Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that features five things that are on my mind. SR’s Fab 5 is now a quicker read, but still packs a punch. Enjoy!

We’re nearing the halfway point of the 2023 regular season and it’s time to take a look at the Bucs’ free-agents-to-be in 2024 and see which ones are progressing towards a contract extension, which ones we need to see more from and which ones are playing their way out of Tampa Bay. There is still time for the players on this list to increase or decrease their likelihood of remaining Buccaneers next year – and to change their asking price. But this is how things stand through the first seven games of the season.

FAB 1. These Bucs Are Earning Contract Extensions

FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Pay Him Top Dollar, Keep AWJ At All Costs

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and Falcons WR Drake London – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs’ top priority for the 2024 is actually signing Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs to a massive contract extension. Wirfs won’t be a free agent in 2024. The Bucs actually picked up Wirfs’ fifth-year option for the 2024 season, but that comes with a big $18.2 million price tag. Tampa Bay would like to reduce his 2024 cap value, and an extension would allow that to happen.

After Wirfs, re-signing Winfield is the biggest priority. He has absolutely crushed it so far in his contract year. He’s currently Tampa Bay’s fourth-leading tackler with 46 stops and he’s made a huge amount of splash plays, too. Winfield has a pair of sacks on the year and leads Tampa Bay with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His pass deflection on Thursday night led to an interception by Will Gholston and set up a Bucs touchdown. Simply put, he’s a reliable playmaker, and at times he’s been a one-man-gang on defense.

Winfield had a pair of touchdown-saving tackles on Justin Jefferson in Week 1, plus end zone pass breakups against Chris Olave in Week 4 and Drake London in Week 7. His six pass breakups lead the Bucs, but Winfield has yet to record an interception this season. That’s coming at some point, as he has picked off at least one pass in every year he’s been in the league.

Winfield has finally gotten the recognition as a team leader, as he was voted as a team captain for the first time in his Bucs career. He’s the kind of player that Bucs general manager Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles and assistant general manager Mike Greenberg simply can’t wait to cut a big check to re-sign. Winfield deserves every penny he’ll get, too.

ILB Lavonte David – Definitely Deserves Another Year, Perhaps With A Raise

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

At age 33, David is fighting Father Time – and he’s winning. David – not Devin White – is the Bucs’ leading tackler with 67 stops. The 12-year veteran is on pace to record 162 tackles, which would be a career high. He notched 147 stops in 2015.

David also has two sacks and a pair of pass breakups on the year. His last three games have been three of his best this year, notching a season-high 14 stops against the Bills, 13 tackles against the Falcons with one pass breakup in coverage, and recording 12 stops, a sack and a pass breakup against the Lions.

The Bucs would love to see David revert back to form as the ballhawk he was in previous years, forcing fumbles and picking off passes. He’s definitely slowing down in that area of his game. David hasn’t had an interception since 2020 and he’s only forced three fumbles over the past two and a half years when he forced three fumbles alone in the 2020 regular season.

If David finishes the year healthy and strong, there is no reason why the Bucs shouldn’t bring back their iconic linebacker for one more year. The legendary Derrick Brooks played until he was 35, while another Hall of Fame Bucs great, Ronde Barber, played until he was 37.

There is a strong chance the Bucs won’t re-sign Devin White next year, given how the fifth-year linebacker has played. Replacing both inside linebackers would be quite a challenge. Lessening that would be re-signing David for the 2024 season.

K Chase McLaughlin – Bucs’ Gamble At Kicker Has Paid Off Big Time

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs general manager Jason Licht struggled to find a reliable kicker until he signed aging veteran Ryan Succop in 2020, who helped win a Super Bowl with a record-breaking season. Tampa Bay made a bold move by releasing the dependable Succop in favor of McLaughlin because Todd Bowles wanted a kicker with a big leg.

