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Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
The Bucs’ playoff loss at Detroit on Sunday means another offseason has arrived in Tampa, with huge decisions looming that will play a key role in whether the Bucs are seen as favorites to win a fourth straight division title in 2024.
First and foremost, the Bucs are in substantially better salary-cap health than they were a year ago. They were $57 million over the cap this time last year and now are about $44 million under, which is to say they’re $101 million better off. That equates to about 42% of the league’s expected $242 million cap.
Having said that, $44 million can go fast. We will lay out the offseason ahead, from free agency to potential moves to create more salary-cap space to the draft and more.
Free agency: Mayfield, Evans, Winfield at the top
As the Bucs try to keep their core intact for 2024, they have 18 unrestricted free agents and decisions to make in less than two months before free agency and the new league year on March 13. You can argue those 18 are quickly distilled to about six guys likely to command multi-year deals or more than league-minimum-level contracts.
The most coveted among those six is likely safety Antoine Winfield, a first-team All-Pro selection who has been a playmaking catalyst on the defense for four years.
The biggest dominos — guys who could help keep teammates in Tampa, or if they aren’t back, lead to others leaving — are quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Mike Evans.
Can the Bucs keep all three? It certainly seems viable. Winfield will command a top-tier safety deal, probably more than the four-year, $64 million contract Jessie Bates got from the Falcons a year ago. If that can’t be worked out, Winfield is a candidate for the franchise tag, which would be about $17 million for one year, but that takes up a larger chunk of cap space than a long-term extension.
How much is Mayfield worth? The former No. 1 overall pick had a career year…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-are-baker-mayfield-mike-evans-worth-bucs-face-big-offseason-decisions
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Publish date : 2024-01-23 17:29:11
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