Ian Beckles Talks Bucs Dollars (And Common Sense)
March 18th, 2024
Former Bucs guard Ian Beckles.
Money and contracts were on the mind of a vocal ex-Bucs player.
Former Bucs guard and current local sports personality Ian Beckles had a lot to say on his podcast “In the Trenches” recently about the contract Baker Mayfield just signed, and a monster contract Beckles believes left tackle Tristan Wirfs will sign in the coming months.
Beckles said Mayfield earned what he got because that is the market.
“Baker Mayfield deserves the money that he got,” Beckles said. “Is he worth it? The answer is yes. Because you are the next guy signed. That’s what happens.
“Was Daniel Jones worth the money he got last year? Yes. Because if Daniel Jones didn’t sign that deal with the Giants, he would have gone somewhere else.”
For those who howl in protest, Beckles said it’s good to be a quarterback.
“That’s not a lot of money for a quarterback anymore,” Beckles added.
Beckles had said previously there would be no way, if he was Wirfs’ agent, he’d let Wirfs so much as walk into the Bucs weight room much less step onto a practice field until he got a new contract.
Wirfs is in the final year, a $21 million year, of his rookie deal.
Beckles continued this angle, though toned down the rhetoric some.
“Now you have to start talking about Tristan Wirfs,” Beckles began. “That’s going to be a tough one. Tristan… I’m telling ya’ he’s not going to step on the field with that [new] contract. Certainly not in preseason. That’s not going to happen.
“I would be shocked if he plays another down with that contract. If I was his agent, I wouldn’t let him do it. Tristan Wirfs is going to get his money, there is no doubt about that.”
Joe understands where Beckles is coming from. Wirfs’ agent could point to what happened to Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen two summers ago. In an alleged non-contact, underwear football practice, Jensen had his knee destroyed and his career ruined.
If Wirfs is on the cusp of signing a monster contract as everyone expects, it would be reckless to do any football activities and risk untold tens of millions of dollars.
Beckles predicted when Wirfs signs, it will set an NFL record for the richest contract for an offensive lineman.
“Tristan is going to get $100 million guaranteed one way or the other,” Beckles said. “He’s just going to get it.”
Beckles said he wants to see Wirfs be a career Bucs player like Joe Thomas did in Cleveland.
That would be cool. Who can disagree?
March 18th, 2024 at 6:29 am
This is actually a good take, just look at what happened to Kyle long. Blew out his knee shortly after getting his second contract, IB, actually has a good point this time.
March 18th, 2024 at 6:44 am
Wirfs is too good of a man to do that.
He wants to win.
We are already over the cap.
He will get franchised next year. Then sign a 5 year deal. Highest paid LT in the NFL.
March 18th, 2024 at 7:11 am
It would be utterly foolish to NOT sign Wirfs to a 10 year deal at about 250 million , but not all guaranteed over the last 3 years. The money you save now is huge compared to where LT salaries will go in 3*5 more years. Wirfs is the most valuable asset the Bucs have-so lock him up through 2034 and save money JL.
March 18th, 2024 at 7:11 am
Wirfs has all the leverage. It would be easier replacing Mayfield. He’d be crazy to do anything football related without a new deal. Get it done. Right now we’re not paying anyone big money on the O line. Probably draft a center in the first round having another cheap piece. Pay the man.
March 18th, 2024 at 7:31 am
Wirfs don’t seem like he’s built that way. I agree he will set the market and he should buy new contract or not he’ll be in that field because that’s just him. He doesn’t play in the middle of the field like Jensen so should be less danger on the edge.
March 18th, 2024 at 7:35 am
teacherman777 … ‘He will get franchised next year. Then sign a 5 year deal. Highest paid LT in the NFL.’
Can’t see that happening teacherman. Bucs NEED to give Wirfs a new contract soon as possible (when we can make the numbers work, such as after restructuring a couple of contracts?). You want to treat generational players like that with the utmost respect and lock them up forever.
March 18th, 2024 at 7:42 am
Bucsfan … Guaranteed money is a double-edged sword. Yes it let’s the player know how much we value him, BUT should he get injured early in the contract (like Jensen did?) it impacts the team in a BIG way for years.