Licht nailed another one in McLaughlin, who does have a booming leg, evidenced by his game-winning, 57-yard field goal at Minnesota in Week 1 and another 57-yarder at Buffalo, which tied his career high. McLaughlin is 3-of-4 on field goals 50 yards or longer this year, and he’s 12-of-14 (85.7%) overall. His only miss of the year came on a blocked field goal in Week 2 against Chicago. McLaughlin is a perfect 9-of-9 on extra point attempts, too.

The good news for the Bucs is that McLaughlin turns 28 next April and has plenty of years ahead of him. With the success he’s had so far in Tampa Bay – his previous best field goal percentage is 83.3% – McLaughlin should want to stay in red and pewter.

LS Zach Triner – As Steady As They Come At Long Snapping

Sure, the Bucs would love to find a younger, cheaper long snapper. The 32-year old Triner is in the second year of a two-year contract that is paying him $1,080,000 in base salary this year. But with flawless snaps and quality blocking he’s worth every penny.

Triner is in his fifth season in Tampa Bay and helped the franchise win Super Bowl LV. Long snappers are at their best when you never hear about them due to a bad snap. That’s been the story with Triner during his Bucs tenure so far. Good long snappers are hard to find, and the Bucs found one. It’s time to keep him with another contract in 2024.

FAB 2. Need To Wait To See How The Season Ends For These Bucs

WR Mike Evans – How Much Is M1K3 Worth?

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs fans may not want to hear this, but Tampa Bay needs to see how Evans finishes the season. Not to decide whether he is worth re-signing or not. The greatest offensive player in Bucs history is definitely worth re-signing.

The question is how much is how much will Evans be worth at age 31 next year? Will Evans finish the year strong? Will he get back to double-digit touchdowns this season like he had in 2020 and 2021 with 13 and 14, respectively? Or will Evans finish with around six like he had a year ago? Evans has five touchdowns already and is on pace to reach 12 this season.

Is this the year he pushes his consecutive 1,000-yard season streak to 10? Or is this season that streak comes to an end? Will Evans continue to drop some catchable passes? Or will he show more concentration down the stretch and make more plays as a result? Evans has caught 33 passes for 507 yards so far and is on pace to reach 1,200 yards this year.

Should the Bucs re-sign Evans, it can’t be for what he’s done for the franchise in the past. Not when he’s over 30. It has to be what the team believes he can reasonably produce in the future over the next two, three or four seasons. Is Evans slowing down or is he still in his prime?

That will ultimately be determined at the end of the season, and that will determine how much he’s worth. Understandably, Evans wants one final big contract. Is that going to be in the $25 million per year range that he’s seeking? Will it be more like Chris Godwin range at $20 million per year? Or, if his production trails off as the year goes on, will it be closer to his $16.5 million average that he’s currently playing under?

The Bucs will let Evans test free agency and gauge his worth – and hope he ultimately doesn’t want to leave Tampa Bay for just a few million more elsewhere. Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean and Lavonte David all tested free agency recently, found an underwhelming market for their services, and re-signed to the Bucs for less than they thought they would fetch on the open market. Perhaps the same thing happens to Evans.

One thing is clear. The Bucs will not be a better team next year without Mike Evans.

QB Baker Mayfield – Is He The QB Of The Future In Tampa Bay, Or A Stop-Gap QB?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs are hopeful that Mayfield can be a long-term solution for the team at quarterback, but the next 10 weeks will tell the tale. Can Mayfield turn around a stagnant offense that struggles to score touchdowns and get this 3-4 team to the postseason – either as division winners or a Wild Card team? Can he win a playoff game in red and pewter? Can Mayfield stay healthy? Can he avoid a high number of interceptions and finish with a 3:1 TD:INT ratio?

If Mayfield proves to be a play-making QB that takes care of the ball and can win in the postseason it saves the Bucs so much energy and draft pick resources trying to find another franchise-caliber QB in the draft. Not to mention the developmental time it takes to have a young signal caller go through trial-by-fire growing pains, which can take years.

