Bucs Rank 10th In 2021 O-Line Cap Allocation
July 7th, 2021
When one looks at the Buccaneers’ 2021 salary cap situation and sees Super Bowl left tackle Donovan Smith’s cap number at just $3.65 million, it’s obvious Tampa Bay has done a lot behind the scenes to keep their dream team intact.
Smith’s cap number bumps to over $18 million in 2022.
For 2021, the Bucs’ have allocated the 10th-most amount of cap room to the offensive line in the NFL, most in the NFC South, per TheAthletic.com,
So what happens next season, when Smith’s number takes a giant leap and Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa become free agents? If Smith had a more normal cap number this year and had not restructured his contract, the Bucs probably would rank No. 4 in the NFL in offensive line spending.
TheAthletic.com story was about the Colts’ O-line spending. They rank No. 3 in the league in that department and still have to pay right tackle Braden Smith and All-World guard Quenton Nelson.
Joe is very intrigued by the Bucs’ Week 12 game at the Colts. It could be a real turning point in the season against a very physical team in the trenches.
After that game in Indianapolis, the Bucs head to Atlanta and then host Buffalo and New Orleans before closing the season with two games against the Panthers and one at the Jets.
Joe thinks the Bucs should be at least 7-3 by the time they head to the Colts, hopefully 8-2 or better.
July 7th, 2021 at 12:00 pm
They will be 10 and 0. (Notice how I put that dot at the end for emphasis )
July 7th, 2021 at 12:09 pm
That Indy game will be important. Indy has a pretty strong team, but it comes down to how strongly Wentz can bounce back. He looked terrible in Phili, I attribute it to him seeing ghosts as his O-line was awful. He’ll have very good protection this season, so my bet is that he’ll look good this season.
July 7th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
I’m at the watercooler right now, & me and the boys say Carson Wentz’s career will end that day. Vita Vea will put Wentz in the hospital
July 7th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
I don’t understand the Bucs losing 3-5 games, barring injury.
The Bucs are the most balanced team.
The Defense will be better.
The Offense will be better.
Special Teams will be better.
The Rams will not beat the Bucs. New QB early in the season facing the Bucs D? No way.
Buffalo in Tampa, maybe? I think both teams will be up for a potential Super Bowl match up. I like the Bucs at home.
I don’t see an obvious loss on the calendar. So 1-2 max.
July 7th, 2021 at 12:43 pm
Not buying the Colts as a tough team. Dalton is not likely an upgrade for them. When Bowles shuts down the run, he is going to have a field day forcing the Colts to win with Dalton’s arm. I am much more comfortable with Nelson and Smith battling to keep Dalton upright, than pushing the line and making holes for RBs. The games in our division are going to be the tough ones, there are six of them, and they carry more weight than any game against an AFC opponent if we want to get into the postseason.
July 7th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
You paint an interesting 2022 scenario Joe. It’s not just Donovan’s salary CAP hit that balloons, there are quite a few others. Shaq’s goes from $5.0 mil this year to $19.8 mil in 2022. LVD goes from $3.4 mil this year to $14.8 mil next year. And so it goes.
Spotrac projects that next year’s salary CAP will be $208.2 mil for each team, and the Bucs are already sitting at $186.5 mil (for the Top-51) with LOTS of other mouths to fee (free agents like Godwin, JPP, Suh, Gholston, Davis, Whitehead, Jensen, Cappa, Gronk, RoJo, Fournette, Bernard, Brown, OJ … and those are only the starters).
But hey, let’s all just enjoy 2021 & hope that we can repeat as SB Champs this year. Because if we do, it might be hard to pull the rabbit out of the hat a second time and keep the band together for 1 more go at it in 2022.
July 7th, 2021 at 1:28 pm
damn right @beeej
GO BUCS!!!!
July 7th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
Duane, Dalton is the QB of the Bears (for now), not the Colts.
July 7th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
Smith’s cap number bumps to over $18 million in 2022
_______
I know what’s gonna happen!
I couldn’t be happier!
July 7th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Barring Serious injuries there is Zero chance the Bucs go less than 13 and 4
July 7th, 2021 at 4:16 pm
I would take Vea over Nelson any day. The Bucs will be on a roll by the time they get to Indy. Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack will be toothless against the Bucs, and Carson Wentz will be exhausted by half-time.
Bucs kill them in the second half, just like every one else they face up to that point.
July 7th, 2021 at 5:07 pm
The King of Credibility must’ve attended the Lovie Smith College of Logic and Reasoning when it comes to Left Tackles (Donovan Smith=Donald Penn).
July 7th, 2021 at 11:23 pm
Man, I really hope that Vea is at full strength come week 12. Battle of the titans! Vea vs Nelson! Can the season start already please?!?
July 8th, 2021 at 10:14 am
This is the drawback of kicking money down the road. The bill will come due. I don’t blame the Bucs for doing it as you have to go for it in the short window they have. IMO this will be Chris Godwin’s last season in Tampa. Godwin has a ring, but he deserves that life changing payday. They also have a bunch of young defenders who’s deals are coming up like Carlton Davis and Vita Vea. Davis is getting at least 15 million a season. Vea is getting 10 million per season. These young guys needing new deals haven’t gotten the big payday yet. That’s what comes with being the champs and I’m more than cool with it.
July 9th, 2021 at 10:43 am
There is no way I would pay lazy ass Smith 18mil. BYE BYE