Ndamukong Suh Better “Serviceable?”
February 20th, 2021
“For my sake you better retire Suh.”
Last year Bucs beastly defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, 34, played on a one-year deal with the Bucs at $8 million (which included a $5 million signing bonus).
Is he worth that for another year?
In a Go-for-Two season for the Bucs, can the team somehow squeeze Suh under a cap that must include re-signing important pieces of a Super Bowl-winning team?
Anthony Treash from the PFF tribe seems to think Suh is an adequate, average player at this point.
Suh is far from the dominant interior defensive lineman we all saw in Detroit, but he is still a durable and effective player.
The veteran has played over 800 snaps in all 11 of his seasons in the NFL, including postseason play. For perspective, only 13 other interior defensive linemen played over 800 snaps in 2020.
Suh has made the most of his opportunity with the Buccaneers these last couple of years by ranking 41st of 87 interior defenders in pass-rush win rate. He’s a serviceable one-year pickup for a contender in need at the position.
Perhaps Suh’s greatest asset now is durability. The only two starts he has missed since being drafted in 2010 were due to a suspension. That’s mind-blowing to Joe for an interior defensive lineman.
There is no question Suh is a big reason why the Bucs are a dominant run-stopping defense. Offensive lines simply cannot expect to move both Vita Vea and Suh off the ball.
Suh has already had preliminary discussions about returning to the Bucs with AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Whether the Bucs can somehow afford him and twist numbers to keep him is another story. But yeah, he is a valuable asset to keep.
February 20th, 2021 at 10:03 am
He played great! And the only reason his ranking dipped a little was because Vita was out so Suh ate most of the double teams. Re-sign him and draft a rookie on the DL in the first three rounds to take his place once he retires.
February 20th, 2021 at 10:06 am
These PFF guys are clowns.
February 20th, 2021 at 10:08 am
I’d love to keep this defense totally together…..keeping LVD, Shaq & Suh..
That would mean losing Godwin for sure……probably Fournette & AB
But…we have most of our offense under contract.
Brady, Rojo, Vaughn, OJ, Brate, Smith, Marpet, Jensen, Cappa, Wirfs, Evans, Miller, Johnson
We can draft a WR…..and a DT/DE…..
February 20th, 2021 at 10:12 am
Love Suh, Shaq and JPP all. What about their sackless drought this season without Vea?
Shaq had a mediocre 8 sacks all season while wearing the franchise tag? Yes he splashed in the playoffs. Credit is due. But was rather pedestrian without Vea.
Last I checked, the regular season has a bye week, but not a 6 week vacation.
February 20th, 2021 at 10:17 am
Keep the defensive front 7 together, team work made the dream work. Without their play, no World Championship. Suh and Vita are the pillars the best run stopping defense in decades, and #4 since the 1970 merger. Also Suh and Vita are the foundation of the Pass rush. And D White has talked about Vita keeping lanes clean for him to fly in there and bust up Running Backs and getting sacs. Keep the front 7 intact. And 11 years for Suh and he has not missed a game because of injury. That is just plain awesome. GO BUCS!!!!
February 20th, 2021 at 10:18 am
Your best ability is availability.
Suh is far more valuable that he’s given credit for being.
These 4 need to stay intact: Barrett, JPP, Suh, Vea
Pass rush is everything and we have it — remember the days when we didn’t?
February 20th, 2021 at 10:24 am
I hope Suh stays too.. He is one of the smartest players in the league. Probably one of the reasons for his durability record. I think he reads offenses and adjusts as the play develops. Solid, if unspectacular, DT. Keep him if the $ permit.
February 20th, 2021 at 10:27 am
Davenport Buc Says
Pass rush is everything and we have it — remember the days when we didn’t?
Spot on!!
Yes we all remember the relentless beatings that the Bucs have taken during the lost decade.
Look at the Rams, no pressure on Rodgers and Green Bay easily beat the Rams.
The Rams had the #1 defense, but against Green Bay, zero pass rush. And Jalen Ramsey one of the best corners in the game today, could not stop the Pack. Rodgers just having a picnic back there and eating roasted lamb.
PASS RUSH PASS RUSH PASS RUSH
GO BUCS!!!!