And that’s if the Bucs actually hit on a good quarterback in the draft, which they’ve truly never done in franchise history.

The Bucs have already seen the great version of Mayfield – 3 red zone TDs and 26 points in a win in New Orleans – but only once. Tampa Bay has seen the good version of Mayfield in turnover-free wins at Minnesota and against Chicago. The Bucs have also seen the average-at-best Mayfield in losses to Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta.

Mayfield’s game at Buffalo was fine on the stat sheet with two touchdowns and no interceptions. But the film showed indecisiveness and happy feet in the pocket, struggles to locate open receivers, and that the Bucs quarterback truly wasn’t the difference-maker that Josh Allen was on Thursday Night Football. Mayfield was above average-to-good on a night he needed to be great to beat an upper echelon team like the Bills.

The one version of Mayfield the Bucs can’t afford to see is the poor version who throws multiple interceptions. Tampa Bay has to hope that guy stayed in Cleveland. If that guy resurfaces in red and pewter, it will significantly reduce his chances of being re-signed by the Bucs.

His teammates love his toughness and leadership. The Bucs coaches love his escapability and his intangibles. It will be fascinating to see how the season plays out for Mayfield and if he’s a possible solution at QB for years to come in Tampa Bay or if he was just a stop-gap signal caller for the next drafted quarterback. The key is getting the ball in the end zone with way more regularity.

Will Mayfield finish the season as starter? Or will injury or ineffectiveness give Kyle Trask an opportunity in November or December? Stay tuned.

FAB 3. Need To See More Value From These Bucs To Stay In Tampa Bay

RB Chase Edmonds – Can He Stay Healthy Long Enough To Make A Difference?

Bucs RB Chase Edmonds – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs were high on the signing of Edmonds in the offseason. He was a quick, change-of-pace back who was a perfect fit in Tampa Bay due to his experience in a zone blocking scheme. The only problem is that he was injured in the offseason, injured in the preseason and went on injured reserve and missed four games with a knee injury.

If Edmonds can stay healthy, he can help Tampa Bay’s woeful run game. He had 20 yards on four carries, which is 5.0 yards per tote, and the team’s longest run – a 14-yarder – before returning to action at Buffalo. But a player can’t help the club in the tub, and the greatest ability is availability.

His return to action was underwhelming, with five yards on three carries, and two catches for 16 yards versus the Bills.

Can Edmonds stay healthy down the stretch and overcome the injuries that have derailed his NFL career? More importantly, can Edmonds be a difference-maker on the ground with his quickness and acceleration through the hole? The Bucs haven’t seen enough yet and need to see more before even considering bringing him back for another year. But Edmonds’ game in Buffalo left a lot to be desired.

DT Greg Gaines – Can He Do More Than Just Stuff The Run?

Gaines, a college teammate of Vita Vea, has been an okay reserve nose tackle. He’s replacing Rakeem Nunez-Roches and has 13 tackles on the year along with three quarterback hits. Gaines hasn’t proven to be an upgrade yet nor has he proven to be a liability when it comes to comparing his game to Nunez-Roches from a year ago. He had just one tackle in extended action at Buffalo filling in for Vea, and showed why he’s not a starting-caliber defensive tackle.

Gaines has proven to be a good teammate who has shown to be a decent fit in Todd Bowles’ defense. He’s more active and quicker than previous more talented defensive tackles like Ndamukong Suh and Akiem Hicks. If he can add to the pass rush and pick up a couple of sacks that will only add to his value and make his return to Tampa Bay more probable next year.

DE Will Gholston – Is This Big Will’s Last Year In Tampa Bay?

Bucs DL Will Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Gholston returned for an 11th year right before training camp and has brought real value in terms of his veteran presence for the young defensive linemen. He has 11 tackles on the year in a reserve role and is no longer a pass rushing threat at age 31 – not that he was ever a big pass rusher to begin with. But he did come up with his first career interception off a tipped pass at Buffalo, showing good awareness to snare the takeaway.

