2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Thread

[MJW]

We thinking we’re getting any pre-camp contract extensions? Goedeke, McCollum, Otton?

Pretty sure OBP has indicated Goedeke and Zyon are priorities. We have enough cap space to make those happen (and even front-load just a little bit.) There's no reason to let either of them sniff the open market. The sooner the better.

Otton I'd wait on personally. Best/Worst case, he earns the franchise tag (about $14 mil) and he can work from there. Or alternately, if he struggles and/or one of the other guys blooms, we're not tied to him. One of the benefits of depth.

[Grahamburn]

We thinking we’re getting any pre-camp contract extensions? Goedeke, McCollum, Otton?

Pretty sure OBP has indicated Goedeke and Zyon are priorities. We have enough cap space to make those happen (and even front-load just a little bit.) There's no reason to let either of them sniff the open market. The sooner the better.

Otton I'd wait on personally. Best/Worst case, he earns the franchise tag (about $14 mil) and he can work from there. Or alternately, if he struggles and/or one of the other guys blooms, we're not tied to him. One of the benefits of depth.

Would make a lot of sense. With only one tag having at least one of these guys locked up going into the season would be wise. I’d lean Goedeke.

Maybe they all want to roll the dice?

Lot of motivated guys heading into this year. Rachaad White as well. Reddick.

And not that Baker needs any motivation, but with another 2024ish year he’s in line for a mega-extension.

[Central_Buc]

Pretty sure OBP has indicated Goedeke and Zyon are priorities. We have enough cap space to make those happen (and even front-load just a little bit.) There's no reason to let either of them sniff the open market. The sooner the better.

Otton I'd wait on personally. Best/Worst case, he earns the franchise tag (about $14 mil) and he can work from there. Or alternately, if he struggles and/or one of the other guys blooms, we're not tied to him. One of the benefits of depth.

Would make a lot of sense. With only one tag having at least one of these guys locked up going into the season would be wise. I’d lean Goedeke.

Maybe they all want to roll the dice?

Lot of motivated guys heading into this year. Rachaad White as well. Reddick.

And not that Baker needs any motivation, but with another 2024ish year he’s in line for a mega-extension.

Florio was hinting that a few weeks ago, another good season, Baker is (or should be) getting more.

[Bootz]

We thinking we’re getting any pre-camp contract extensions? Goedeke, McCollum, Otton?

No, because then you're bidding with yourself. And these 3 aren't the types you extend early in fear of them becoming more expensive later.

All 3 will play out the final year on their rookie deal. I doubt we bring all 3 back honestly. But none of the 3 will be all that expensive compared to their peers at the same positions.

[Sdbucs]

Still gives me the chills

[MJW]

We thinking we’re getting any pre-camp contract extensions? Goedeke, McCollum, Otton?

No, because then you're bidding with yourself. And these 3 aren't the types you extend early in fear of them becoming more expensive later.

All 3 will play out the final year on their rookie deal. I doubt we bring all 3 back honestly. But none of the 3 will be all that expensive compared to their peers at the same positions.

You have no idea whether letting them play out their rookie deals will cost more or less, but considering the rate at which the cap is expanding, the insane inflation for quality young players (Will Fries, a guard, got 5-88 last year after a five game season, because he's 27 and put up good tape), and the positions they play (Zyon and Goedeke at least)...I'm not really clear how it will be cheaper to lock them up when you're competing with next year's market and 31 other teams. You may be confusing them with some of the other guys we've let test the market. Assuming they want to stay in Tampa and will take less to do it, the way LVD and Godwin did, is, ummmm, a strategy.

But hey, going to the Bootz school of cap management has been working out great for Jerry Jones.

[Buc2]

Still gives me the chills

Reminds me of when John McKay, in an effort to get James Wilder the NFL record for yards from scrimmage ordered the defense to let the Jets score near the end of their final regular season game so Wilder could get another chance. It failed, but he did hold the Bucs record for yards from scrimmage until, ironically, Mike Evans broke it a couple of season ago.

[mdb1958]

The amount of abuse Wilder got on those sweeps would kill 90% of the running backs today.

[Buc2]

I wish they'd figure out a way to restore these old videos.

[Cheb]

We thinking we’re getting any pre-camp contract extensions? Goedeke, McCollum, Otton?

Precamp, I would say no. Midseason, sure.

Despite have $33 million in dead cap this year (mostly paying Ryan Jensen and Shaq Barrett to hang out with their families), we currently have $26 million in cap space at the moment per Overthecap and $29 million in cap space per Spotrac. Regardless of the actual number, we have room to make a front-loaded extension should we so choose to pursue that. If we choose to rollover all of that cap space to make room for resignings in the upcoming year, that works fine as well.

