years, 55 mil with the Bucs. That’s an average of $11,111,111 per year.
You are talking about giving a former QB turned WR with only one good year $11,666,667 pear year…more than Jackson got.
It’s a good thing some fans don’t run this team.
February 27th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
941BUC, AP is staying with the Vikings. He’s willing to finish his career there for less money.
February 27th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
@Bonzai
If they really want Pryor they are going to have to overpay him. Both Pryor and Cleveland came out and said they want to keep the marriage going so if he won’t accept less than $10-$11 million a year with Cleveland why would he accept less from anyone else?
February 27th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Yes Bonzai…that’s what we’re talking about and I as well as many others don’t run this team. I don’t care what his money numbers are yet. I think he’s going to have a great 2017 be it in Tampa or still in Cleveland with some rookie throwing to him.
February 27th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
@87 Exactly, It’s not our money to worry about, and we have 80 million in cap space. Throw in the fact that the cap goes up every year, and why wouldn’t we give Pryor 12 mil a year if we feel he can improve upon his 2016 breakout season?
February 27th, 2017 at 2:06 pm
LOL. Pot smoking piece of glass. No thanks.
February 27th, 2017 at 3:38 pm
So you think that ME13 is only worth $2M more than one-year-wonder Terrell Pryor?
This is the primary reason why I don’t want to go after Pryor. Besides the fact that he hasn’t really proved himself yet in the league, when it comes times to pay ME, he will require a MASSIVE payday. How many of the top teams are paying their top 2 WR ~$30M / year.
We don’t someone else that wants to come in and be the #1 receiver. We need someone that can come in a play a complimentary role to ME.
What really need is to be able to find the later round gems at WR like Pittsburgh seems to be always able to do.
February 27th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Exactly. And then, these same fans will blame [insert GM name here] if said player doesn’t pan out.
Given your scenario, I’d much rather pay Kenny Stills that 3y/$24M
February 27th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
17 million a year? Highly doubtful. Alshon is likely going to get 4 year for $40 million in a fair market. At max 5 for 55.
February 27th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
EXPERIENCED??!! odd..
February 27th, 2017 at 7:34 pm
Well Stills cannot be had for 3 yr / 24 mil. I was speaking hypothetically of course when I said Pryor 3yr./ 35 million. Seriously speaking that would bargain. ME 13 will command somewhere around 5 yr. 65-70 mil. without a doubt. I just hope we pay Pryor instead of Djax, but that is just my 2cent. Keep the news flowing Joes! Thanks for your hard work.
February 27th, 2017 at 11:58 pm
Alshon was never going to be a Buc and we all should rejoice about that