Bucs Sign Evan Dietrich-Smith

March 14th, 2014
even Dietrich-Smith

It’s a four-year deal

Updated 4:38 p.m.: The Bucs continued their shopping spree this afternoon by signing former Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith. The Bucs had wooed Dietrich-Smith at One Buc Palace earlier this week.

The signing of Dietrich-Smith evokes a couple of questions:

One, what is the status of Jeremy Zuttah?

Joe finds Zuttah to be valuable, only because he is flexible. He can play center or guard. He was a right tackle in college. At left guard for the Bucs, Zuttah was just so-so. He exceled at right guard for Davin Joseph in 2008. One could argue there was no drop off at all. Of course, Zuttah can play center, too.

The second is, what is the status of Carl Nicks? The Bucs claim Nicks is making progress with his bum toe, but no one has seen Nicks and for all we know, Nicks is just swimming in the training pool. Though Joe likes Nicks, he has only played in a handful of games since he was signed two years ago by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik. To bank on Nicks is, at best, a major gamble.

Joe’s hunch is that the signing of Dietrich-Smith means Zuttah is playing guard somewhere this fall, and maybe not with the Bucs.

As for Dietrich-Smith, he’s no castoff. The mighty Packers wanted to keep him. Aaron Rodgers was lobbying for him. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel weighed in when he inked his new Bucs deal.

The Packers had been talking to Dietrich-Smith on a regular basis, but they were unable to meet his price. Dietrich-Smith had visited the Buccaneers on Wednesday and pursued him throughout the last couple of days.

The deal Dietrich-Smith signed with the Buccaneers was four years, $14.5 million, an average of $3.625 million, which is less than the Packers paid LB Mike Neal (two years, $8 million).

An interesting side note, Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford is a close friend of Rodgers, his former college QB. Joe suspects Tedford has heard all about the quality of Dietrich-Smith, who, per Joe’s research, handled most of the protection calls in the Packers offense.

73 Responses to “Bucs Sign Evan Dietrich-Smith”

  1. Thibs5599 Says:

    EDC can also play guard. The bucs now have two quality starters who can play guard or center. Very good signing and due to them not being oversized maulers like Nicks it is evidence the offensive line will be running a zone blocking scheme instead of a power one. Definitely a good value signing by Licht and Lovie.

  2. Thibs5599 Says:

    Plus cutting Zuttah will just provide another hole. One of them will be playing right guard. Collins, Nicks, EDC, Zuttah, Dotson sounds like a pretty good starting group to me. Throw in a guard in the draft for depth, I don’t think the bucs will draft an OT in the first round with the money they invested in Collins. Even though he is 29 his legs are fresh and has plenty of game left in him.

  3. pick6 Says:

    he’s uncuttable this year, but i wonder if we could offload nicks (assuming he can pass the physical) to a team like Oakland for peanuts. they have the cap room and the need, and it doesn’t seem like we are looking for linemen in the Nicks mold for the new scheme. even getting a 6th or 7th rounder or a conditional pick of some kind would be great it the salary moved to another team’s cap.

  4. Rob Says:

    Zuttah should definitely stay with the team and move to Guard.

  5. Sneedy16 Says:

    Figured as much, they wanted some offense but Sanders probably was asking for too much.

  6. Lynch Says:

    Jesus this is like an expansion team. They weren’t joking about a whole different roster. Hopefully they can pull everything together early in the off season.

  7. ForgotAboutDre Says:

    PFF ranked him as the 8th best center last year. Very solid addition.

  8. Celly Says:

    @Joe

    “To bank on Banks is, at best, a major gamble.”
    ———————

    While you are correct that banking on Banks at this point is a gamble (considering he’s only in his second year and was slightly slowed last year due to his MRSA situation), i have a feeling that you meant “to bank on Nicks….”

  9. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Confirmed signings

    Offense:

    • QB Josh McCown
    • RB Bobby Rainey
    • TE Brandon Myers
    • T Anthony Collins
    • G Jamon Meredith
    • C Evan Dietrich-Smith

    Defense:

    • DE Michael Johnson
    • DT Clinton McDonald
    • LB Jonathan Casillas
    • CB Alterraun Verner
    • CB Danny Gorrer

    Confirmed visits from the following free agents (That we know of )

    Offense:

    • WR Ted Ginn
    • WR Emmanuel Sanders

    Defense:

    • LB Dane Fletcher
    • CB Captain Munnerlyn (Canceled Scheduled Visit)
    • CB Walter Thurmond (Canceled Scheduled Visit)
    • CB Charles Tillman

  10. Sneedy16 Says:

    I believe Joe that they are not banking on Nicks toe and want to have a backup insurance if he doesn’t play this year.

