At Least One Bucs Employee Wants The Team To Seriously Research Obtaining Lamar Jackson
April 2nd, 2023
Research.
There is one star quarterback out there, only 26, who could be had by an interested team.
Are the Bucs interested? Well, when your choice at quarterback is between a rehab project and a guy who has a grand total of three completions to his professional résumé, hell yes you better look into obtaining disgruntled signal-caller Lamar Jackson.
And it seems at least one Bucs employee with a desk at One Buc Palace believes his colleagues ought to be researching Jackson.
That employee is Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. In a question-and-answer column, a reader asked Smith if the Bucs might pull the trigger on a trade for Jackson. Smith, in so many words, said the shot-callers in his building better be doing their homework.
[T]here should be no shortage of teams that would at least conduct internal conversations about whether or not they should pursue Jackson, and that would be doubly true of teams that are currently unsettled at the quarterback spot. And yes, the Buccaneers belong in that category as they move on from the Tom Brady era.
Alas, Smith admitted he cannot get his hopes up too much as he doesn’t know how the Bucs can do gymnastics with the salary cap in order to squeeze Jackson onto the roster.
Well, the first thing Joe will say is, to the best of Joe’s knowledge, teams are allowed to backload salaries. The Bucs are expected to have more breathing room under the cap next year. And of course, it takes a global pandemic for the salary cap to decrease. (Joe thinks all fans will agree we don’t need a repeat of another deadly virus outbreak.)
Joe will add once again, the second-worst team in salary cap hell, the slimy Saints, were able to find a way to go sign Derek Carr to a four-year, $150,000,000 contract.
Where there is a will, there is a way.
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April 2nd, 2023 at 8:18 am
Not worth what he thinks he is.
April 2nd, 2023 at 8:25 am
Uh yea Scott doesn’t count at all
April 2nd, 2023 at 8:25 am
Without a competent Oline and rushing attack , it would not matter.
April 2nd, 2023 at 8:30 am
I never thought I would miss BA. But I do.
April 2nd, 2023 at 8:36 am
I feel the owners have gotten together and agreed they are not going to give anyone else a fully guaranteed contract. Lamar will play for the Ravens or he’ll sit out a year. The two first round picks are not what’s holding up him being traded, it’s the unrealistic contract demands of the player.
April 2nd, 2023 at 8:49 am
Fix the oline and I believe either of our present quarterbacks would do well.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:02 am
A player that is his own agent has a fool for a client. Lamar jackson is a fool. Any team that would top the ridiculous contract Watson got, and give the same to Jackson would be fools too. Baker Mayfield has the same playoff record, that’s Jackson’s sad truth.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:06 am
BA’s Red Pen Says:
“The two first round picks are not what’s holding up him being traded, it’s the unrealistic contract demands of the player.”
I think it’s both.
The team could have released him but now. They refuse to. If he is still on the team come roster cuts, they may keep him and not play him.
Certainly his salary demads are far too inflated, but the team will not get 2 first rounders…as far as appearances go, Lamar is not a team player. He’s got red flags.
No one wants that, except the media.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:08 am
Biff Barker Says
“I never thought I would miss BA. But I do. ”
So do I.
Aging sucks.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:27 am
Jackson reportedly turned down a 3-year $133 mil fully guaranteed contract from the Ravens, which was supposedly part of a longer deal. Sources I’ve read say he wants same as what Watson got with the Browns (5-years, $230 mil fully guaranteed).
Personal feeling is that NO PLAYER … QB or otherwise … is worth that kind of guaranteed money given today’s salary CAP numbers. All it takes is one injury & the team is screwed. In my book, that’s a major concern especially when talking about running RBs like Jackson, Hurts, etc.
Of course, in the case of our Bucs, this is all a moot point because there’s no way on the green earth that the Bucs could commit that type of money to a single player. We’ve already committed $133.8 mil a year in average salary to Mike Evans ($16.5 mil), Chris Godwin ($20 mil), Shaq Barrett ($17 mil), Vita Vea ($17.8 mil), Carlton Davis ($14.8 mil), Jamel Dean ($13 mil), Devin White ($11.7 mil), Ryan Jensen ($13 mil) and Russell Gage ($10 mil).
