Bucs restructure four contracts to create $44 million in salary-cap space

TAMPA ― Bucs vice president of football operations Mike Greenberg did his thing again as the team’s noted salary-cap savant by restructuring the deals of four veteran players Friday to create $44 million in salary-cap space.

Defensive tackle Vita Vea, cornerback Carlton Davis, receiver Chris Godwin and center Ryan Jensen each agreed to restructure their contracts to convert most of their 2023 base salaries into bonuses and assist the Bucs in being compliant with the $224.8 million cap by Wednesday’s 4 p.m. deadline.

It’s the second straight year Vea has agreed to restructure his contract to give the Bucs more savings.

The team was expected to save just over $15 million from Godwin’s contract, nearly $11 million from Davis, and approximately $9 million from both Vea and Jensen, according to Overthecap.com.

Before the moves, the Bucs were slightly more than $49 million over the $224.8 million salary cap, according to Overthecap.

Tampa Bay began that process of getting under the cap by releasing several key members of their Super Bowl 55 championship team, including left tackle Donovan Smith, running back Leonard Fournette and tight end Cameron Brate.

Vea, Davis and Godwin each received large contracts before the start of last season. Vea signed a four-year, $71 million contract in January 2022. Godwin signed a three-year, $60 million contract last March and had the franchise player tag removed. Davis (3 years, $44.5 million) and Jensen (3 years, $39 million) also signed new deals at the time.

In addition, the Bucs on Friday tendered guard Nick Leverett a one-year qualifying offer as an exclusive rights free agent. He started 10 games for Tampa Bay at left guard last season.

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