A One-Year Deal Without The Franchise Tag

December 17th, 2019

With Carson Wentz and Jared Goff earning more than $30 million per season, what exactly do you think Jameis Winston will want to be paid in 2020?

NFL Network’s lead insider reporter weighed in on the subject yesterday.

Ian Rapoport talked about how the market value for Jameis is likely in the low-to-mid 30s per season (yes, millions) and the Bucs are going to be forced to pay Jameis like a good starter.

Paying him could mean the franchise tag for 2020 (roughly $27 million for just one year), but it definitely could be a traditional one-year contract “basing a one-year deal around the franchise tag total with incentives,” Rapoport said on WDAE radio.

“If the Bucs aren’t ready for [a multi-year deal for more than $30 million per annually], then a one-year deal would actually make sense for both sides,” he added.

Joe’s been chatting about this at JoeBucsFan world headquarters for days. Nothing is stopping the Bucs from telling Jameis he will get the franchise tag unless he signs, say, a one-year deal that includes incentives to get him up to $30 million with the tag total as the base pay.

Jameis would have nothing to lose by signing it, and then the Bucs could reserve the franchise tag for Shaq Barrett.

Joe’s not touching the transition tag option here because Joe doesn’t believe it makes sense for either player or the team.

66 Responses to “A One-Year Deal Without The Franchise Tag”

  1. Jonathan Limpchimpi Says:

    Makes sense…avoid any bitterness that may arise from being “franchised”. It’s a bump above that number but not so much that it completely kills the cap. Some “surprise” cap related cuts likely forthcoming…perhaps Jensen, Brate etc.

  2. bucsince79 aka bumaneer Says:

    I believe Ian R. He is in the know… I hope for a 2-5 year deal… BA & Bryon Will help him become one of the best next year…

  3. MTM Says:

    BA needs to at least bring in some legitimate back ups when Winston implodes next year and eats 5 L’s in a row.

  4. Kobe Faker Says:

    “1 year deal and JW will be a free agent end of next year?

    It will be very foolish for Gump and Jay Segal will jump for that deal to be totally free end of next year”

    Kobe Faker

  5. Tval Says:

    Will that be, ANOTHER, 5 game road stint you’re TICKLED with, MTM?
    Is that “mariota team manager”??
    Heheheheheheeeeeeee

  6. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Yes, Jameis….we’ll pay you the money but we have to draft a center and use an UDFA for our RT…….you OK with that?

  7. Ace Says:

    Haters will be mad at any price Jameis gets.. but truth is this as the game gets more popular and profitable the salary cap goes up!! so will the contract numbers for QBs & Jameis just so happens to be first in line right now. He will probably end up being the highest paid QB if they go long term but that will only last so long until the next deserving QB comes up and gets paid in the same range or more just as it always happens. Pay the man!

  8. Ndog Says:

    Simply put don’t let him hit the market cause if we do either A he’s gone or B we will have to overpay. Heck that’s why we are in the situation this year cause this team was too stupid to not sign him last off-season.

  9. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Who are the bucs competing against for Jameis? Bears, Panthers (maybe), Dolphins, Raiders….Hypothetically if you traded Jameis to the Bears or Dolphins for a couple #1s, it would be interesting to see what jameis would o in those places; the dolphins would be a mess & the bears offensively are not set up for jameis skill set

  10. Tackleblockwin Says:

    The Bucs front office has enough information about Jameis to decide if they sign him long term or cut ties. I think the franchise tag w/ Jameis would be the worst thing they could do. If we franchise tag Jameis at this point you are telling the team and the entire league that after 5 years, we still can’t decide. That would be very bad imo. The Bucs as an organization should know if they are all aboard or not at this point. Now when evaluating Shaq, that is a little trickier. He has had one season as a starter and boy has he produced. I’d like to see us sign him to a multiple year contract (if the price makes sense) but the franchise tag is ok too because the sample size is much smaller than what we have with Jameis. All in all, imo Jameis deserves a longterm contract. I just hope he will be reasonable and recognize that this organization has many mouths to feed.

  11. DoooshLaRue Says:

    The Glazers are smart by doing a one year deal.
    They know the potential for failure is real.
    No way JayMiss has earned that kind of security here.

  12. Kobe Faker Says:

    “First Before Anything Happens

    JW3 Agent Jay Segal isn’t going to do absolutely nothing until Mahomes, Watson, and Prescott resets the QB market this offseason

    The projected number is $35-40million per year

    Only Only then

    Jay Segal is going to negotiate and settle for a 4 years $30 mil per year contract”

    Kobe Faker

  13. WhatTheBuc Says:

    Offer him the Kirk Cousins deal.

