Keeping Will Gholston?
December 28th, 2016
Final Bucs game?
Though his status is uncertain for Sunday, if Will Gholston does play, will it be his last Bucs game?
The versatile defensive lineman sat out the Saints game Christmas Eve with a dislocated elbow and the Michigan State product is in the final year of his rookie contract (damn that former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik).
Given how he an OK pass rusher and a good run defender, he might see a nice pay day come this spring when the free agency dinner bell rings.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine thinks Gholston is the most important Bucs soon-to-be free agent.
The Bucs don’t have a big-name free agent in 2017, unlike last offseason, when running back Doug Martin was the team’s priority. Gholston is the free agent who stands out the most. He not only showed he can stop the run, but he has shown he can rush the passer, too. When Gholston suffered an elbow injury against the Cowboys, you could feel the impact of that loss, and you could see it against the Saints during the following week.
Gholston, 25, is one of two soon-to-be free agents on the Bucs defensive line. Jacquies Smith, the talented but oft-injured defensive end, is also in the final year of his contract. Per Rotoworld, Smith made $70,000 more than Gholston did this year ($600,000).
At the very least when it comes to defensive linemen, the Bucs will be in the mix when the free agency dinner bell rings March 9 at 4 p.m. Of course, they could re-sign Gholston and/or Smith at any time.
Joe suspects the Bucs will keep Smith as he has limited bargaining power due to all of his injuries. Gholston might find a team or two to go drunken sailor given his flashes to rush the passer and teams’ lust for pass rushers, thus, Joe guesses the odds of Gholston staying are less than Smith’s.
Remember, Gholston has publicly said he wants to get paid.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:29 am
Reward him for his efforts!!!!
Set a precedent, that if you work hard and play hard, you will get paid!
Pay the man and keep him for 5-6 years.
He’s a WARRIOR
@JOE
He was a SCHIANO pick not a Dominick pick. Schiano had an eye for talent.
Schiano got us Akeem Spence and Gholston in the 4th round.
Thanks Schiano! (but screw you for letting Michael Bennett go for questioning your call against RG III at the end of our loss to them)
Schiano was a pretty good coach but just too rigid.
December 28th, 2016 at 3:51 am
Sign him to a contract similar to the Michael Johnson deal.
December 28th, 2016 at 6:52 am
Since he is not an elite pass rusher, his market price will not by sky high. Except for this past injury, he has been healty. He can stop the run, and those kinds of DE’s are not in high demand. I can see the Bucs let him test the market, but yes, someone might throw a boat load of cash at him.
December 28th, 2016 at 7:23 am
He shouldn’t be expensive to re-sign…neither should Akeem Spence…
December 28th, 2016 at 7:34 am
I’d re sign him, given its reasonable. The holes we have elsewhere require more attention.
December 28th, 2016 at 8:07 am
Pay the man. Best scheme DE we have. His sack numbers are not there but he currently leads the entire DL in tackles. They need to retain him. I will be PO’d if they let him go. Granted, he doesn’t ask for ridiculous figures.
December 28th, 2016 at 8:32 am
It’s a no brainer as far as I’m concerned.
December 28th, 2016 at 8:36 am
This could be a possible re-run of the Michael Bennett fiasco. With all the cap space we have the Buc’s can afford to keep both Gholston and Smith. Believe me any DL free agent worth a look this year is going to want big bucks.
December 28th, 2016 at 8:42 am
agree with Dislocated.Gholston is high effort guy,he may not have a lot of sacks,but he also gets into the backfield and disrupts the offense at times,
he is an imposing figure that makes Qb’s miss their targets with his presence.
December 28th, 2016 at 8:51 am
Pay the Man!!!! We cannot afford to let talent walk just because it is NOT elite. HOLY CRAP why is this even a question? A month ago the Dline looked pretty good when they were all healthy. We cannot keep thinking that talent can just be bought in FA because players will not come here. We cannot think we will find good Dlineman in the Draft because there are only so many draft picks to hit on. Why is this even a question? Give him a nice little contract and let him keep growing here. We have a lot of Dlinemen who have flashed at times because so many of them have gotten playing time. Let’s keep that going. Keep them all until we find something better, then let them go.
STOP LETTING TALENT WALK WHEN WE HAVE NO ONE TO REPLACE THEM!!!
December 28th, 2016 at 8:51 am
Just compare the defense in the two Saints games – and pay the guy!
