Is the market set for Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Donovan Smith?
By Cory Kinnan
Another free agent left tackle position inked an extension; are the parameters for the negotiations between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Donovan Smith?
Yesterday, the Cleveland Browns agreed to a one-year extension with former second overall pick Greg Robinson, who revived his career with the Browns in 2018; it was reported first by Ian Rapoport. Rapoport proceeded to tweet today the financial logistics of the deal today. Did Cleveland set the parameters between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and impending free agent Donovan Smith?
The #Browns are giving LT Greg Robinson a 1-year deal worth up to $9M including play-time incentives, source said. $7M base value. A nice deal for both sides, one that could lead to a long-term relationship in Cleveland if Robinson continues this trajectory.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2019
With Cleveland landing Robinson’s extension for only one year with a base salary of only $7 million, it is very possible that the market has been set for mid-20s left tackles set to hit the market, i.e. Donovan Smith. It has been rumored that the Buccaneers are strongly mulling using the franchise tag to retain the services of Smith, but now that a left tackle with similar production and similar age to Smith has been signed for half the price tag, the Bucs now hold a major chip in negotiations.
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One chip that Smith does hold is that he is a full year younger than Robinson, and performed a bit better than the Browns’ left tackle did in 2018. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Robinson scored a 59.6, which ranks him around average, while Smith scored 66.4, slightly above average.
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Negotiations are going to get interesting between Smith and the Buccaneers, but with the Browns bagging Robinson for half the price of the franchise tag, the Bucs may now find themselves unwilling to apply the tag to Smith for $14 million this offseason. Tampa Bay has until March 5 to decide whether or not to tag Smith, however if the two sides are not able to come to agreement at around the $10-14 million per year range, the Bucs may not have another choice if they want to retain his services.