Buccaneers: 3 trade packages moving TE Cameron Brate
By Rob Leeds
The Buccaneers need to consider trading Cameron Brate.
Try as we might to see otherwise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently only have approximately 13 million dollars in cap space. This 13 million dollars can increase, but the Bucs will have to use this space to re-sign key free agents, add a draft class, and fill in depth across the roster. No contract is safe in this scenario, and players like Cameron Brate that have value should be on the trade block.
No one wants to see Brate go. His performance during the playoffs was impressive, and he rounds out a trio of tight ends in Tampa that, when healthy, is the best in the league. Brate, O.J. Howard, and Rob Gronkowski excel in various instances of their games, and the Bucs were lucky to have the depth when Howard went down.
While Brate is talented, the Bucs won’t be able to justify his 6.5 million dollar salary this season with the cap so tight, and a trade makes much more sense than letting him walk.
Brate won’t have the biggest draw across the league, but plenty of teams could use a veteran tight end with consistent hands.
Trade #1
Buccaneers receive: Jacksonville 2021 fourth-round pick
Jaguars receive: Cameron Brate
A rookie will always be cheaper than an established veteran. Jacksonville doesn’t have many players on its roster that would help the Bucs, but the pick could go a long way in finding a replacement.
The Buccaneers would get off of an expensive player with this move, and the Jags would add a veteran pass-catcher to pair with Trevor Lawrence in his first year in the NFL. Jacksonville could try to add some additional firepower early, but a fourth for a proven option to pair with a rookie is as safe as it gets.