  14. Jean Lafitte Says:

    Or they could tag him with the non-exclusive tag which would allow him to take other offers from other teams. If Jameis accepts an offer from another team then the Bucs would have the option to outbid that contract or let him walk and the Bucs would be compensated with 2 first round draft picks from the team that signed him.

  15. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I like the non exclusive tag……it will set the market for Jameis and either we keep him or get picks……that’s better than getting nothing & losing him.

  16. Dewey Selmon Says:

    If I’m Jameis I tell the Bucs to kick rocks and I test the market.

  17. Tim Says:

    If the Bucs pay JW anything near the top 5 salaries for QB’s next year the entire front office should be fired. This year’s QB market is a buyer’s market plain and simple.

    There is a long list of FA QB’s, not to mention a deep QB draft class.
    JW has the talent and can play like a top 5 QB, but also makes mistakes and plays inconsistently enough to be a bottom of the list guy too. You have to remember a lot of his stats (yards and TD’s) come in garbage time when the Bucs are playing catchup late in the 4th quarter and teams are simply playing prevent defenses. (Ints on opening drives, is a bigger deal than many want to admit)

    I feel JW has shown enough to deserve to comeback, but it should be a 3 yr (prove it) deal. The 1st two years can be guaranteed and should be right about the 15-10 Qbs contracts. Year three should be a team/player option, where either side can opt out and if JW plays up to his potential he gets his deal. But if he continues to struggle up and down the team can choose to move on if so desired.

    Otherwise, roll the dice get From or Hurts in the draft. Spend the money on our FA’s and filling holes.

  18. D-Rome Says:

    That’s an interesting post Tackleblockwin. I agree with what you said about the franchise tag and that’s exactly what happened to Kirk Cousins, twice. He ended up moving on anyway. That said, I don’t know how that a one year deal without the franchise tag is a better option.

    I think at this point he’ll likely get a multi-year deal on the strength of turning it on when it no longer matters against teams that are not very good. There is not anyone better in the draft or in the upcoming free agency.

  19. runnerdoc Says:

    Jameis is going to get paid. And, whatever the press speak, it won’t be a difficult decison for Bucs management or ownership.

    The team averages over 29 points a game and is as explosive as any team in the league offensively, excepting perhaps baltimore. On analysis, management will believe the offense will be better next year. Jameis triggers every offensive play.

    Easy decision.

  20. Conte Piscateli Says:

    I keep coming back to the end of the CBA after next season. It could mean larger distribution of league revenue for players, or it could lead to a tighter pay scale for players. I think it will be interesting to see if guys try to lock into Max deals this off-season with longer contracts, or if they it for a wait and see what the new CBA brings. There is even a chance 2021 could be a salary cap free season, which could make a one year deal very lucrative for some of these players.

  21. gilhealy Says:

    Dusthty, you have the Fish, Pats, Steelers, Panthers, Titans, Jags, Colts, Skins, Chargers, Bengals, Bears, Jets, and Saints that would all take a hard look at JW. Don’t kid yourself.

  22. zzbuc Says:

    NDOG, with al due respect, he wasn´t signed because the new coach had to be comfortable with him, and second because he was,. and still is a turn over machine. On lasts games he is putting ridiculous good numbers, so suddenly he is gonna get paid…..
    The only reason I would resign JW is because there is nothing better out there, I am not convinced by any means he is the long term answer for the BUCS, and I am not a JW hater by any chance, I am just a BUCS lover.
    Again I think is porobably our best option, but he is not the answer……

  23. Robert Says:

    crablegs, burritos, a p#$$y grab and and incentive heavy contract with 10 mill guaranteed

  24. Jean Lafitte Says:

    The only way Jameis doesn’t get an offer is if Licht gets fired. So for those of you who keep wagging your finger like you’re having an epiphany just stop, really just stop. Most of us aren’t that naïve to ever think the Bucs would ever move on as long as Jason remains the GM. For some of us, it’s always come down to the price for a second contract and what paying your QB 15-20% of the cap space does to a team that already is deficient in talent across the board. Upgrading cost money. No funds (cushion) means no real upgrades.

    The window closes after this off season so it will be playoff or bust. It’s gonna be interesting to see what FA players have become unaffordable for the Bucs.

  25. LaMarcus Says:

    To stay in Tampa? This is not a great attraction and this is where career dies If was JW I’ll bet on myself and go to any other team. Of course I want him to stay but this is not a place to prosper

  26. ou812 Says:

    Joe’s not touching the transition tag option here because Joe doesn’t believe it makes sense for either player or the team.???

    Well Joe’s wrong!! Transition tag option makes all the sense in world !!!

    What are you afraid he will walk ??? Let the Market set price with all the veteran QB available this off season it is asinine to not let him test the market!

