The Tampa Bay Buccaneers retained their top three players ahead of NFL free agency, re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans while placing the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. However, all of that may reportedly come at an even greater cost than just cap space.
Tampa Bay wasn’t in a particularly strong financial situation heading into the offseason. Some were wondering around the NFL whether the Buccaneers’ ownership would be willing to make the required financial commitment to Mayfield. While that ultimately happened, it does eat up a majority of the team’s cap space.
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With Evans, Mayfield and Winfield Jr. returning for the 2024 season, Tampa Bay now has to start making cost-cutting moves at other positions. While it’s early in the NFL offseason, it appears those changes will be coming on the defensive side.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, NFL teams have been informed that Buccaneers cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis III are available for trade.
“Teams have also told me that the Buccaneers are open to potentially parting with either of their starting corners, Carlton Davis III or Jamel Dean.”
Jeremy Fowler on Buccaneers cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis III
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Dean and Davis III were both part of the Buccaneers’ roster that won Super Bowl LV. The two starting cornerbacks have also spent their entire careers in Tampa Bay.
There’s a significant financial incentive to trade one of the two cornerbacks. If Davis is traded, Tampa Bay would generate $6.3 million in cap space if he’s designated as a pre-June 1 trade and $13.352 million if he is traded after June 1. As for Dean, the Buccaneers would create $12.382 million in cap savings by trading him after June 1.
Cornerback was already viewed among the Buccaneers team needs this offseason and the club putting both Dean and Davis on the trade block strengthens that. With the 2024 NFL Draft class being top-heavy at cornerback, the Buccaneers may address the position in the first round.
