theSPANKER 2,193 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Bucs making this contract deal exhibits their level of commitment to this guy being a key cog on offense. We're always trying to find TE value in drafts. And I admit I've overlooked this guy the last two seasons but he's got my attention despite the addition of O.J. Howard. He's clearly Winston's go-to-guy in the red zone. Thoughts? Cameron Brate - TE - Buccaneers Bucs re-signed TE Cameron Brate to a six-year, $41 million contract. ESPN's Jenna Laine reports the deal includes $18 million guaranteed. It's a huge contract for the former undrafted free agent, especially considering the Bucs used a first-round pick on O.J. Howard last spring. Brate isn't much of a blocker but is one of Jameis Winston's favorite targets, particularly in the red zone. He has 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons. The Harvard man turns 27 in July. Link to post Share on other sites
PointGawd0 86 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Why burn a 1st on OJ Howard then? Link to post Share on other sites
JSA2422 1,604 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 8 minutes ago, PointGawd0 said: Why burn a 1st on OJ Howard then? They will run 50% of their plays out of 2 TE maybe. I think last year it was around 35% if the Twitter-verse is correct. Link to post Share on other sites
cohenstantinople 1,833 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 9 minutes ago, JSA2422 said: They will run 50% of their plays out of 2 TE maybe. I think last year it was around 35% if the Twitter-verse is correct. 18 minutes ago, PointGawd0 said: Why burn a 1st on OJ Howard then? If OJ Howard owners are lucky they'll see a 50% two-TE organization of plays... Have both in dynasty, and was hoping to see Brate go... at this price tag, Brate is the opposite of gone: his role is cemented, and it has little or nothing to do with blocking. Howard stock plummets. Link to post Share on other sites
BlakeP42 1,317 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 1 hour ago, cohenstantinople said: If OJ Howard owners are lucky they'll see a 50% two-TE organization of plays... Have both in dynasty, and was hoping to see Brate go... at this price tag, Brate is the opposite of gone: his role is cemented, and it has little or nothing to do with blocking. Howard stock plummets. Agree here. This was a huge blow to Howard dynasty investors. That is way too many years on that deal and far too much money for Brate, but its a clear indication they love the guy and wanted him to stay in TB. I thought Brate was as good as gone, TBH. Oops. Brate is a good player, but this is a head scratcher of a deal, IMO. This TB team has so many other holes to fill i just don't see this deal as one being worth the long term investment Link to post Share on other sites
cohenstantinople 1,833 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 9 minutes ago, BlakeP42 said: I thought Brate was as good as gone, TBH. Oops. I'm not surprised to see a contract with Brate, considering how hard and how well he played, and the Winston connection. But I am shocked to see the level of this contract because of the Howard acquisition, and because like you mentioned it's a team with potholes that need filling. TE was not one of those spots to be fixed, and I'd of thought the Bucs would've reserved some space for RB issues. I suppose cap space is created in letting Doug Martin go, but 6 years 41 million seems like a blunder, and I imagine this decision will bite them when they continue signing other talent. All that said, I'm glad Brate will finally be able to pay off those Harvard loans. Link to post Share on other sites
96mnc 6,747 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Again, we have a team that's mismanaging the resources they have. You just drafted Howard using a FIRST round pick because he's a 3 down TE. I like Brate as a move TE and would have tendered him as a RFA. I then would have looked into trading him. But to resign him to a 6 year deal? No, just...no. Link to post Share on other sites
cohenstantinople 1,833 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 14 minutes ago, 96mnc said: Again, we have a team that's mismanaging the resources they have. You just drafted Howard using a FIRST round pick because he's a 3 down TE. I like Brate as a move TE and would have tendered him as a RFA. I then would have looked into trading him. But to resign him to a 6 year deal? No, just...no. Another classic example of why front offices need to be reading the Rotoworld forums!?!? Man, Bucs should just put us in charge... certainly couldn't do worse than last season. Link to post Share on other sites
theSPANKER 2,193 Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 Is it possible Howard gets moved for draft pick(s)? I agree with everyone it's a head scratcher to sign Brate to such a lucrative contract. Link to post Share on other sites
South Carolina 603 Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Tampa just jobbed themselves. He's ok, nothing to get crazy over. Link to post Share on other sites
