Football Outsiders is out and doing Division by Division looks at the salary cap and how it affects each team around the league.
To see about the entire NFC South – click HERE
Here’s the Buccaneers breakdown, and some of the background on how they think things will play out for the team.
Estimated Cap Space: $60-$65 million
Unrestricted Free Agents (12): Ronde Barber, Connor Barth, Earnest Graham, Jovan Haye, Geno Hayes, Josh Johnson, Sean Jones, James Lee, Corey Lynch, Elbert Mack, Michael Spurlock, Jeremy Zuttah
Restricted Free Agents (3): Michael Bennett, Demar Dotson, Kregg Lumpkin
Originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M, Bennett joined the Buccaneers off the waiver wire midway through the 2009 season. The 6-foot-4, 271-pound defensive end has started 12 of 34 games and picked up six sacks, including a career-high four in a 2011 season where the Buccaneers used first- and second-round picks on defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. Bennett can expect at least an original-round tender worth $1.26 million in non-guaranteed base salary. Dotson returned from a knee injury in 2010 to start two of 13 games in 2011 and can be expected back on the low tender in 2012.
Franchise Tag Candidate: Though flush with salary cap space, the Buccaneers do not have a candidate for the franchise tag this off-season.
Potential Cap Casualties/Restructures: Cap space is not an issue for the Buccaneers, who already cleared $7.2 million in cap space with the release of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. The team could save some more cash and cap space by releasing a pair of veteran offensive linemen. Center Jeff Faine ($5.925 million) and right tackle Jeremy Trueblood ($5.25 million) could be released with no cap implications, a savings of $11.175 million in cash and cap space.
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