Dumping Ryan Jensen
February 9th, 2022
Pro Bowler Ryan Jensen
Joe detects too many Bucs fans inhaling fairy dust and clinging to the 2020 Super Bowl season when they assess forthcoming decisions on the many 2022 Tampa free agents.
Loads of Bucs fans think it’ll be realistic to keep everyone and that some players should be overpaid because they’re beloved and won a Super Bowl in Tampa.
It’s not going to happen, nor should it.
The Bucs have to make hard decisions on a lot of treasured and quality players. The great front offices know when to cut the cord.
One potential goner is Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen, who turns 31 in May. He just completed a four-year, $42 million contract and was one of the highest paid centers in the game last season. Of course, Jensen isn’t going to want a pay cut and may even be fishing for a raise.
So what about the Bucs waving goodbye to Jensen? Joe could stomach that sad thought for a variety of reasons.
First, Jensen is on the wrong side of 30 and isn’t exactly a devotee of the TB12 method. He’s durable, nasty and good, but Joe wouldn’t be surprised if Jensen’s body starts to quit on him after one more season in the trenches.
Second, excellent centers can be had in the NFL Draft without using top-shelf picks. And serviceable centers can be found cheap in free agency.
The Saints drafted their center, Erik McCoy, late in the 2019 second round. He didn’t miss a start in his first two seasons for one of the league’s top offensive lines. Former Saints head coach Sean Payton believes interior linemen are more important than tackles, and he was willing to give the job immediately to McCoy to protect old man Drew Brees.
Also, look what the Chiefs scored late in the second round of the 2021 draft, stud rookie center Creed Humphrey, who some people think was an All-Pro. Offensive guru head coach Andy Reid had no problem handing over a starting center job to a rookie.
The Packers are another team that started a rookie center in 2021, second-round pick Josh Myers. A freakish finger injury followed by a knee injury limited him to six regular-season starts, but the team was eager to get him back for the playoffs and did.
Remember that punishing Bucs running game in 2015, the one that combined for over 2,100 yards with Doug Martin and Charles Sims leading the way? The Bucs got that done with a center off the street, veteran Joe Hawley, who was acquired after training camp that summer.
Joe trusts general manager Jason Licht when it comes to building an offensive line.
If the Bucs go with 2021 third-round pick Robert Hainsey at center and bring in a low-cost veteran to compete with him, Joe would understand. The Bucs have the benefit of Ali Marpet being a trained center if things go awry, and free agent Aaron Stinnie likely could return on the cheap.
Of course, the Bucs could always go bold drafting a stud rookie center prospect and let go of both Jensen and free agent right guard Alex Cappa in an effort to pay Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette and all the key returning free agents on defense.
Big decisions are forthcoming. Free agency fires up at noon on Monday, March 14. Deals will be reported by that afternoon.
Joe would love to see Jensen back for his fifth Bucs season, but Joe would not be surprised if the Bucs believe the time is right to move on.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
This is exactly why Licht drafted Hainsey; there was no way the Bucs could keep Jensen on the roster. They signed him as a pricey free agent, and he’ll leave as a pricey free agent. That’s the cycle of life in the NFL.
No one should blame Jensen, he’s at that critical age where he can grab one last big, multi-year contract.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh.
This sucks.
Hard decisions coming.
Going to lose some very good players. The team will get worse, by definition, first because the Horsefaced Commandant is riding her husband into domedticity and second because of cases like Jensen. There will be more.
Aaaarrrrggghhh.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Bucs FA priorities ranked:
1. Godwin
2. Davis
3. Whitehead
4. Fournette
5. Whitehead
6. Cappa
7. Jensen
February 9th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
I hear Wirfs knows of a great center in the center of the corn belt. Very expensive tho. Also with the Chiefs drafting a good center, another friend of Wirfs, Austin Blythe might be available. He was on the Rams Super Bowl team with Suh.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Decisions on some of these free agents could very much depend on Toms retirement decision.
Jensen is one of them guys. You still have Tom 100% Jensen gets signed or tagged. Without Brady I say its 50/50 at best………Especially if you are going with Trask and Hainsey. It makes a lot of sense to draft a future QB and his Center on the same year and let them grow together.
Fournette I think is the same way. Now that Brady is gone it might be time to get younger at the position and maybe you even find somebody better at RB.
