Assuming the Pewter Podcast is right... and the Bucs went into this offseason only looking to spend like 12-15 million in FA... thus leaving the other $55,000,000 to sign our own young players.
Let's assume we somehow have like $8,500,000 left.
And assuming that we can free up another $16,500,000 by cutting Ayers, Gholston, and Sweezy. (BTW I am not saying we have to cut them... I'm just saying we can if we need to). At one time, Pewter expected us to cut at least two of these guys... but they haven't spoken about this possibility in a while.
That would leave us with $25,000,000 to spend in FA. We could probably even go up to $28,000,000 by deciding to wait a year to give Donovan Smith an extension. The question is, how would you spend it?
With this money, who would you sign? For me, I just don't see a lot of quality at D-line. I would rather just draft a bunch of guys there and see what they can do. So, I would see if I could shore up Oline, CB, and safety. Here's my dream:
1). Pugh to play LG. (7 mill per year... he is coming off injury season, which is why I hope we could pay him that).
2015 -Pugh entered training camp as the starting left guard after the New York Giants signed free agent Marshall Newhouse and named him the starting right tackle. The Giants originally drafted Pugh with the intention to have him play offensive guard, but decided to keep him at right tackle. They also stated that Pugh was better suited for guard under Ben McAdoo's offense.[10] Pugh started 14 games throughout the season and missed two games (Weeks 10/ and 12) due to a concussion.[11] He received high grades, played well throughout the season, and was ranked fifth among all offensive guards in performance grades (+12.5) through the first eight games.[12] By the end of the season he was ranked the ninth best offensive guard by Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 86.7.[13]
2016 -On April 26, 2016, the New York Giants chose to pick up the fifth-year, $8.82 million option on Pugh's rookie contract.[14]. After a stellar season in 2015, Pugh was slated as the starting left guard entering training camp and was officially named the starter at the beginning of the season. Through the first nine games, he was ranked as the top offensive left guard in the league by Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 87.8.[15] On November 9, 2016, he started at left guard during a 28-23 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, but left after suffering an injury to his leg. It was later discovered to be a sprained MCL and he missed the next five games (Weeks 10-14).
2). Honey Badger, Tre Boston, or Eric Reid to play safety. I would sign whoever comes cheapest of these three. Can one of them be had for 5 - 8 million per?
3). Gaines to play CB. Likely have to pay between 6 - 9 million.
4). John Sullivan to play Center (moving Marpet to RG). Sullivan is old, but he is still quality, and his age will make him less expensive.
