Buccaneers
- The NFL and NFLPA are discussing a 2021 salary cap floor of $175 million, which is down from the $198.2 million this year. It’s possible that the figure could be pushed higher, depending on the revenue losses incurred by the league from the 2020 season.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com projects the Buccaneers to have $22,773,456 of cap space next year, assuming the cap is set at $175 million.
- The Athletic’s Greg Auman writes the Buccaneers’ No. 4 running back will also likely return kicks. Though both T.J. Logan and seventh-round rookie Raymond Calais have experience as kick returners, Auman predicts Calais gets the job.
- Auman sees Buccaneers WRs Scotty Miller, Justin Watson and fifth-round rookie Tyler Johnson as roster locks in addition to the obvious candidates, leaving eight other receivers to battle for a potential sixth spot.
- With $800,000 of his 2020 salary guaranteed, Auman says Buccaneers’ TE Antony Auclair is likely looking at reprising his role as the No. 4 tight end this year.
- Auman predicts Buccaneers OT Josh Wells will secure the No. 4 tackle spot, with the other backup spots coming down to John Molchon and Aaron Stinnie.
- Auman thinks the Buccaneers will carry six defensive linemen and the final two spots will include sixth-round rookie Khalil Davis and Jeremiah Ledbetter.
- At outside linebacker, Auman notes the team could add a veteran to provide proven depth. As is, 2019 fourth-rounder Anthony Nelson and one of either Quinton Bell, Kahzin Daniels or rookie UDFA’s Cam Gill and Michael Divinity will round out the depth chart.
- Buccaneers LBs Jack Cichy, Noah Dawkins and seventh-round rookie Chapelle Russell are competing for one or two backup spots at inside linebacker, per Auman.
- Because of how much dime Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles uses on defense, Auman thinks Tampa Bay keeps 10 defensive backs.
- Buccaneers CB Ryan Smith is valuable on special teams, so Auman has him as the No. 4 corner, with former second-rounder M.J. Stewart, Mazzi Wilkins and undrafted rookie Parnell Motley fighting for the last spot.
- At safety, Auman writes veteran Andrew Adams has the lead for the fourth spot, with former UDFA S D’Cota Dixon edging out former second-round S Justin Evans because of health.
Falcons
- The NFL and NFLPA are discussing a 2021 salary cap floor of $175 million, which is down from the $198.2 million this year. It’s possible that the figure could be pushed higher, depending on the revenue losses incurred by the league from the 2020 season.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com projects the Eagles to have -$39,081,353 of cap space next year, assuming the cap is set at $175 million.
Saints
- The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell and Larry Holder both think Saints QB Jameis Winston is the primary backup over QB Taysom Hill in 2020 despite Hill’s status as the heir to starting QB Drew Brees.
- Terrell thinks the Saints could keep a fourth quarterback, UDFA Tommy Stevens, because they spent so much effort in allegedly keeping him away from the Panthers. Stevens could play a role similar to Hill as a Swiss army knife.
- The two have WR Austin Carr making the Saints as the No. 5 receiver, with Holder adding WR Krishawn Hogan as a sixth player at the position ahead of Emmanuel Butler, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and UDFA Marquez Callaway.
- Saints RB Dwayne Washington‘s role on special teams has him in the lead for a roster spot, but RB/WR Ty Montgomery could make a stronger push for an actual role on offense, per Holder and Terrell.
- Both predict Saints UDFA OL Calvin Throckmorton will make the final roster, with other backup spots potentially going to OL James Hurst (after his four-game suspension), G Patrick Omameh, G Cameron Tom or OT Ethan Greenridge.
- They also think new Saints DL Margus Hunt could replace DL Mario Edwards, while DE Carl Granderson isn’t a lock to make the final team especially if the Saints add a free agent like Everson Griffen or Jadeveon Clowney.
- Holder mentions Saints UDFA LB Joe Bachie‘s $100,000 in guarantees as an indicator he could be a decent bet to make the team.
- In the defensive backfield, Saints S Saquan Hampton will push veteran D.J. Swearinger for a roster spot, while former XFL CB Deatrick Nichols faces an uphill battle to unseat either P.J. Williams or Patrick Robinson at corner.
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