Let’s hope Darrelle Revis rented in Tampa.
The Buccaneers cornerback, who was traded there from the Jets last April, could be on the move again, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Times.
While the Buccaneers are not actively shopping Revis — one of the league’s premier cornerbacks — several teams at the NFL Combine explored whether or not Tampa Bay would be willing to trade Revis, which would save $16 million on the team’s salary cap and possibly net the team more draft picks.
According to CBS Sports, rival executives believe a deal could be struck.
New Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith, who was hired in January to replace former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, has publicly refuted claims that Revis would not be a good fit for the team’s Cover 2 defensive scheme. The 29-year-old Revis, who is under the team’s control through 2018, signed what is effectively six one-year contracts worth $16 million per season, with none of that money guaranteed.
With the league’s salary cap projected to be at $132 million, that means Revis is occupying a little more than 10 percent of the team’s salary cap.
Should Revis be traded or released, the Buccaneers would be able to use those savings to possibly fix their areas of need, namely offensive and defensive line.
However, it won’t exactly be easy for Tampa Bay to deal Revis. The Buccaneers have little leverage, and other teams could be hesitant to part with high draft picks. Also, CBS Sports reported that rival executives believe that Revis would be worth only $8 or $9 million on the open market, and any trade might hinge on his willingness to restructuring his contract.
Last year the Buccaneers traded their 2013 first-round pick and a conditional 2014 fourth-round pick for Revis, but if he is still on the team’s roster on March 13 — the third day of the new league year — that pick becomes a third-rounder.
Revis was named to his fifth Pro Bowl this season, as despite not playing in the preseason as he recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in September 2012, he started every game, recording 50 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.