Buccaneers' Salary-Cap Breakdown by Position
After the season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had, they should be thankful they aren't spending more on their roster. The Bucs have the cap space to make another round of radical changes to the roster heading into the 2015 season.
According to Over the Cap, the Bucs have a projected $112 million dedicated toward their 2015 salary cap. With the league salary cap expected to reach upwards of $141 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bucs already have nearly $30 million in cap space.
More money to play with is only good news for a Bucs team that is in desperate need of talent. Finishing 2-14 and slotted to pick first in the 2015 draft, the Bucs need their perennial rebuild to take a turn at some point.
With the rookie wage scale in place, the Bucs won't spend too much in the draft even with the first overall pick. They can use a majority of their cap space to upgrade certain positions.
The Bucs are spending most of their money at wide receiver and the defensive line. The wide receiver corps is set, but the defensive line needs to be evaluated, particularly defensive end Michael Johnson.
New starters are needed at safety, punter and along the offensive line. Expensive but underperforming players like Dashon Goldson and Michael Koenen need to be replaced, though cutting them will free up additional cap space.
The Bucs made way for the future at the quarterback position on Wednesday when they cut Josh McCown, per The Tampa Tribune's Roy Cummings. In addition to adding even more cap space, the Bucs sent a clear message that they're looking for a new direction under center.
Here is a breakdown of each unit's impact on the Buccaneers' salary-cap situation in 2015.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $1,281,563
The Bucs just made themselves the NFL's lowest-spending team at quarterback.
Late Wednesday they announced the release of QB Josh McCown. The veteran passer was due to fill $5.25 million of cap space in 2015, but with no bonus or guaranteed money left on his contract, he will cost the Bucs nothing next season.
McCown's release is a clear indication the Bucs are looking for a fresh start at quarterback.
Mike Glennon is the only remaining quarterback with any experience, counting $846,563 against the cap in 2015.
He played six games in 2014 following McCown's thumb injury. The second-year passer returned to the bench once McCown was healthy, which indicates that he may not be the Bucs' "quarterback of the future" after all.
Rumors are swirling that the Bucs could Glennon trade this offseason, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen via JoeBucsFan.com, which would clear a bit of cap space. It's probably more than a rumor that the Bucs are looking to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick in this year's draft.
The rookie wage scale will keep the Bucs from breaking the bank on the likes of FSU's Jameis Winston or Oregon's Marcus Mariota. Taking Winston or Mariota with the first pick should keep the team's spending at quarterback steady for the next few years, at least until one of them has earned a long-term extension.
Running Back
2 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $4,081,479
Based on last year's results, the Bucs have no reason to spend much on their current crop of running backs. Given the talent in the group, that could all change with one good season.
Currently, Doug Martin is the Bucs' highest-paid tailback in 2015 at $2,159,668. He finished 2014 as the starter but may not even be on the roster if the Bucs look to save a little money by cutting or trading him.
Rookie Charles Sims isn't going anywhere, especially not for his $726,023 cap number. He is safe as last year's third-round pick, but he still has a lot to prove before the Bucs even consider giving him more money.
Mike James is no lock for the 2015 roster, but his cap number isn't the problem. He saw little action in 2014, which indicates his dwindling value in Tampa Bay.
The wild card is Bobby Rainey, who is a restricted free agent. He could become the highest-paid running back on the roster.
The Bucs may offer him a tender with the right of first refusal given he was an undrafted free agent. That would cost Tampa Bay only $1.3 million but would leave him open to be signed by another team.
If the Bucs are truly interested in keeping Rainey, they would have to offer him at least a second-round tender. That would net him just over $2 million. While the Bucs have money to spend, Rainey may end up a casualty if the team adds more running back talent.
Wide Receiver
3 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $19,175,618
One of the Bucs' most expensive positions is probably its most valuable. Any success the Bucs had offensively in 2014 was thanks to their stud wide receivers.
Vincent Jackson is the Bucs' highest-paid player on offense. In 2015, he has a $12,209,777 cap number, a big number for a guy who only had 1,002 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Despite his price tag, Jackson will be on the roster in 2015. His leadership is invaluable, and he provides a necessary complement to Mike Evans.
Evans earned every penny of his salary in 2014 and should only be better in 2015. He has a $3,325,341 cap number next season, which is a bargain given his production capability.
Jackson and Evans comprise the bulk of the Bucs' wide receiver spending. Veteran Louis Murphy adds a little more after he signed a three-year extension but not much.
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Tight Ends
4 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $2,795,969
The Bucs aren't spending much at tight end and really don't need to so long as Austin Seferian-Jenkins develops properly.
He leads the unit with a $1,194,303 cap number. Brandon Myers follows closely behind with a $1,166,666 cap number.
Both are locks for the 2015 roster, especially after Myers signed a two-year extension that lowered but guaranteed his 2015 salary.
The Bucs aren't likely to spend much more in 2015 unless they decide to bring back 2011 draft pick Luke Stocker. While he doesn't offer much as a receiver, he proved to be an excellent blocker in-line and running for the tailbacks.
Stocker isn't likely to see as much money as Seferian-Jenkins or Myers, but he might be tempted to return if the Bucs offer more than the veteran's minimum.
Offensive Line
5 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $22,922,625
The Buccaneers are spending an absurd amount of money on an offensive line that woefully underperformed in 2014. Change is coming, and it might entail even more spending.
