Still The Big Spenders At Wide Receiver
March 14th, 2023
Bucs receiver Russell Gage.
Joe knows of no team other than the Bucs with a $10 million salary (including incentives) at the No. 3 wide receiver position. But hey, Joe also knows of no other team paying its No. 2 cornerback $13 million per season.
So the Bucs are a unique club.
At receiver, that No. 3 is Russell Gage. He’s a quality young player with big contract. That’s why his 51 catches and 5 touchdowns last season were underwhelming.
Of course, studs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are No. 1 and No. 1a as Tampa Bay receivers. Rightfully so.
Much was written yesterday about how this year’s class of free agent receivers saw little action when the free agency dinner bell rang because the crop isn’t special, as Joe wrote about in January.
With Allen Robinson about to leave the Rams and DeAndre Hopkins on the outs in Arizona, it seems the Bucs will stand alone as top NFL dogs when it comes to cash invested at the position.
It’s an intriguing phenomenon with a new offensive coordinator who is very committed to running the football.
Joe can’t wait to see how the new Bucs offense progresses once it settles on a quarterback and lands another big-time talent (or two) at running back.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Gage took a paycut to stay.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:33 pm
If the Bucs are really committed to the run, I wouldn’t be surprised if they reduce by one the number of WRs they carry and increase the OLine by one.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
How much invested in corners and wide receivers doesn’t matter to me as long as they keep the players who matter like wirfs and Winfield
March 14th, 2023 at 1:38 pm
It’s a passing league so not the worst strategy in the world.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
WRs we can still add in the draft:
-Andrei Iosivas
-Jayden Reed
-Rakim Jarrett
-A.T. Perry
-Bryce Ford-Wheaton
-Jake Copeland(played w/Trask at UF in 2020)
-Matt Landers(St.Pete Native)
March 14th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
Unique as in stupid
March 14th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
Maybe the Bucs will trade Gage for an all purpose starting TE to ease the 2nd year guys into the flow.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
Geno, don’t forget that Bowles doesn’t want to pass. He wants to run first.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
One of the WORST expensive free agent signings in franchise history.
This dude seems to be almost always hurt the whole season.
His performance whenever he wasn’t hurt and was on the field was VERY underwhelming….to down right invisible.
TRADE HIM NOW!
March 14th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
News flash a top offensive line can make an average quarterback and average wide receivers look like all pros.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
Sounds like a Licht way of doing things. Everyone succesful focuses on having the best front 7 on Defense along with the best Offensive line with a solid QB. We go the other way. Overspend on DB’s, whose job gets harder when there is no pressure on the QB. And spend big money on older receivers (and extend their contracts) while trading away your O-Line.
Trade away at least one receiver for a higher draft pick. Maybe 2.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
@ Joe
R. Gage is only making $4.4M in 2023 but he is due to make $13M in 2024 but I doubt he will ever see that money.
He will either restructure or the Bucs could cut him after this season and only owe him @ $6.6M in dead cap.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
Sasquatch … Doesn’t look to me like Gage took a pay cut to stay. They merely restructured his contract by converting $3 mil to ‘incentives’. He’ll get his money.
There are teams that run the ball, then run the ball some more (aka, Eagles, Titans, Ravens are the only teams I see who ran the ball more in 2022 than they passed it). There are others who use a more balanced attack, and use the run to set up the pass & vice-versa. I can see the Bucs under Canales as OC falling into the latter group.
We MIGHT pick up a veteran RB if he’s really cheap, but barring that I think we’ll draft at least 1 & possibly 2 this year.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:52 pm
Marine Buc … Gage will get AT LEAST $20 mil from the Bucs, and has probably already gotten it (that amount was guaranteed in his contract). That contract was 3 years for $30 mil. His recent restructuring converted $3 mil into ‘incentives’. His current salary CAP hits right now only amount to $27 mil (not $30 mil) because the incentive money supposedly doesn’t count until it’s earned.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:53 pm
@ Defense Rules
I don’t think the bucs will over pay for a RB in FA. I think they’ll address this position in the draft. They still have vaughn on the roster and he never really got a fair shot as a quality rotational player….but now he will be with White being NO 1 and then Vaughn as NO 2……….barring he doesn’t get beat out in Training Camp.
