The Bucs are about to add some cap space that will help them sign the rest of their 2024 draft class
Per Over The Cap, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently have $9,546,708 in salary cap space, which ranks 18th out of 32 NFL teams. They still have to sign 2024 first-rounder, Graham Barton, and second-rounder, Chris Braswell, which is projected to take up an additional $2,672,152 in cap space, leaving them with just under $6.9 million […]
Per Over The Cap, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently have $9,546,708 in salary cap space, which ranks 18th out of 32 NFL teams. They still have to sign 2024 first-rounder, Graham Barton, and second-rounder, Chris Braswell, which is projected to take up an additional $2,672,152 in cap space, leaving them with just under $6.9 million heading into the season.
I'm not entirely sure about the $2.6 number, however, as Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Mazi Smith, the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and New York Giants center, John Michael-Schmitz, the 57th overall pick, combined to take up $3,572,369 in cap room last year. Considering the increase in league revenue, it wouldn't be a surprise if both Barton and Braswell receive higher rookie salaries. A number in the $3.5 million or greater range would leave Tampa Bay with around $5,974,339 in cap room.
Either way, the Bucs are in good shape heading into the season. And they'll be in even better shape when they receive the additional $4.9 million they saved after cutting Shaquil Barrett and designating him as a post-June 1 cut. When that happens, only the prorated bonuses for that current year count toward the cap, the rest gets move to the following season – in this case, 2025.
The Bucs still have to carry Barrett's full cap hit of $11,182,882, but that will go away on June 2 and the savings will come in.
When it's all said and done, the $4.9 million will bump the Bucs' cap space to $10,874,339, in a worst-case projected scenario, which is more than enough to sign the remaining rookies and have plenty of "operating money" for the season, which is cash to bring in outside players in case of injury reasons. That's plenty of cash to even bring in a veteran free agent the team thinks can help win games.
Barrett suffered an Achilles injury during the 2022 season and never returned to full form. That, coupled with a ballooning salary and decline in production before the injury, forced the Bucs' hand. Barrett eventually landed with the Miami Dolphins, where he joins a pretty fearsome pass rush rotation featuring Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and rookie first-rounder, Chop Robinson.
