Major Competition In Philly
February 26th, 2017
Northern challenge for Jason Licht
Bucs fans are dancing at the thought of adding quality receivers in free agency, but one giant hurdle will be battling against other teams for the opportunity.
The NFL salary cap took another huge leap this offseason, going up at at least $11 million per team, according to reports.
That means a lot of clubs will be free to swing big bags of cash around when the free agency dinner bell rings in 11 short days.
There’s no guarantee the Bucs capture their target receiver, unless they’re prepared to overpay, or America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, is a greater lure than anyone could imagine.
Consider what ESPN NFL insider Adam Caplan, who used to work for the Eagles, said on SiriusXM NFL Radio this afternoon.
Caplan was adamant that the Eagles will be looking for two significant receivers in free agency, and he didn’t rule out signing both Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson, in addition to adding WRs in the draft.
And it’s not just the Eagles. In a passing league, many teams across the league are yearning for more talent. Heck, look at Carolina already bringing in Victor Cruz for a visit. The Rams are unlikely to go another year without investing at receiver, and the list goes on.
Joe keeps coming back to the Bucs having nearly $70 million available under the salary cap in 2017. That’s a mountain of money, and Jason Licht won’t benefit much by hoarding most of it in Team Glazer’s vault. Cash never scored a touchdown.
The Bucs might have to overpay to right their wrongs at receiver and get Jameis a real No. 2 or No. 1a option.
If that’s the case, then so be it.
Tampa Bay overpaid Vincent Jackson $10 million for no return in 2016. They should be able to upgrade big time for that same pile of loot.
February 26th, 2017 at 3:52 pm
Don’t feel like getting into a bidding war with philly over DJax. If thy over pay let them have him.
February 26th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
The NFL is getting to the point that bargain bin shopping produces no bargains.
February 26th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
Screw philly..
February 26th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
Yeah don’t overpay, if he’s wanted that much let the eagles keep him again
February 26th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Bucs have to be aggressive in free agency and will have to overpay. Bucs have not won a meaningful game in 15 years and have only 5 good seasons in 41 years hardly a dream destination for competitive winners. No state taxes and weather matters to seniors looking for a retirement destination not young, hip rich sthletes
February 26th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Don’t overpay for that one trick poney. Double up in the draft.
February 26th, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Eagles, bears, redskins, Titans, Rams, 49ers, Carolina. The list goes on and on…
February 26th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
He’s already said how it would be a ” great story” to return to philly. Let him go. We can draft speed.
February 26th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
Go younger please!screw these 30+ guys
February 26th, 2017 at 5:14 pm
I know what everybody means when they say don’t overpay for a particular player. In principle, I share that same philosophy. But keep in mind what is happening to the salary cap (going up at least 11mil and possibly 13mil) this year – and it’s been doing that every year. Prices are being driven by the last CBA and the windfall in TV revenue the NFL is currently receiving. Teams who want to compete must pay the prevailing price.
Look at what has happened to the franchise tag prices and god forbid you tag a player twice. Now granted that a long-term contract price will be lower but not that much. We’re going to have to adjust our thinking as these prices continue to soar. 10 million dollars for a top wide receiver is a bargain today!
Projected 2017 Franchise Tag Numbers
Quarterback $21,588,870
Defensive end $16,988,266
Wide receiver $15,795,917
Linebacker $15,287,383
Cornerback $15,095,872
Offensive linemen $14,829,703
Defensive tackle $14,770,194
Running back $12,755,536
Safety $11,691,943
Tight end $9,865,550
Kicker/Punter $4,946,841
Source: ESPN senior writer John Clayton
February 26th, 2017 at 5:15 pm
I really hope that with this draft and free agency filled with speedy wide receivers that the Bucs don’t fall for Jackpot. We had our shot when Chip cut him. Is there a larger buyer beware on the market?
February 26th, 2017 at 5:18 pm
And DeSean doesn’t show up in meaningful games.
February 26th, 2017 at 6:26 pm
I’d rather let Philly overpay for DJax and we get Stills
February 26th, 2017 at 6:43 pm
I would take Pryor over Jackson. Younger wider range of talents. Could poasibly throw in a wrinkle oe two in the game plan. Draft Dede Westbrook. Think of this for a second…….
