The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a team with a ton of cap space for the next couple seasons and that is one reason why they are working on a trade for New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and while that trade is going slow, one thing that may help is a pay cut for Eric Wright.
According to ESPN.com, the Buccaneers have convinced their prized free agent signing from last season to take a substantial pay cut and that could pave the way for a trade with the Jets. Sources said that Wright is taking a $6.25 million pay cut, although the team did not announce the total, just that they restructured the deal.
Wright was considered to be one of the top free agent signings last season for the team along with Vincent Jackson, but after an up and down season that saw him suspended for using Adderall for four games, the team wanted to change up his deal. The new contract is a one-year deal for $1.5 million after he signed a five-year, $35.8 million deal with $15 million in guaranteed money.
After his issues last season the team gave him this new option and he now will be a free agent after next season and part of the reason was due to his four game suspension, which took away his second-year base guarantee, allowing the team to cut him if he did not agree to the new deal. In 10 games started last season, Wright had one pick and 39 tackles for a defense that ranked last in the league in passing yards allowed per game.
The Buccaneers still have $32.9 million in cap room, which is second in the league, and now they could use some of that money in a deal for Revis, as he is asking for a large extension with any trade. The Buccaneers greatly would like to improve their secondary, as they allowed nearly 300 yards per game thought the air last season while ranking first in rushing.
Reports have said that the Jets want Tampa's 13th overall pick and more for Revis and the team has set a mid-April deadline for the trade to go down. The Jets likely are asking for too much since they think they are in a position of power, but really with the way they have treated Revis, they simply need to make a deal. The team is forcing him to show up to voluntary workouts to get a $3 million bonus, because that's what smart teams do when their best player is rehabbing from a serious injury.
The Buccaneers want Revis and they may end up with another Jets headache in Tim Tebow, as the team could release the quarterback. Tebow could be a nice fit in Tampa, as he is from Florida and could serve as a solid backup and a competitor for Josh Freeman, who coach Greg Schiano is reportedly unhappy with.
