Now that the Bucs are previous the 2026 NFL Draft, we are able to begin to have a look at their money place for 2027 and past. We all know the Glazers prefer to maintain money spending tied to the league-wide wage cap. With this yr’s cap touchdown at $301.2 million, an 8% soar in 2027 places the working funds round $325 million.
What’s Already On The Books In 2027
After accounting for the latest draft picks and undrafted free agent signings, the Bucs ought to have 46 gamers underneath contract for 2027 at a price ticket of round $183 million. Assuming a wage cap of $325 million, they’ve $142 million left in money totally free brokers, draft picks, extensions, observe squad gamers and working room.
I’m going to estimate draft choose compensation at $35 million, working room at $7.5 million and observe squad compensation at $5.5 million. That leaves $94 million for contract extensions and free brokers in 2027.
That won’t seem to be a lot – and watch how briskly it goes.
Who Wants a New Contract in 2027
The 2023 draft class is the story right here. Three of that class’s starters are getting into the ultimate yr of their rookie offers in 2026, with outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby, proper guard Cody Mauch, and a fifth-year possibility of $14.475 million on Calijah Kancey all coming due.
Add quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive sort out Vita Vea, and kicker Chase McLaughlin all coming off contract years in 2026 and you’ve got some important paydays to stability in opposition to a funds that’s now feeling tighter by the typed phrase. Mayfield alone is anticipated to fetch an extension value at the least $50 million per season.
I assume $94 million doesn’t purchase what it used to, does it? The Bucs are going to want to make some laborious selections subsequent offseason.
Potential 2027 Cap + Money Casualties
The group might look to reallocate present sources to make up that hole. Listed here are 4 gamers Tampa Bay might reduce in 2027 to assist unlock money. I’ve listed them so as of chance.
WR Chris Godwin Jr.
Godwin might be getting into the ultimate yr of the three-year, $66 million extension he signed in 2025. Final yr was a little bit of a redshirt yr for him coming off his ankle harm. Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht acknowledged that on the time of the deal and has reiterated a number of occasions over since then. However Godwin’s profession lows in catches (33) and receiving yards (360) are nonetheless trigger for concern.
As is, the fibula harm he suffered price him six video games final yr. Since 2020, Godwin has averaged simply 12 video games performed per season. And that quantity is headed within the fallacious course on the age of 30. Godwin wants to indicate two issues in 2026 to persuade the Bucs to not reduce him and save $22 million in money – as a result of none of that wage is assured.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
First, he has to indicate he can keep on the sector. Godwin must get by way of 14 or extra video games to indicate he can contribute persistently. And second, he has to indicate he can ship quantity and excessive leverage manufacturing. After quite a few decrease physique accidents, Godwin’s previous his explosive prime. However earlier than he was misplaced for the 2024 season, he confirmed he generally is a quantity producer who can transfer the chains on key third downs.
That’s the Godwin the Bucs want to indicate up in 2026 to justify maintaining him for 2027. If he doesn’t hit each of these marks, the group will probably transfer on, saving the money whereas clearing $13.7 million in wage cap area.
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
Winfield can be out of assured cash. He performed nicely final yr, however was conspicuously devoid of impression performs. He earned his market-setting contract in 2024 on the again of a near-historic 2023 season that included six compelled fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, six.sacks, six tackles for loss, 12 passes defensed and three interceptions. Since then, he has matched simply a kind of numbers (tackles for loss) over a two season pattern.
If Winfield can’t get again to creating turnovers and performs behind the road of scrimmage, the Bucs might resolve to take his $19.6 million wage and dedicate it to another person. They’d save $7.7 million in wage cap area within the course of in 2027.
LG Ben Bredeson
Bredeson has performed nicely above what anybody would have anticipated when the Bucs signed him to an affordable contract in 2024. His play that season earned him a three-year, $22 million re-up from Tampa Bay.
Bredeson shocked once more final yr when he moved from left guard to heart early within the season because the group juggled the offensive line because of accidents. However as he moved again to protect late within the season, the inside safety wobbled, and Mayfield’s late-season decision-making suffered alongside it.
That’s to not say he’s underperforming his modest wage. However Cody Mauch is the superior guard and is getting into a contract yr. If the group feels they will solely maintain one of many two it is smart they might go along with the youthful, higher participant. They may save $7 million in money and $4.5 million wage cap by letting Bredeson go (or probably buying and selling him). Then spend that cash in direction of Mauch in 2027.
CB Zyon McCollum
McCollum struggled with consistency in 2025. His three-game rolling passer score allowed swung from 57.6 in Week 11 to 127.7 by Week 12. That volatility is the problem. The Bucs had been hoping he might ascend to CB1 standing, however his up-and-down play left them wanting extra. The instruments are nonetheless there. And he performs a high-variance place. There’s a greater than first rate shot he turns it round this yr.