Koetter loves his WR screens, throw a couple to Pryor, 3rd or fourth time you throw it to him he drops back and lets one go to westbrook flying past everyone for a TD.
Think I’m the only one on this wagon could be the homer in me but I think Marlon Mack from USF is going to be a beast at the next level.
February 26th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
I wanted Licht to go after Marvin Jones last year. Young player moving up. Healthy. (25 at the time)
And he ended up getting 930 yards.
I see no one like that this year. Everyone is either inconsistent in free agency, or older. I say draft a guy, do not over pay.
February 26th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
First it’s not like it your cash for the people say don’t over pay , second I would over pay d jax and get to the playoffs , let me ask you this would u rather have keep that 10 million this year or spend it and made the playoffs , if we had a another WR this year we would have been in the playoffs , as joe has written repeatedly, we still have a few years before we have to start paying our draft picks so we are good. Over pay and get this team in the playoffs again
February 26th, 2017 at 6:55 pm
I say we overpay and grab all the WRS and move up in draft grab some more WRS, therefore we can beat teams and be better than the teams above us looking for WRs 😉
February 26th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Good stuff Macabee. Thanks. Interesting that the last 2 Bucs to get the franchise tag were a kicker (Connor Barth in 2012) and a WR (Antonio Bryant in 2009). Neither was on the team the year after that (both regressed in their franchise year).
Far as the Bucs signing a quality FA as a #2 WR goes, Bucs have little choice but to over-pay if they expect to get an impact player like Jackson or Garcon or any of the others JBF has been mentioning. Quite a few other teams have precisely the same need and we still have a free enterprise system (last I checked that is). Folks keep saying Bucs have a LOT of money to spend, but we’ve also got a LOT of needs in comparison to most of the playoff teams from last year. Plus we’ve got several outstanding starters (like Jameis, Kwon, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet & Cam Brate among them) who’ll be expecting pretty substantial pay hikes in the next couple of years. Still doubt that Jason Licht will spend over $30 mil (max $35 mil) in free agency this year. That MIGHT buy as many as 4 new impact FAs. Hopefully those are a #2 WR, DE/DT, Safety and an OLineman (C or OT).
February 26th, 2017 at 7:10 pm
@FutureBucsGM The acquisition of Desean Jackson is not strictly about his personal production. It’s about his influence, and the fact that defenses have to respect his next level speed, and keep a safety dedicated to his side of the field. Which opens up the the underneath and over the middle stuff that Mike Evans excels at running.
And that’s exactly what we need. We need legit guys that opposing defenses have to account for, in order to take attention away from Mike. People can dis Mikey’s yac yards, but as my buddy SB brought up last night, imagine how many yards he could have gotten if he wasn’t going into constant double and triple team coverage.
February 26th, 2017 at 7:14 pm
Plus there’s the argument to be made that it was Cousins and not Jackson that faded away in big games.
All things considered, Desean Jackson was a lynch pin force in the 2nd greatest comeback in the history of Football.
And I’m not talking about Lousy Lovie Smith’s capital collapse, which unfortunate for us, Jackson was also a part of…… it still hurts inside…. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slAx291z1hM
Let us take a moment to cherish one of the most exhilarating exhibition Football games ever played.
February 26th, 2017 at 7:18 pm
One thing is certain. Some terms are oxymorons…like compassionate conservative and FREE agents! Nothing is free in the NFL.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:42 pm
So glad all of our fans are so worried about the Glazer’s bank accounts. Jesus people we have boatloads of cap space and a team that hasn’t been relevant in a long time. If we give overpay him a couple million isn’t really that bad. They will still have to try and find ways to get somewhat near the cap floor they have to hit at a minimum. I will never understand why fans worry about overpaying for a proven player.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:47 pm
It has been said that Cleveland WONT franchise tag Terrel Pryor. If that is true, I say throw top end WR2 money at him. He has the perfect combination of size and speed and is still learning the game. HE11, he had 1000 yards in CLEVELAND with the likes of RGknee, Cody Kessler, and Kevin Hogan throwing him the ball. Think of what Koetter did with 2 big body WRs in ATL. This offense would keep DCs awake at night trying to figure out how to beat us. Plus that frees us up for BPA round 1 and 2
February 26th, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Agreed Mike Evans Goat. If acquiring Pryor is even remotely a possibility, we need to go after him with some freaking alacrity.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:53 pm
Seeing that Pryor Adds basically the same type of speedy down the field deep threat, but in a younger, 6’5 body.