If I were to prioritize those three aforementioned players, I would put Goedeke top of the list. He's one of the better right tackles in the league right now, and he has earned a top of the market extension. McCollum is good but not transcendent, and we just added a ton of cheap young talent to challenge him. In a world where average corners make big money, he might choose to chase a big contract elsewhere, and I wish him success if/when he does so, especially if Morrison and Parrish ball out. And while I love Cade Otton, he is serviceable but not irreplaceable; a moderate extension makes sense, but he won't be breaking the tight end market.

It'll be interesting to see how the year plays out. There's a world where both LVD and Mike Evans retire and thus take themselves off the board from a resigning perspective. And let us not forget, most of our team is CHEAP; only nine players are under contract for next season that will cost more than $5 million in cap space (for the curious; Mayfield, Vea, Dean, Godwin, Wirfs, AWJ, Bredeson, Nelson, and Evans on a void year).

[Bootz]

No, because then you're bidding with yourself. And these 3 aren't the types you extend early in fear of them becoming more expensive later.

All 3 will play out the final year on their rookie deal. I doubt we bring all 3 back honestly. But none of the 3 will be all that expensive compared to their peers at the same positions.

You have no idea whether letting them play out their rookie deals will cost more or less, but considering the rate at which the cap is expanding, the insane inflation for quality young players (Will Fries, a guard, got 5-88 last year after a five game season, because he's 27 and put up good tape), and the positions they play (Zyon and Goedeke at least)...I'm not really clear how it will be cheaper to lock them up when you're competing with next year's market and 31 other teams. You may be confusing them with some of the other guys we've let test the market. Assuming they want to stay in Tampa and will take less to do it, the way LVD and Godwin did, is, ummmm, a strategy.

But hey, going to the Bootz school of cap management has been working out great for Jerry Jones.

I’m more so on the line of thinking that their value to us isn’t nearly as high as what the potential price tag would be. We’re not exactly talking about the best of the best types here. I think in the case of McCollum is replacement was likely drafted last month. Similar to how he replaced Carlton Davis. Let some other team give him $20/year because he’s not worth it.

Otton is absolutely replaceable. As many have emphasized, TE is not a very featured position in this offense. As such, guys on rookie deals or cheap deals should suffice. Otton shouldn’t take much to get under contract honestly so I’m not worried about that one.

Goedeke is the only one I’d seriously consider as a “priority”. But again, there’s levels to this. Would I be afraid some team is going to make him the highest paid OT in football? Not at all. He’s not a top 5 or top 10 even RT. Should we pay him? Yes, I would. Would he be missed if we decided to go elsewhere? No.

[__Chef__]

...Would he be missed if we decided to go elsewhere? No.

I mean, yes and no ... isolated, Goedeke isn't the best tackle in the league, but continuity is important for the OL, and that would be a negative ... at least for a while until the new tackle was acclimated. I agree if he wants top dollar, sorry to see him go, but there's the door.

[Bootz]

...Would he be missed if we decided to go elsewhere? No.

I mean, yes and no ... isolated, Goedeke isn't the best tackle in the league, but continuity is important for the OL, and that would be a negative ... at least for a while until the new tackle was acclimated. I agree if he wants top dollar, sorry to see him go, but there's the door.

We’re not going to pretend that going from Delmar Dotson to Tristian Wirfs didn’t yield immediate results. Don’t tell me we suffered in anyway because we let Dotson walk and replaced him with Wirfs.

I don’t agree with that line of thinking. That leads to excuses as to why no one would be replaced on the line.

[__Chef__]

I mean, yes and no ... isolated, Goedeke isn't the best tackle in the league, but continuity is important for the OL, and that would be a negative ... at least for a while until the new tackle was acclimated. I agree if he wants top dollar, sorry to see him go, but there's the door.

We’re not going to pretend that going from Delmar Dotson to Tristian Wirfs didn’t yield immediate results. Don’t tell me we suffered in anyway because we let Dotson walk and replaced him with Wirfs.

I don’t agree with that line of thinking. That leads to excuses as to why no one would be replaced on the line.

Absolutely if we have a head and shoulders better option, by all means, make it happen.

[BucsNBills]

"Just draft another Tristan Wirfs"

[Bootz]

"Just draft another Tristan Wirfs"

Or better yet, to make it simple, just draft another Luke Goedeke.

[__Chef__]

"Just draft another Tristan Wirfs"

Or better yet, to make it simple, just draft another Luke Goedeke.

The track record doesn't lie ...

[Central_Buc]

Why does Godeke "have" to be the best in the league? It's moronic to not attempt a long term deal.

