Is Mario Williams A Bargain?
March 8th, 2016
Changing market
It’s pretty clear the Bucs don’t want to overpay for a free agent pass rusher, but maybe the game has changed now that Malik Jackson — Malik Jackson — is running from the Super Bowl champs to the Jaguars for $15 million per year.
Per BleacherReport.com and other outlets, former Bills and Texans star edge rusher Mario Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in 2006, says he’ll play for the first team that drops $10 million in his lap.
Williams, though he recently turned 31, has quite a resumé and is healthy. Perhaps Williams at $10 million is a bargain in this market?
Given the cash flying around and the Bucs having $60 million available under this year’s salary cap, Williams’ demand might just be reasonable. If he can come in and play solid ball and rack up nine or 10 sacks off the edge, that’s worth $10 million these days.
Multiple NFL suits at the NFL Scouting Combine told Joe the expected rate for free agent defensive ends in $2 million per sack. Hell, Jackson busted that wide open, as he only had 5 1/2 sacks last year for Denver. He’ll land nearly $2.8 million per sack!
Joe wouldn’t mind trading places with 25-year-old Jacquies Smith right now. Another seven-sack year out of him and he might be set for life.
Joe can’t figure out why the Bucs aren’t interviewing Williams and putting him through a workout. What’s the harm in that?
March 8th, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Bucs..wake up a get Mario!!! WTF are they waiting for???…10M a year seems like a good price for this man!! Malik@ 15M a year?? Dang…
March 8th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Just took out my FA wish list for me and others here..the list is starting to shrink quite a bit…nowhere are the Bucs mentioned as an interest for this man…
March 8th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Tamba Ali just signed.
Bucs playing it cheap. Great job bucs. I guess everyone can see how bad the defense is except the people in charge.
March 8th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
JPP just signed on for on more year in Gotham!
March 8th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
“Multiple NFL suits at the NFL Scouting Combine told Joe the expected rate for free agent defensive ends in $2 million per sack”
That’s ridiculous and isn’t supported by any real recent contracts I’ve seen. If true then NFL GMs have lost their mind and will regret signing mediocre players to $12-15 million a year. Seriously 6-7 sack DEs are going to get paid like a top 3-5 player at pretty much most other positions? Paid like a marginal starting QB lol? Comon man.
Justin Houston came off a 22 sack season in his prime and signed for $16.5 million a year on average. That’s the absolute top of the market right now for DEs as far as I know. That’s for a guy who has averaged .8 sacks per game or 12-13 on a full season. So he’s getting paid about $1.3 million per sack
$1 – 1.5 million MAX per sack seems more accurate if you look at the contracts around the league. If a DE is getting more than that he has to be an absolute beast in containing the edge & stopping the run in addition to having an ability to get to the QB.
That Malik Jackson contract is cray regardless
March 8th, 2016 at 1:55 pm
“Tamba Ali just signed.
Bucs playing it cheap. Great job bucs. I guess everyone can see how bad the defense is except the people in charge.”
What a insanely stupid comment. Guy re-signs with his own team and somehow it’s a slight against the Bucs. You’re sad as hell man lol
March 8th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Broncos just released RG Louis Vasquez. Wasn’t doing well in Kubiak’s zone blocking scheme. He’s 29 and comes with some shiny new hardware.
March 8th, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Because they are looking at Olivier Vernon. Pay Mario 10+ mil a year and he depreciates by the year. Only pay Olivier 14mil ish for a asset that appreciates with time. If it’s my money I know I want the younger, longer, BETTER, and safer asset. It’s not that complicated. Charles Johnson is younger and better then Mario too.. Look who’s visiting today lol
March 8th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
The Bills just re-signed LG Richie Incognito. Three year deal
March 8th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Just saw Incognito’s tweet..looks like he’s staying put for another 3 years…I just scratched him off too…lol…
March 8th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
No major additions means more double digit losing seasons. Bucs are a joke
March 8th, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Giving Charles Johnson and Mario Williams 10 million a year still gives us 40 million in cap space. If he’s as old and washed up as some on here would lead you to believe, then you cut him next year and move on. This is also why you draft a DE in the first regardless of FA. Rookie DEs don’t typically perform very well. Let the rookie learn from Johnson and Williams. Money shouldn’t be an issue here. Now if Williams doesn’t like the roster and doesn’t want to play here, then fine, I get that. But 10 million when you have 60 million available is a no brainer.
Side note, I really hope this isn’t an issue of Licht low balling guys to get the best “value”. That is a bad strategy to have with so many holes on the team, and a ton of cap space.
March 8th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Hahahaha and right on cue, Malik Jackson is keeping it real
https://twitter.com/TheMalikJackson/status/707284115867832320
March 8th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
i know right. at least show that your a little insterested in williams. hopefully we just know we want him. and slide in with a deal. overpay for him he’s can be a major force
March 8th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
@lird Cornelius
Dude shut your mouth. No one was talking to you. Go clean your room and eat your chicken nugget lunch mommy made for you.
March 8th, 2016 at 3:39 pm
I think they are going to snag Charles Johnson and then draft a DE.
I want to hear about a DB signing too/ preferably J Jenkins.
I wanted Mario, but C Johnson is healthy and a bit younger, he could end up being a helluva deal.
As for people already bitching and whining…. WOW. It’s the first day. Players have teams in mind just like teams have players in mind. Just because some one signs somewhere does not mean the Bucs didn’t try. It also might mean they never had a chance. Most players will resign. Just let it play out.
March 8th, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Mike Wallace released. Speed threat that was underutilized. Neither Teddy or Tannehil challenge defenses down the field much
March 8th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Note To Tampa Tony.. We wil continue to be a joke until our overall front office, ownership and sportswriters mentality changes. We Bucs are..Bargain Basement hunters baby. And bargain hunters? Stay in the..basement ratings.
Don’t worry though..Koetter and Smith ill save the day. Just wait until all of the spinning starts. Can’t wait.
March 8th, 2016 at 5:52 pm
Wow 2 yr deal worth 8 mil a year! Is Licht sleep at the wheel? Can’t believe they couldn’t pull the trigger on a deal like that to upgrade the pass rush.
March 8th, 2016 at 6:13 pm
How do the Dolphins pay suh. Have cam wake , tag Oliver Vernon and sign Williams. They also trade for Kiko Alonso and maxwell taking their contracts. I don’t see how they can afford to match an offer to Oliver Vernon now and he would be a 3rd DE
March 8th, 2016 at 10:37 pm
Note to Getaclue..They did it with moxy and determination. They wanted to do it. Its that simple. Miami truly wants a Kick A.. Defense. We..Bucs want bargains. Always have. You gotta want to be a top 5 Defense. And to do that, you gotta go out and aggressively bring in good players. We..watch free agency then pick up the garbage players afterwards. Sorry..but its the truth!