That represents almost 60% of our Adjusted Salary CAP of $227.4 mil for 2023 … going to just 9 players (17% of our 53-man roster). Add in the $35 mil going to Brady, and the $168.8 mil total is almost 75% of our Adjusted Salary CAP for 10 players … 1 not on the roster & 4 who were pretty well banged up for significant parts of last year. NFL needs to adjust their salary CAP hit rules IMO when a high $$$ player (like Godwin, Shaq, etc) gets seriously injured.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:31 am
It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is. If you CANNOT run the ball nor pass protect, your quarterback is already DEAD. This year, defenses pinned their ears back and ate like it was the last supper when we faced them. Build the O-Line and establish continuity and then you will have success.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:32 am
a big thumbs down on Lamar, way too risky!
if he gets guaranteed money and gets injured or
doesn’t play it could set a franchise back 10 yrs.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:40 am
Stop with the Lamar Jackson madness
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:01 am
If they were serious about it, they would need to think about intangibles that they could offer him instead of cash but that are still highly valuable. Like some kind of unusual amount of control or co-voice in play calling or offensive strategy. Something like that carries just as much risk as guaranteed $$, so the stakes would still be high. But it could navigate around salary cap limitations. Not sure if that is worth the risk, but again, if they wanted to make a serious run, that should be on the table as well.
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:05 am
QB’s who won’t be playing for the Bucs:
Aaron Rogers
Lamar Jackson
Adam Sandler
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:08 am
Talk about a click-bait headline! A blog writer is hardly someone that anyone would consider a real Bucs employee. While they might technically pay him, his job is to engage readers and nothing does that better than a little controversy.
C’mon Joe, you know that! Joe is practically as much a Bucs employee as Scott Smith is! Let’s not be ridiculous. –Joe
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:32 am
Don’t want Lamar. Scott Smith is not really someone whose opinion matters.
I can’t believe we’re still even talking about this Lamar crap. How the Saints decide to jack up their cap to sign and overpay a QB is their business. The Bucs have made it clear they are not in a position for cap busting deals this year.
There are good reasons nobody is racing to trade for Lamar and it’s not just that he has overvalued himself and is asking for a fully guaranteed contract. Arthur Blank said it — his playing style is catching up with him with injuries and it’s only going to get worse. He’s breaking down like a RB and there’s no way you wanna commit the big money to that. Too much of a risk.
Repeat:
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:33 am
Sign Lamar and draft Bijan. Now THAT would be fun to watch.
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:37 am
Joe seems to be under the delusion that Lamar Jackson would actually take a back loaded contract. That is the only way the Saints got Derek Carr if Lamar Jackson was even remotely trying to be reasonable on his contract demands he would already have a contract. Joe must live in fantasy land.
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:39 am
Who is Scott Smith ? I do not see his name any on the staff or front office is he in charge of concessions or janitor supervisor.
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:56 am
Trask or Jackson is no comparison
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:57 am
Sasquatch said it. I will do it.
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
There is ZERO CHANCE OF LAMAR BECOMING A BUCCANEER!!!
April 2nd, 2023 at 10:58 am
I’m not sure he’s as good as many believe, 1 career playoff win on a great team, missed multiple games over last 2 years and 33 TDs and 20 picks in that span… We’re not talking about Mahomes here
April 2nd, 2023 at 11:19 am
If Jackson goes to Miami in a year or 2, that may be the time for Bucs to pursue Tua if he’s healthy
Yes it’s all speculation.
Derek Carr is mediocre at best. The Saints and their coach are desperate for relevancy again.
Bucs have DLine, LB and safety needs and OLine, TE and RB needs- some of this will be addressed in the draft, but realistically this is a 2 year project.
There will be a good/great FA QB available next year or 2025 if Mayfield or Trask don’t work out.
April 2nd, 2023 at 11:44 am
Look, if he were a better pocket passer I might consider him worth the almost $50 million A year he wants fully guaranteed.
Deshawn Wankson got a stupid good deal. Like my Mom would say: “If the Browns jumped off a cliff would you want to do that too?”. Besides paying the oft-injured diva, any team signing him would have to give up two first round picks for a guy who might not play more than a few games a season. Running backs take a heck of a beating and he’s basically a running back who sometimes throws.
Let him sell Nikes and cry racism like colon kapernik.
April 2nd, 2023 at 11:45 am
Look, if he were a better pocket passer I might consider him worth the almost $50 million A year he wants fully guaranteed.
Deshawn Wankson got a stupid good deal. Like my Mom would say: “If the Browns jumped off a cliff would you want to do that too?”. Besides paying the oft-injured diva, any team signing him would have to give up two first round picks for a guy who might not play more than a few games a season. Running backs take a heck of a beating and he’s basically a running back who sometimes throws.
Let him sell Nikes like colon kapernik.
April 2nd, 2023 at 11:49 am
Alanbucsfan, IF Tua’s healthy, and that’s a big if, that sounds like a great idea.
