Salary Cap Flexibility Remains Via Chris Godwin
March 21st, 2021
Once upon a time in 2015, Jason Pierre-Paul didn’t sign his franchise-tag tender and, as a result, a few months later lost many millions when he blew digits off his hand in a brutal fireworks accident.
Talk about absorbing a bomb. The Giants rescinded the tag after the accident and JPP eventually re-signed for a lot less money.
Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin won’t endure that problem. Godwin actually signed the franchise tag the Bucs slapped on him two weeks ago. So a spring training injury, for example, would be unable to affect his contract status for 2021 — roughly $16 million guaranteed.
But it’s important to remember that $16 million all counts against Tampa Bay’s 2021 strained salary cap situation, so it also represents opportunity.
If the Bucs work out a long-term deal with Godwin before July 15, the tag offer would be shredded and some of the 2021 cap charge could be kicked down the road, like the Bucs have done for many other players this month. Without a deal by July 15, Godwin must play this coming season on the tag.
Joe brings this up today because of the four-year, $72 million deal free agent receiver Kenny Golladay just signed with the Giants. Per ProFootballTalk.com, Golladay got a $17 million signing bonus, so his base salary is $1 million this year, and $40 million of the contract is guaranteed. That’s the biggest free agent deal of 2021 for a receiver.
Godwin is two years younger than Golladay, and he’s better than Golladay, who missed 11 games for the Lions last year with hip and hamstring issues.
Overall, the receiver market seems to be changing, with prices apparently dropping and better quality coming out of the college ranks.
Given the Bucs all-in mindset, and Godwin potentially eager for bigger guaranteed money, might Godwin and the Bucs agree soon on a Golladay kind of deal? That could be the cap tonic the Bucs’ spreadsheets need to bring back Ndamukong Suh and Leonard Fournette, and maybe even Antonio Brown.
Joe’s still holding out hope that the Bucs’ Big 8 free agents can all return. Five are locked down, and Joe’s feeling very greedy today.
March 21st, 2021 at 10:47 am
Joe it’s ok to be greedy we trying to eat all the W’s 😎
March 21st, 2021 at 11:15 am
I’m bringing back AB before Lenny. Him and Brady are gonna be on another level in 2021 compared to signing week 9 in 2020. But thank you for the Godwin situation explanation? I asked in a previous article why the others haven’t restructured yet, but I guess there is a hole bunch of time in FA left. Love to resign young Chris to a long deal.
March 21st, 2021 at 11:28 am
Ive been eating w’s since 2/7/21!!!! Check yo sheet Jameis….
March 21st, 2021 at 11:57 am
I agree AB before Fournette. I know the Bucs are all in for next year again (and maybe 2022), but the Bucs need to be smart as they look forward and keep drafting lineman on both sides of the ball as some of them may be gone due to age and/or salary in the next 1-2 years such as Suh, JPP, Gholston, Donovan Smith and Jensen. I could see DT, OT or Edge being part of rounds 1-4 with a RB in there somewhere if Fournette isn’t back.
Others falling in the same group are Gronk and Brate. Questionable futures due to ability include OJ and Rojo. Who will be here long-term? Vea, Carlton Davis, Whitehead and Godwin.
Most importantly, what happens to Brady after the 2022 season?
March 21st, 2021 at 12:18 pm
Also agree….AB then Fournette if we can.
We’ve still got backup QBs & the draft class along with some other depth pieces & SUh….
Need Godwin to negotiate a long-term deal……extend D. Smith, Jensen & JPP
March 21st, 2021 at 12:21 pm
Win, now. The window of opportunity does not stay open. To make 2 or 3 runs, now, and win a couple…builds the franchise. Enjoy the ride.
March 21st, 2021 at 12:25 pm
I think im the only one who doesnt want to sign fournette, no matter how cheap. He ran inconsistent at best last year until playoffs. His catching and pass blocking was only slightly better than rojo. Overall, i think if they sign a rb, it needs to be an excellent catcher and blocker and that is not fournette. Rojo ran extremely well last year.