And agree with the premise that its easy to find interior lineman. Maybe the easiest position.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Well, if he leaves at least the OL as a group should become more handsome.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
With the need to resign so many critical free agents, the notion of bringing in a high priced quarterback is comical.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Hard to “dump” a player that is a FA.
Several reasons not to resign Jensen.
Age, Money, Contract Term, Hainsey
Jensen will want at least 3 years and that’s a risk…..there is a reason why Licht didn’t want or was unable to restructure him last year.
We will prioritize our draft picks for renewal….(always do)
Godwin, Cappa, Whitehead, Davis, Gholston
One thing is for sure….Licht can’t make decisions in FA in hopes that Brady will return…..that would be a huge mistake…..
I trust Licht especially when it comes to the Oline.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Can let fornette walk
February 9th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Results of selling your soul to the devil…
February 9th, 2022 at 4:47 pm
Keep, in this order
1. Chris Godwin
2. Alex Cappa
3. Leonard Fournette
4. Jordan Whitehead
5. Suh
6. Will Gholston
7. Kevin Mintor
8. Aaron Stinnie
9. Pat O’Connor
10. Gio Bernard
11. Andrew Adams
FA: Starting QB, DE, Corner/Safety
Draft:Corner, DE, Center, MLB, WR
Let these guys walk:
JPP, Jensen, Gronk, OJ, Gabbert, Ronald Jones, Sherman, Wells, McLendon, Carlton Davis, Curtis Riley, Triner, Bell, Robinson
February 9th, 2022 at 4:56 pm
Jensen won a big contract and super bowl ring. He also did the job wanted. Teach or rubbed off his nasty , consistent , hard work into marpet, cappa, d. Smith. Wirfs and heisnley .
Time to move on. Heck … licht might move on from cappa too. in favor of levertt
And draft a oline in 2, 3 rd.
D. Smith. Marpet. Heisnley. Levertt. Wirfs. No money spent on oline.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:56 pm
Yep, Jensen is definitely gone. Bucs got to get younger and cheaper.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:08 pm
I like the way Greg commented so here is my list with changes or comments.
1. Chris Godwin – Absolutely keep!!!
2. Alex Cappa – let him go.
3. Leonard Fournette – love him but let him go.
4. Jordan Whitehead – Absolutely keep!!!
5. Suh – Try to keep the old man. He is still good and scary.
6. Will Gholston – another cheap keeper
7. Kevin Mintor – Keep if you can.
8. Aaron Stinnie – Absolutely keep.
9. Pat O’Connor – He can go.
10. Gio Bernard – He can go.
11. Andrew Adams – He always seems to show up after getting cut and tossed around on the practice squad. Actually, if he shows up again next year, that is probably a bad thing because it means everyone else is hurt.
Draft and Free Agency in order of priority: OLine, DLine/Outside LB, Secondary.
Let these guys walk:
JPP (agree), Jensen (agree), Gronk (agree), OJ (agree), Gabbert (we are probably going to re-sign him like it or not), Ronald Jones (please go away), Sherman (he is done), Wells (agree but he is going to be pretty cheap), McLendon (resign if cheap), Carlton Davis (I would try to keep him if you are not throwing money at Fornette, Jensen or Cappa).
So my big money free agent priorities are Godwin, Davis and Whitehead.
Spend the big money on those guys, if the money does not work out for the other guys, move on from them.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:13 pm
Agreed. Hard decisions need to be made and Bellicheck famously would dump guys a year early rather than a year later. We may even be able to grab a center in the second or third round.
I am sure there is a plan in place that will unfold shortly. I love Jensen, love his fire, but he is probably the first guy that walks the plank.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:24 pm
Biggest thing about Jensen is the size of the penalties he gets. He always seen to get 15 yarders, usually at the wrong time.
He also seems to collect the most penalties too.
Let him walk.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Is Hainsey learning to play Center the only reason why we didn’t see him in the last game? I hope so. I’d hate to lose Jensen’s infectious toughness, but there is only so much money to go around.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:36 pm
If Jenson is willing to give us a hometown discount he can stay. But I would only make it a 3 year deal…
February 9th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
I mostly agree with the Capece guy, except I think Cappa can be resigned cheaper than some fear and think the point raised by jerseybuc should apply to Suh. He showed his age last year compared to ‘21 and I’m not sure he’ll even want to resign without you know who at QB.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:39 pm
“Joe wouldn’t be surprised if Jensen’s body starts to quit on him after one more season in the trenches.”
