PR Roundtable: Which Bucs Participant Ought to Get A Contract Extension This Offseason?

A brand new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts each Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Every week, the Pewter Reporters sort out one other powerful Bucs query. This week’s immediate: Which Buc ought to get a contract extension this offseason?

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Ought to Lock Baker Mayfield Up Lengthy-Time period

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs obtained a discount within the 2024 offseason after they re-signed quarterback Baker Mayfield to a three-year contract value $100 million. But at $33.3 million per 12 months, Mayfield was nonetheless the third-highest paid quarterback within the NFC South behind Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins at $45 million per 12 months and New Orleans’ Derek Carr at $37.5 million per 12 months. As was the case in 2023, Mayfield as soon as once more proved to be the perfect quarterback within the division in 2024 with a personal-best 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, which ranks because the second-most passing scores for a season in Tampa Bay historical past. Mayfield has earned a elevate and it ought to come within the type of an extension this offseason.

The deal the Falcons gave the ageing Cousins, who was coming off a torn Achilles, was simply dumb. So Tampa Bay shouldn’t be penalized for Atlanta’s stupidity, particularly since Cousins has been benched for Michael Penix Jr., who was the crew’s first-round decide final 12 months. Giving Mayfield a $12 million elevate so he could make greater than Cousins is a bit wealthy. However Mayfield deserves to make greater than Carr does, so bumping him as much as $38 million per 12 months appears honest if Mayfield had been to conform to a two-year extension. That may hold him beneath contract via 2028. Mayfield turns 30 in April, so an extension would lock up him via age 34.

Mayfield is barely the Nineteenth-highest paid quarterback proper now, and bumping him as much as $38 million per 12 months would transfer him as much as No. 15 on the record. That’s nonetheless actually good worth for the Bucs long run, particularly with overpaid quarterbacks like Cousins, Deshaun Watson ($45 million) and Dak Prescott ($60 million) additionally on the record forward of him. Mayfield’s preliminary three-year deal was absolutely assured, so guaranteeing the two-year extension – plus the elevate – must be sufficient of an incentive for him to do the deal. Tampa Bay might be reducing off a a lot bigger contract demand on the cross in 2027 when Mayfield is slated to develop into a free agent once more.

Matt Matera: Preserve Cade Otton As Bucs’ Beginning Tight Finish

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photograph by: USA At present

The Bucs know what they’ve with Cade Otton and it could be necessary to maintain him because the beginning tight finish transferring ahead. Otton actually confirmed his value for the Bucs final season when occasions had been at their hardest after Chris Godwin was misplaced for the remainder of the season in Week 7 and Mike Evans missed three video games. Otton has receiving video games of 100 yards, 81 yards, 77 yards and 35 yards when Tampa Bay’s greatest targets had been out, plus he had three touchdowns throughout that span.

Tampa Bay might prolong Otton with a four-year deal value $13 million per season. As compared, Saints tight finish Juwan Johnson simply signed a three-year deal value $10 million a season. Otton had extra yards and touchdowns than Johnson final 12 months, plus he’s a greater blocker and is utilized in a number of other ways for the Bucs of their offense.

Otton proved he could be a most important goal but additionally understands what his position is when all of Tampa Bay’s weapons are wholesome. He’s had clutch moments, can get a key first down when a giant play is required, and has improved rather a lot as a blocker within the working sport. Otton gained’t be within the tier one class of tight ends within the league, however the Bucs have a invaluable participant that they need to carry on the roster with an extension.

Bailey Adams: Bucs Have Two Causes To Lock Mike Evans In For 2026

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: USA At present

Final offseason, the Bucs signed Professional Bowl broad receiver Mike Evans to a brand new two-year contract in an effort to make sure he has the chance to be a Buc for all times. That locked him in for his age-31 season in 2024, in addition to his age-32 season in 2025. And in that age-31 season, he tied Jerry Rice’s NFL file for longest streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons, surpassing that mark for the eleventh straight season regardless of lacking 3.5 video games.

Not solely that, however Evans additionally introduced in 11 touchdowns, marking his second straight marketing campaign with double-digit touchdowns and his fourth within the final 5 years. He confirmed no indicators of slowing down in 2024, and it’s onerous to think about him calling it a profession after 2025. So, why not go forward and lock him in for one more 12 months in 2026? With that, the crew would have him signed via the age of 33, after which it will probably go year-to-year with the perfect offensive participant in franchise historical past so long as he needs to proceed taking part in.

Along with getting forward of issues and pushing off Evans’ subsequent contract 12 months into the longer term, signing Evans to a one-year extension might internet the Bucs some extra cap financial savings. In my Bucs Battle Plan for 2025, I included a one-year, $23.5 million extension for the longer term Corridor of Famer, which might present Tampa Bay with $15,766,668 in financial savings this season. With a number of causes to get this carried out, it looks like a no brainer for the Buccaneers entrance workplace.

Josh Queipo: Zyon McCollum Supplies An Alternative For Worth

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photograph by: USA At present

Have you ever seen the contracts being handed out to cornerbacks this offseason? Under common 30-year-old slots are going for over $10 million per 12 months. And third-contract guys are getting $18 million per 12 months. The place goes via a large reset, and we haven’t even seen extensions for Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr.

All of this implies a brand new contract subsequent 12 months for Zyon McCollum might simply high $20 million per 12 months. But when the Bucs had been to interact the previous fifth-rounder a couple of three-year extension at round $15 million per 12 months it might show to be a large worth in 12 months. Particularly if he takes one other step ahead in 2025 like he did final 12 months.

McCollum has made lower than $3 million in his profession to date, and a $45 million extension with about $28 million absolutely assured might characterize a deal that he can’t refuse to take this offseason. All whereas permitting the Bucs each cap flexibility and price certainty for a high-upside participant at a high-impact place.

Adam Slivon: Bucs Ought to Make Luke Goedeke The Subsequent $100 Million Man

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR

A 12 months after the Bucs gave nine-figure offers to Professional Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield and All-Professional left sort out Tristan Wirfs, they’ve yet one more of these huge offers handy out. With Luke Goedeke rising as a top-five proper sort out over the past two seasons, Tampa Bay can’t afford to see him hit the open market. Have you ever seen what offensive linemen are getting paid today?! It makes probably the most sense to lock up Goedeke first and as quickly as potential.

Goedeke did a whole 180 of his NFL profession after struggling at left guard and getting benched in favor of Nick Leverett as a rookie. He moved again over to his pure place at proper sort out and has flourished ever since. He has been a mannequin of consistency on the place after taking the spot of Wirfs, grading out because the Twenty seventh-best offensive sort out in each 2023 and 2024. His progress has coincided with the success of the offense, particularly final 12 months’s run sport.

Accounting for the worth that Goedeke brings to the desk and the relationships he has with each Mayfield and Wirfs, it’s a no brainer to increase him. Whereas tight finish Cade Otton and cornerback Zyon McCollum are additionally within the dialog to get extensions, Luke the Lifter’s deal would be the largest and must be carried out earlier than the value tag goes up anymore. He’ll develop into a $100 million man quickly sufficient.