The draft should focus mainly on the O-Line….that’s the worst area of the team and then secondly will be the D-Line.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Really not that bad. Albert haynesworth, Chris baker, Eric Wright, Michael Johnson, and Anthony Collins were all even worse contracts and they didn;t even produce jack.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
I think some of these fans will only be happy if they get to spend someone else’s money and name the roster. Why you guys haven’t been snatched up as a GM is baffling.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
@ DR
I’m just looking at the guaranteed money.
According to Over the Cap after 2023 we will only owe him @ $6.6M or so…
Base salary is not guaranteed and therefore can be restructured in the future or they could cut him and not owe him.
If some are incentives then that may skew thins a bit…
March 14th, 2023 at 2:04 pm
How about the Raiders? They just paid 13 mil a year for Jakobi Myers. Have Renfrow, Adams and Waller too.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
I would prefer to see more money & draft capital spent on the trenches……we are now looking pretty cheap on our Oline…….and, the Dline……looks like we will be without Gholston, RNR, Hicks……cupboard is bare….
March 14th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Again the OPPISITE way to build a team. Start with the lines and work your way back. QB is going to get killed and ask Derell Revis how good he was on an over-paid secondary with no pass rush.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
I just confirmed my last question. The Raiders are another team with their top 3 WR’s all making at least 13mil a year
March 14th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Where is the article “The Bucs and Austin Eckler”?
March 14th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Yeah…I do not expect them to remain big spenders. In fact, I would not be surprised if the focus does not turn more to the defense.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:13 pm
@LOL
They also just released Carr to overpay for Jimmy “IR” G a month later LOL Josh McDaniels days are numbered, he’ll be back in New England in 18 months max
March 14th, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Gage is no Antonio Brown. That is what we’re missing. And until they the Bucs get that kind of guy they’ll never get to the big game.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Cut Gage. Replace him with Scottie Miller. Miller will be the next Adam Humphries, the next Ike Hilliard. Short yardage, underneath, etc…
March 14th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Dooley – spot on. McDaniel is a maroon. Carr > Garropablow
March 14th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
McDaniels just traded Darren Waller to the Giants for a draft pick, Gruden may have been run out LV but he must’ve left the instructions to ruin a franchise in his old desk lol
March 14th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Evans at $15m might be the best value at WR in the game. Godwin at $20m is now below market.
Also $10m for a WR is now backup money.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:39 pm
No hammy issues to see here. Move along…
I recognize it could have been bad luck (not uncommon for the team last season) that Gage was hobbled for a good duration of the season due to his hammy. Or maybe his trainer(s)? Or maybe just a bad hammy? All of the above and more?
I hope we can get a good draft to compete/fill in for Gage this season. Either way, he’s sure to get some playing time.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:49 pm
A lot of teams are making trades and signing free agents as usual the Bucs apparently are just waiting for leftovers typical of Jason Bright Licht.
March 14th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
I admit that I agree with Joe saying to pay a 3rd WR basically #2 pay would be unusual but 10mil really is backup money today, although on the high end scale. What didn’t help last season was having both Godwin and Gage being injured at the same time along with Jones unavailability. Hopefully everyone will stay relatively healthy and Gage can make a huge contribution and fill in for lack of TE touches.
March 14th, 2023 at 3:06 pm
TheBucsAnthem … I don’t think they’ll overpay for an RB in FA either (mostly because we don’t have any money to overpay with?). I could see us signing another Gio Bernard type though (experienced RB but past their prime) for relatively little money … except the focus would be on running (probably power back) as opposed to catching the ball.
