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With the frustrating lack of spending this offseason in Tampa Bay, it would be easy for Buccaneers’ fans, media members, and innocent bystanders to think the major holdup in acquiring a big money cornerback like Darrelle Revis would be the contract extension needed to keep the All-Pro cornerback in town for the foreseeable future. The Bucs have been one of the lower spending teams in the league for a few years now, and there is certainly a perception amongst fans about the Glazer Family’s willingness to spend on the Buccaneers. The lack of a second major addition to the defensive backfield this offseason, combined with the losses of Michael Bennett, Roy Miller, and E.J. Biggers has left Buccaneers’ fans wondering what the plan for the offseason is.
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The plan seems to be to pay Darrelle Revis.
The New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta reported today that league sources indicate the Buccaneers have the financial framework of a deal in place to sign Revis, once a trade were to go through. The Buccaneers would pay Revis between 12 and 13 million dollars per year, which is affordable considering the rumors of Revis commanding upwards of 16 million dollars per year. Clearly, the money isn’t the issue, as Tampa Bay is sitting on a mountain of cash just waiting to hand it to Revis and get him in red and pewter.
The issue remains the Buccaneers refusal to “bid against themselves” and raise their asking price when no other suitors are in the market for Revis. Waiting too long may prove disastrous, but waiting to see if the Jets lower the price on the corner is certainly not a bad tactic. But with the free agent cornerback market almost completely devoid of potential and star power, it’s getting close to the time for the Buccaneers to pull the trigger and snag Revis for the Jets’ asking price.
Especially considering the reported financial terms, the Buccaneers would be wise to lock up Darrelle Revis and pay the Jets what they want. Getting a deal as low as 12 million dollars per year for the best cornerback in the NFL is almost too good to pass up, and certainly overpowers any value the Buccaneers could get with pick 13 in the 2013 NFL Draft. Mark Dominik is wise to remain patient, but there is a fine line between cautious and slow. That line is drawing closer by the day.
There is the possibility that the Jets demands far exceed just the 13th overall pick. They might be asking for a colossal package of draft picks from Tampa Bay, and shutting themselves out of the trade market they created for Revis. Until we know more about the Jets’ intentions, we can’t be sure. But for now, as Buccaneer fans, we can only wait and watch, hoping to see our defense take a giant step forward. Mark Dominik has the financing in place, now all he needs is to get the keys to the car out of the dealerships’ hands. And chances are, it won’t be easy.