  11. pick6 Says:

    4 years, $14 million. i’m not going to pretend to know the quality or ability of this player but for what it’s worth that’s a bit less than Zuttah and you could get 2 of him for one carl nicks, which is more in line the positional value equation Licht is following

  12. Mord Says:

    Kinda hope they keep Zuttah .. two guys with this flexibility bodes well for depth, even if Zuttah’s primary role is to replace Joseph.

  13. HotRod Says:

    Who do we have for right guard if they get rid if Zuttah? I see Collins, Nicks, Dietrich-Smith, Zuttah, Meredith. Am I wrong?

  14. unbelievable Says:

    Gotta keep zuttah. Versatility and depth. If EDC went down, who would move over to center? Gotta keep the man! I would think he’s going to play RG now.

  15. SAMCRO Says:

    They won’t cut Zuttah. He wasn’t the crux of the problem last year and he’s still young. Unless Zuttah shows signs of diminution during camp, he ain’t going nowhere.

  16. Lynch Says:

    Are you guys worried about our offense? Seems we are way more talented on D right now. Offense is slightly better, don’t forget we were last in the league last year…

  17. mitch Says:

    CALLED IT

  18. 1bucfan88 Says:

    Zuttah’s contract isn’t particularly onerous to the cap. He’s tough, smart, versatile, and durable…in my opinion you can’t have enough of those guys on your roster. Then again, it truly does seem as though everyone’s %^!# are on the table right now.

  19. Sneedy16 Says:

    I wonder is they are done with free agency? The Oline has been redone, and the defense has new pieces to it. I am thinking QB, OT, WR, or maybe trade down and get MLB, TE, or WR.

  20. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Dead Money applies if cut.

    Vincent Jackson Cap Hit if Kept 12,432,000
    Dead Money if cut 7,296,000

    Carl Nicks Cap Hit if Kept 9,357,000
    Dead Money if cut 7,071,000

    Gerald McCoy Cap Hit if Kept 15,627,253
    Dead Money if cut 5,190,000

    Dashon Goldson Cap Hit if Kept 9,000,000
    Dead Money if cut 9,000,000

    Mark Barron Cap Hit if Kept 3,945,273
    Dead Money if cut 8,547,546

    Mike Williams Cap Hit if Kept 1,800,000
    Dead Money if cut 6,400,000

    Adrian Clayborn Cap Hit if Kept 2,612,325
    Dead Money if cut 2,612,325

    Jeremy Zuttah Cap Hit if Kept 4,500,000
    Dead Money if cut 0.00

    Da.Quan Bowers Cap Hit if Kept 1,226,793
    Dead Money if cut 326,025

    Mason Foster Cap Hit if Kept 1,520,250
    Dead Money if cut 131,250

    Lavonte David Cap Hit if Kept 946,836 (FA in 2016)
    Dead Money if cut 482,448

    Akeen Spence Cap Hit if Kept 616,071
    Dead Money if cut 363,213

    Tom Crabtree Cap Hit if Kept 825,000
    Dead Money if cut 0.00

  21. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    LUVMYBUCS, I think Ted Ginn was signed by someone. Forget who.

  22. Brian D. Says:

    What a great signing…Move Zuttah to Right Guard…holes filling up quick around here!

  23. Neil Says:

    Tillman signed w the Bears 🙁

  24. Buck Rogers Says:

    With all these guys signing and some at great value. It shows when your head coach is respected the players want to come to Tampa. Not like the last Ball Bag

  25. Sneedy16 Says:

    @BuccaneerBonzai

    Jeremy Zuttah Cap Hit if Kept 4,500,000
    Dead Money if cut 0.00

    It looks like he’s on the chopping block if Nicks is healthy.

  26. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Side note: BUC scouts (Along with others) were at LB Kyle Van Noy’s pro day.

    Get’em Lovie & Licht-The Kid is a freaking beast-and would make a great addition to the front 7.

    (LVD) – MASON – (KVN)…tandem would be the best young linebacker group in the NFL; bar non.

  27. Buc A Deer Says:

    The Lovefest continues!! Keep Zutah for flexibility and depth. Still thinking Lovelite goes bargain bin shopping and signs a couple more guys. We will be over 1.5 m views!!

