Buccaneers Release Carimi and Landri

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The Buccaneers began their offseason roster trimming with the release of four players today.

Tackle/Guard Gabe Carimi was waived allowing the Buccaneers to clear out $1,337,187 in cash and cap charges. Carimi is one of the big busts of the 2011 NFL draft. Originally selected by the Bears with the 29^th pick in the first round the Bears traded him after just two seasons to the Bucs for a 2014 6^th round draft selection. Carimi lasted just one year in Tampa Bay. His contract can be claimed by any of the other 31 teams between now and 4PM on Tuesday the 11^th. Carimi has no guarantees in his contract but he does have a $592,187 roster bonus due in March and a $100,000 workout bonus in his contract that would likely be a barrier to a team claiming his contract.

Veteran DT Derek Landri was also released today clearing up $1.5 million in cap space. As is customary with many of the Buccaneers contracts Landri’s contract contained no prorated bonus money so there is no dead cost associated with releasing him.

The team also waived QB Jordan Rodgers and RB Michael Hill. Our estimates had the Buccaneers at approximately $10.5 million in cap room. They should now have around $12.5 million in room.

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According to Adam Schefter the Chicago Bears have traded disgruntled OT Gabe Carimi to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 6th round draft pick.

The trade illustrates the changing landscape of the NFL caused by the new CBA slotting system. Carimi, selected 29th overall in the 2011 draft, only spent two seasons with Chicago prior to the trade. The Bears will only absorb $907,918 in dead money in each of the next two seasons for making the trade while the Buccaneers will pick up $1 ,016,458 in salary in 2013 and $1,337,187 in salary in 2014. The Buccaneers will also own Carimi’s rights in 2015 if they choose to pick up a 5th year option that will be equal to the average salary of the 3rd and 25th highest offensive linemen in the NFL next season. In contrast the 29th pick in the 2010 NFL draft, Kyle Wilson of the Jets, would have cost the Jets $1,097,400 in dead cap charge in the year of the trade and $2,194,800 the year thereafter had they traded him, making the cost somewhat prohibitive to the team that drafted him.

Carimi’s contract calls for offseason bonuses in 2014 worth $692,187 and none of his salary is guaranteed in 2014 so this is likely a 1 year audition for the Buccaneers. Carimi’s salary in 2013 is fully guaranteed so as long as he reports to the team. If Carimi continues to be unhappy and fails to report the Buccaneers will now be able to recover bonus money paid to Carimi by the Bears, so all things considered this is a low risk trade for the team.

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