Cut, Keep or Restructure: Making Call on the Buccaneers' Worst Contracts

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2-14 season demands a re-evaluation of the value of their roster. Some players still have a future in Tampa Bay, but some simply aren't worth keeping around any longer.

According to Spotrac, the Bucs will pay $110 million toward the salary cap in 2015. With the cap expected to be between $138 and $141 million, the Bucs aren't hurting for cap space, but they need to cut some of the dead weight off the roster.

The biggest contributor to the bloat in the Bucs' roster is former Bucs general manager Mark Dominik. During his tenure as GM, Dominik never enjoyed much success in free agency, spending big dollars but seeing little return on his investment.

Most of the Bucs' biggest contracts can be attributed to Dominik. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson, safety Dashon Goldson and punter Michael Koenen were all signed by Dominik and could all find themselves off the roster in 2015.

Lovie Smith and Jason Licht are not without some responsibility for the state of the roster. They spent big last offseason, but like Dominik, they have little to show for it.

Some of the high-priced veterans could contribute in 2015, though a pay cut may be in order for some. Others simply aren't worth cap space or continued failure on the field.

Here are five contracts the Bucs need to consider cutting, keeping or restructuring for the 2015 season.

KEEP: Vincent Jackson

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Some players' value is not entire reflected by their stat line or the money in their contract. Wide receiver Vincent Jackson is one such player the Bucs need to keep.

The veteran receiver didn’t have his best season in 2014. Jackson only caught two touchdowns and dropped seven passes, according to Pro Football Focus.

Still, Jackson was better than most. Jackson and rookie wide receiver Mike Evans were the first Bucs receivers to both record 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

Jackson’s salary counts $12.2 million toward the Bucs’ cap in 2015. If he’s cut, the Bucs will incur a $4.8 million cap hit.

Though age is likely to catch up with Jackson, 32, soon, his leadership can’t be replaced this offseason, and he takes some of the pressure off Mike Evans. Expect him to remain on the roster.

CUT: Dashon Goldson

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

It’s time for the Bucs to cut loose the one of the last vestiges of former general manager Mark Dominik’s pitiful free-agent record.

In two seasons with the Bucs, Goldson recorded only one interception and five pass deflections while missing 35 tackles and allowing six touchdowns in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.

For what he brought to Tampa Bay, Goldson is the most overpaid player on the roster. The Bucs signed him to a five-year, $41.25 million contract in 2012, a contract second only to defensive end Michael Johnson’s $43.75 million contract.

Goldson is due $8 million in 2015. If cut, only $4 million of Goldson's remaining contract would count toward the cap.

The Bucs aren’t hurting for cap space, but that extra $4 million could go to a safety better suited to play Lovie Smith’s defense.

KEEP: Logan Mankins

David Richard/Associated Press

The Bucs traded for former New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins in a last-ditch effort to salvage their offensive line. While the move wasn’t especially successful this season, the Bucs must still determine whether to keep the expensive left guard next season.

The Bucs gave up a 2015 fourth-round draft pick and tight end Tim Wright to secure Mankins’ services, a seemingly reasonable price for a five-time All-Pro guard.

Unfortunately, the Bucs didn’t get much All-Pro play out of Mankins. Pro Football Focus ranked him 22nd among all guards.

There are several possibilities why Mankins’ play didn’t match his previous excellence.

He may have been limited by the lack of talent and coaching around him. It’s also possible he lacked motivation following the trade from his team of eight years.

Mankins signed a six-year, $51 million contract with the Patriots in 2011, which the Bucs inherited with the trade. In 2014 Mankins is due to earn $6.25 million in non-guaranteed money.

While cutting Mankins would save the Bucs over $6 million, they simply cannot afford to cut a starting-caliber offensive lineman.

He didn’t play very well last year, but no one on the line did. Perhaps with a new offensive coordinator and some new talent on offense, Mankins can return to his winning ways.

CUT: Michael Koenen

Reinhold Matay/Associated Press

Punter Michael Koenen is another high-priced free agent signed by Mark Dominik who outlived the value of his contract.

The Bucs signed the former Atlanta Falcons punter to a six-year, $19.5 million deal in 2011. According to Spotrac, Koenen was the seventh-highest-paid punter in the NFL this season.

Unfortunately for the Bucs, Koenen didn’t play like the seventh-best punter in the league. He was actually one of the worst, averaging a pitiful 40.4 yards per punt with 37.1-yard net average.

It wasn’t until the end of November that we learned the reason for Koenen’s abysmal numbers. According to Sports Talk Florida’s Jenna Laine, Koenen battled mono for most of the season, which sapped his leg strength.

Though he’s likely to recover and regain his leg strength, Koenen was already overpaid. He’s due $3.25 million in 2015.

The Bucs need to cut ties with Koenen and explore newer, less expensive options.

RESTRUCTURE: Josh McCown

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

It’s tough to name a Buccaneer who had as poor as a season as quarterback Josh McCown. Though they may not cut him, the Bucs should consider diminishing his cost to the team.

Lovie Smith all but handed the starting job to McCown last offseason. McCown rewarded Smith by throwing 14 interceptions and losing four fumbles on the way to a 2-14 record.

Though it’s not McCown’s fault that the Bucs didn’t have an offensive coordinator or much of an offensive line, he wasn’t the stabilizing presence Lovie Smith hoped he would be.

McCown is due $5.25 million in 2015, and none of his contract is guaranteed.

The knee-jerk reaction would be to cut McCown this offseason. However, with the Bucs likely to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick, the Bucs need a veteran mentor to guide a rookie passer.

As a backup quarterback, McCown would have to take a pay cut of probably half his current pay. In turn the Bucs could fully guarantee McCown’s 2015 salary.

Salary information courtesy of Spotrac.com.