  28. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    I wouldn’t rule out Zuttah being cut. The Bucs would have no dead money and add ove $4 mill to the cap. I think they should keep him because he is very solid depth, but hard to pay a backup more than a starter and you just never know with the way things are going.

    Nicks has no trade value. The Bucs have no one with trade value at all…except maybe Zuttah or on of our stars. I pray to God they don’t trade away one of our stars.

  29. Mr. T Says:

    Agree, this move was made so Zuttah could move to RG

  30. WalkdaPlank Says:

    Be nice to sign Smitty. Or are they going to wait till the end of preseason to bring back Underwood?

  31. My Buc-O's Says:

    Joe….please help me…with all this signing how much are we under the cap? Are we going to have enough $ left for the draft ?

  32. Patrick in VA Says:

    @bonzai – what about koenan? He’s probably the most expendable at this point since he’s a punter and I could send my little brother out there to do as well as he did

  33. Couch Fan Says:

    Smith signed with Baltimore, damnit!

  34. Kansasbuc Says:

    Tillman signed back with the Bears

  35. Architek Says:

    I think Tampa is in a terrific position to draft best available!

    Brilliant times!

  36. Buc1987 Says:

    All Options On The Table.

    As a fan… so much for growing with the team. That goes out the window. We won’t recognize anyone when TC hits

  37. Sneedy16 Says:

    @Patrick in VA

    I don’t know, because he is the kick off guy too. Barth as a strong leg for field goals but not kickoffs. Maybe he can take a paycut or renegotiate his contract.

  38. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Patrick in VA Says:
    March 14th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
    @bonzai – what about koenan?”

    His salary is just over $4 mill. No dead space if cut.

    But I wouldn’t recommend getting rid of him. It took time to find a good punter. He was under orders to put teams on the twenty to prevent run backs last year.

    Connor Barth also leaves no dead money if cut. That might happen if his injury throws off his game. I think he would free up over $4 mill as well, though I’m not looking at the numbers right now.

  39. Ryan Says:

    This is why people love you. You have the best coverage of Buccaneers reporting I’ve ever seen and your information is concrete, analytic, and informative. It’s no wonder why you’re such a superstar success. Keep doing what you’re doing man.

  40. Macabee Says:

    I never thought that Tillman would leave Chicago. When I saw him receive the Walter Payton Award with tears in his eyes, I knew there was an emotional attachment that money was not likely to break.

    He will be happy in Chicago and we can’t win them all, but we’re winning our share! Go Bucs!

  41. Me First Says:

    @my bucs we were @ roughly 11.5 before we signed EDC so based on his deal were probably sitting around 8 and I think we need 3.5 for rookies, so around 4.5 to play wit

  42. Macabee Says:

    They may keep Zuttah as a back-up if he takes less money. If not Zuttah is Zwieback. I think that’s toast!

  43. Buccanole Says:

    Great Move! We need to bolster up protection for Manziel. Don’t want him getting hurt in his first year.

  44. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    It is still very early…there will be many FAs still cut for cap purposes….all sorts of possibilities remain for some good deals….it has now become mostly a buyers market. The longer we wait….the lower the price gets on remaining players looking for work.
    I think we should keep Zuttah….we need the depth & versatility he provides.

  45. Oil Derrick Brooks Says:

    Lines are getting fixed. Love it.

  46. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Sammy!!! #7

  47. kgh4life Says:

    Since we are talking about the cap, isn’t Gerald McCoy going to be a free agent pretty soon? Obviously it would be wise to extend his contract to free-up some money. 15mill for McCoy, wow!

  48. Patrick Says:

    Good pick up but damn can they at least keep one familiar face from the line? Zuttah is a decent player.

  49. Patrick Says:

    And please keep Barth; he’s been the perfect kicker for us.

  50. Thibs5599 Says:

    This offense is going to be fine boys…we still have some money left to sign a slot guy and we still have the draft. The offense was extremely injured last year and the reason we weren’t good wasn’t because of talent people. It was because of the coaches and leadership. Every single player is inboard with Lovie, new and old and the Bucs are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season barring a slew of major injuries. Haven’t been this excited in a long time and with the Bucs only getting younger only adds to more excitement. Now let’s lock up McCoy and David so I can buy their jerseys In the new white ones, look way better than when originally came out. FIRE THE CANNONS

  51. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    According to:
    http://overthecap.com/calculator/?Team=Buccaneers

    $15,343,204 (Before we Sign Evan Dietrich-Smith)

  52. feelthepewterpower Says:

    According to:
    http://overthecap.com/calculator/?Team=Buccaneers

    $15,343,204 (Before we Sign Evan Dietrich-Smith)

    ——————————————-

    it’s down to roughly 11 and change then.

