With free agency set to begin on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are prepared to be outbid for Kwon Alexander and Adam Humphries.
The legal tampering period in the NFL is scheduled to start at noon today EST, and just in time, reports are being released that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for life after linebacker Kwon Alexander and wide receiver Adam Humphries.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine has reported that Alexander is asking for between $11-12 million per year on his next deal, a number that the Buccaneers cannot afford to match. It was also reported last week that Tampa Bay has offered him a long-term deal, but it does not eclipse the double-digit amount annually.
Coming off of a torn ACL, it would be a risky proposition to give Alexander elite linebacker money. However, at only the age of 24, many teams have reportedly fallen in love with the linebacker’s athleticism, including the New York Jets who have $100 million in cap space.
As the NFL's legal tampering period gets underway Monday, there have been no signs of a return to the Bucs for Kwon Alexander or Adam Humphries. Sources told me Humphries was asking for $8 million per year, Alexander $12 million (or at least $10M like top players at his position)
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 11, 2019
Alexander started 46 games during his four-year tenure with the Buccaneers, recording six interceptions, 38 passes defended, and six forced fumbles. He also tallied nearly 400 tackles, 31 of them behind the line of scrimmage, 31 hits on the quarterback, and seven sacks in Tampa Bay.
Laine also reported that Humphries, the Bucs’ slot receiver over the past four years, is looking for around $8 million per year on his next deal. Again, a number that Tampa Bay cannot afford to match even if they trade or release disgruntled receiver DeSean Jackson as they have too many other holes to plug.
Humphries has caught over 200 balls during his time in Tampa Bay for over 2,300 yards and nine scores. He broke out in 2018 with 76 catches, 816 yards, and five touchdowns even though the quarterback play was a mixed bag.
Two staples over the past four years, it will be sad to see Alexander and Humphries go. While it is possible for the team to conceivably come up with enough cap space for one of the two, it is virtually impossible to see both back in the red and pewter in 2019.