February 20th, 2021 at 10:44 am
$7-$8 million is reasonable for ANY DT starter
February 20th, 2021 at 10:46 am
Also remember all the years with crap for FG kicker. Need to resign Succup now.
February 20th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Suh had a better season, postseason and SB than shaq.
February 20th, 2021 at 11:23 am
Anthony Trash is a moron. Fortunately the people that matter —. Bowles, Arians, Licht — know better.
February 20th, 2021 at 11:23 am
Suh is awesome and durable. Amazing. That hit he and Gill had on Mahomes was ferocious.
February 20th, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Suh is a great player. Stats are certainly important and rankings are too but they don’t account for effectiveness. Do ratings and stats account for a guy that will literally punch you in the mouth. Ask Mahomes about that. I would love to keep this D Line together. Suh wouldn’t be the biggest challenge. That obviously would be Shaq. With all that said, Vea is the guy that REALLY makes that line tick. Suh is important though. O Lines need to focus more presence because of Suh’s skills which really opens the door for the DE’s.
February 20th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
@August. LMAO at eating roasted lamb. You’re spot on about everything you said.
February 20th, 2021 at 12:28 pm
Not being a contract or cap guru I can only guess how the Bucs can resign Suh and Gronk, Godwin, Shaq and Lavonte. They are going to have to get someone else besides Mike Evans to restructure. Say restructure Brady’s contract over two or three more years with most of it being in the form of a bonus that you can spread out over the entire contract. They will also have to give the three top tier free agents huge bonuses that can be spread out over multi-years. The only problem with those kind of contracts is at some point you end up paying for it in the years to come with a lot of dead money. However, if it means we can win another Super Bowl right now, load up those backloaded contracts. I would rather deal with a few more years of crappy teams down the road and win another one than playing it safe and have mediocre teams.
February 20th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
I don’t see how we sign all those guys w/o bonuses spread over 3 to 5 years. Yeah there will be dead cap money, but with only 180 mil in Cap this year that’s the only way if we want to get back to the big dance. Besides I’d rather repeat next year and then let the chips fall where the may afterwards.
February 20th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
The man is always around the ball. Not sure where OJ fits in since Bucs have Brate & resign Gronk. Patriots are is desperate need of a TE they would be all in for him. Gronk, Suh & AB are 1 yr deals. You may get Gronk back if TB12 plays another year but 1 more SB and I don’t see.Brady coming back.
February 20th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
Probably going to see 2-3 yr deals where the Bucs can spread out the guaranteed money….with no intent on keeping the players all those years.
February 20th, 2021 at 1:58 pm
LISTNFRMAFAR: are you trying to bait TB12 to playing longer? That kind of stuff inspires him. Very clever. Personally, I don’t put any limitations on TB12. Most of the time it’s just other people projecting themselves on TB12…and they didn’t even play college ball!
February 20th, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Until
We draft his replacement….
He is the guy
February 20th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Dependability and experience are priceless!! Look at #55 Brooks and Ronde. Suh is amazing!
February 20th, 2021 at 2:54 pm
Won’t Gerald be off IR next year? Bet we can bring him back on the cheap! 😉
February 20th, 2021 at 2:56 pm
This “not as dominant” critique is BS. He is as dominant as ever. Suh frees up JPP. He sealed the middle. He enabled LD and White to make clean tackles. He has been a great teammate and added a level of maturity to the Defense.
Offer him the same salary. If he wants to stay, that would be enough.
Pay the man.
February 20th, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Hope Bucs keep Suh for another year. He’s durable and dependable.
February 20th, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Backloading contracts is fine as long as the team thinks that player will be productive the entire length of the contract.
Brady, Jensen and Marpet come to mind.
February 20th, 2021 at 4:27 pm
Why it is a big mistake resigning Shaq. I promise he’s not the same QB killer without Vea and/or Suh getting double teamed in the middle. I think it was obvious when Vea returns in NFC Championship.
I don’t want Shaq back to “break the bank” cus there are more talented players that have to get paid. I hate to bring up the 2021 draft in these times of happiness and joy of Bucs and defense , but I want OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Loramoah (ND). Looks prime to learn from Bowels,LVD, and White.
