The Buccaneers and Donovan Smith as a pair were never long for this world after the 2022 season that Smith put together.

While the 2020 and 2021 season pointed to a player that was trending in the right direction and becoming one of the better pass-blocking tackles in the league, one year and numerous mistakes were enough to change everything.

Is one year enough to erase two years of consistent growth? Can a player come back from giving up six sacks and 12 penalties in a single season?

After some speculation started up that Tampa Bay may choose to keep their starting left tackle of the last eight seasons, the Buccaneers instead made the right decision and cut Smith.

Bucs are releasing tackle Donovan Smith, a starter for the last eight seasons. Move will create $9.95 million in cap space, which the Bucs need as they work to get under the cap in the next eight days.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 7, 2023

This is the right move for the Buccaneers for a variety of reasons.

For starters, as Greg Auman says, this decision saves the Buccaneers $9.95 million in cap space, something the team desperately needs. 

Tampa still has a ways to go before they are back in the green, but getting this money back and pairing it with any level of comparable play is worth it.

As for play, it seems hard to imagine that anyone could come in and be a dramatic downgrade below Smith, and even if they are, at least they will do it on a better deal for the Bucs.

On the other hand, if Tampa is able to find an improvement in the draft, they end up getting better production from a much better contract.

Either way, this is a win-win for a team that desperately needed one.

A change was needed it Tampa. Donovan Smith was able to accomplish a lot with the Buccaneers, but it is now time for both parties to go their separate ways and find new ways to win.