Like most of it. I probably wouldn't bother with Hester. We could have Watkins or Demps return kicks and save that 2 mill. Like the idea of going after Geoff Schwartz, but I think KC will lock him up. I'm not sure about our 1st. I change my mind every day who I want, but Watkins would definitely be in the mix.
some advices...
Every year, I try my best to predict how the off-season will go, just based on rumours and piecing things together. Anyways, hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment below. As always, any questions about rumours, and likeliness of "things" just ask me through PR or twitter (@louisptack)Starting Salary Cap: 7,570,293$ (Salary Cap = 126.3 Million)
Bucs adjusted salary cap: $133,472,584
RG, Davin Joseph: ---> Save 6,000,000$: This was a tough decision to make. Davin has done many great thing for the Bucs on/off the field and I would like to personally thank him for that, even though I don't live in Tampa myself. He was the rock of our O-Line for the past 5 years but unfortunately he is in fact aging and his play is slowly but surely becoming unacceptable for someone of his salary.
Joseph = BUSTthe most overrated OL in the league for the past 6 years!
RT, Gabe Carimi: ---> Save 1,337,187$: Our O-Line is going under a major reconstruction in 2014. Not so much the starting lineup but all of the depth will be replaced for cheaper. Lovie is familiar with Carimi but it didn't work out then either. Really a waste of a 6th Round Draft Pick. Not one of Mark Dominik's best moments.
he was Angelo/Lovie's 2011 1st round pick, drafted to protect Cutler blind side... coach's ego will be bigger than a million in cap space!
RE-STRUCTURINGS:LT, Donald Penn: ---> Save 500,000$: We all know Penn's play is slipping but not nearly as much as the exiled Davin Joseph. We shave half a mill of his salary just to give us a little more breathing room and is acceptable from Penn's side as well.
only $500K, i don't care if it is acceptable for Penn... this fat ass is not worth $7 million... paycut has to be around $3M or gone!1) Jared Veldheer / Eugene Monroe (if one hit free agency: $8-9M per year deal)2) #7 Jake Matthews / Greg Robinson (trade down?)3) Rodger Saffold / Anthony Collins ($4/5M one-year prove it deal)4) Bryant McKinnie ($3M one year stopgap)5) Penn ($3M paycut)6) sign a RT and move Dotson on the left!
LB, Dekoda Watson - 4 Years, 7,500,000$ (1,875,000$): Watson is our special teams ace and blocks the most punts on our team. He is someone that is worth keeping especially when we get to sign him before he gets too expensive. If he becomes a starter there will be a clause where he would make another 2.5 Million$/Year if he starts more then 10 games in a season.LB, Johnathan Cassilas - 2 Years, 2,600,000$ (1,300,000$): He plays more than Watson but does't play ST or possess the same potential. Re-signing him is a good thing as he is a solid LB.
Casillas was one of our best player on STwould like to see both coming back for $3M but i think some 34 team may offer more than $2M to Watson!
DE, Jared Allen - 3 Years, 17,000,000$ (5,666,667$): Jared Allen joins his former HC in Tampa where he buys the Bucs some time to find a young DE. This is a little cheap for Allen but he is old. This could vary from 5-7 Mill a year so this isn't that farfetched.
yeah right, Jared Allen signing with a 4-12 team for $5.666M per year... dream don't expect anything less than $8-10M per year when you're a loosing team who give $1.5M per sack to McCoy and $1M per game to Revis!paying Jared Allen $5.67M when Donald Penn is making $6/7M per year?
C, Alex Mack - 5 Years, 35,000,000$ (7,000,000$): Another big FA signing in Tampa. Mack gets "mocked" to just about every team with a decent amount of cap space but none have the connections Tampa does. He has played with OC Tedford at Cal, I hear he and Tedford have a great relationship and our OL Coach is coming straight from Cleveland's staff. Mack is good friends with him as well.
Pro Bowler and 2nd team All-pro... in 2014, a top center should be around $8M/year... minimum.in 2010: Nick Mangold $57.4M for 8 years ($7.2M/year) - in 2011: Ryan Kalil $49M for 6 years ($8.1M/year)
(Based on my calculations, this really is all we have enough cap for, but look for some clever contract structuring to let us sign either Geoff Schwartz or Jon Asamoah)
you need money for the draft
Round 1: WR, Sammy Watkins - Clemson ---> We finally have a speed component to this offence Jeff Tedford was talking about. He is someone you can simply drop the ball off to and have him go the distance. Really a young exciting WR who may be the next big thing in the NFL. Look for a mix of Julio Jones and Cordarelle Patterson.
everyone would like to have a Sammy Watkins, including me... a Top ten pick on a receiver when you already have two 1000 yards WR's... Matt Millen is our new GM?unless you trade or cut Mike Williams or VJax?
Round 4: DT, Daniel McCullers - Tennessee ---> In case Akeem Spence isn't too well liked by Lovie Smith we have some good quality depth at the DT position.
i like McCullers alot... just seems too big for Lovie's scheme!
Uh, one problem...based on your offseason plan, there is only Glennon and the brother of Aaron Rodgers as the only QBs on the roster...if this is your solution to arguably this team's biggest weakness, back to the drawing board.
Good job on the OP. This list is pretty much what I've been seeing a majority of posters talk about on this board for awhile, give or take a move or two. Nice of you to break down how it would actually be feasible with salary structuring, cuts, etc. Very nice touch, appreciated here.Also enjoyed The Freeman's contribution.Nothing to add personally though. ;)