I still wish that the NFL would rewrite their rules on how they treat the CAP Hits for long-term injured players (yes, like Jensen). The way it is now represents a double-whammy to the team. Not only do we eat ALL of the guaranteed money, but we have to pay a replacement player at the same time. That almost always hurts competitiveness among the teams, and that’s counterproductive to the NFL IMO.
March 18th, 2024 at 7:44 am
Listen to your agent and those telling you not to risk injury before you sign
March 18th, 2024 at 7:56 am
Allocating large amount to signing bonus money does allow Bucs to spread money over 5 years against cap.
March 18th, 2024 at 8:09 am
Sign him long-term and then immediately restructure 24…..
Agree with DR…….Injured Reserve player’s salary should at least partially be deduced from the cap…..
March 18th, 2024 at 8:32 am
Most dominant players on the team
1)Tristan Wirfs
2)Antoine Winfield
3)Mike Evans
4)Lavonte David
5)Baker Mayfield
March 18th, 2024 at 8:49 am
Wirfs agent and Bucs management were already reported by JBF to be in contract negotiations to extend him. Which in turn could lower his cap hit this year.
March 18th, 2024 at 8:54 am
That’s not true. Daniel Jones wasn’t going ANYWHERE… NOT for anything close to the $40MIL+ that the Giants handed him. The Giants were literally, ‘bidding’ against THEMSELVES. It was a dumb decision. Just a HORRIBLE Move from a very very BADDD FO/organization. It’s really weird how much they’ve gone downhill, and have completely lost their MINDS over Daniel Jones… They were always, such an extremely buttoned-up, well run franchise too, for a long time.
March 18th, 2024 at 9:28 am
“Teacherman” – Wirfs will absolutely, NOT be ‘playing’ on ANY “Franchise Tag” in 2025. PERIOD. End of Story. NOT Happening. And, IF “He Wants To Win,” then he will sign NOW, before the season begins… In order to ‘help’ the current salary cap situation. I would say that it is a very complicated negotiation. There are soooo many factors… He ‘might’ want to risk signing only a 4yr-Deal, in order to reset the LT Market AGAIN, in a few years, before he reaches 30 years old, & the Bucs ‘might’ want to offer him a much longer deal… Who Knows!? He ‘might’ want a “Lifetime”/10-year type deal!? There’s just A Whooole LOT to it… The language, incentives potentially, guaranteed money, EVERYTHING. I’m guessing that he would take a FAT 7yr deal with $100-MIL+ guaranteed & the Bucs are going to have to do it. He’s not getting any cheaper by waiting. But one thing is FOR SURE, & that is he will NOT be playing on any “Franchise Tag.” There is NOTHING that would even make any sense about him doing so… There is nothing to gain by doing so, for EITHER side. And, there’s ZERO cap help. If, we end up seeing him playing on the franchise tag in 2025, then we are in BIGGGG TROUBLE, & ‘someone’ completely, dropped the ball. That’s not going to happen. It’s NOT reaching the point where everything falls apart, and THAT is exactly what will happen if we find ourselves in that type of situation… He will refuse to play on the tag, etc. And, we’re not trading Tristen Wirfs. We are NOT allowing Tristen Wirfs to just walkout the door. They’ll get a deal done soon, if HE wants to be here.
March 18th, 2024 at 10:17 am
The Bucs will take care of Wirfs. It would be foolish to wait until next year, and there is no way that Wirf would not show up for off season activities without an extension. He is a high character and dude and he’ll honor his commitments.
March 18th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Wires best attribute is him & baker r best friends seems like that happened immediately almost like r they were friends long before baker showed up I think that’s why baker didn’t go to free agency seems like these top tier players in Tampa really hit it off from day 1 with this q new qb good sign for this team
March 18th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
Melvin j plz stop with u r u r book post these sites r for quick thoughts not interested in reading bio’s
March 18th, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Per Joe :
“Joe understands where Beckles is coming from”
That’s a scary thought, have you had your head up Beckles azzz Joe ?
March 18th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
Wirfs will be re-signed