All of the more bloated salaries, including those of Anthony Collins, Evan Dietrich-Smith and Logan Mankins, were acquired by the current front office. Combined they are due to eat up $16.75 million of the Bucs' 2015 cap space.
Considering Collins was a healthy scratch at the end of the season, he's a strong candidate to be cut this offseason. He's due to count $6 million against the cap, but as he still has $3 million guaranteed, the Bucs would only save half of Collins' 2015 salary by cutting him.
Dietrich-Smith and Mankins are both easy to be cap cuts as neither has any guaranteed money left on his contract. However, both received votes of confidence from Lovie Smith at the end of the season and will be back in 2015.
Left tackle Demar Dotson is easily the best value on the offensive line. His cap number is a mere $2.5 million—pennies for the best pass-blocker on the team.
The rest of the linemen are playing for minimum salaries. None of them has so far proved to be worth anything more.
There is no doubt the Bucs will add more talent to the offensive line this offseason. They have the cap space to sign an expensive free agent like guard Mike Iupati without much fear of future cap implications.
With no money guaranteed to the Bucs' current linemen past this season, they could revamp the entire line once again in the next year or two.
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $30,201,242
The Bucs' most expensive unit was probably the most disappointing. Tampa Bay invested top dollar in the defensive line only to see mediocre results.
Most of the money is tied up in defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald, who are also the best players on the line.
McCoy became the highest-paid defensive tackle when he signed a seven-year, $98 million extension in October. He is the heart of the defense and the Bucs' franchise player. He's worth the money.
McDonald was the Bucs' best free-agent signing last year, providing a stabilizing presence next to McCoy. His $3.25 million cap number is relative value given his ability.
The line's biggest problem cap-wise is defensive end Michael Johnson. Signed to be the Bucs' top edge-rusher, the former Bengal looked weak and unmotivated, providing little pass rush and not showing up much in run defense.
Johnson is due $9 million in 2015, of which $7 million is guaranteed. With no other viable options on the roster, the Bucs are stuck with Johnson's massive contract for another year.
Linebackers
7 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $2,199,642
The Bucs are possibly getting their greatest value from the linebacker position. With the way linebacker Lavonte David plays, they may be investing significantly more as early as this offseason.
As it stands, the Bucs have only two starters returning next season, David and Danny Lansanah. It's unclear whether middle linebacker Mason Foster will return for another season.
With Foster possibly leaving, the Bucs will have to acquire a new middle linebacker. Lovie Smith may want to find his next Brian Urlacher in the draft, which won't affect the cap much.
What is clear is the need to lock up David to a long-term contract as soon as possible. Since joining the Bucs in 2012, the former Nebraska Husker has looked like the second coming of Hall of Fame LB Derrick Brooks.
Currently the highest-paid 4-3 outside linebacker is Seattle's K.J. Wright who signed a four-year, $27 million contract extension in December. David may end up trumping that with his extension.
The Bucs aren't likely to spend too much beyond David, though. Lansanah is an exclusive-rights free agent, which means he will return to the Bucs at the three-year veteran minimum.
Cornerbacks
8 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $7,834,147
The Bucs are getting a great deal at cornerback. Their two starters, Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks, bring upside without a huge price tag.
The Bucs signed Verner as a free agent last season to a four-year, $25.5 million contract. All of his guaranteed money was front-loaded in 2014, so he would be easy to cut cap-wise from this point on.
However, he is a bargain starter in 2015 as he accounts for a mere $4.25 million cap hit.
Banks is still on his rookie contract and counts only $1,288,997 toward the 2015 cap. He took a definite step forward in his development and could be a Buccaneer for a long time.
The savings the Bucs are earning with Verner and Banks could definitely be applied to the nickel corner and additional depth.
Leonard Johnson is a restricted free agent and could return for $1 to $2 million depending on the Bucs' offer sheet. Tampa Bay doesn't have many other in-house options on the roster.
Safeties
9 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $9,680,000
The Bucs' spending at safety is dedicated primarily to one man, and he may not be on the roster much longer.
Dashon Goldson signed with the Bucs in 2013 to a massive five-year, $41.25 million contract. The former San Francisco 49er was meant to be a game-changer but instead became a liability in coverage while losing much of his salary to fines for his illegal hits.
Goldson has done nothing to warrant his gigantic salary and should be gone this offseason. He may end up being replaced by a similarly high-priced free agent like New England Patriots free agent safety Devin McCourty.
The Bucs are spending considerably less per player behind Goldson. Keith Tandy is the only other safety signed for 2015 and will only count $690,150 toward the cap.
Breakout safety Bradley McDougald is an exclusive-rights free agent, so he won't fill much cap space when the team inevitably re-signs him.
Special Teams
10 of 10
Current 2015 cap hit per Over the Cap: $4,270,000
Special teams is another unit where most of the money is invested in one player who may not be on the roster in 2015.
Punter Michael Koenen was downright dreadful in 2014, averaging only 38.8 yards per punt. While he was apparently suffering from mono last season, according to Sports Talk Florida's Jenna Laine, he simply isn't worth the $3.25 million he will cost the Bucs in 2015.
Rookie kicker Patrick Murray replaced Conner Barth last season without missing a beat, making 83.3 percent of his field goals. With only a $510,000 cap number, he should be safe for 2015.
All salary figures courtesy of Over the Cap.
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