No money in the cash budget for big moves. Bucs in trap of old player contracts being expensive (Evans, Godwin, Vea) versus new team with needs. Bowles has his hands full.
Discussed in the Fab 5
https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-free-agency-maxx-crosby-truth-sr-fab-5/
Critical part of the discussion
Bucs With Cap Values Over $20 Million In 2026
QB Baker Mayfield – $39.975 million
LT Tristan Wirfs – $36.32 million
WR Chris Godwin – $33.68 million
S Antoine Winfield Jr. – $27.46 million
RT Luke Goedeke – $22.68 million
DT Vita Vea – $22.19 million
If the Bucs re-sign Evans to another $20 million deal, the number of players with $20 million cap values will climb to seven.
"To put that number in perspective, the Super Bowl champion Seahawks currently have just two players with salary cap values higher than $20 million. San Francisco and Los Angeles only have three. Philadelphia has four. Detroit has five.
and this
"So $50 million is the floor for Mayfield’s next deal. Whether you agree with it or not, Mayfield could fetch $50 million per year – or more – if he were to hit free agency right now. Keep in mind that the Dolphins will likely jettison Tua Tagovailoa, who makes an average of $53.1 million per year, and the Cardinals seem out on Kyler Murray, who makes an average of $46.1 million."
I think Mayfield with a bounce back year likely gets a 4 year 220 mil deal coming out to $55 mil a year
