The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made multiple moves on the first day of free agency across the NFL. Among them is an attempt to shed a little cap space as the team prepares to pony up and pay quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Mike Evans, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. over the coming years.
The Buccaneers are moving on from veteran wide receiver Russell Gage after two seasons. According to Fox Sport's Greg Auman, the team has decided to decline his team option for the 2024 season. While Gage is now a free agent, the previous restructures of his deal means the franchise will take on $6.9 million in dead money. He originally signed a three-year/$30 million deal a few years ago.
The decision ends Gage's disappointing tenure in Tampa Bay. He was unable to play or limited by injuries for most of his time in pewter and red. Gage spent five weeks on IR during his first season with the franchise. He suffered a back injury in the regular season finale that forced him out of the game prior to taking a brutal hit in the loss to Dallas in the Wild Card Round. Gage was carted off the field and hospitalized before being diagnosed with a neck injury and a concussion.
The Buccaneers were hoping that Gage would be back to full health to contribute alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin this past season. Instead, he tore his patellar tendon in training camp, sidelining him for the year and putting pressure on the team to rely on younger receivers such as Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett, and Deven Thompkins.
Gage concludes his two seasons in Tampa Bay with 51 catches for 426 yards and five touchdowns. He recorded a career-high 12 catches for 87 yards and a score in the Buccaneers' loss to Green Bay in 2022. Gage began his professional career in Atlanta as a sixth-round pick out of LSU. He's totaled 244 catches for 2,491 yards and 14 touchdowns over his six seasons in the NFL.
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