This is likely Gholston’s final season in Tampa Bay, and perhaps in the NFL. Yet if the Bucs don’t find a more suitable upgrade at defensive tackle next year, Gholston could be brought back for one more season.

He’s a great locker room guy, has five years in Todd Bowles’ system and is a reliable run defender. If Gholston were to surprise with a couple of sacks this season it would only help his cause for next year.

G Aaron Stinnie – Is Stinnie A Late Bloomer Or Just A Backup?

Stinnie has been a career backup, mostly in Tampa Bay, and is known for subbing in at right guard during the 2020 postseason and Super Bowl for the injured Alex Cappa. He missed the entire 2022 season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason at Tennessee.

Now he’s back in Tampa Bay and has not only made the 53-man roster again, but he’s the first guard off the bench to replace either Cody Mauch or Matt Feiler, as was the case on Thursday night at Buffalo. Stinnie had his ups and downs in Buffalo in his first playing time of the year. A closer look at his film is needed when the All-22 is available, but at first glance his level of play wasn’t much better than Feiler’s.

FAB 4. Bucs Need To Move On From These Players

ILB Devin White – He’s Playing His Way Out Of Tampa Bay

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts and Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is absolutely crushing it in a contract year. Meanwhile, White is crushing any hope he has at getting paid $12 million or more with a lousy contract year so far. After requesting a trade during the offseason over not getting a contract extension and being forced to play on his fifth-year option, White held out of OTAs and the mandatory mini-camp.

White is currently the Bucs’ third-leading tackler with 47 stops, trailing fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David, who is also a free agent, by 20 tackles. Outside of an interception that was thrown right to him by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, White doesn’t have a single splash play this year. No sacks, no forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries.

While David was recording 13 tackles against the Falcons, White had just five and was slow to get off blocks and was getting shoved around in the run game. Just five tackles – despite Atlanta running the ball 38 times for 156 yards.

Not to mention the fact that White blew a pass coverage assignment when he left his man, running back Tyler Allgeier, wide open for a 46-yard gain while pursuing quarterback Desmond Ridder. That was a Pop Warner-level mistake.

White played better at times in Buffalo and wound up with nine tackles. But too many of those stops were downfield and not at the line of scrimmage. White continues to struggle to get off blocks and has not played this year with the level of physicality that David is playing with.

If White continues his inconsistent, lackluster play the Bucs will simply move on from him in the offseason. White isn’t worth anywhere close to the $20 million he’s seeking, let alone the $11.7 million he’s making this season. With SirVocea Dennis waiting in the wings, the Bucs should focus on re-signing David and waiting on a 2025 compensatory pick for White signing elsewhere in March.

RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – There’s No Reason He Should Be Getting Touches

Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Photo by: USA Today

One of Jason Licht’s most admirable qualities is to quickly move on from a mistake. That’s been the case before with some of his free agent signings like defensive end Michael Johnson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins, and draft picks – even high picks like second-round kicker Roberto Aguayo. For some reason, Vaughn, a third-round pick in 2021, has been an exception.

Not sure what Vaughn’s appeal is. He’s a tackle for loss waiting to happen because he’s not fast enough to accelerate out of trouble and make defenders miss, nor is he a tackle-breaker who can manufacture yards after contact. Vaughn needs a clean hole and simply cannot create on his own.

His paltry 1.7-yard average is so pedestrian that if Licht were to cut him tomorrow he wouldn’t land on another active roster. Maybe on a practice squad, but not a 53-man roster. There are plenty of better backs out there and the Bucs need to let Vaughn walk in free agency.

FS Ryan Neal – Neal Has Made More Plays For Other Teams In Coverage Than His Own

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid and Bucs SS Ryan Neal – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs were hopeful to get a rising star at the safety position this offseason, as Neal was the highest-graded safety in the league by Pro Football Focus last year in Seattle. Neal, a career backup, got a chance to play when starter Jamal Adams was lost for the season due to injury.