  53. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Releasing:

    • Michael Koenen-$3,250,000
    • Jeremy Zuttah-$4,000,000
    • Luke Stocker-$763,172
    • Anthony Gaitor-$658,404

    ++ $8,671.576

    ++ Gerald McCoy extension (additional cap space)

  54. zam Says:

    if you get rid of Zuttah, who’s your right guard?

    It makes sense to me that Meredith is your main backup if Nicks plays, and starts at LG if Nicks can’t.

  55. Orca Says:

    Zuttah shouldn’t be cut without first attempting to renegotiate his salary down to 2 million or so. He’s versatile and is a capable starter or quality backup.

  56. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @Zam

    G Willie Colon -cheap options

  57. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    IMO-Zuttah might get traded

  58. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    smh..Who knows

    Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer 1h
    As of this AM, Raiders led the NFL with $59.9M in cap space, followed by Bucs ($46.2M), Browns ($33.7M), Jets ($27.9M) and Bengals ($27.6M).

  59. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Joel Corry ‏@corryjoel (Former Agent)
    @AlbertBreer The Bucs’ cap room is an illustration of a team remaking the roster w/out going into cap hell by having “pay as you go” deals.

  60. Macabee Says:

    Luv,

    Word is out. Nobody is going to trade for a Buccaneer short of McCoy or David. Why trade, just wait until we cut them! Especially Zuttah!

  61. lurker Says:

    bye steve smith

    to dirtybirds 3 yr/ 11 mill

  62. Couch Fan Says:

    @LUv

    I seen that to and thought it must of been a typo

  63. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @Macabee

    I was trying to be positive ..lol-You know hoping for the best

  64. CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:

    Has there ever been a stronger rebuke of a previous regime than what Licht & Lovie are doing to the Schiano/Dom legacy?

  65. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @Couch Fan

    Lol, I had to put my drink down like– WE HAVE WHAT-gtfo of herrre.

  66. WalkdaPlank Says:

    Yeah hopefully Barth comes back fully healthy. He’s been our best kicker since Matt Bryant. Lindell is terrible.

  67. Bob Digital Says:

    Good signing. I say keep Zuttah. Can never have too much depth on o line. Financially there is no benefit to cutting Nicks this season so he’ll be here regardless. Count me in the crowd that hopes Manziel or Bridgewater falls to #7

  68. unbelievable Says:

    Totally agree! Barth makes a lot but I really hope we keep him if he’s back to form. He was incredibly accurate and dependable when he played, a la Matt Bryant.

    Lindell is absolute garbage.

  69. NY Buc Says:

    I’m certainly wrong about Bucs moves (often), but I think they keep Zuttah if for no other reason than he’s got starter experience at multiple positions. He is an insurance policy if somebody gets injured or a solid starter if he wins the camp position battle. I’m not sure what Licht thinks about $4M, but that doesn’t seem terrible for a guy with his experience and versatility.

    With that said my track record suggests Zuttah will be cut any minute now….

  70. HotRod Says:

    If McCoy counts almost 16 mil against the cap this year – why the heck have they not locked him up into a long term deal that has a more favorable cap number and give the kid some bonus money!

    “Give the kid some bonus money!” McCoy made $10 million last season. He’s got plenty of spending cash. The Bucs won’t lose him. There’s no hurry. –Joe

  71. Eric Says:

    Mr. Smith seems to be rather intent on winning games in the trenches. Amazing work so far. All younger up and coming guys except McCown.

    Seems like with Collins not likely a LT would be the pick. Not sure how Mack would fit in.

    Sammy Watkins or a QB?

    I’m scared of a WR that high, we’ve always failed at that, and I’m kinda like Joe is about running backs, you can get a WR in later rounds easily.

    If what they view as a franchise QB is there, they take him IMO, because the opportunity to do that is rare. Key being “what they view”.

  72. Cmurda Says:

    3.2 m to a punter is insane, I dont care what anybody says. To top it off Koenen was straight booty anyway. Im in favor of cutting him and signing any SOB that can kick a football for peanuts. Not in favor of Zuttah. Im a big fan of his. I respect his game and his versatility and think he’s worth the 4M cap price tag.

  73. Cmurda Says:

    Not in favor of cutting Zuttah…. Joes, whats up with an edit button. Make it happen.