Based on what? That’s just plain irresponsible and disrespectful.
February 9th, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Dumped? Lol.
So pay big money to a WR coming off a torn ACL over a guy w 84 straight starts? Go back and looked what happened to Perriman after his first ACL. That’s more of a risk than Jensen as far as spending big dollars
February 9th, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Something people are forgetting about Jensen he would be making the line calls. He didn’t have to when Brady was here but if Trask is our starter or anybody but the top tier quarterbacks we need Jensen.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
For decades Buc fans have suffered with players softer than our like. Love guys like Jensen who play thru the whistle and wanna rip your head off. Like Suh.
Realities aside, losing Jensen may well happen.
Thanks Jason Light for paying up for 4 years. For a badass! Please find us some more guys with fire!
February 9th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Jensen is not a Priority 1 re-signing, but he does have several things potentially in his favor that should make JL think twice about letting him go.
1 – He’s the LEADER of our OLine from everything I see. Donovan & Ali have never assumed a leadership role that I can see, and Tristan is still too young for that role. Mankins should’ve shown every Bucs’ fan that LEADERSHIP is HUGE on the OLine.
2 – IF we end up going with Trask at QB, our center will be back to setting the protections. Folks really want to leave that to a newbie?
3 – Jensen is tough as nails; the Enforcer so to speak. That’s important IMO when playing teams like the Saints & Rams.
4 – For some of our veterans like Jensen & Gholston, a 3-year contract that allows them to retire as a Buc MIGHT be enticing, even though the last 2 years would probably be for less money than year 1. IOW, Jensen MAY go for a deal structured like $9M in 2022, $7M in 2023 and $5M in 2024. Never hurts to ask.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:33 pm
I trust Licht especially when it comes to the Oline. He will know what to do when the time comes.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:41 pm
Big Red set the tone of the offense. He will be missed.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:47 pm
MoveOn.Bucs
Translation… rebuilding with out a starting QB penciled in .
February 9th, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Center Justin Britt 2mil compete with Robert Hainsey sign Stinne and Wells sign Michael Scholfield for 1.5 mil to compete with Stinne. 5.5 mil O-Line problem solved. Sign Arians old flame David Johnson for 1.5 mil. running back Hayden Hurst 2 mil tight end. Thats 9 mil sign Godwin for whatever but only charge 5 mil in cap space. Then sign a db to replace Davis maybe that guy from KC but only charge 5 mil in cap space. Then draft Suhs replacement and Whiteheads replacement
We are done!
February 9th, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Waiting for a top QB to be caught with pants down at a petting zoo. They get cut, Bucs are the second chance.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:52 pm
tom will be watching the o-line moves closely…
#WithHisDoorAjar
February 9th, 2022 at 7:08 pm
#WithGisele’sHoofOnHisHead
February 9th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
Ummmm he’s a BEAST!!! I watch him all the time, we need more like him not less. SORT IT OUT
February 9th, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Tough decisions for JL to earn his paycheck this offseason:
Jensen or Cappa?
Suh or Gholston?
Davis, SMB or Dean (pick 2 between this year and next)?
Do you try to make a blockbuster trade for a QB? Can you afford it under the cap? Can you afford not to for continued winning?
Weaker QB with Gabbert or Trask, so need stronger RB and TE — so do you keep Fournette or draft a RB?
Can you keep Gronk for one more year?
Can you trade Brate and use the pick to draft his replacement?
Honest eval of WR depth Grayson, Miller and Johnson – are any of them a true #3 WR?
Pinion and Succop seem to be on the way down. Can you squeeze one more year to avoid dead cap money?
No offer to Rojo, OJ, JPP, Griffin
McClendan retiring, possibly Suh and JPP
When do you draft LVD’s replacement?
February 9th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
The Bucs CAN keep everyone if they want to – there’s all sorts of cap tricks they can play, with the big one being void years. If they get a legit QB option and want to keep this window open for another 2-years or so, they CAN do so.