With 9 picks in the draft (6 in Rnds 5-7 unfortunately) I could see us using as many as 2 of them on RBs in those later rounds. The Top-3 Rnd picks (# 19, 50, 82) are our premier picks, and will probably be used for 1 offense & 2 defense (positions dependent upon how free agency shakes out?). Our Rnd 5-7 picks (# 153, 175, 181, 196, 230, 252) will probably split as 3 offense & 3 defense, but I still don’t expect much to come from them. Bucs have significant needs in virtually every position group. BTW I love the idea of packaging 2 (maybe even 3) of those to move up to Rnd 4 if a player’s there who floats our boat.
March 14th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Raiders #3 is $11 mil, #2 is $16.1 and #1 is $28 mil. So they have our WR by a lot of money.
March 14th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
@Defense Rules,
Gage’s conversion of 3 million to incentive payments is a paycut from the team’s perspective. It lowers his 2023 number, and it protects them if he’s less productive due to injury. So, if he is healthy and plays well, yeah, he’ll still get his 10 million. But it also give the Bucs the option on 2024. So, it seems Gage might have been under the threat of being cut, so he made some concessions in the renegotiation.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:07 pm
The production doesn’t match the salary. Maybe at half of what they’re paying him.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Raiders just spent 11 million on Myers who is a #3 receiver. It doesn’t matter as much as snap count. If the #3 is on the field for a majority of snaps the money doesn’t matter especially if you have low cost backs and tight ends
March 14th, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Bucs56 Says:
March 14th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Raiders just spent 11 million on Myers who is a #3 receiver.
———
Humm, that makes the Gage signing look a lost worse since Meyers is a lot better than Gage.
With that said, Gage was constantly injured last year. If healthy, he’s one of the better #3 WR’s in the NFL. People saying he stinks and it was a terrible signing are just morons. If a guy is injured the entire year, and doesn’t have a history of being injured, then it’s not a bad signing, it’s just bad luck.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:37 pm
Gage was a rising player in ATL and nobody complained about his 10 million last year when he was signed. For various reason, at least 1/2 of which was injury, he didn’t live up to that contract. Doesn’t mean he can’t. His salary is 7 million. If things go well with the offense this year, and he’s healthy, he ought to be worth that. My opinion of him hasn’t changed. Injuries happen, and even with the bad hammy all year, he still made some clutch plays.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:43 pm
Sasquatch … ‘if he is healthy and plays well, yeah, he’ll still get his 10 million. But it also give the Bucs the option on 2024. So, it seems Gage might have been under the threat of being cut, so he made some concessions in the renegotiation.’
His was an interesting situation IMO because he was making so much AND was injured so much in his 1st year with us. When he was healthy, he was awesome I thought. He’s still young (only 27), got 5 TDs for us & caught 73% of the balls thrown his way (I’ll take that all day long from a #3 WR). His problem was … we’re close to broke, and every nickel counts right now (still have all those open holes to fill).
It’s almost humorous that we did several restructurings & releases plus a trade, moved up the salary CAP ladder to ALMOST break even, but when I just looked we’re back in last place again … the ONLY TEAM still in the negative ($176K OVER the salary CAP with 1 day to go). Easy to fix for sure (release Fournette, Brate & Succop), but we’re running out of options to free up more $$$ to sign FAs & draft picks. I’m starting to wonder HOW we’re gonna be able to rebuild the trenches this season.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:15 pm
But he SUCKS!
March 14th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Defense Rules,
We’re over because Dean’s contract will count about 3-4 million this year, as most of this year is 11+ million bonus spread over 4 years. Lenny and Brate cuts won’t count until after 4 pm tomorrow , and the Mason trade probably wasn’t included yet. We’re probably 3-4 million under and then another 5.5 when Brate and Lenny go through. If they choose to cut Succop, there’s another 3.75. So without further restructures, we’re probably looking at 12-13 available on Wednesday. I gotta think something is in the works with D. White or Barrett.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Waste of money without Brady
March 14th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
Agree with SKBucs. Backwards priorities. Could get away with it a few seasons ago but not anymore. The foundation of this team is what needs urgent attention, the trenches.
