Clock Ticks On Cameron Brate
March 12th, 2018
Half the starting tight ends in the NFL earn more than $6 million per season.
Restricted free agent Cameron Brate earns about 90 percent less.
So now what?
It’s a safe bet that the Bucs’ Harvard tight end and major red zone target realizes he’s crazy underpaid as he awaits an offer from the Bucs prior to Wednesday’s deadline on the 2018 season.
Joe was told weeks ago there was confidence that Brate and the Bucs would have a new contract extension done by now. If those talks stall in the final hours, look for the Bucs to slap a first-round tender on Brate, which would pay him a few nickels over $4 million this season. The “tender” means if another team bested that salary for Brate and signed him, it would have to cough up their first-round pick to the Bucs as compensation. That’s highly unlikely, of course.
With a $70 million mountain of salary cap space, the Bucs can make a statement and pay Brate market value guaranteed for 2018 and 2019, or they can play games. Joe would get the job done now unless Bucs management is skeptical about the future of Jameis Winston.
Why? It’s obvious Brate and Jameis have had the best QB-receiver chemistry the team has seen over the past three seasons. Only Mike Evans has caught more touchdowns than Brate over the past 32 games, 17 vs. 14. And Jameis always is quick to name Brate when he talks about work ethic and examples of the right attitude on the offensive side of the ball.
Or the Bucs could just lock down Brate for one more season and hope O.J. Howard turns Brate into an afterthought in 12 months.
Joe doesn’t like that gamble.
March 12th, 2018 at 3:39 am
How much would Austin Sefarian Jenkins cost to bring back?
Imagine OJ Howard and ASJ on the same team.
Damn! That’s a scary thought!
March 12th, 2018 at 3:40 am
Also, while I am at it.
I was calling for Terrell Pryor three years ago.
I still want him!
Bring him in!
Mike Evans, D-Jax, Chris Godwin, Terrell Pryor, and Humphries?
Damn. That’s unstoppable! With unbelievable depth!
March 12th, 2018 at 4:09 am
I’d give Brate and Hump a 2nd rounder tender – and if someone wants to sign Brate for a 2nd rounder – OK. OJ is a superstar, but the Bucs can use two TEs if they want, so tender him for a 2nd and see what happens, which will likely be nothing – then post draft extend him understanding you can always trade him later if OJ is so dominant you just don’t use Brate much.
March 12th, 2018 at 4:28 am
Let’s not gamble with Brate….pay him…we need two good TEs & we didn’t spend a draft pick on him
March 12th, 2018 at 6:16 am
Brate is a great TE.
O.j. Howard is going to exceptionally average.
Brate’s production rates a first round pick.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bucs let Brate go for a Second round pick.
Brate would be able to escape this stinking sinker.
Bucs will draft another Kicker with the pick.
For Brates sake- kinda hope it goes that way.
He could end up a Patriot
They really appreciate smart, Talented players.
And Bucs can maintain their course- and start yet another rebuild, next year
March 12th, 2018 at 6:24 am
Bucs talk about keeping their own, but since 2010 we’ve only signed a handful of our own draftees to long-term contracts that I can remember: GMC, David, Dotson, Gholston, and ME13. Building a team through the draft sounds like a great strategy, but it only works if you draft quality players and actually re-sign them. Cam Brate has proven to be a quality TE. Quit screwing around Licht and re-sign him. This isn’t rocket science.
March 12th, 2018 at 6:39 am
Brains…..he has it….thats all. Lose him and you’re losing your mind…this shouldnt! even! be! an! issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 7:07 am
And i dont mean thats all he has…dangit, re-read what i posted and meant thats all i have to say. Dude is money brains and skills.
March 12th, 2018 at 7:19 am
On most teams this would be considered a “no-brainer!”
March 12th, 2018 at 7:51 am
he’ll sign….he has the softest hands on the team….love watching him catch the football
March 12th, 2018 at 7:56 am
If the Bucs are looking to save a little on his contract, Have incentives tied to yac!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe that will stop the sitting down in the zone, catch and then fall down!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 7:58 am
If the Bucs can’t get the right longer term deal done for Brate in time – I would slap the 2nd rd tender on Cam and see if any team bites.
March 12th, 2018 at 8:16 am
Again, one of the main reasons that licht is a dunderbox is drafting OJ when it was not something the bucs needed at the time, they needed the exact things this offseason they needed last season, he grabs Djax and then drafts OJ, just jason gump being jason gum
March 12th, 2018 at 8:22 am
If we didn’t use a first rounder on Howard, and didn’t have a promising prospect in Auclaire I’d have said sign him. When you don’t have a defensive line, holes on the O line, crap in the secondary, no good running back, Brate is a luxury signing. Trade him for draft capital, and fix the damn trenches!
March 12th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Duhsty
I’m with you on this. No reason to have drafted him.
March 12th, 2018 at 9:12 am
I just read your article about our franchise being inept and letting talent walk and become successful elsewhere. This is potentially another case of that.
Is a team that’s horrible in the red zone going to let their best red zone target walk?.. lets see if the Bucs, aka the minor league team to other NFL teams, screws thus up
March 12th, 2018 at 9:27 am
OJ is not a “superstar” and Brate lead the league in touchdowns for TEs, plus he can catch what Winston throws. Come on…
March 12th, 2018 at 9:32 am
Wtf is a dunderbox?
March 12th, 2018 at 10:11 am
we gotta keep our own players…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
March 12th, 2018 at 10:19 am
Pay the man.
March 12th, 2018 at 10:28 am
LOCK HIM UP LONG-TERM NOW!
March 12th, 2018 at 11:27 am
Worth as much as Evans even tho an end.
March 12th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
LOL! You people who think Brate is a stud. We saw what he was in 2016 when he was the #2 receiver – it was a disaster. He can catch the ball well but he can’t get open in man to man situations – there’s a reason he was undrafted. He’s like Hump, another guy with good hands that can’t get open versus man to man unless it’s like a #4 corner or a backup safety – Brate is better than that, but not a whole lot better. However as part of a combo of players where he isn’t the #2 guy on the field he’s productive and can catch. Keeping him makes sense, but OJ is clearly a star, so if you keep both you have to run an offense that takes advantage of having two TEs most of the time.
March 12th, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Brate is an excellent TE.
OJ Howard is going to be a very average TE. He lacks explosiveness and Pop.
March 12th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Looks like we locked up Brate: 6years, 41 mil, 18 guaranteed
March 12th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
Congrats to Cam Brate – now lets dive deep into that 2 TE set playbook this year Dirk.
“OJ Howard is going to be a very average TE. He lacks explosiveness and Pop.”
That’s a pretty ridiculous statement Capt. Tim.
4.51 – 40 at 250 lbs and he lacks explosiveness?
One of the best blocking dual threat TEs to come out in years – and he lacks “pop”??
C’mon man….
March 12th, 2018 at 7:02 pm
See where this goes OJ? Get your game on bro….loved the 1st round pick on you and its time to show why! Get it!