Tampa Bay Buccaneers Left Tackle Could Be Cut

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are battening down the hatches for what promises to be a tumultuous offseason, and that may mean parting ways with several key veterans. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the team could make longtime left tackle Donovan Smith a cap casualty.

Could these Bucs become salary-cap casualties? https://t.co/QcU1glrDIr
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) February 5, 2023

Smith joined the Bucs as their 34th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and has started 124 games over eight seasons and three contracts with the team. He has been a solid to good blindside protector for the majority of his career, but he was perhaps the main culprit on an incredibly disappointing Buccaneers offensive line this season: he earned a poor 58.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus for his play, and the Bucs finished last in the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per attempt.

The Bucs are a colossal $55 million over the 2023 salary cap per overthecap.com, and they can shave in excess of $15 million by designating Smith a post-June 1st cut. Given the fact that they appear poised for a rebuilding year, it could be a sensible decision. 2023 is the last year on Smith's contract, and he'll turn 30 before the beginning of the season. He doesn't make sense on a team with no illusions of contending this coming season.