[Central_Buc]

...Would he be missed if we decided to go elsewhere? No.

I mean, yes and no ... isolated, Goedeke isn't the best tackle in the league, but continuity is important for the OL, and that would be a negative ... at least for a while until the new tackle was acclimated. I agree if he wants top dollar, sorry to see him go, but there's the door.

Yeah that was a point I tried to bring up earlier this week.

[Grahamburn]

Why is it such a difficult concept? Keeping your good players is good for the team.

[Phantom]

I know it’ll never happen but imagine the Bucs trade Palmer for TJ Watt.

Instant Super Bowl contender?

[Bootz]

I know it’ll never happen but imagine the Bucs trade Palmer for TJ Watt.

Instant Super Bowl contender?

Pretty sure the ultra rare league wide trade veto would be used if this were an announced deal.

[Bootz]

Why is it such a difficult concept? Keeping your good players is good for the team.

Because it's not a realistic one. It's also not sustainable with a salary cap as well as an annual draft.

Keeping good players is good as long as it's within reason.

[Phantom]

Brady-Mayfield effect

[Grahamburn]

Wine em, dine em, 69 em.

[CannonFire]

Brady-Mayfield effect

Gotta love the agenda (by Auman). I have NO DOUBT that the reply tweet was set up.

If he goes back to the beginning of the Brady era, the Bucs would be #1 in the NFL. Why not use that? Why wouldn't you say, "Since the Brady/Baker era, the Bucs are #1 in the NFL in passing TD's"? Why? Because then he can't (hence the "reply tweet"), show that Baker has more TD's over the last 2 years than Brady's last. Also, because Brady threw 40 TD's in 2020 and if he included that season, then it plants the idea that Baker needs to throw 40 TD's this year or it's considered a bad year. The tweet was purely to make Baker look better than (at worst, equal to), Brady (ignoring the fact that Brady played 1 less game and played 1 quarter of another game that didn't matter).

[Grahamburn]

I’m sure he paid Tesler123456789 tweet at him to set up such a quippy reply.

Yeah, the intention is to show Baker has been pretty damn good here. So? Everyone can see it but you.

[Bootz]

Kirk Cousins too.

[Sooner06]

Would make a lot of sense. With only one tag having at least one of these guys locked up going into the season would be wise. I’d lean Goedeke.

Maybe they all want to roll the dice?

Lot of motivated guys heading into this year. Rachaad White as well. Reddick.

And not that Baker needs any motivation, but with another 2024ish year he’s in line for a mega-extension.

Florio was hinting that a few weeks ago, another good season, Baker is (or should be) getting more.

If Baker has another good season, doesn't have to be better than last season, just at least as good as his season with Canales, he'll be able to command $50M/yr. I mean, if he throws for around 4,200yds, 32-35 TDs, 10-12 INTs, PR around 100.0 in 2025, he'll be able to command around $50M/yr no problem.

[__Chef__]

Florio was hinting that a few weeks ago, another good season, Baker is (or should be) getting more.

If Baker has another good season, doesn't have to be better than last season, just at least as good as his season with Canales, he'll be able to command $50M/yr. I mean, if he throws for around 4,200yds, 32-35 TDs, 10-12 INTs, PR around 100.0 in 2025, he'll be able to command around $50M/yr no problem.

Sure, he could, but like all championship minded individuals, Baker realizes him taking that much of the salary cap will mean less available for other guys to win a Superbowl, which is the ultimate goal.

[Sooner06]

If Baker has another good season, doesn't have to be better than last season, just at least as good as his season with Canales, he'll be able to command $50M/yr. I mean, if he throws for around 4,200yds, 32-35 TDs, 10-12 INTs, PR around 100.0 in 2025, he'll be able to command around $50M/yr no problem.

Sure, he could, but like all championship minded individuals, Baker realizes him taking that much of the salary cap will mean less available for other guys to win a Superbowl, which is the ultimate goal.

Sure. And he’s already shown that he will take less $$$ in favor of a better situation.

Just noting that his value on the open market will be in th $45m-$55m/yr range. If he has an even better season than last year, it could be higher.

[Grahamburn]

His cap hit next year is just under $50M. Great chance he’s extended after the season through 2029 to nix those three void years and minimize next years hit.

Such a great contract extension for the team after 2023.

[Bootz]

You can’t “nix” void years, kiddo. There’s no loan forgiveness program in NFL contracts.

[Grahamburn]

You know what I mean. Do you have to be a fucking twat literally ALL the fucking time?

[BucsNBills]

You know what I mean. Do you have to be a fucking twat literally ALL the fucking time?

Yes. Yes he does. It's fucking exhausting.