February 20th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
PLEASE do not resign Suh! Maybe, just Maybe he will make his way back to Detroit! Are you kidding me. D line and those maniac linebackers you have just won you the trophy! Dont sign him
February 20th, 2021 at 4:49 pm
When he seems pissed he looks dominant. He destroyed Machines on his sack and caused force rumor. He hated aaron Rodgers and was smacking him screaming at him all day. Suh has done a great great job setting up his and his family’s futures. Could this be the season he takes less to stay? Who knows but a never ending engine type rookie or die hard F.A. . May have the same stats. I personally would love I m to stay. I think his intimadation factor messes with opposing I lines.
February 20th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
We must keep Shaq at all costs. I’ don’t want to regret letting a better version of Michael Bennett go again. .
February 20th, 2021 at 5:02 pm
I keep hearing sign Godwin at no cost. Please tell me what team he would play on a the #1 receiver? Maybe Jets or NE if Edleman is done and if Godwin goes to NE with their QB problems it would be the kiss of death.
February 20th, 2021 at 6:19 pm
Joe, your comment about Suh’s money made me think of a great article for y’all. I’d love a list of the bonus money the players and coaches individually made in the playoffs and super bowl. Thanks
February 20th, 2021 at 7:09 pm
I don’t care what the dork from PFF says, Suh is still above average and a key cog in our defense. There is only one Aaron Donald and 6 sacks for a dt who is dominant against the run is fantastic. He showed up big time in the Superbowl and also adds a bit of edginess to our defense. He disappeared for part of the season, but he’s also no spring chicken either and makes half of what the top guys make, so it it evens out. Sign this guy Licht!
February 20th, 2021 at 8:13 pm
We need all these D guys back together ! Suh may not be in his prime but as it was said, Vea and Suh together require at least 3 guys to cover them and they will disrupt a fourth since they are space eaters. Their presence allows JPP and/or Shaq to get to the QB persistently. All together , we get away with an effective 4 man rush. Subtract any one of them and we need more than a 4 man rush.
You also don’t mess with the linebacker duo, Lavonte may start to lose a step in the coming years but if we are all in for next year , LVD should stay paired with White, the two of them are in sync, hell, the 6 of them are in sync, and should be even better together next year.
I can’t imagine Gronk won’t stay with Tommy, even for a bit less.
That leaves the rest of the offense, AB or Godwin ? I would rather have Godwin, but AB likely makes Tom a better QB for the 2.5 second release. He seems faster off the line and can play edelman style plays. Not sure Godwin has the speed for the short play across the middle ? Although Godwin is probably my favorite WR on the team. All this changes when Tom leaves. If that is 2 years it would be better to have Godwin on the team still , but will Americas Quarterback #2 be able to make use of him ? Maybe Jameis will come back as starter in 3 years, lol.
February 20th, 2021 at 9:36 pm
Listn,
Man, that’s a great question ! Puts things in perspective or should .
February 21st, 2021 at 9:00 am
Too many key players are a getting a little long in the tooth. Retaining all the free agents make sense for a second run for another super bowl. Very hard to sustain long term with late round draft pics. Patriots were the rare exception for a long time. I vote for all in for next year. Cycle in new blood draft picks and free agents when upgrades are available even now. It worked for the Pat’s and can work for the bucs too.
February 21st, 2021 at 10:12 am
Suh makes the ROH, and McCoy doesn’t, wouldn’t that be a hoot.
February 21st, 2021 at 3:15 pm
Shu is the best DT in the game period. He would be the most important defensive decision to be made for Tampa Bay. He free’s up the linebackers. Last, he scares the crap out of quarterbacks. For good reasons he knocks the heck out of them. Did we see the hit he put on Mahomes or the ones he put on Mr. Tom Brady as an past adversary. Wow, sign Shu first please!!! I got that hit on Mahomes on auto rewind. By the way any one want to see my winning bet slip. Thank you Mr. Shu.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:34 pm
He’ll take 7 mil and play another season I think.
February 21st, 2021 at 4:58 pm
PFF has their head up their butt.
Suh was great down the stretch and even better in the
Playoffs. These stat guys make me laugh.