The Los Angeles Rams released All-Pro running back Todd Gurley on Thursday, clearing the way for the star running back to hit the open market and find a new team. While he’s expected to draw plenty of interest around the NFL, it’s reportedly unlikely that he’ll follow Tom Brady to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to NFL Network’s Michael Silver, the Buccaneers don’t believe Gurley is willing to take the limited offer they could only make due to their limited cap space. Tampa Bay will be much tighter on cap space once it officially signs Brady and with star receiver Chris Godwin due for an extension, the organization is limited by the size of an offer it can make. Unless Gurley is willing to play on a below-market deal, he’s likely to sign with another NFL team.
Multiple players have expressed interest in following Brady to the Buccaneers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The future Hall of Famer signed with Tampa Bay to compete for a Super Bowl and with the current weapons around him, he will be in a good position to accomplish that. Even Julian Edelman seemed to like the idea of joining his former quarterback with the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay does need a running back with neither Peyton Barber or Ronald Jones II proving to be consistent this past season. Adding a player of Gurley’s caliber would be a fantastic addition for this offense, but it seems unlikely to happen for now.
Even if the Buccaneers aren’t a possibility, Gurley will still have some attractive options to choose from. Whether he wants to focus on winning a ring or prioritizes a higher salary, the options will likely be there for the star running back.