It was a career year for Bucs center Ryan Jensen, who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021. But now the veteran lineman will face a difficult decision in free agency – one that could determine where he spends the rest of his career. Jensen will turn 31 in May, but is considered one of the top centers in the NFL. A massive contract might not be on the table, but he could definitely price himself out of Tampa Bay.

Jensen currently makes an average of $10.5 million per year. He might be looking for similar money over less years going into this offseason. Teams may want to front-load Jensen’s contract due to his age. That could be an issue for the Bucs, who may want to kick the can down the road for a smaller cap hit in 2021. Jensen could even ask for Corey Linsley-level money. The Chargers center makes $12.5 million per year.

Regardless of how negotiations play out, Jensen’s love for Tampa Bay is clear. It’s not the only factor, but it’s obvious Jensen would enjoy being back on the Bucs next year.

“Yeah, it’s tough,” Jensen said. “I’ve had a great four years here. Obviously I love it here. It’s home. We’ll see what happens and figure out what’s going on. But for now, we’ve got a little bit of time to figure things out and go forward with what’s gonna happen.”

One compelling reason for Jensen to return might be the camaraderie on the team. He’s loved playing with Tom Brady, and the Bucs offensive line is a very tight-knit group. Jensen became a great player in Tampa Bay, where his leadership and toughness are valued.

“It was a tough year,” Jensen said, fighting back emotion. “This was a tough way to end it. But this locker room was special, man. Locker rooms like this don’t come around very often.”

Jensen will be one of 10 free agent starters for the Bucs this offseason. Tampa Bay is expected to re-sign most of them, but Jensen is one of the more uncertain situations. The Bucs have already committed significant money to Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith. In a few years, Tristan Wirfs will command top dollar. At some point, GM Jason Licht must consider how much cap is tied up in the offensive line moving forward.