How Free Agency Can Help

How Free Agency Can Help Dec 16, 2015Trumaine Johnson In House Free Agents:Unrestricted Free Agents- Henry Melton, Doug Martin, Bobby Rainey, Sterling Moore, Tony McDaniel, Chris Conte, Mike Jenkins, Keith Tandy, Larry English, and Orie Lemon.Restricted Free Agents- Danny Lansanah, Bradley McDougald, Russell Shepard, Jorvorskie Lane, and Jacquies Smith.Exclusive Rights Free Agents- Jeremiah George, Andrew DePaolo, Cameron Brate, T.J. Fatinikun, Adam Humphries, Josh Shirley, Josh Keyes, and Adarius Glanton.Players the Bucs should resign:Doug Martin, Sterling Moore, Henry Melton, Danny Lansanah, Bradley McDougald, Russell Shepard, Jorvorskie Lane, Jacquies Smith, Cameron Brate, and Adam Humphries.Due to most of these players being restricted or exclusive rights free agents, the Bucs will only have to shell out the big bucks for Martin, Moore, and Melton. Although locking up players to longer contracts isn’t the worst idea either.Needs within the team:Defensive end, cornerback, free safety, strong safety, wide receiver, guard, center, defensive tackle, and linebacker.Let’s look at the money:The Bucs have a projected $49,905,878 in cap for next season. A portion of this will be dedicated to rookie contracts, about $6 million. Let’s say there is $44,000,000 in available cap. This is before any restructuring of deals or releasing of players. Logan Mankins, Vincent Jackson, Gosder Cherilus, Evan Smith, and other veterans could be receiving pay reductions.Roster moves:Logan Mankins- Current: 6yr $51,000,000 w/ $21,500,000 guaranteed. Releasing Mankins would free up $7,000,000 in cap. = +$7,000,000Gosder Cherilus- Current: 2yr $7,000,000 w/ no guarantees. Cutting Cherilus frees up $4,500,000 in cap for 2016 = +$4,500,000Vincent Jackson- Current: 5yr $55,555,555 w/ $26,000,000 guaranteed. Jackson is scheduled to make $12,209,777 in 2016 w/ $4,864,000 in dead money. In 2017, Jackson is scheduled to make $12,209,777 w/ $2,432,000 in dead money. Releasing Jackson would save a lot of money, however, there aren’t many better options, so it might be best to restructure in hopes of reducing the cost by a few million.Evan Smith- Current: 4yr $14,250,000 w/ $7,250,000 guaranteed. All guarantees were in the first two seasons, freeing up $2,500,000 in 2016 and $4,500,000 in 2017. = +$2,500,000George Johnson- Current: 3yr $7,000,000 w/ $2,750,000 guaranteed. Johnson’s first year was all of his guaranteed money, meaning releasing him would free up $2,000,000 in 2016 and $2,250,000 in 2017. = +$2,000,000Brandon Myers- Current: 2yr $4,250,000 w/ $2,000,000 guaranteed. Myers contract is similar to Johnson’s. Myers has dead money for $333,334 in 2016 and $166,668 in 2017. Releasing him would free up $833,332 in 2016 and $1,750,000 in 2017. = +$833,332Major Wright- Current: 2yr $3,000,000 w/ $1,250,000 guaranteed. Releasing Wright frees up $1,750,000 in cap. = +$1,750,000Freeing up = +$18,583,332$44,000,000 + $18,583,332 = $62,583,332Resigning’s:Doug Martin- Market value is 4yr $24,500,000 contract = $6,000,000Sterling Moore- Currently makes $1,525,000 should expect 3yr $15,000,000 back loaded with guarantees toward the front = $4,250,000Henry Melton- Currently makes $3,750,000 before that, made $8,000,000. Expect a 2yr $10,000,000 = $5,000,000Danny Lansanah- Right to first refusal at 1yr $1,542,000 = $1,542,000Bradley McDougald- Restricted currently making $585,000, shouldn’t increase too much = $650,000Russell Shepard- Shep is an ace on special teams. Makes $585,000 as of now = $750,000Jorvorskie Lane- Currently makes $585,000, max improvement to $750,000 = $650,000Jacquies Smith- Second round tender valued at 1yr $2,356,000 = $2,356,000Cameron Brate- Exclusive rights, currently makes $450,000 should be near that = $500,000Adam Humphries- Exclusive rights, currently makes $255,882 should be near that = $300,000=$22,398,000$62,583,332 - $22,398,000 = $40,187,332 after resigning and rookie contractsFree Agency:Drafting defensive ends has not worked out for the Bucs. Let’s stop doing that, and just pay a high quality free agent. It’s easy to just say Jason Pierre-Paul, but sometimes the easiest answer is the simplest. Pay him and he will repay us.There are a lot of good safeties set to hit the market this offseason. And plenty more that are better than the Bucs current safeties. The Buccaneers should look to obtain a safety to go along with a high draft pick and Johnthan Banks switching positions. Bradley McDougald could also provide backup as well. The FS combo of Banks and McDougald with a SS combo of a free agent and a draft pick. This should rejuvenate the position.Two options at SS that are worthy of a starting role and a reasonably large contract are George Iloka and Tony Jefferson (RFA). Both of these players are experienced, upgrades over our current safeties, and available. The Bengals are going to be cap strapped with a lot starters to resign, Iloka could be available. The Cardinals are about to lose a lot of pieces on defense to free agency, but they have already obtained their replacements in Mathieu and Buchanan, so Rashad Johnson and Tony Jefferson are likely to be available. However, he is a restricted free agent, so the Buccaneers would likely have to match a tender for his services. Jefferson was a 5th round choice so it is likely that would be the offer sheet, but he would be very cheap if that was the case.George Iloka- 4yr $25,000,000 w/ $12,000,000 guaranteed. Very similar to Da’Norris Searcy’s contract and Ron Parker’s contract. = $6,250,000OrTony Jefferson- 1yr $1,542,000 and a 5th round pick. This would also require resigning him next season or hoping the drafted safety is capable of taking over the starting job = $1,542,000The corner, receiver, and center positions are not very strong in free agency this year but do have good players. Might be best to look in the draft unless potential good deals are available.Trumaine Johnson is the only corner I would want the Bucs to try and sign at starter money. He is a ball hawk, a good tackler, and has the physical stature to keep up with faster receivers and taller receivers. The Rams are in a sticky situation, as Janoris Jenkins and Johnson are set to be free agents. E.J. Gaines has already proven worthy of a starting gig though, so there is only need for one resigning. Jenkins is the better corner, and should receive the first offer. Johnson is likely to warrant a contract similar to DRC, 5yr $34,000,000 w/ $12,000,000 guaranteed. = $6,750,000Jason Pierre-Paul- Pay the man. Currently makes $7,350,000, a steal. Expect him to sign a large deal as he has proven how important he is. 4yr $44,000,000 = $11,000,000The draft doesn’t have many top tier talents at guard, but free agency does offer a chance at a top talent. Kelechi Osemele, currently of the Ravens is available and is currently one of the best run blocking guards in the NFL. Signing Osemele on a contract similar to Mankins former contract would mean a spot for spot money replacement and an upgrade on both talent and age, as Osemele is only 26. 5yr $40,000,000 w/ $15,000,000 guaranteed, which is what fellow top guard Mike Iupati got last season. = $8,000,000= $32,000,000 with Iloka or $27,292,000 and a 5th round pick with Jefferson= $8,187,332 w/ Iloka or $12,895,332 w/ Jefferson remainingWhere we stand:OffenseDefense This makes the biggest needs at the following positions:Wide Receiver, Center, Cornerback, Safety, Linebacker, Guard, and Tackle. All of these positions are very manageable in the draft, a starter level talent is needed at Center and possibly Wide Receiver. During the draft it would be best if the team targeted Best Player Available.The Bucs have eight selections in this years draft, with an extra 6th round pick coming from the Redskins via Dashon Goldson.link