BMcP 9,427 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 2 hours ago, 96mnc said: Again, we have a team that's mismanaging the resources they have. Next you’re going to tell me that they will spend a high draft pick on a kicker... Link to post Share on other sites
96mnc 6,747 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 11 minutes ago, BMcP said: Next you’re going to tell me that they will spend a high draft pick on a kicker... Well played sir. I'll tell you that not only are they going to trade UP to spend a high pick on a kicker but they are going to cut him within a year and a half. But that just wouldn't be believable would it? Link to post Share on other sites
Shake 538 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 What baffles me is that people think this is a bad move. I mean why would a team bother trying to lock up a solid TE? Crazy talk right? With Brate, Tampa can then run a lot of 2 TE formations with OJ Howard and try to exploit matchups. Brate is also a major red zone threat, has 14 TDs in the past two seasons. Tampa also had top 5 in cap money coming in to free agency, not sure where they are now but I think it's a good move. You should be trying to give your QB more weapons, not less. Also typically Tampa front loads their contracts for players so it's not a cap burden later on, however I haven't actually seen the details of Brate's other than the years and overall amount. This sounds more like people who own OJ Howard in fantasy football being upset personally. Link to post Share on other sites
Shake 538 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 3 hours ago, theSPANKER said: Is it possible Howard gets moved for draft pick(s)? I agree with everyone it's a head scratcher to sign Brate to such a lucrative contract. Not a chance Link to post Share on other sites
devaster 4,441 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 A dagger to the hearts of all OJ Howard dynasty owners. Link to post Share on other sites
devaster 4,441 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 5 hours ago, 96mnc said: Again, we have a team that's mismanaging the resources they have. You just drafted Howard using a FIRST round pick because he's a 3 down TE. I like Brate as a move TE and would have tendered him as a RFA. I then would have looked into trading him. But to resign him to a 6 year deal? No, just...no. He proved to be incapable of blocking last season. Perhaps that led to them retaining Brate, in addition to Brate's connection with Winston. Link to post Share on other sites
cohenstantinople 1,833 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 49 minutes ago, Shake said: Tampa also had top 5 in cap money coming in to free agency, not sure where they are now but I think it's a good move. You should be trying to give your QB more weapons, not less. With Evans, DJax, and Godwin, and OJH, I’d suggest that the main weapon missing is an RB. True the Bucs can run two TEs, but without a legit threat from the backfield the offense is hamstrung. Pouring capital into an RB makes more sense than doubling down on TE. that said, Brate has been dependable. Some of his catches incredible. Winston rapport solid. I agree with you that locking Brate in is good business, but the length of his contract and the price tag give the impression that Brate asked / the Bucs gave / and no negotiation was had. I wish my boss negotiated like that. Without backfield solidity in Tampa, I don’t know two TEs (or even four TEs) will be enough. Maybe JStew, Lacy, AP, or DMurray could help, but there’s a good chance all of these backs will not see glory again. Link to post Share on other sites
Shake 538 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 10 minutes ago, cohenstantinople said: With Evans, DJax, and Godwin, and OJH, I’d suggest that the main weapon missing is an RB. True the Bucs can run two TEs, but without a legit threat from the backfield the offense is hamstrung. Pouring capital into an RB makes more sense than doubling down on TE. that said, Brate has been dependable. Some of his catches incredible. Winston rapport solid. I agree with you that locking Brate in is good business, but the length of his contract and the price tag give the impression that Brate asked / the Bucs gave / and no negotiation was had. I wish my boss negotiated like that. Without backfield solidity in Tampa, I don’t know two TEs (or even four TEs) will be enough. Maybe JStew, Lacy, AP, or DMurray could help, but there’s a good chance all of these backs will not see glory again. RB can be solved potentially in FA or the draft, but yes that is a major concern. I believe I read on a Tampa Fan site that all Brates money is guaranteed through the first 3 years and there's no dead cap after which would coincide with the 5th year option for Howard's rookie contract. So if that's true, I need to verify that, they could cut him after 3 years. So it's really just a 3 year deal and the team can control the remaining years depending on performance or cap concerns etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Dreams And Dwightmares 3,229 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 This contract is why bad teams stay bad. Link to post Share on other sites
