Dollars And Sense
March 30th, 2022
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Well, most of free agency is over. And Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has done a strong job bringing back a bunch of free agents.
The Team Glazer loot, however, is starting to get tight. Right now the Bucs have two solid if not strong starters still unemployed, foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski and defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.
However, the Bucs are up against the cap. It would not surprise Joe at all if only one of the two (Gronk or Suh). Hopefully, both will. And it may be a while before we learn what either player decides to do.
Gronk’s agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus, claims Gronk is really torn between retirement and playing. Joe has a hunch Bucs quarterback Tom Brady has an idea which way Gronk is leaning.
Suh? He wants a check. That’s how he rolls. You want him? Then he wants a check.
Joe learned some time ago teams want at least $10 million of cash under the cap in order to sign drafted players and guys off the street to step in for injured players. So there is that to keep in mind.
But this Bucs roster is pretty much set, not counting next month’s draft picks and undrafted free agents.
Bucs currently have just $8,715,027 in salary cap space per @spotrac Top 3 cap hits for Bucs Tom Brady ($20,270m), Donovan Smith ($18,400m) and Lavonte David ($14,785m) have yet to have contracts restructured. Bucs will need them to free up space to bring back Gronk and Suh.
— Kevin ODonnell Fox13 (@ODonnellFox13) March 29, 2022
March 30th, 2022 at 5:42 am
The Window is Small and it will be closing soon
The BUCS have built an amazing team that legitimately has the next 1-2 years to win it all.
Especially with Brady.
He’ll play this year.
MAYBE NEXT (if the money is right)
then after that,
BUCS are in “Re-Build” Mode
March 30th, 2022 at 5:50 am
Suh and Gronk are imperative! Cures drafting high at those positions as an absolute must.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:10 am
Gronk is more essential than Suh, imo. Probably cannot sign both.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:12 am
Even though he’s new…..I believe that Shaq Mason’s contract can also be restructured…..and then there is all the money on kickers……we may have to cut then and roll the dice with our kicking game.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:17 am
Bucs need Gronk. They only have 1 TE in Brate and his production is on the down side. The Bucs will only get Suh at the right price because they chose Gholston in an either-or situation Suh’s not coming back on a team friendly deal so the Bucs are drafting DT on day 1 or 2. They made the right call because the team needs to get younger and less expensive on the D Line. Don’t be surprised if their first 2 picks are DE and DT, followed by TE. Yes the Bucs could use depth at G, CB, S and RB; however they’ve got their starter at each of those positions. Left Guard will be an open competition in training camp between Stinnie and Hainsey. Expect LT, CB, DT, TE and LB to be priorities next year. Of course that’s after QB unless TB12 plays another year or Trask wows us.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:19 am
Glazers are billionaires…they do not care about a few million, especially when investing in that few million makes them even more.
Licht will mortgage the future if he has to, to give them the best shot at a ring. The difference is Licht isn’t spending like a drunken sailor just to bring Suh & JPP back. Gronk is coming back-
March 30th, 2022 at 7:28 am
Bucs have no choice but to find a way to sign BOTH Gronk & Suh. They’re each a complete player (BOTH have HOF credentials and BOTH are still playing at a high level despite their ages). The alternatives to NOT signing either of them is to (1) give a rookie a LOT of reps like they each got and HOPE that they produce similar results; or (2) sign FAs of comparable talent (and at comparable or greater cost). Bucs NEED to re-sign BOTH.
JL has room to restructure 3 players IF they’re willing: Brady, Donovan & LVD. Committing to another year with Brady is a no-brainer, BUT that’s probably not what TB12 wants. Restructuring Donovan & LVD’s contracts means we’re committing to both of them long-term, and that may not be what the Bucs necessarily want. But hey. if you’re all-in, you’re all-in. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.
March 30th, 2022 at 7:35 am
I love how our GM looks like Gerard Depardieu (to me) from that movie Bogus (among others)…..but our GM is anything, but “Bogus”
Jason Licht and Co. do a terrific job and have really gone from laughingstock to elite’s penthouse right before our Bucs fans’ very eyes 👏
March 30th, 2022 at 7:51 am
The draft results for the Bucs will tell the tale
March 30th, 2022 at 7:54 am
Licht is on a roll, let’s watch and see where he rolls.
I am not sure about Suh. He disappeared into the middle of the Bucs line for most of the season.
Gronk seems, to me, to be a much higher priority. He and Brady have something special, though he makes a better smoke screen at times.
March 30th, 2022 at 8:07 am
A Smith extension would be HUGE. If the bucs pulled off we are getting both Suh, Gronk and then some.
March 30th, 2022 at 8:10 am
any word on if Donovan Smith will restructure? seems odd he hasn’t offered. it’s not like a player restructuring is taking less $$. he’s converting it to signing bonus so he’s actually getting more up front and the cap number drops for that season. idk just seems like $$ today is better than $$ tomorrow considering tomorrow is never guaranteed.
March 30th, 2022 at 10:03 am
Gronk needs to be signed. I think the Bucs are ready to move on from Suh and get someone with more pass rush speed inside.
March 30th, 2022 at 10:27 am
@ Defense Rules
We owe both Suh and Gronk @ $12M of dead cap space dollars from bonus money earned last year.
If we re-sign either one or both can this dead cap space money be pushed into 2023?
If so that should be extra incentive to get these guys signed…
March 30th, 2022 at 10:48 am
I think Gronk will be back for at least 1 more year. As far as Suh goes, I think the Draft will determine if he comes back. If the Bucs trade up or a great D-Lineman falls into their lap (remember Sapp) I think Suh may be gone. We shall see…As much as I love Suh he is getting long in the tooth and I would rather have a younger D tackle in place. Can we clone Vita Vea…LOL
March 30th, 2022 at 11:16 am
Gronk should be top priority to be signed. First both kickers, especially Succo should be released. If Suh isn’t resigned then DT should be #1 pick in draft. I hope they don’t get suck restructering lazy ass D. Smith. To me he’s an underachiever. Always was.
March 30th, 2022 at 11:21 am
I was pissed when I saw we gave Smith that fat contract, needs to restructure it
March 30th, 2022 at 12:18 pm
Suh and Gronk are inevitable.
It’s all about the draft. If Licht nails this draft, the Bucs will be competitive for the next 5 years. 4 good picks: 2xDL, 1xOL, 1xDB
March 30th, 2022 at 12:51 pm
I’m not sure why people think Gronk is more important than Suh. We have plenty of guys on offense.
Bit Suh is extremely important. No TE is more important than a starting lineman. Period.
March 30th, 2022 at 1:33 pm
I disagree bonzai…gronk is a key component..he’s like a extra oline n familiar and skilled at knowing what brady wants
March 30th, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Gronk!
He is also a blocking lineman Bonzai.
March 30th, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Oh, well great. Sign him as a lineman.
What’s that? Not good enough to do it?
March 30th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
I mean…I want him back too, but he is nowhere near as important as Suh.
Gronk is just more entertaining. So he can block…he is nowhere near as good a blocker as Suh on a line.
And we don’t go all the way without Suh’s spot being filled and filled well.
We CAN go all the way with someone filling Gronk’s spot.