December 28th, 2016 at 8:54 am
Gholston would be a smart signing as there will be many, many positions in need of an upgrade. This would be one less. I think his ability to move inside makes him extremely valuable.
December 28th, 2016 at 9:02 am
^^^^^^^^ Well said German Buc. I think it is a pretty obvious answer.
I say keep them all until we find something better. ONLY THEN, do you let a player walk. We are starting to groom good players from our own team. None of these players will break the bank to keep. Why let any of them walk?
We have had an excellent season as far as growth on the team. None of us expected to be in the mix of playoffs heading in to December. IF it wasn’t for these players, that would not be possible. Lots of young players getting experience and flashing at times. Keep them all, go acquire more talent this offseason, then and only then start cutting players.
December 28th, 2016 at 9:02 am
3rd highest cap space i believe pay him
December 28th, 2016 at 9:02 am
we have paid the likes of henry melton 3.75 million signing bonus and could
have received up to 5 million for 30 tackles and 2 sacks.
That would be a good starting point in my book.
December 28th, 2016 at 9:24 am
He should not get top tier money but he’s one of the better DE’s against the run out there. The Bucs should sign him unless he’s looking for Robert Quinn money. I still think this team needs to upgrade at DE because after four years he’s not shown he’s a very good pass rusher.
December 28th, 2016 at 9:27 am
gholston and a.spence should not leave this team…mid round picks that actually produce…rare Bucs occurence here. start keeping our own. these two are not replaceable for 2017 with rookies or anyone else
December 28th, 2016 at 10:12 am
They need to re-sign him and a very good run stopping DT. I don’t know if I like the “trying to go paid” statement. I understand it’s a business and what not but when guys say things like that it just worries me that after they get paid, they stop putting in as much effort.
December 28th, 2016 at 10:18 am
DO NOT GIVE HIM A BIG CONTRACT!!!!!
Are you freaking kidding me? You people want to reward a guy who is not producing when we can draft a better player to replace him???
I say give him an average contract, because that is what he plays like. And if that isn’t good enough send him packing. The man should not even be starting, and would not be if we had a good option.
December 28th, 2016 at 10:19 am
@Miko
Mid round picks always produce in Tampa…it’s hte upper round picks that seem to be more rare (pre-Jason Licht)
December 28th, 2016 at 10:28 am
Gholston is as solid a DE as is in the NFL. Not every DE is a pass rushing monster. Some have to do the dirty work. That is where Gholston fits in.
Pay him. the going rate for a non-pass rushing specialist.
The Bucs missed him badly the last two games…
December 28th, 2016 at 10:30 am
Jason Licht should be cleaning house with cap money.
So far as I am concerned, only McCoy and Noah Spence deserve to remain on that defensive line.
Robert Ayers is great, but he is getting up there in years. If cap friendly, keep him around, but the Bucs should be looking to replace him with someone younger and more productive.
Gholston isn’t getting better. Yes, he’s young…and because of that he makes great depth at a reasonable price…but he’s average at best on the field. Just because he’s better than what we’ve got that doesn’t make him worth paying big money next year. We can get better.
December 28th, 2016 at 10:52 am
sign him and j.smith to reasonable contracts….GO BUCS!!!!
P.S….WHY IN THE HELL DID DIRK TRY AN ONSIDE KICK WITH 2MINTUES LEFT AND 3 TIMEOUTS?….
December 28th, 2016 at 10:55 am
Jac Smith is a restricted FA and thus not going anywhere.
Wil Gholston’s 50 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 pressures, 9 QB hits and 1 forced fumble is worth – computing….
$3.9M per year
4 years – $15.6M with 1/2 of that guaranteed in 1st 2 years
December 28th, 2016 at 11:12 am
Looks like another overpay is coming. And again the Bucs will be bidding against themselves for the player services.
December 28th, 2016 at 11:13 am
813bucboi, your guess is as good as mine’s
December 28th, 2016 at 11:52 am
@Lakeland…the only thing I can think of is that he gave up on the defense yet again….but that was just bad coaching….once again he failed to put the team in position to win….it is what it is…..im still pissed because had we won, our playoff chances would’ve looked a lot better….he has to get better with his situational iq and play calling…..GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
It’s a good signing for the right fair price. He is slightly over-valued based on some of these posts.
I agree with LakelandBuc, we need to be weary of putting too much value here.