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About the Author: Scott Reynolds
Latest Bucs Headlines
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bucs are trading starting right guard Shaq Mason to the Texans. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Monday that Tampa Bay was shopping Mason in an effort to get younger and cheaper at the guard position. Mason, who turns 30 this year, had a $9.6 million salary cap hit in 2023, which was the last year of his contract.
The #Bucs are trading veteran guard Shaq Mason to the #Texans, per source. pic.twitter.com/yTuKnw1Xgs
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2023
The deal involved swapping picks on Day 3. The Bucs traded Mason and one of their two seventh-rounders – their original pick at No. 230 – to the Texans for a sixth-rounder – pick No. 179. Houston had four picks in the sixth round this year.
Trading Mason allows the Bucs to save $5.272 million worth of salary cap space. The Bucs will absorb a dead cap hit of $4.304 million this season from Mason’s contract, but the cap savings are worth it.
Bucs need moves that help them with 2023 cap, but don't hurt them in future cap. Trading Mason saves $5.3 million in cap this year, but also saves $1.08 million that was counting against cap each year in 2024, 2025, 2026. Small step in right direction.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 14, 2023
Mason had an overall PFF grade of 68.9 last season with a pass blocking score of 72.9 but a lower run blocking grade at 61.9. The Bucs acquired Mason in a trade with New England to help block for former teammate Tom Brady once Alex Cappa departed in free agency to Cincinnati. Mason’s play was on par with that of Cappa’s during his final season in Tampa Bay in 2021.
In the end, Shaq Mason wasn't that much of a difference-maker upfront for the Bucs. Very similar PFF grades to Alex Cappa in 2021 (with Bucs) and 2022 (with Bengals). Mason turns 30 this year and Bucs will likely go younger and cheaper at RG in 2023. https://t.co/H09d3HgaXG
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) March 13, 2023
Bucs’ Current Guard Situation Without Shaq Mason
Bucs OG Shaq Mason & C Robert Hainsey – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R
The Bucs have very solid depth at the guard position, which made the decision to trade Shaq Mason an easy one. They have signed starting left guard Nick Leverett, who was an exclusive rights restricted free agent, to a one-year, $940,000 deal. And Tampa Bay also has Luke Goedeke and Robert Hainsey available to play there as well.
Aaron Stinnie was in the mix to be a starter last season as well before an injury the preseason ended his year. Stinnie, who started every playoff game in their Super Bowl run, would be relatively inexpensive if the team wanted to re-sign him.
Tampa Bay could find Mason’s replacement in this year’s NFL Draft, too. They had formal interviews with interior offensive linemen Andrew Vorhees (who is likely out for the year after injuring his ACL during Combine drills) out of USC and Joe Tippman from Wisconsin. They met with many others informally as well.
Even after getting salary cap compliant, the Bucs still need more room to get through free agency. They have to bring in a veteran quarterback – possibly Baker Mayfield – to compete with Kyle Trask, and need to fill out many holes in the roster that could depart for other teams with higher offers this week.
The Bucs have yet to make the release of running back Leonard Fournette or tight end Cam Brate official. Cutting those two players would free up $3,470,588 in cap space from Fournette’s release and $2,030,000 from Brate’s release.
In a recent analysis piece on PewterReport.com, Scott Reynolds illustrated what the Bucs offensive line could look like without Mason in the lineup this year.