But with Adams returning in 2023 Neal wasn’t going to start. And it was quite telling that the team rescinded his restricted free agent tender offer and opted to acquire former Giants safety Julian Love instead. The Bucs thought they might have a steal, landing him to one-year, prove-it deal in free agency worth just $1,232,500. Instead, Seattle knew what it was doing.

Neal is an average athlete and not a playmaker. He’s solid in run defense, but has had costly lapses in pass coverage against Detroit and Atlanta that has contributed mightily to those two home defeats. In the 24-18 loss at Buffalo, Neal was beaten in man coverage by Dalton Kincaid for a 22-yard touchdown.

The Bucs sorely miss Jordan Whitehead, and even Mike Edwards played better last year. Tampa Bay will move on from Neal next year and find a new safety in free agency or the draft. The Bucs should seriously consider starting Dee Delaney, who is tied for the team lead with two interceptions, over Neal to see what he can do at strong safety.

LG Matt Feiler – At Age 32 Next Year, Feiler Has No Upside

Bucs LG Matt Feiler – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Feiler is a cheap, stop-gap left guard who signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. The Bucs have gotten what they’ve paid for in the 31-year old guard. He’s been average at best and has no upside at his age.

Feiler injured his knee at the end of the Falcons game and gave a costly pressure and a sack on back-to-back plays when the Bucs were in the red zone trying to take the lead with just over a minute left. He should have come out of the game because he hurt the team trying to tough it out instead.

Aaron Stinnie started the game at left guard at Buffalo in his place and was just okay replacing him. Feiler hasn’t done enough to warrant re-signing, and probably won’t be brought back to Tampa Bay next year. The Bucs will seek a better and more long-term option at left guard next year either in the draft or free agency.

FAB 5. Where Do The Bucs Stand From A Salary Cap Standpoint In 2024?

The good news for the Bucs is that general manager Jason Licht and assistant G.M. Mike Greenberg have decided to swallow their salary cap medicine this year and get well for next year. Saddled with $75 million in dead cap money this season, including $35 million due to Tom Brady, the Bucs were cap-strapped in free agency this year and had to do a lot of bargain shopping, which restricted Licht’s ability to add more talent.

The Bucs currently have just $3,215,647 in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, which ranks 28th in the league. That’s not enough cap space to be able to afford and acquire better players like running backs Derrick Henry or Dalvin Cook in a trade this year.

Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But Tampa Bay’s cap space goes from being one of the worst this year to one of the best, thanks to the Bucs’ decision to bite the bullet this year. Tampa Bay is slated to have $61,372,644 in cap room next year, which is the 11th most in the NFL. Chicago leads the way with $110,078,523, followed by Tennessee at $99,682,016.

Tampa Bay has the most cap room in 2024 out of the four NFC South teams. Carolina ranks 12th with $58,912,056, followed by Atlanta at 15 with $52,615,531. New Orleans’ salary cap mismanagement continues, as the Saints are dead last in cap space in 2024 with minus-$71,492,473. That means New Orleans will have to cut more players or do a slew of contract restructures to trim $71.4 million off the books just to become cap compliant.

Keep in mind with so many free agents that the Bucs might want to re-sign, including several premium players like Wirfs, Winfield, Evans and possibly Mayfield, that $61 million can get allocated pretty quickly and there might not be much left. A Wirfs contract extension would actually save the Bucs some money from the $18.2 million he’s set to make in his fifth-year option by lowering the salary of the first year of his new deal to a more reasonable number.

Tampa Bay won’t have the cap room to bring every free agent back, and several of them don’t deserve it anyway. But have faith that Licht and Greenberg will bring back the ones they want to keep, and create enough room to add a few more playmakers as the Bucs won’t be confined to shopping at the thrift store anymore in free agency.