Shake 538 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 23 minutes ago, Dreams And Dwightmares said: This contract is why bad teams stay bad. According to Pewter Report a bucs news site his contract makes him the 13th highest paid TE yearly. I don't think that's overpaying him all that much, if at all, and if you have as much money as Tampa who cares? If you have all that cap space that Tampa has it makes no sense to get stingy over 6.8 mil a year for a solid TE, who obviously has a rapport with Jameis and scored 14 TDs the last 2 years. Again, give your QB more weapons, not less. Link to post Share on other sites
96mnc 6,747 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 3 hours ago, devaster said: He proved to be incapable of blocking last season. Perhaps that led to them retaining Brate, in addition to Brate's connection with Winston. Most rookie TEs struggle as blockers. That's not unusual. He was outstanding at it in college. If you think Howard is a bad blocker you haven't seen Brate. Brate is even worse, that's a big part of why they drafted Howard. Link to post Share on other sites
96mnc 6,747 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 40 minutes ago, Shake said: According to Pewter Report a bucs news site his contract makes him the 13th highest paid TE yearly. I don't think that's overpaying him all that much, if at all, and if you have as much money as Tampa who cares? If you have all that cap space that Tampa has it makes no sense to get stingy over 6.8 mil a year for a solid TE, who obviously has a rapport with Jameis and scored 14 TDs the last 2 years. Again, give your QB more weapons, not less. Spend that money on your offensive line (LT, LG) which would do more to help your QB at this point, getting another edge rusher to pair with the returning Spence, another outside CB (So Hargraves can stay in the slot where he can dominate), a run stopping DT since you cut Baker, and safety help. There are plenty of other holes that need to be filled. There wouldn't have been anything wrong at all with giving Brate a 3rd round tender or something but extending him wasn't necessary. Link to post Share on other sites
Shake 538 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 15 minutes ago, 96mnc said: Spend that money on your offensive line (LT, LG) which would do more to help your QB at this point, getting another edge rusher to pair with the returning Spence, another outside CB (So Hargraves can stay in the slot where he can dominate), a run stopping DT since you cut Baker, and safety help. There are plenty of other holes that need to be filled. There wouldn't have been anything wrong at all with giving Brate a 3rd round tender or something but extending him wasn't necessary. It's 6.8 million a year. That's not outrageous, that's not even top 12 TE money. Even with signing Brate they still have plenty of money to make improvements all over the team through FA and the draft. If you tender him as a 3rd rounder I wouldn't be shocked to see him signed to an offer sheet. Tampa values him way more than that, and they should as he's been productive. He also deepens their TE position, Howard did get hurt last year after all. Never hurts to have depth, especially depth that can start and plays a good amount already. But okay I guess they should just let a solid player, who's scored 14 TDs in the last 2 years go, because of cheapness when they have a ton of money in the first place. Link to post Share on other sites
96mnc 6,747 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 9 minutes ago, Shake said: It's 6.8 million a year. That's not outrageous, that's not even top 12 TE money. Even with signing Brate they still have plenty of money to make improvements all over the team through FA and the draft. If you tender him as a 3rd rounder I wouldn't be shocked to see him signed to an offer sheet. Tampa values him way more than that, and they should as he's been productive. He also deepens their TE position, Howard did get hurt last year after all. Never hurts to have depth, especially depth that can start and plays a good amount already. But okay I guess they should just let a solid player, who's scored 14 TDs in the last 2 years go, because of cheapness when they have a ton of money in the first place. He's a 3rd down specialist. A damn good one, but a 3rd down specialist. I listed 7 other areas that need to be addressed on the TB roster. Worried about a team signing him with a 3rd round tender? Give him a 2nd then. And if someone is willing to give up a 2nd or 3rd all the better. But there was no reason to extend him right now. Link to post Share on other sites
South Carolina 603 Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 8 hours ago, devaster said: A dagger to the hearts of all OJ Howard dynasty owners. It sure is. Tells you what they must think of OJ Howard. Link to post Share on other sites
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