Bucs Make Flurry Of Moves To Get Cap Compliant

With the new league year fast approaching, the Bucs made several accounting moves on Friday in order to make themselves cap compliant for the new 2023 NFL year. The team has restructured the contracts of wide receiver Chris Godwin, cornerback Carlton Davis, center Ryan Jensen and, as previously reported, nose tackle Vita Vea. This information is all via Greg Auman of Fox Sports.

Bucs have restructured contracts with veterans Vita Vea, Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen and Chris Godwin to create $44 million in 2023 cap space.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 10, 2023

Ryan Jensen

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jensen, 33, is entering the second year of a three-year deal he signed just last offseason. That deal came after Jensen’s first contract with the Bucs, which covered the 2018 to 2021 seasons. Following his signing last offseason, Jensen suffered a devastating knee injury just a couple of days into training camp and missed the entirety of the regular season. He was able to return to action for the Bucs’ playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys after a miraculous recovery.

Jensen’s absence was felt throughout the season, as there was a conspicuous drop off in play from him to backup Robert Hainsey. Hainsey played well, but could not match the play of Jensen, who was widely considered one of the five best centers in the NFL coming into the season. In addition, Jensen brings a mean and antagonizing attitude to each game that fires up his teammates and aggravates his opponents to no end that Hainsey lacks.

Jensen’s return, even after the knee injury and with him being on the wrong side of 30, should have Bucs officials excited for the prospect of a better-performing offensive line in 2023. This could help them improve upon their league-worst running game from a season ago. Jensen posted Pro Football Focus grades of 76.1, 75.8, and 73.6 over the past three years.

Chris Godwin

Godwin is in year two of a three-year, $60 million deal he signed last offseason as well. Coming off of an ACL tear he suffered late in the 2021 season, he was still able to get healthy enough to start the season Week 1 in Dallas and eclipse both 100 catches and 1,000 yards for the season.

While Godwin averaged less than 10 yards per catch, only scored three touchdowns and missed two games last year, there was considerable improvement in his performance as the year wore on and by the end of the season, he was looking like his pre-surgery self. Three of Godwin’s top six graded games last year (per PFF) came in the last six weeks of the season.

Carlton Davis

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: USA Today

In what was a theme for the team last year, Davis also signed a three-year extension and is entering his second year of it. While he didn’t have the best season of his career last year, Davis still played at a high level and provided consistency throughout the season opposite fellow cornerback Jamel Dean.

He only allowed 49 catches for 625 yards and two touchdowns on the year while recording an interception. And Davis showed moments of brilliance as well. His game against the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase was teach tape good.

Davis will most likely lead a very different defensive backs room next year as Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Dee Delaney, Keanu Neal, Mike Edwards and Logan Ryan are all scheduled to be free agents when the new league year starts on Wednesday.

Bucs Save Significant Cap Space With Restructures

The combination of these moves saves the Bucs $44 million in cap space for the 2023 season. Combined with the cuts of running back Leonard Fournette and tight end Cameron Brate, the team should now be in compliance with the salary cap. Expect some more moves in the coming days to create additional space so that Tampa Bay can begin re-signing some of its impending free agents while also courting external options as well.

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