Left Tackle Money Explodes
March 14th, 2018
Bucs left tackle Donovan Smith is smiling today
A high-mileage, never-made-a-Pro-Bowl left tackle turning 30 next month just scored a four-year, $60 million contract with a guarantee of about $35 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Man, Joe hopes Donovan Smith is extra motivated by that for his contract season in 2018.
The guy roping in the cash today is now-former Patriots left tackle Nate Solder, who signed on with the New York Giants.
Solder has seven full seasons under his belt plus another 16 playoff games. He’s good and reliable, but he’s not elite. That sure sounds like Smith. At least that’s how the Bucs perceive Smith, who turns just 25 years old in June.
Man, Smith is sitting on a potential mammoth contract, especially if he keeps his never-missed-a-game streak alive.
That won’t soothe the chorus of Smith haters, but it’s reality. Joe suspects Bucs fans will see the very best of Smith this year. There’s a lot at stake.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
It’s ironic that Smith played his best in a year that the rest of the team were at their worst.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Crazy money being thrown around for average players
We need to throw something around soon or we will have same team with a few more rookies that won’t likely produce year one except maybe 1st and 2nd.
Get Jensen. Get sitton. Get 2 DE’s including okafor.
Any word on ej Gaines. Need db
March 14th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
I figure he’s going to make his money, and so will Jameis.
What worries me is that our window to win is quickly closing before we have to start signing these big contracts. Evans was just the first.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Licht, and Koetter will probably not making that decision.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Smith is honestly the least of our worries… And that isn’t saying much about this roster lol
March 14th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
Smith is not as good of a player as Solder. In my opinion his contract shouldn’t even come close to 15 million a season.
Nate Solder on his best day is a top 10 left tackle in this league. Donovan Smith on his best day, is a pretty good tackle, but on his worst days he gets his QB’s throwing shoulder hurt.
In fact, his inconsistency as a player is one of the main reasons why I’m so all in on Quenton Nelson locking down the Left Guard position for the next 10-15 years.
If you think back on it, Smiths best year was as a Rookie playing next to a very good, revitalized Logan Mankins.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:42 pm
I hate when teams f*ck the market up like this by overpaying. Hopefully Smith / his agent can see the difference in negotiating contracts on the open market when desperate teams like the Giants will dump cash on you; vs negotiating a new contract while still under the rights of the team/ wanting to stay with that team.
$11-13 mill should be the price for his play I’d think. Not $15+
March 14th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
mike10 Says
“What worries me is that our window to win is quickly closing before we have to start signing these big contracts. Evans was just the first.”
Not really. If Licht structures them right, the years of big payouts will stagger.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Smith gets 12-15 million a year. Worth it
March 14th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
we just resigned keith tandy……so I guess no safety help coming…..
looks like glazers are creating depth and saving cap space for the next regime so they can make the big moves!!!!!!!!
no urgency!!!!!!…..no excuse!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Other than the draft and quality UDFAs, Licht is pretty good at structuring contracts……now FA acquisitions….that’s another matter.Maybe that is why we aren’t picking any up…..you can’t make a mistake on a player you don’t sign…..except, of course, if he blows up somewhere and you could have had him.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
mike10
evans will be the next paul gruber…. entire career without a meaningful win…
March 14th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
how bout we draft some damn lineman instead of receivers and kick returners and the mythical fullback. GMs stay employed by hitting on 5,6,7 round picks. I just read bucs are after a linebacker….WTF
March 14th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
813…Maybe the clowns running things will allow Tandy to compete this year for the other Safety spot and then we won’t have to worry about the Secondary. He has proven already that he can handle the position and excel at it. Licht and his cronies have other big holes to fill. Guess I will stay on board now that Keith is a Buc for 2 more years anyway!!!!! Go Bucs!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
Tandy re-signed!!! We have our backup depth established…still need to draft a safety in the top 3 rounds.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
tandyman
I doubt the clowns have learned their lesson…..best case for tandy would be to stay patience and stay health this year because the next regime will recognize his talents and he’ll succeed next year……
tandy was hosed last year……another example of smitty’s incompetence……
no urgency….no excuse
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“Not really. If Licht structures them right, the years of big payouts will stagger.”
Admittedly, I’m no agent. But I don’t think that’s how it works.. Evans will be making 18 mil every year until 2023, as will Brate, and then it will be Winston, and then Kwon, and Marpet and Dotson, and so on…
Unless you’re great at maintaining turnover (i.e. ONLY the pats) and developing young talent, you can’t keep all of your roster intact (i.e. the Seahawks & Cards)…
Once our boys start getting re-upped, they’ll eventually move on. Am I wrong?
March 14th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
TMAX, agreed. Also, thanks for using Evans and not McCoy as your comparison.
March 14th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
SOLDER and MALCOLM BUTLER got severely OVER-PAID imho
March 14th, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Great or terrible video depending on your perspective…
“Khalil Mack destroys Jameis Winston” hightlite video on YouTube.
It should be named, “Khalil Mack’ s b…. Donavon Smith”.
Watch and be horrified!
March 14th, 2018 at 8:12 pm
Smith is average at best. Typical underachiever. Takes to many plays off. Just a big lazy ass.