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About the Author: Matt Matera
Latest Bucs Headlines
The start of the legal tampering period of free agency began on Monday at noon and some deals are already underway. One possible deal that could be brewing includes the Bucs, who may be trading one of their starters by the end of the week.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bucs are considering trading their starting right guard Shaq Mason. The veteran offensive lineman is due to make $9.6 million this year and the organization has a very tight salary cap situation. 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.
There is always a possibility of restructuring his deal, which the Bucs have done with several other players in recent days, but Tampa Bay could feel it can get more value via a trade.
The #Bucs are exploring trade possibilities with guard Shaq Mason, per sources. With a $9.6M cap hit, Mason could become a cap casualty for the cap-strapped Bucs. A quality guard appears ready to enter the market.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2023
If he can’t be traded the Bucs are expected to release Mason, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, which would save the team $5.272 million and have a dead cap hit of $4.304 million this season.
The #Bucs plan to release veteran guard Shaq Mason if they can't trade him in the coming days, per source. Mason is due $8.5 million in the last year of his deal.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) 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 should they decide to trade Shaq Mason. They have extended an offer to starting left guard Nick Leverett and also have 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 wholes 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.
