FAB 2. Bucs Should Extend Dotson’s Contract, Too

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht, head coach Bruce Arians and director of football administration Mike Greenberg have a busy offseason planned as 19 players, including 11 that have started at least one game for the team, are slated for NFL free agency next March.

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One of those pending free agents is right tackle Demar Dotson, a 34-year veteran who is wrapping up his 11th season in Tampa Bay. Make no mistake, quarterback Jameis Winston and outside linebackers Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul are the priorities when it comes to the Bucs re-signing players, but the team will also have to make a decision on Dotson, too.

The Bucs had drafted Caleb Benenoch in the fifth round in 2016 as an eventual replacement for Dotson, but Benenoch didn’t pan out and was released after training camp. Other than 29-year old backup Josh Wells, who will also be an unrestricted free agent in 2020, Tampa Bay doesn’t have an heir apparent at right tackle.

Sunday’s game against Atlanta might be Dotson’s last – not just in red and pewter, but also in the NFL – if the Bucs don’t re-sign him.

Dotson has started 14 games this season and earned a 71.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which is just behind center Ryan Jensen (77.4) and left guard Ali Marpet (73.1) and ahead of left tackle Donovan Smith (68.9) and right guard Alex Cappa (62.5).

“It is extremely frustrating for me to see people think that Dot is not a great player,” Marpet said. “The dude is a phenomenal right tackle – he’s one of the better right tackles in the league and he doesn’t get his credit and he’s great on the offensive line. It’s hard having a player play at such a high level consistently in pass protection against elite pass rushers and just be able to lock them down. I think people sometimes overlook how hard that is and he does such a good job.”

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I think Dot takes an old school approach to the game which is outside noise – whatever’s happening with your body – it doesn’t matter. Just go out and play and execute and play at a high level.”

Dotson still has another good year or two left in him and wants to return to Tampa Bay in 2020.

“I really want to be back here,” Dotson said. “I don’t want to come back and play for pennies, but I still want the opportunity to be around what this team is building. There’s a good nucleus with a good quarterback and a good collection of wide receivers and I think we’re trying to build something along the offensive line. And the defense is getting better.

“Bruce [Arians] has changed the atmosphere and the culture around here and I want to be a part of it. I’ve been here for 11 years and I haven’t really won nothing. I’ve never made it to the playoffs. I’ve never had that opportunity. I want to leave here knowing that I at least had the opportunity to make the playoffs and make a run for a championship. I’ve been here 11 years without a single playoff game. That hurts.”

It would be wise for the Bucs to re-sign Dotson to a one-year deal and then spend an early draft pick on a right tackle – perhaps in the first round – for competition. Tampa Bay will pick too late to grab Georgia left tackle Andrew Thomas and Iowa right tackle Tristan Wirfs, but the Bucs may be in position to land Alabama right tackle Jedrick Wills in the middle of the first round.

If Wills, or another right tackle prospect like Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho or USC’s Austin Jackson in the middle rounds, was drafted by the Bucs having Dotson’s veteran presence could help develop the rookie tackle and accelerate his learning curve. Licht knows the value of having an experienced former starter as a veteran backup.

Bucs RT Gosder Cherliusn- Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Licht signed Gosder Cherilus in 2015 and he spent two seasons with the Bucs after spending his first five years with the Lions and then two years with the Colts. Cherlius served as the backup for Dotson and Smith, and served as an injury replacement for Dotson at times.

Former Bucs general manager Rich McKay understood the value of having an experienced tackle serve in a reserve capacity, too. In 2002, he signed Lomas Brown, an 18-year veteran, who connected with another former Florida Gator, right tackle Kenyatta Walker. Brown helped Walker develop professionally that season behind the scenes and aided in the team’s Super Bowl run largely from help in the locker room and in the film room, mentoring the young Walker.

At the very least, Dotson could be of benefit in that capacity to Tampa Bay in 2020. At the most, Dotson could be a solid starter for another year, largely due to how good he feels at the end of the 2019 campaign.

“I attribute it to the coaching staff – Bruce and my offensive line coach – they’ve done a great job of taking care of me,” Dotson said. “I’ve had Wednesdays off every week, and on Thursdays I do half the reps, and then on Friday I do half the reps. Goody (running game coordinator Harold Goodwin), our O-line coach, will come and ask me what I need in terms of reps. They’ve really taken care of me.

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“In 2017 I missed the last five games with injured reserve and in 2016 I missed three games at the end of the season with a concussion. The good thing is that last year I finished the season and only missed one game with a hamstring. It’s good to get to this point in Week 17 and feel as good as I feel. That’s the great thing about it. Last year I felt worn down even though they took care of me a little bit, but to get to this point this year and I’m a year older – I feel like I have a lot left.

“I was telling you in training camp that I was feeling worn down and I was hurting. I thought this year might be the end of the road, but to get to this point and feel this good, I’m not at the end of the tunnel yet. I’ve got a little bit more left in me.”

Over the years I’ve really gotten to know Dotson to be a prideful player and a hard worker. He cares about the Bucs and the city of Tampa.

Dotson feels like this franchise is about to turn around – finally – and wants to be a part of it.

“That’s one of the reasons I want to return,” Dotson said. “I don’t worry about it too much because it’s in God’s hands. I’ve been blessed to be here this long. When you’ve been in one place so long but you’ve never made the playoffs you want to experience that. You want to be able to say, ‘I’ve made the playoffs and went on a Super Bowl run.’ To be here this long and have never had the opportunity to do that – it’s a void that you want to fill and get that accomplished.”

Bucs RT Demar Dotson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs can plan on drafting an offensive tackle in 2020 all they want, but if the team lets Dotson walk it will have a void of its own on the right side until it’s filled.

With Smith ($14.5 million), Marpet ($11.025 million) and Jensen ($10 million) all making at least eight figures next year, the Bucs can’t afford to hit free agency and sign another high-priced veteran offensive lineman.

Re-signing Dotson for a modest contract – his cap value was $4.8 million in 2019 – and bringing him back to compete with and help groom a young rookie tackle seems like the best bet for the Buccaneers in 2020.