Free agency preview: Brate, Humphries lead Bucs’ restricted free agents
Greg Auman
Times staff writer
Published: February 14, 2018
The Bucs have five RFAs — TE Cameron Brate, WR Adam Humphries, LB Adarius Glanton, DE Ryan Russell and DB Jude Adjei-Barimah — and they serve as good examples of the decisions teams must make in issuing an RFA tender.
ADAM HUMPHRIES, receiver: Like Brate, Humphries has been wildly productive as an undrafted player. Amid injuries, he stepped up in the slot with 55 catches for 622 yards in 2016, and last year, with no major injuries, he improved with 61 catches for 631 yards. He's only 24, and the Bucs are already paying Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson a combined $24-million in 2018, with Chris Godwin emerging as a playmaker as well.
Humphries is sure to be tendered, and the popular speculation for an outside suitor is the Patriots, who are as active with RFA offer sheets as any NFL team. Two years ago, receiver Chris Hogan had more modest stats than Humphries (87 career catches, 759 yards, 6 TDs with Bills) and he got a three-year, $12-million deal from New England. They got RB Mike Gillislee with an offer sheet last year, and tried to get WR Emmanuel Sanders a few years back but the Steelers matched after under-tendering him.
New England has Danny Amendola at 32 and Julian Edelman at 31, and Brandin Cooks will make $8.4-million in 2018 with free agency ahead next year. They did give up QB Jacoby Brissett to get Phillip Dorsett, who had just 12 catches for 194 yards and no touchdowns in 2017.
Even with a low tender, Humphries would be rewarded with more money than he's made in his first three NFL seasons combined.