  27. ou812 Says:

    Saturday Winston will play a real NFL team 9-5 Texans with something to play for anyone taking the Bucs? Over / Under Winston> 3 picks

  28. 813bucboi Says:

    30mil?……for what?

    with no playoffs?….
    never won 10games?….
    leads the league in INTs in a contract year…..

    JW and his agent can talk goff and wentz until they’re blue in the face but those QBs have made the playoffs and SB on their rookie contract…..

    if JW wants 30mil, tell him he’ll forever be a loser because we wont be able to afford his help…..

    GO BUCS!!!!!!

  29. JS Says:

    Can we all just face facts and realize that Jameis is the long term QB in Tampa? Management needs to lock him in for 5 years. Warts and all he’s the guy. The team and the fanbase need to embrace it and put pieces around him to make him more successful. Lock him in and move on to other areas of concern like the D-Line situation.

  30. JabooBuc Says:

    If ever a guy needed a heavy incentive based contract it’s JW. At this point it seems pretty obvious this team needs to heavily invest in this OL both through the draft and FA. JW needs a running game to keep LB’s honest. If you look at his INT’s, a very large amount come from LB’s dropping back unconcerned about the run threat. JW needs to do a better job recognizing this but an OL and run threat would certainly help.

    Give him a 2 year extension let it play out.

  31. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Anyone else smelling a VH3 pick six this Sunday?

  32. gilhealy Says:

    Doosh, no. But I do see Jameis destroying him. Often.

  33. Kobe Faker Says:

    “813

    Wentz has never played a playoff game

    Nick Folks was QB for every playoff game and SB for Philly

    *Is poster Brandon your son?

    Can you tell your kid to stop harassing me”

    Kobe Faker

  34. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Doosh…100% on that one

  35. Killian Says:

    Crazy thought…

    Trade Evans (2 first rounders?)and Brate, Draft Tua, franchise Jameis, if he does good, trade Tua to a desperate team for 2 first round draft picks, if he sucks, let him walk and start Tua in 2021. Shore up O-line and get a badass RB (Ekeler?) via trade or draft.

  36. BrianBucs Says:

    If it’s a one year deal then it should be incentive base with a small amount of guaranteed money.

  37. View from 132 Says:

    Without the franchise tag why would he sign this deal? The chance of injury is high, and someone else would offer multiple years. This post is illogical.

  38. Marine Buc Says:

    Franchise tag Winston. He needs to reduce his turnovers before we sign him to a longer term deal. Give Shaq Barrett the contract he deserves. Upgrade the offensive line via the draft and FA. Hopefully this will help reduce Winston’s turnovers.

  39. 813bucboi Says:

    kobe

    are you and your father serious?…..lol….

    wentz was about to win the MVP before he got hurt…..he finished that season with 33TDs and 7INTs and a SB ring…..

    BL ask: who’s your daddy?

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  40. Craig Says:

    I think his agent would rather he did the free agent walk than sign a one year deal. I think we should wait and see what the last two games have to say.

    Both of the upcoming opponent QBs are better field managers than Jameis. There is a good possibility that the season ends 7-9. You can’t spot either of them points and you can’t have a flat spot after halftime.

    When he loses the next two offer a four year contract with a two year guarantee and 50 mill. also guaranteed. That way some of will be able to see the end of the promised rainbow.

  41. 813bucboi Says:

    marine buc

    i agree regarding shaq…..

    he earned it and deserves to be paid….i’d say a 4year deal….

    draft trenches and a couple FA pieces and we should be set….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  42. 813bucboi Says:

    craig

    thats what ive been saying for the past 2weeks…..

    2year deal 50mil guaranteed….3rd year option at 35mil….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  43. Tc Says:

    Are you serious. If Wentz and Goff get 30 million, do you think Jameis isn’t worth 30. That is the going rate. These guys do not grow on trees. It took the franchise, over 40 years to find a QB as good as Winston, do you want to wait another 40 years. Besides he is soooo entertaining. He has huge balls to come back the way he does.

  44. Buc1987 Says:

    The haters are cringing.

  45. Posey99 Says:

    Never sign a QB that hasn’t given you 1 single winning season.

  46. Anonymous Says:

    Jameis should leave the Bucs and get paid by a team/fan base that wants him. I don’t know why he would want to stay and deal with the worst fans in the league

  47. Posey99 Says:

    24 interceptions and 12 fumbles, sign me up! …

  48. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    “Jameis would have nothing to lose by signing it”

    Except the multi year deal he could get elsewhere.

    No way does this happen!

  49. Mort Says:

    Just sign him. QB money is only going to get even worse every year. Just pay the man. And yeah, it’ll be about 30 mill a year. If Goff is worth that, Jameis sure as hell is. He is flat out better than Goff. And he is only 25. Give the dude a nice long 7-year contract.