Gage was hurt and was one of many wasted signings. The question is whether he has now lost a step post-injury. It would be better to let many of the veterans walk. Save the cash. Be consistent about it. The goal is post-Bowles.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
Matty Ice is free!
March 14th, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Allbuccedup Says:
March 14th, 2023 at 6:23 pm
I think they’re looking for a little more upside.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
I can suit up and at least play 3 games…. waste of money
March 14th, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Captain Bowles, I see an Iceberg dead ahead. No worries mate full speed ahead!
March 14th, 2023 at 8:05 pm
Sasquatch … I think they’ll have even more than that available once the dust settles. BUT … we still have the draft picks to account for AND a bunch of ‘soldiers’ to recruit.
Looks to me like after Fournette & Brate are released, we’ll have 32 players who were on our current roster who were on the team at some point last season (including Dean & Stinnie & yes, including Succop). Assuming we keep 7 draft picks, that gets us up to 39 meaning that we have 14 more holes to fill, somehow. That’ll include 2 QBs probably (not cheap) and several others who won’t come cheap either. This next month and a half should be really interesting.
March 14th, 2023 at 9:14 pm
D Rules-
My guess is we’re probably going to find a way to pick up more draft picks, and we will be aggressive in UDFA because we can offer opportunity. We’re gonna be a much younger team this year.
I think they have to be working on some things to create more cap room. I’m not sure what they can do with Barrett’s cap hit to make it less of a disaster. Don’t really wanna push his money into future years if we don’t even know if he’ll be the same after the achilles injury… but who knows.
Trading D. White will get us 11 million, but I’ve heard nothing to indicate that may be on the table.
March 14th, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Gage Bashers Unite! The stupidity on this forum is palpable. Praise for Godwin, who played more games than Gage and had a whole 3 TDs. Denigration for Gage who had almost twice as many TDs, played in less games (due to injury), had half the targets as Godwin and split his time on the filed with Julio Jones and other receivers. Godwin, fumbled twice as many times, too (expected, since he had twice as many catches). They were within a yard and a half of each other for average yards per reception. And, of course, one of them has been in the offense far longer than the other (who missed the whole pre-season).
To sum things up, Gage caught half the number pf passes as Godwin, played in less games, scored twice as many times and was paid half as much as Godwin. Gage is a steal at his salary. He suffers mainly from having two other targets that are top receivers. Only one guy can catch the ball each play, folks!
March 14th, 2023 at 9:30 pm
@LOL the Raiders traded Waller to New York I think
March 14th, 2023 at 9:41 pm
I see it all the time here. Seen it about Vaughn and Trask, in particular … “He never got a fair shot”. Why do you think that is? I don’t know, could it be that the coaches who see these guys day in, day out, realize they are not that great and that other players at their position are just flat out better than them?
Seems like you had the whole pre-season to prove yourself worthy of a “fair shot” and a ton of practices during the regular season, too.
Seriously, if Trask couldn’t beat out Gabbert for #2, how good do you really think he is going to be? Vaughn has looked like a 4th stringer e very time he’s had a chance in a game, to me. A rookie beat him out last year! He’d be out of the league if it wasn’t for his dirt cheap contract.
March 14th, 2023 at 10:34 pm
The Falcons paid $20m a year for a freaking guard. $100m for a guard! $13m on a darn good CB, our best, suddenly looks like the deal of a lifetime.
March 14th, 2023 at 10:37 pm
Hey Scotty… you do realize that Trask never had the opportunity to beat out the more physically talented, more experienced, more entrenched in the offensive system Gabbert?
This team had Super Bowl aspirations. You want a vet in that #2 role.
March 15th, 2023 at 1:16 am
thank goodness they are spending so much money on cornerbacks and third wide receivers, otherwise they might sign a good quarterback.