Bailey Adams’ Bucs Battle Plan For 2023
Remember, these Bucs Battle Plans are how the PewterReport.com staff members would reshape the team this offseason – not necessarily what we think Tampa Bay will do in free agency and the draft, although there could be some overlap with certain players the team may be targeting.
The Bucs have until Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET to get into cap compliance and trim millions through cuts, restructures or extensions from the current salary cap overage.
Licht and Greenberg can create plenty of salary cap space by restructuring the contracts of several players and lowering their 2023 cap values. Wide receiver Chris Godwin ($23,750,000 cap value in 2023), wide receiver Mike Evans ($23,698,500), outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett ($21,252,941), cornerback Carlton Davis III ($18,215,686), nose tackle Vita Vea ($15,651,652) and center Ryan Jensen ($15,000,000) are the prime candidates.
The free agents that Tampa Bay signs and re-signs will all have one or two years worth of guaranteed money. That’s a Greenberg staple when it comes to contracts. But the first-year salaries will also be lower than the average yearly cap value of the contract to help the Bucs’ cap in 2023. The cap is expected to rise in 2024 and Tampa Bay can defer some money into later years.
Adams’ Bucs Battle Plan For The 2023 Offseason
My Bucs Battle Plan is designed with the goal of capitalizing on what is still expected to be a very wide-open NFC South. Derek Carr quarterbacking the Saints isn’t enough to scare me into blowing it all up and tanking in 2023, and it shouldn’t scare the Bucs either. This Bucs Battle Plan aims to accomplish two things: Keep the team competitive while paying off the bill for the Super Bowl window as much as possible.
Another thing to keep in mind: As much as the division might be there for the taking, there’s no sense in kicking the can even farther down the road too much. By piecing together the roster and looking for value now, Tampa Bay can enter 2024 and beyond with a much more favorable salary cap situation. So, that’s what I’ll try to do here in the free agency portion of my Bucs Battle Plan before attempting to find several day one starters in the NFL Draft.
Bucs Restructures
WR Chris Godwin – Godwin never fully looked like the Godwin of old in 2022, but he still posted 104 catches and 1,023 yards in his first season since tearing his ACL. I like his chances to return to his old form in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Dave Canales, no matter who the quarterback is. Restructuring the three-year, $60 million deal he signed last offseason saves $14,190,000 in cap space.
NT Vita Vea – After leading the Bucs in sacks with a career-high 6.5 last year, Vea will eye a second Pro Bowl in three seasons this fall. Converting his base salary to a bonus can free up just over $8.5 million in cap space.
CB Carlton Davis III – The 2023 season wasn’t completely underwhelming for Davis or anything, but he was the second-best cornerback on the team for much of the year. Nonetheless, he’ll remain CB1 this year. Restructuring the three-year contract he signed last offseason nets $6,710,000 in cap room.
