NFL contracts must sometimes be reworked to meet a team’s needs. For players, that can mean shaking hands on a deal that feels slightly… off. But it doesn’t always mean the team is being unfair, it’s just a necessity at times. Contract restructures are one of those tricky moves teams have to pull off to manage the salary cap.
This offseason, like most teams, Tampa Bay is in full budgeting mode. The Bucs have already tweaked a few contracts to free up as much space as they can. Last month, they reworked lineman Tristan Wirfs‘ deal. Now, another player has had his contract adjusted to make the money work. The player who has joined Tristan Wirfs in having his contract reworked to carve out some space is safety Antoine Winfield Jr. The Bucs have restructured Winfield’s four-year deal worth $84.10 million, which they signed last year.
Here’s how it works. The Minnesota alum was set to pocket $21 million in base salary for the 2025 season. Instead of paying Winfield that full amount as a regular salary, the Bucs converted most of it into a signing bonus. Now, because signing bonuses can be spread out over multiple years, this move lowers Antoine’s immediate cap hit.
Bucs have restructured the contract of safety Antoine Winfield to free up more 2025 cap space. His $21 million base salary was shifted to a minimum salary and bonus, and a void year was added. The net result is creating $15.86 million in new cap space.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 2, 2025
On top of that, the team also added a void year to his contract, which is an extra year that exists only on paper. And what’s the result? Well, Tampa Bay creates $15.86 million in extra cap space for 2025, giving them more flexibility to sign players, extend contracts, or make other roster moves.
Winfield’s restructure was all about creating cap space, but he’s not the only one to have his deal adjusted. The Bucs also reworked Mike Evans‘ contract.
Mike Evans’ deal tweaked
Bucs receiver Mike Evans is in the final year of his 2-year, $41 million contract. On Wednesday, Evans and the Bucs agreed to restructure his deal, converting part of his base salary into a bonus. The 31-year-old signed a then-wide-receiver-record two-year extension (that his agent claimed was actually worth $52 million) with the team last March. During the 2024 season, Evans played 14 games and remained one of Tampa Bay’s top offensive weapons. He caught 74 passes on 110 targets, racking up 1,004 receiving yards and scoring 11 TDs.
Mike’s contract restructure, however, did not free up any cap space, as per reports. The WR’s new contract shifts some of his compensation forward, meaning Evans gets paid sooner rather than later. And since no money was removed or spread out over future years, this adjustment did not create extra salary cap room for Tampa Bay.
NFL Football – Super Bowl LV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Kansas City Chiefs – Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida, U.S. – February 7, 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans celebrates after winning the Super Bowl LV REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Mike, who will turn 32 this August, remains in a great spot to keep leading the Bucs’ offense with Baker Mayfield and Chris Godwin. Last month, Godwin signed a three-year, $66 million extension. Most of Tampa Bay’s offensive unit remains unchanged, except for Liam Coen, who left to become the Jaguars’ head coach. The team replaced Coen by promoting pass-game coordinator Josh Grizzard to the position.
Are the Bucs positioning themselves well for the 2025 season? Will these restructures help them make a playoff push this year? Have your say in the comments below.
The post Baker Mayfield’s Bucs Receive $15M Boost After Announcing Mike Evans Contract Restructure appeared first on EssentiallySports.