March 21st, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Bucs Guy Says:
***Most importantly, what happens to Brady after the 2022 season?***
****************************
After his third superbowl title with the Bucs, Brady will retire and start his run for President
March 21st, 2021 at 1:32 pm
@Joe … “But it’s important to remember that $16 million all counts against Tampa Bay’s 2021 strained salary cap situation, so it also represents opportunity.”
Double-edged sword Joe. Yes, signing a long-term contract affords us the ‘opportunity’ to keep Chris’ 2021 salary CAP impact low (and to sign more badly-needed FAs as a result). But when you kick the can down the street, sooner or later you have to pay the piper.
Bucs have steadfastly avoided using that strategy … until 2020. We went ‘all-in’ to free up 2020 salary CAP (restructuring ME13, etc) so we could sign several FAs who helped us in our SB run … and it paid off handsomely. Now we’re paying for some of that in 2021; that’s the other side of the sword.
Example: Mike Evans salary CAP hit last year was only $8.4 mil (with a dead CAP of $24.5 mil … money pushed to the future). This year Mike’s salary CAP hit is $16.7 mil right now (with a dead CAP down to $13.2 mil). And next year it rises even further to $18.4 mil (with a dead CAP down to $8.8 mil).
In ME13’s case it’s not really a huge deal IMO because Mike ‘ain’t going nowhere’ as they say. His actual contract was 5 yrs $82.5 mil … or an ‘average’ of $16.5 mil per year. So his 2021 salary CAP hit ($16.7 mil) is right where it should be. We’ll be paying for those restructurings next year & the year after, but hey that’s tomorrow’s problem. Right now we’re going for another ring.
The bigger problem arises IMO when you slide too many of today’s expenses to future years, and there’s not enough left over to field a competitive team. Then you end up with a team that looks very much like the Atlanta Falcons … lowest number of players signed by far (only 45) and still $376,711 OVER the Salary CAP as of today. Fun times ahead for the Birds.
March 21st, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Yeah bring them all back. Greedy is good Joe.
March 21st, 2021 at 1:43 pm
I’m with you God, lol.
I too am ready to move on from Fournette. It seems like everyone has forgotten about Rojo. Bring in James White to compliment Rojo on 3rd down. The guy is a chain mover and perfect for Brady.
March 21st, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Greed is good. Make it happen Licht!
March 21st, 2021 at 3:36 pm
Suh and AB are coming back….you’ll see.
March 21st, 2021 at 3:57 pm
Suh is a starter, still an effective player, and needs to be resigned. That frees up front office to draft best available player, rather than trying to plug rookies in to replace starters that weren’t resigned.
AB was OK, but it’s probably better if Scotty Miller gets those targets.
RoJo is a much better runner than Fournette, neither is particularly good at pass blocking or receiving. Not sure why Bucs would keep Fournette if they can find a needed third-down back…especially if he’s cheaper.
March 21st, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Pewter, obviously football is your thing. Scooter can not get those targets because he doesn’t have the ability to get open or run routes like AB. When Scotty gets to his first probowl let me know cause AB has 7 under his belt. Scotty is good for the on hit deep ball when the defense is lulled to sleep. AB is the total package. Sign AB, Suh and White. Move on from Lenny, did we all forget he was benched until Rojo went down? He had a great playoff and SB run but way to inconsistent to pay.
March 22nd, 2021 at 5:02 am
I agree AB before Fournette.
Suh 1st though please.
Would love to truly take BPA at 32.
I think we might get a steal.
March 22nd, 2021 at 4:14 pm
Godlovbucs your not the only one😉
March 22nd, 2021 at 7:23 pm
I’m watching for LVD, WGholston, CG14 to be Bucs next season. Lose Suh, Brown and Fournette is fine with me.