Veteran Buccaneers' Wide Receiver Tabbed as Salary Cap Casualty

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the most part have had outstanding luck when it comes to the receiver room. With the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin leading the pack, it is easier to understand why the Bucs' WRs are viewed in such high regard around the league.

Just a couple of seasons ago, the Bucs were in need of a true #3 wideout to help offset the attention that is paid to Evans and Godwin so they went out and signed former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Russell Gage to a 3 yr/$30 million contract. Gage proceeded to put up modest numbers in his first season with the Bucs, playing in 13 games while recording 51 catches for 426 yards and five touchdowns, but his 2023 season came to a screeching halt when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, ending his season before it could even begin.

With Gage on the bench for the entirety of the season, the Buccaneers went out and picked up veteran David Moore and leaned on a couple of rookies and sophomores in Deven Thompkins, Trey Palmer, and Rakim Jarrett to help fill the void alongside Evans and Godwin.

Although there are still unknowns when it comes to the Tampa Bay WR room entering 2024 - both David Moore and Mike Evans are unrestricted free agents - The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov believes that the former sixth round pick out of LSU will be a salary cap casualty for the Buccaneers.

"Cut: WR Russell Gage
Cap Savings: $6.4M | Dead Money: $6.9M

Russell Gage missed the entire past season with a knee injury suffered during training camp. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found younger and cheaper options that helped replace him alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

The Buccaneers have several key impending free agents they need to pay, so they are likely to move on from Gage this offseason."

Gage may not be taking up a ton of space of the Bucs' salary cap in 2024, but with his injury and the emergence of the young guns, especially Palmer, it makes sense for Tampa Bay to save money where they can in order to work on negotiations with more heralded players heading towards free agency such as Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Lavonte David.