Plus him and Mike Evans both train together with Randy Moss in the Offseason.
Can you imagine a starting offense fielded by Mike Evans, Terrel Pryor, Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, and Donta Foreman/ Kareem Hunt/ Sameje Perine?
Holy crap. Can you say 30 points a game?
February 26th, 2017 at 8:54 pm
*Pryor adds the same speed as Desean Jackson* that is.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:57 pm
Why not Stills….younger, just as fast and always seems to produce.
February 26th, 2017 at 9:06 pm
I can get on board with Pryor, Jackson, stills, or Robert Woods. Idk but Robert Woods seems like the kind of player primed for a breakout year. He was the $hit @ USC he has just been stuck in the run heavy bills offense.
February 26th, 2017 at 9:31 pm
I’m not gonna turn my nose up at Robert Woods, I’ve seen him make some really good football plays.
But I feel as though the only way we go with him is if we fail to get Pryor, Jackson, or Stills.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:42 pm
We could get them all, if we get of rid soft serve GMC! I mean, this team(our team) won’t play a meaningful down with GMC on this roster! Much like MG8 gave up a yard shy of a first…… Which I’m still upset about! Our team has such a loser mind set! Don’t let the numbers fool you! We didn’t go 9-7 last season. We actually went 0-16 because we had GMC, DM, and MG on the roster! God! You people make me sick!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:43 pm
Any addition in free agency is overpaid. It can be said that any contract after the rookie contract is a gross over payment. It seems like any player making a decent check for the bucs has been accused of being over paid. GMC, David, Smith, v Jack, etc. so im not afraid of the “overpaid” label for any free agent. They are all overpaid. Lol
February 26th, 2017 at 10:44 pm
My best tmax clone
February 26th, 2017 at 11:46 pm
Blake,
I like your logic, I think Pryor should be a must target for us. His personality conflict or off field problems from what I understand is because he wants to win and he’s sick of losing. He went off last year… By Browns standards anyways. He played fantastically from what I saw. I like stills also. I definitely don’t want DJ. Old and he’ll cost too much. Woods… hasn’t he been banged up throughout his career? I would be game if he came cheap but he seems to me like a more expensive Humphries. Which Hump will never likely progress past a Y WR. Which is a good spot for him.
February 27th, 2017 at 12:55 am
@Joe
Cash left unspent never scored a touchdown. Cash spent= Keyshawn, Joe Joe, and Keenan.
February 27th, 2017 at 1:40 am
True, but cash burned now means Bucs won’t be able to pay some massive contracts that will be due right around the corner which includes the core of the team (Evans, Jameis, Marpet, Donovan Smith, Kwon, Hargreaves).
February 27th, 2017 at 7:53 am
The last time we went into free agency with a winning record we signed a punter. So all the people claiming we shouldn’t over pay because another team wants the same player, do we just sit back and sign another special teams guy and no one else? Don’t complain about being cheap in the past and then say we shouldn’t dish out the cash this time around. Be aggressive and get the guys we need
February 27th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Just my opinion but one of my favorite Posters macabee who in my opinion should have his own website, makes a great point with the Franchise tag data. Once again we see a huge increase in the cap. Teams can’t look at it as money, GM’s are going to have to lose the “don’t overpay,” for a player they want. Be prepared to pay for mid-range players like you used to spend for Pro-Bowler’s. Be prepared to be in a bidding war for all big names, and be prepared to pay your own FA’s to keep them.
February 27th, 2017 at 9:40 am
If Philly is willing to overpay on DJax, then so be it. What are we gonna tell ME when its his contract year and we spent all his resign money on a No. 2 receiver. A cheaper guy like Kenny Stills would be a much better option.
February 27th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
pay the guy with a hefty 5 year deal that can be dumped easily after year 2 or 3. Jackson can be out and replaced by homegrown talent before he becomes a hindrance to Jameis’ megadeal, his act wears too thin, or he loses too many steps
February 27th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
Give me Stills and Woods. Then draft McCaffrey at 19 and Kupp or Dede in the 2nd