The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in trouble days into the 2023 NFL Draft after coming out of a tight cap situation before the league’s new year begins. Currently, Bucs’ salary his cap is just $93,391 above the cap. The NFLPA’s public salary cap report.
Bucs Head Coaches Todd Bowles, DT Calijah Kancey and GM Jason Licht – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
according to over the cap, The Bucs 2023 Rookie class will book a cap hit of $9,161,270 in 2023. But due to the league’s top 51 salary rule, they replaced the bottom eight contacts on the roster, ultimately accounting for only $3,161,270 this season.
That’s a positive thing, but they need to find a way to open up enough salary cap space for the Bucks not only to accommodate rookie salaries, but to complete the roster.
With just 87 players on their roster, the Bucks have three open spots.they still have need a third quarterback, A potential veteran aid in offensive tackle, safety and cornerback. Tampa Bay also needs to set aside money for practice team contracts. We also need emergency funds to acquire players during the season should injuries occur or quality players become available to upgrade our roster.
Limited options to create salary cap space for Bucs
Bucs has limited options to open up salary cap space. One way they could do so would be to extend the contract of inside linebacker Devin White, but that doesn’t seem likely any time soon after his trade request goes public. Licht has said the team has no plans to trade him, which seems even less likely now that the draft is over.
Another avenue the team could take to create salary cap room for the Bucks is to restructure the contract of outside linebacker Shaq Barrett. This is also unlikely, considering the two-time Pro Bowler is on the other side of the 30, free from a serious Achilles tendon injury. , or the offensive he tackles Tristan He gets an early contract extension with Wirfs – though Tampa Bay just picked his fifth-year option for 2024.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
Evans is no stranger to rebuilding his contacts, and has done so several times over the last few seasons. Extending his current contract would free up just over $10 million. Evans currently has an invalid year set through the 2026 season, and an extension would add to those numbers.
Enough to sign the team’s eight draft selections and add a few other veteran pieces to the roster. And leave enough money for practice team player salaries and urgent signings needed for the season can do.
Teams don’t necessarily need to sign draft picks anytime soon, but with the offseason continuing to increase, the Bucks’ salary cap situation will need to be fixed sooner or later to ensure roster flexibility.
