The Bucs have a unique opportunity to create cap space if they act fast. As a matter of fact, according to Jason Fitgerald of Over The Cap, Tampa Bay has the second-largest opportunity in the NFL.

There are six players who could net cap savings if they are signed to extensions before their contracts toll. They are Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Lavonte David, Antoine Winfield Jr., Greg Gaines and Matt Feiler. These moves would present additional cap savings above and beyond some other moves I recently highlighted.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Here is what Fitzgerald said about the Bucs:

“The Buccaneers have seven players with voiding contracts with $14.5 million that could be saved. More than half of the savings come from Mike Evans. Evans will count for $12.2 million in dead money but the Bucs could defer $7.4 million of it by extending Evans. Lavonte David could save $2 million and Baker Mayfield $1.73 million.”

The most likely of those six players to be retained and yield the cap savings is Winfield. The Bucs will certainly get a long-term deal done with their star safety or franchise tag him for a projected $17.22 million.

Bucs WR Mike Evans

Evans is also a good bet to be retained by Tampa Bay, although getting the deal done by the Feb. 20 deadline is much more up in the air. I believe Evans has an APY number that he wants the team to hit and if they do, he will happily re-sign without testing the free agent waters.

However, if the Bucs balk Evans could look to see if any other teams would be willing to pay him the contract he is seeking and there is a good chance he could find suitors in Detroit and Houston. Houston would be a very interesting potential spot as it would be a homecoming for the future Hall-of-Famer.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mayfield will be the other interesting case. He has publicly said he hopes to be able to stay in Tampa after enjoying his year there, but he could find a better deal by waiting until free agency opens on March 13th and finding what will certainly be multiple suitors with a quarterback market that really only features two or three potential starters.

Bucs LB Lavonte David

David is almost a shoe in to be re-signed as long as he wants to suit up for another season. Recent comments he made on social media on his birthday could be construed as him potentially acknowledging that he is hanging up his cleats for good. However, David has made no official statement regarding his 2024 status.

The Bucs could save cap space if David communicates to them that he would like to play next year soon, but he has certainly earned the right to take all of the time he wants before making a final decision.

The Bucs will certainly retain some savings from the list of players who have expiring deals with dead cap hits, though getting the full $14.5 million opportunity that Fitzgerald noted is still unlikely.