The group gave him a vote of confidence once they restructured his wage this yr, growing the useless cap hit they might incur ought to they reduce him subsequent yr. McCollum’s contract has a rolling assure construction, and earlier this offseason $7.4 million of his 2027 wage vested right into a assure. They owe him that even when they reduce him subsequent yr. However they will nonetheless save $8.006 million in money whereas taking an $800,000 wage cap penalty in the event that they resolve to maneuver on.
The cap penalty isn’t vital. The money financial savings is.
Bucs’ Arduous Choices Forward In 2027
That is the tougher query: who really will get prolonged? The Bucs have a number of distinguished gamers set to hit free company in 2027. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is the headliner. However outdoors linebacker Yaya Diaby and proper guard Cody Mauch are additionally key younger gamers which are getting into contract years of their prime. Nostril sort out Vita Vea and kicker Chase McLaughlin are additionally on the checklist, and we’ll discover out this yr if Vea remains to be in his prime at age 31 or beginning to slip previous it.
Listed here are some tough estimates for the way a lot every participant will probably command per yr on a brand new deal.
Baker Mayfield: $50-52 million per yearYaya Diaby: $23-25 million per yearCody Mauch: $14-17 million per yearVita Vea: $15-18 million per yearChase McLaughlin: $5.5-7 million per yr
If the Bucs wish to maintain all 5 of these gamers, they might want to dish out $107.5 million on the low finish. Until the Glazers make a major change of their money spending habits, they gained’t be capable of maintain all 5. Right here’s how I’d deal with every, within the order I’d handle them.
1. Diaby is an ascending cross rusher. Every season he has improved his method and impression. If he ranges up another time he might clear $30 million APY subsequent yr. Tampa Bay can lock him up with an extension this offseason. The best way they construction their extensions for gamers coming off rookie offers would solely price them about $3 million in further money this yr, which they will afford. It’s the precise deal for his or her 2026 money place.
2. McLaughlin has quietly became among the finest kickers in soccer. Brandon Aubrey simply reset the kicker market at $7 million per yr. “Money” McLaughin’s market is now fairly nicely outlined. A 3-year, $18 million extension would solely price the Bucs an additional $1.5 million in money this yr, take one factor off their plate subsequent yr, and lock in one in every of their most constant items for the foreseeable future. This ought to be accomplished this offseason.
3. Mayfield is crucial to the group. However a market-value extension would require an additional $10 million in money. That will break the Glazers’ spending habits. I’m not saying they gained’t do it this offseason. Simply that I see it as extra prone to be precedence No. 1 for the 2027 offseason.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
And the Bucs have the franchise tag of their again pockets. This yr’s tag was lower than $44 million, and the quarterback market has stalled over the past 24 months. Tampa Bay has authentic management over Mayfield previous this yr as a safety blanket that offers them ample time to get a deal accomplished. The reasonable path is to let 2026 play out and use the franchise tag as a security internet to get the long-term extension in place earlier than he performs a single snap in 2027.
4. That is the place it will get difficult. Few individuals are greater on Cody Mauch than I’m. Remember I used to be making the case for him as a Professional Bowler in 2024. There are three causes I see him because the odd man out: wants at different positions, his 2025 season-ending knee harm, and Jason Licht’s penchant for locating high quality offensive linemen on Day 2 of the draft. Different groups are going to see his worth and be prepared to pay prime greenback for him if he rebounds with an excellent 2026 marketing campaign. And with all of their different priorities, I battle to see the trail the place they re-sign/prolong him.
5. Vea might be 32 in 2027. The ageing curve for large nostril tackles is just not a forgiving one. And he’s coming off of back-to-back seasons of setting new profession highs in snaps performed. With over-30 defensive tackles discovering two- and three-year offers on the open market, and the Bucs preferring to go year-to-year with their over-30 gamers, the 2 sides could also be misaligned on what a future for Vea in Tampa Bay seems like.
And that’s earlier than you take into account the group can be paying for his decline whereas the 4 above him can be getting into or sustaining their primes. All of it provides as much as a tricky promote for the large man to stay with the group previous 2026.
The maths factors to 2 extensions this offseason, another subsequent yr, and two goodbyes. That’s essentially the most logical path ahead.
*Editor’s word: Parts of this text had been initially printed as a part of the Cowl-4 sequence at Pewter Report. They’ve been mixed and evenly edited right here to current the finance arc as a single prolonged evaluation. You could find the unique articles right here, right here and right here.
