Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trying to keep ‘The Band’ together
The starting left tackle for the Buccaneers
Player #1
This is a tough one. Donovan has been on a roller coaster for the last couple years or so since signing his hefty 3/yr., $41,250,000 contract. He’s been hit and miss, and just when you want him to walk the plank, he plays up to his billing! No denying he was a beast during the last 8 games this year, including the Super Bowl, so no doubt brutal decisions will need to be made.
Donovan’s cap hit is over $14 million this year. Decisions, decisions! Do the Bucs move Wirfs over to left tackle to replace him, and then draft another right tackle? Or move Cappa to RT and keep Aaron Stinne at RG since he played quite well during Cappa’s absence? Or pick up a LT in FA and/or draft one in the earlier rounds? There are many options.
Licht would have to do some of that voodoo he does so well if they want to keep Donovan. Either way, there’s some room to work here, and if both parties agree to terms, this could be a win-win. Grab some popcorn, this may get fun to watch.
Player #2
Cam has a cap hit of $6.5M for 2021. I love Cam. He’s a stand up guy, very intelligent, and can certainly make plays. Here’s the issue though; O.J. Howard is coming back, as well as (most likely) Rob Gronkowski. That puts Brate as the #3 TE, who’s getting paid as a #2 or even #1, so it makes it fiscally irresponsible to keep him on at that pay grade.
The Bucs also have Antony Auclair and Tanner Hudson to round out a deep TE room, and both are much cheaper as well. Auclair costs about $1.5M, and Hudson about half that, and both have shown they have potential and provide decent depth. Oh yeah, and if the right TE is available in the mid-late rounds, the Bucs could also draft one there too.
Cam, Cam, Cam! It sure would suck to have you in another uniform next year, but your services may be better utilized elsewhere! Unfortunately, in order to keep as many more vital pieces in place, you may be packing your bags and sailing off to a new destination.