  50. millerstrickland Says:

    Jameis should leave the Bucs and get paid by a team/fan base that wants him. I don’t know why he would want to stay and deal with the worst fans in the league

  51. Posey99 Says:

    one 9-7 season and he gets the franchise tag nothing else

  52. JP_09 Says:

    I believe his contract situation hinges on this Saturday’s game against the Texans. Can he produce a win by playing solid ball without his top two targets against a playoff team currently fighting for a better playoff seed. If the Bucs win and Jameis plays well he’ll get the multi year deal, if he implodes the decision will be tougher. He has to show he can carry his team and produce a victory when the cards are against him. No excuses this weekend if you want a mega deal beat the Texans

  53. DoooshLaRue Says:

    1987

    Changed your mind yet again I see…..

  54. pelbuc Says:

    Bucs need to evaluate JW over the entire 5 yrs and not this current win streak against bad teams. Even against bad teams JW throws lots of picks. He should provide Bucs with a hometown discount given the amount of crap on and off the field but he should not be given more than a 2 year contract and Bucs need to draft a competent back up that can challenge for the job. Signing JW to a long term deal means they wont have enough $$ for the Oline and defense, not to mention RB. In other words, more of the same with JW turnovers and going 7-9 and missing the playoffs. Case Keenum took the Viking to the NFC champoinship.

  55. RODNEY ALLEN Says:

    Ian might of heard something but hes been wrong before as for the rest of us, we have no clue what goes on behind the walls of OBP. I know when all is said and done some will be happy some will be mad some will swear they’re done with the bucs (they wont be, just like ppl didnt move to Canada over trump 🤷‍♂️) and there will be at least a few “I told u so”. Personally my weak opinion is u dont let a qb throwing for a career average of 4000+ and a 5000yrd single season walk, u do what it takes to keep him. U want to cut the ints down ger a rb and dont have him throw 40 to 50 times a game 🤷‍♂️💯

  56. Ndog Says:

    Some of you people just don’t understand how sports much less life works. I’ll make it easy for you to understand. This is not the Bucs decision, this is the players decision cause this organization did not have any foresight and no they COULD dearly pay for it. If they franchise we will be back in this same spot next year with a good chance he has a even better year along with a much better record. What do you think his worth would be then? If he throws back 2 back 5,000 yard seasons and we have a good record you don’t think he going to get PAID!!!!! So at this point it is simple give him a fair 4-5 year deal or next year it will be even worse and before you laugh keep in mind I was saying this exact same thing last year and here we are.

  57. Robert Says:

    someone else said it VH3 pick 6 this sunday. decent team=3 turnover minimum from JW.

    you don’t give that guy 100 mill.

    just sayin.

  58. Dapostman Says:

    Winston is just coming into his prime as a 25+ year old. Sign him to a 5 year deal. Get this guy some OL help, a RB and a few more defensive pieces and the Bucs are ready to roll. Run the ball better and the turnovers will come down.

    Jameis Winston is the Jimmy Chitwood of Tampa. Clear out and give him the damn ball!

  59. Wesley Says:

    He’s not worth over 20, no freaking way.

  60. JimmyJack Says:

    Wesely your crazy.

    Gotta understand how the business works my friend.

    If we gotta cough up 30 get it done. You tag him now the price is gonna shoot up real quick.

    Get this man locked up!!

  61. Ndog Says:

    Robert Says:
    December 17th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
    someone else said it VH3 pick 6 this sunday. decent team=3 turnover minimum from JW.

    you don’t give that guy 100 mill.

    just sayin.

    Robert yet again showing how you just state garbage and act like it’s fact. So the best teams we’ve faced are the 49ers (3 TOs 1 his fault), Saints (0 TOs), Seattle (1TO hit from behind while throwing), Rams (1 TO), Tennessee (4 TO, coach said zero his fault), Saints (4 TOs 2 his fault). So we’re are the 3 TO minimum per game that are on him?

  62. newbuc Says:

    Jameis, go to another team now. You are going nowhere with these losers.

    At least 1/2 of the posts made sense, the others are pure idiots.

  63. unbelievable Says:

    “A buyers market for QB with a loaded draft class”

    Uh, wut?

    Would love to hear who all these great QBs are that you think are out there in FA or in the draft….

  64. Joe in Michigan Says:

    The same people that say VH3 will have a pick 6 this week are the same “fans” that said Caleb Benenoch would be good on his new teams. How did that work out?

  65. Not a blind bucs fan Says:

    Haters are running out of ammunition.I’m willing to be most of the jerks don’t even attend or truly support the bucs.

  66. Buczilla Says:

    If the season ended today, I’d be cool with a one year deal just like the one detailed above. However, past history has shown that Jameis is overdue for a meltdown. If it does not come, then maybe he is over the hump and he’ll be worth the one year deal and maybe a hell of a lot more down the road.