April 2nd, 2023 at 11:53 am
Alanbucsfan, if Baker and Trask both crap out we will have a very high pick.
April 2nd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
we went baker this year,,,so we are done in the qb market…
but man oh man, lamar would be a wicked fit
April 2nd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Any team that is serious about Playoff or superbowl contention should research Lamar Jackson. He immediately places your team in the conversation. He may be the most difficult QB to game plan for. He passes efficiently, and runs like a deer for bigtime yardage. The man is exciting to watch.
April 2nd, 2023 at 1:25 pm
I have no info on this, I believe if LJ wanted to play for a new team this year, that he’d already have a new contract and be learning the playback! I think he wants to sit out the season and rehab his injuries. By doing this his career would be extended. If he plays this year, he will get re injured and perhaps never recover. This seems to happen to most if not all the running qbs. That’s also why he pushing the fully guaranteed longterm contract. He has doubts about his physical health, or the duration of his career based on his proneness to injuries.
April 2nd, 2023 at 1:33 pm
Not my money and basically the cap is fake if you have a good cap guy. At least Lamar is a swing and a there’s a chance to be a contender this year with him. I’m fine not doing it too, but you’re lying to yourself if you think the team is better without him.
April 2nd, 2023 at 1:38 pm
Just not gonna give up on the Lamar stuff are ya Joe… geez man!
April 2nd, 2023 at 1:40 pm
Scott Smith = Glorified PR Guy
Come on Joe…please dude get real!
April 2nd, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Lamar Jackson IS toxic, radio-active, nuclear, instant death to the present and near future of a team!
Compromising the present and near future of team for one player is ultimate stupidity for any owner…
April 2nd, 2023 at 3:30 pm
The ONLY reason you would pay a QB that kind of money is if they are like TB12 and Patrick M. now.
If you can still win after getting rid of your stars and replacing them with cheaper options every year, you are golden.
Lamar can’t win despite mediocre receivers.
He needs a better team and then he is great.
No way in hell he is the right choice for what we are paying other players, PERIOD.
April 2nd, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Research? Absolutely. That is just doing due diligence.
It may not be feasible but should be looked at…100%
April 2nd, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Sasquatch-So you are saying that there is a chance
April 2nd, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Let’s all repeat together — Just Say NO! To Lamar Jackson!
A Good when healthy QB, game-changing at times. But he has way too many unavailability limitations in his resume. His self-perceived worth is just not something we should be looking at.
Repeating Again—–> for those in the back tending goats.
Just Say NO! To Lamar Jackson!
April 2nd, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Of course the Bucs should see if there is any legit way of getting Lamar, since it would mean you have a long term solution at QB, some star power, and you’re going to win the NFC South for the foreseeable future. Well, perhaps with a different head coach, anyways.
Of course the issue with Lamar is that you will have to trade for him as the Ravens will just match any deal that anyone comes up with. That’s the entire point he was made available. The Ravens were sick of trying to get a deal done, so they’re telling him, go find a better deal that you’re happy with, and we’ll match it.
That is also why no one is making Lamar any offers, because they know it’s a complete waste of time. Why would you spend days trying to deal with him and his agent to get a deal, only to know it’s just going to be matched. Instead someone will have to offer up a big trade package, and it’s still unlikely the Ravens would accept it as they don’t even have a legit QB option on their roster right now.
With all that said, the Bucs should call the Ravens and see if a deal could be worked out, then you talk to Lamar and see if you can work out a deal there. If you can get both of things done, then fantastic, you do right now.
But, we know the Bucs aren’t going to do that, certainly not with a loser place holder head coach in place that everyone knows is getting fired at the end of this upcoming year. No, instead of taking care of the QB spot for the next decade, the Bucs will hold onto their lottery tickets and completely fake away from the national spotlight back into anonymity.
April 2nd, 2023 at 7:42 pm
Has Lamar ever come out and said what he wants his salary to be? Watson got a fully guaranteed contract because it’s the Browns. They were at that point that they’d do anything to make it deep in the playoffs. No one is paying a guy who can’t finish a season healthy that crazy type of coin.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:08 pm
The only bigger maroon than Lamar is any team that would acquiesce to his “better deal than Deshaun Watson” campaign. Well and Osqueelyuc, the maroon of all maroons.
April 2nd, 2023 at 9:33 pm
they should fire the staffer quickly
April 2nd, 2023 at 11:46 pm
Just say No.
April 3rd, 2023 at 7:30 am
Signing Lamar Jackson would be the stupidest thing they could do. Thank God Joe doesn’t make the decisions at One Buc Place!