The window will be open as of this afternoon, but don't expect the Bucs or anybody to exercise it until right before the window closes on March 5th. The team will use the threat of the tag to bargain. They might announce or leak that they plan to use the tag on someone in order to have some leverage in contract talks, but you can't be sure until they actually use it. For example, Donovan Smith signed a deal right before the tag was about to be slapped on him.
So as for the Bucs the scuttlebutt being reported by PR is that the tag will go to Winfield. That's logical... or is it? IMO Winfield should be signed quickly and the threat of a tag should go to Mayfield or Evans. That's where the serious cap space will be allotted to. They should pay Winfield what he wants more or less and get it over with. Don't quibble about a couple mil. It's peanuts compared to the big dollars to be spent on the QB and WR.
If you don't tag Mayfield or Evans you are getting into an all out bidding war. Sure, Evans or Mayfield may take a small discount to stay with the Bucs, but not much. Essentially, the Bucs will have to match the highest bidder. The Bucs don't have to feel obligated to do that. Sure they have to pay both of those guys, but they can avoid the bidding war for one of them. Mayfield in particular has a big incentive to strike while the iron is hot and get his deal now. If the Bucs announce they plan to tag Mayfield (at about $36 mil for the QB tag), that takes Mayfield out of the running for these other teams. You still will have to pay him $30 to $35 mil per year, but the talk of $40 mil per year is off the table.
The Bucs are facing an all-out war for the services of Mayfield and Evans. They can't afford to just sit there and outbid the competition as if they are at Christies Auction House. They'll either lose or overpay. The Bucs need to utilize the best weapon they have at their disposal - the franchise tag - and eliminate the bidding war on one of those guys.
The Bucs are facing an all-out war for the services of Mayfield and Evans.
Will be interesting to see this play out because the counter view posted here is that there really is no team after Mayfield.
Pewterreport just posted an article of some rumor that Mike Evans is waiting to see what the Bucs do with Mayfield.
feel we are worrying about nothing as the pieces will fall in place
i'm guessing Mayfield gets signed first
The Bucs need to utilize the best weapon they have at their disposal - the franchise tag - and eliminate the bidding war on one of those guys.
If Licht uses the franchise tag on either of them, the Glazers should fire him on the spot.
The Bucs need to utilize the best weapon they have at their disposal - the franchise tag - and eliminate the bidding war on one of those guys.
If Licht uses the franchise tag on either of them, the Glazers should fire him on the spot.
Agreed. If they need to use the franchise tag, use on AWJ
Recent Bucs franchise tags
2022 - Chris Godwin, but then signed a 3 year, 60M deal
2021 - Chris Godwin
2020 - Shaq Barrett
from a value perspective, and if the Bucs are concerned about his age, Mike Evans might make alot of sense here at $20M value
i didn't think the tag was an option with him for some reason. Or maybe just assumed because it would be a slap in his face?
i think we all want him to retire a Buc but let me know why Evans wouldn't be an option for the tag?
Winfield should be inked to a 5 year deal so the only reason you tag him is if he's looking for history breaking deal.
Mayfield makes no sense to tag at a value of $36M. Although him having another contract year is enticing but we would be able to bring down his cap value with a multi year deal.
Pewterreport just posted an article of some rumor that Mike Evans is waiting to see what the Bucs do with Mayfield.
feel we are worrying about nothing as the pieces will fall in place
i'm guessing Mayfield gets signed first
This ^^ was my position early on.
I remember those days fondly, lots of confidence in that opinion. These days? Well . . .
LOL. Still agree
Winfield should be inked to a 5 year deal so the only reason you tag him is if he's looking for history breaking deal.
Or to help with cap issues this year. I believe a franchise tag on Winfield would put a little over $16 mil on the cap versus $20 mil for Mike and $30+ Mil for Baker.
Winfield should be inked to a 5 year deal so the only reason you tag him is if he's looking for history breaking deal.
Or to help with cap issues this year. I believe a franchise tag on Winfield would put a little over $16 mil on the cap versus $20 mil for Mike and $30+ Mil for Baker.
but in these scenarios
1. Baker at $36M franchise cap hit i agree would make little sense considering most think he's be getting anywhere from $25M to $33M on average per year deal
2. The last 3 big safety contracts were Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Jamal Adams who got like 18 to 19M per year. So would assume with inflation that Winfield could be looking at a 5 year, 100 million dollar deal. So $16M franchise hit versus $20M
3. With Evans, most of us are penciling him at $25M. So that versus the $20M franchise cap hit is actually more of a savings then with Winfield.
of the three, and to say still be in their prime 5 years from now, Antoine Winfield makes sense to sign to a long term deal and the franchise tag would be to only buy us time. It's not like he hasnt been playing at a high level since his rookie year so there's no question here.
with Evans, the only thing i can see them worried about is his age so a 1 year flier, albeit not right to Evans, may give us the most upside. Remember that $25M average value per year is what most of us are guessing, but what if it's $30m?
IN THE END, i hope we sign all three to 3 year deals (with AWJ a 5 year) but from a cap perspective, Evans may make the most sense
PS - i am recovering from the flu so maybe i am not thinking clearly :)
from a value perspective, and if the Bucs are concerned about his age, Mike Evans might make alot of sense here at $20M value
The tag for Evans would actually cost over $28M.
So that, and the fact that it would be a slap in the face, would simply not be a wise option.
from a value perspective, and if the Bucs are concerned about his age, Mike Evans might make alot of sense here at $20M value
The tag for Evans would actually cost over $28M.
So that, and the fact that it would be a slap in the face, would simply not be a wise option.
oh nevermind then...yes $28M is not a good deal
i saw somewhere saying $20M.
from a value perspective, and if the Bucs are concerned about his age, Mike Evans might make alot of sense here at $20M value
The tag for Evans would actually cost over $28M.
So that, and the fact that it would be a slap in the face, would simply not be a wise option.
oh nevermind then...yes $28M is not a good deal
i saw somewhere saying $20M.
$20M is the standard WR cap for 2024.
But, Evans cap value last year exceeded the tag.
So, his specific tag would be 120% of that number.
Just reading about this on PR. So a player can have their own "franchise tag" amount if their prior cap value exceeded the average. I had no idea.
because? Using the tag on any of the three players is not ideal. It's also not ideal to have to outbid every other team in the NFL for a player who has hit free agency because he's a fan favorite. By using the threat of a tag you hope you can work out a more team friendly deal, but you have to be ready to follow through with it if you can't get it worked out.The Bucs need to utilize the best weapon they have at their disposal - the franchise tag - and eliminate the bidding war on one of those guys.
If Licht uses the franchise tag on either of them, the Glazers should fire him on thot.
