Give Mayfield a 50 million a year contract and you just wiped out all of the 2027 cap space and still need to sign Vea.
Any new deal with Baker would have a manipulated cap structure. It wouldn’t be $50M per year.
And, for the umpteenth time, WE DON’T NEED TO RE-SIGN VEA!
agree on Vea.
question on Mayfield...
I thought I read that the franchise tag for a would be around $44 next season? If that's right aren't they likely to cut a compromise deal next season because they will have the leverage of the tag and more cap space? Mayfield might be worth more but the tag leverage helps offset that risk?
yeah as much as i like Vita Vea, he is entering his age 31 season. Some phenoms play to like 35 (Darnold to 33, Suh, Sapp, Wilfork, Randle all 35ish) but most fizzle out by 33. If he test market and he is cheap, he can consider resigning because we still need somebody to man the position but Vea's age makes him a risk
The franchise tag for QBs in 2026 was $44M. Next year, would expect it to rise, maybe in the $46-$50M range but to your point, the tag leverage is our friend. Some wise poster has been slamming the table to let this season play out...ill see if i can dig it up and find out who that poster was.
DL and OL can play well into their mid 30s. Seahawks Reed is 33 and this is his second stint with the Seahawks and he is still fast enough to play UT if needed or play some NT and take on blocks. But you have more explosive guys in Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy so the Seahawks could literally move around any of these 3 on that line and not miss a beat.
With Gaines no longer a Buc you have Kancey (25), Robinson (31), Roches (32), and Vea (31). That is a lot of veteran leadership on the line now and this was a PURPOSEFUL strategic choice to bring in Roches and Robinson. Yes they did draft Caphart (23) and they do have Roberts (24). And they are also high on J. Jones (24). But these young guys have to prove to push for playing time over Roches, Robinson and Vea. Like I said don't be surprised if Vea earns another contract with the Bucs. I think the Bucs organization is more open to keeping veterans on the DL and OL longer than most teams would because they learned some important lessons from the 2nd Super Bowl run. And if you want to say the same with the first SB run too (eg Lomas Brown).