The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Have Followed The Kansas City Chiefs’ Model

After profitable Tremendous Bowl LIV, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs embraced the slogan of “Run it Again” throughout their quest to repeat as champions.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might undertake that very same mantra.

Nineteen of the Chiefs’ 22 starters on the opening drive of Tremendous Bowl LIV had been on the roster for no less than some a part of the following season.

Though the Chiefs fell in need of their final aim, that continuity helped them earn the NFL’s finest document within the common season and a return journey to the Tremendous Bowl.

The Buccaneers, the group that defeated the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LV, have equally made continuity their principal goal.

In truth, they one-upped them.

After unrestricted free agent Leonard Fournette re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year, deal worth up to $4 million, they grow to be the primary group within the wage cap period (since 1994) to return all 22 starters from their Tremendous Bowl title group.

How did these groups do that — particularly in a time of shrinking wage caps because of the discount in income following the Covid-19 pandemic?

It begins with the quarterback. 

Tom Brady had already signed a two-year, $50 million contract heading into the 2020 season, which ranked solely in the midst of the pack.

If he had needed, he might’ve gotten far more cash on the open market. To place it into perspective, that $25 million common at present ranks thirteenth within the NFL amongst quarterbacks. The common wage is tied with Derek Carr and one forward of Teddy Bridgewater, who’ve zero playoff wins mixed.

Brady then restructured his contact, including a 12 months to the deal this offseason. Sure, he’s due a boatload of money this year, however he agreed to let $15 of the $20 million of his signing bonus be deferred till 2022, which helped the Buccaneers re-sign gamers like Fournette, Chris Godwin, Shaq Barrett and Ndamukong Suh, a participant many thought would retire.

Equally, the Chiefs used Patrick Mahomes’ contract to re-sign lots of their gamers, most notably Chris Jones.

On the floor Mahomes’ record-breaking extension that could possibly be value half a billion {dollars} appears ridiculously costly, but it surely’s a backloaded deal, and he earned simply $10.825 million in yearly money in 2020 and was slated to earn simply $22.8 million in 2021.

That allowed the Chiefs to re-sign their finest defensive participant, which many didn’t suppose can be potential, to a four-year, $80 million deal.

“It was the understanding that me and Pat have,” Jones stated. “We each have the identical aim: create a dynasty and construct one thing particular.”

Along with Mahomes’ contract, final 12 months’s Chiefs — like this 12 months’s Buccaneers — had a number of gamers gamers comply with reasonably priced, one-year offers, together with Bashaud Breeland, Mike Pennel and Demarcus Robinson — or a restructured deal like Sammy Watkins — in order that they might chase one other ring.

Mahomes restructured his contact once more this offseason, permitting the Chiefs to sign guard Joe Thuney to a five-year, $80 million deal.

Earlier than signing with the Chiefs, Thuney performed for the New England Patriots. That franchise was the final to repeat as Tremendous Bowl champions, doing so within the 2003-04 seasons. The truth that it’s been virtually 20 years demonstrates how robust a feat it’s.

Whereas returning the majority of their group, the Chiefs got here shut, profitable all however one regular-season recreation (wherein they performed their starters) earlier than developing only a bit quick.

So though Buccaneers’ returning expertise actually makes them the group to beat, repeating as champions is much from a positive factor.