Buccaneers Center Ryan Jensen Undergoes Massive Contract Reconstruction

While he can’t play, Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen is remaining an impactful member of the organization by agreeing to cap-saving moves for the franchise.

While the shock surrounding news that Ryan Jensen may never take another snap for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or anyone else, continues to settle news came out this week that he’s still being a helpful part of the team while sidelined.

According to Over The Cap, Jensen restructured his contract with the Buccaneers so that his dead money figure will split between the 2024 and 2025 caps if he decides to retire or is cut.

At this stage it’s hard to imagine that he’d get cut, so likely the end state here is a retirement if it comes to that.

Jensen accounts for $5.932 million against Tampa Bay’s cap figure this season and is scheduled to account for around that same number in 2024 with an $11.8 million figure in 2025.

Compared to his original contract value this rework saves general manager Jason Licht $11.3 million in 2024.

And if he were to retire or be cut with a post-June 1st designation in the next offseason his dead cap number will be just around $4.8 million.

It’s an unfortunate step that the team and Jensen are having to make so the center’s unfortunate career events don’t become an even bigger financial issue for the franchise.

With a post-June 1st cut or retirement Tampa Bay can push the rest of Jensen’s dead money into 2025 where it’ll run the bill up over $10 million, but if cap projections are accurate will be a lot easier for the team to absorb.

Especially if they know now what the future holds and essentially have two years to prepare for it.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are hoping to prove a lot of doubters wrong with the players they have healthy and available, as they will face another critical offseason in 2024 as tight money requires smart spending for the franchise to stay competitive.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Jensen will be a part of those efforts anytime soon, outside of easing the staring on Licht’s budgetary requirements.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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