Yes, down the road you’ll pay for it, and likely you’ll pay for it, for years.
That’s why the QB decision is huge. If you’re going with Trask, you’re just throwing in the towel, doing a rebuild and cleaning up the cap. But if you get a legit QB option, like Rodgers or Wilson, then you do all the tricks you can to keep everyone you want to keep. If you went with someone like Watson or Winston, that’s a bit harder since they’re young enough that you might be best to give up on a year or two in order to have longer term success.
February 9th, 2022 at 9:21 pm
Chasen Hines in the 3rd or 4th…can play C and G….just saying.
I’d love to keep Jensen if we could afford him but its probably not going to happen. Thats why I was hounding so much on a C last year for our first pick in the draft….but no, wasnt gonna happen.
February 9th, 2022 at 9:44 pm
Greg and capece your way off. dump them all. only one that is a maybe is Godwin
February 9th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Bucs won’t get the deals done. They will fail to sign anyone without Brady.
February 9th, 2022 at 10:21 pm
Unless the Bucs magically conjure up extreme amounts of cap space, Jensen is as good as gone.
1. Godwin
2. Davis (or a comparable replacement)
3. Whitehead
4. Gholston (esp. since we get a hometown discount, he wants to be back)
5. Cappa or Stinnie (probably Stinnie since he’s cheaper)
6. Some TE who can block, preferably Gronk
7. Fournette or another quality RB
And then we can talk about Jensen. Not because he’s unwanted, but with limited cap dollars even with major manipulations, center is just not a priority position if you have another guy waiting to take over (Hainsey).
I’d love to see Jensen back, but priorities have to be made in the current situation. And the situation will be worse if we go out and sign a veteran QB.
February 9th, 2022 at 10:22 pm
Since jensen last signed the salary at the center position shot up. No way bucs can afford to keep him. Plus, Licht priority is usually keep guys he drafted. I think fournette is gone too.
February 9th, 2022 at 11:13 pm
Successful and sustainably good football teams build from the inside out. Jensen is a tone setter, leader, and brings a nastiness that cannot be replicated. He is like Logan Mankins was for NE and the Bucs. Those guys don’t grow on trees and are not found in the draft everyday. If he doesn’t want a break the bank deal you resign him and let him lead your offensive line. He is a natural born leader. Love Jensen just like I did Mankins.
February 9th, 2022 at 11:31 pm
Simply Red is simply gone. Loved his attitude…even with a personal foul here and there.
The Chiefs snagged two players I wanted the Bucs to pick…the aforementioned Creed Humphrey and ILB Nick Bolton ( who Joe wrote about a time or two).
February 9th, 2022 at 11:43 pm
DUMP DAVIS!
The Bucs are IDIOTS if they resign this guy to a big contract.
Let Davis, SMB, and Dean all go to other teams or ride the bench. Our Secondary needs an overhaul and fresh blood. Those guys are all defensive liabilities.
February 9th, 2022 at 11:51 pm
@BradyBucs,
So, you’re suggesting he’s easily replaceable? Seems Bruce Arians thinks he’s pretty good. So do a lot of other people. What do you know? Moreover, what’s it gonna cost to go out and replace these guys? You can’t just get rid of guys without a better plan… I mean, you could, but you’d be the worst GM in the league if you did.
February 10th, 2022 at 6:13 am
Jensen and Suh are two of my favorite Bucs, but I think that the only “must haves” are Godwin, Gholston, and Stinnie. Nothing wrong with pumping the brakes a bit to see how things shake out with Trask and hopefully another qb or three for competition. Anything but giving picks for average qb’s.
February 10th, 2022 at 9:25 am
NO, NO,NO!!!!
Jensen gives us the nastiness we need!. He doesn’t stop until the way after the whistle blows!! Please keep him!!!!
February 10th, 2022 at 8:50 pm
Hainsey’s blocking on that Scotty Miller Benn’d Around TD was one of the most impressive plays of the year. He was absolutely savage laying out defenders all the way to the goal line. That was gorgeous and his teammates definitely noticed as they were celebrating him in the end zone as if he scored the TD. A big man wreaking havoc like that while somehow keeping up with speedy Miller is someone I want to see starting. I loved Simply Red’s style and performance but Licht has a hungry successor already lined-up to fill his shoes.