NFC South Notes: Buccaneers, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

• Per NBC Sports’ Peter King, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht inquired about trading up as high as No. 7 overall with the Panthers, but the team got the impression Carolina wouldn’t budge even for Tampa Bay’s 2021 first. 
• Licht also inquired with the Cardinals, who didn’t even pick up the phone, and the Jaguars, offering a third and fourth-round pick. Jacksonville declined. 
• The Buccaneers had also talked with the Browns and Jets about trading up, but both teams elected to stay put and draft offensive tackles. 
• King reported the Buccaneers offered the Raiders their fifth and sixth-round picks to swap first and third-round picks but Las Vegas was set at staying put for a receiver. 
• Licht also had some intel about 49ers OT Joe Staley retiring, so he was still intent on trading up even if it was just one pick if there was a danger of San Francisco taking Tristan Wirfs. 
• Jeff Howe of The Athletic states the asking price for Buccaneers TE O.J. Howard is too high, which explains why he has yet to be traded.
• The Athletic’s Greg Auman mentions former Packers CB Tramon Williams as a potential veteran addition for the Buccaneers. 

Panthers

• Per NBC Sports’ Peter King, Buccaneers GM Jason Licht inquired about trading up as high as No. 7 overall with the Panthers, but the team got the impression Carolina wouldn’t budge even for Tampa Bay’s 2021 first. 
• The Panthers had Georgia OT Andrew Thomas as the top-rated tackle on their board, per NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo.

Saints

The Saints signed QB Taysom Hill to an extension to tack another year on to the end of his restricted free-agent deal in 2020. Hill will make $16 million in 2020, which is a bargain for a starting quarterback — which New Orleans seems to believe he is as the heir for Drew Brees. 

“I think this contract creates a clear trajectory and opportunity for me to compete and be the guy in New Orleans in 2021 if Drew decides to be done,” Hill said via the team website. “If he’s not, we’ll figure out another contract or my role will continue to be what it is. As we looked at it, this was the way to prevent me to get to free agency next year and it created some structure for both me and my family as well as the organization.”

• Per Pro Football Talk, Hill’s contract includes an $8 million signing bonus, $841,000 2020 base salary and $10.72 million 2021 base salary, $5.72 million of which is fully guaranteed. 
• Hill has a $1.439 million 2021 roster bonus guaranteed five days after signing and due on the fifth day of that league year. 
• The deal also has up to $1.6 million in 2021 incentives. The incentives are $150,000 for 3,250 passing yards, $150,000 for a passer rating of 90 or more, $150,000 for a 65-percent completion percentage, $250,000 for offensive player of the year or MVP, $150,000 for 70 percent playing time and 11 wins; $150,000 for 70 percent playing time and a bye; $150,000 for 50 percent playing time and a wildcard win; $150,000 for 50 percent playing time and a divisional-round win; and $150,000 for 50 percent playing time and a conference championship win.