William Gholston

Buccaneers Re-Sign DL William Gholston

JULY 25: The deal, which is now official, will see Gholston’s 2023 cap hit decrease from what it was already scheduled to be (Twitter link via Auman). The veteran was set to account for $2.4MM on the team’s cap as a result of the void year which existed on last season’s contract. While the Buccaneers are still dealing with more than $70MM in dead money from other contracts, Gholston will represent a lesser financial burden while continuing his Tampa career.

JULY 24: Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and defensive lineman William Gholston being a Buccaneer. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Tampa Bay has officially agreed to terms to bring Gholston back for his 11th season with the team.

The veteran lineman, who turns 32 years old next week, is set to return to Tampa Bay on his fourth NFL contract. Ever since being drafted as a fourth-round pick back in 2013, Gholston has been a solid defensive stalwart for the Buccaneers. He started as a rotational player, earning starts here and there, before eventually earning a starting role for a solid year or two.

The always strong but never remarkable Gholston has since yo-yoed back and forth between a rotational starter and a sub off the bench. In his ten years with the team, Gholston has started 87 of 153 appearances out of 162 possible games. He doesn’t miss much time due to injury (his last missed game was in November 2017), and he contributes both on defense and on special teams.

Even in the latest, most recent years, Gholston has continually received a top-three snap share on the defensive line. With the departure of Rakeem Nunez-Roches to the Giants, Gholston would have been set up for another large share alongside Vita Vea and Logan Hall, with first-round pick Calijah Kancey likely factoring in, as well. The free agent addition of Greg Gaines might not be enough to replace the production of Nunez-Roches, but it should be enough for the team to not require too much of Gholston in his 11th season.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Buccaneers had every intention of re-signing Gholston earlier in the offseason, but the higher priority was to settle the team’s rookie contracts to see where the salary cap would be. With Tampa Bay concluding their rookie signings today, Gholston gets his new contract.

Bucs, DL William Gholston Nearing Deal

The Buccaneers continue to prioritize keeping their free agents. Hours after another Leonard Fournette reunion came to pass, the team is close to re-signing William Gholston.

The veteran defensive lineman is nearing a deal to stay in Tampa, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. At least four other teams expressed interest in the nine-year veteran, per Fowler, but Gholston wants to stay with the Bucs. It is a one-year agreement, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets.

Tampa Bay already extended Gholston, but the team is in a bit stronger position than it was when the parties agreed to that deal — a five-year, $37MM pact — back in 2017. Gholston, 30, played out that contract last season. Gholston has been a regular starter for the Bucs for most of the past eight seasons and sits behind only Lavonte David as the team’s longest-tenured player.

After teaming with Gerald McCoy as the Bucs’ D-line anchors, Gholston has worked alongside Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea for the past three seasons. Vea signed an extension recently, but Suh is unsigned. So is Jason Pierre-Paul, who has been connected to other teams. But the Bucs have done well to retain high-priority free agents, tagging and then extending Chris Godwin and keeping Ryan Jensen and Carlton Davis off the market.

Fournette and Gholston represent the latest puzzle pieces. Although unsigned players remain and the team lost guard starters Alex Cappa and Ali Marpet, Tampa Bay’s 2022 offseason resembles its historic 2021 retention effort.

Gholston, who will turn 31 before Week 1, registered a career-high 4.5 sacks last season. DC Todd Bowles deployed Gholston as a part-time player in 2021, using him on 44% of the team’s defensive snaps. The former fourth-round pick has nevertheless been a key part of the team’s past two Bucs defenses, combining for 15 tackles for loss and 31 quarterback hits in that span.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/20

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFC Notes: Giants, Bradham, Gholston

The Giants coaching questions are now back in full force after the team lost to Washington on Thanksgiving night. There was some reprieve from the consistent rumors after Giants head coach Ben McAdoo beat the Chiefs two weeks ago, but now there is speculation about where the front office may turn if they chose to replace McAdoo at the end of this season.

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY speculated a number potential candidates to replace McAdoo if the team were to move on from the second-year head coach. Vacchiano had a number of former head coaches on his list, which included Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley and Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith. He also included big college names that seem a little more like long shots in Stanford head coach David Shaw and Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Up and coming coordinators Teryl Austin and Frank Reich rounded out his list.

New York is a pretty big draw that could get a few more well known coaches to at least consider the position. Plus, the team will have a top pick, solid defense and a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. to build around. More coaching rumors will be popping up as the seasons moves along, but it’s interesting to see what names may be on the radar, even though there’s been no indication that the front office will assuredly to fire McAdoo.

  • The Giants have dealt with a number of injuries this season. The team has likely lost two more players for the season in cornerback Donte Deayon (fractured forearm) and linebacker Curtis Grant (knee), reports Dan Duggan of NJ Advanced Media. New York has placed seven defenders on IR so far this season, so losing two more depth pieces doesn’t bode well for how competitive the Giants can be in the final six weeks of the regular season.
  • The Eagles are the best team in the NFL right now, and are in the process of deciding which of their building blocks to lock up for the long haul. The team already agreed to a contract extension with Timmy Jernigan earlier in the month and now may be turning their attention to linebacker Nigel Bradham, opines Jeff McLane of The Inquirer. A former fourth round pick back in 2012, the 28-year-old leads the team in tackles with 56 and ranks as the 33rd best linebacker in football, according to Pro Football Focus. The Eagles have 13 players heading for unrestricted free agency after the season, so they’ll definitely have to make some tough decisions regarding who they want to build around and who they’re willing to let go.
  • The Buccaneers will likely welcome back William Gholston this Sunday after the defensive end missed the team’s previous two games with a neck injury, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. While the absence seems short when compared to some other more serious injuries, Gholston is thankful that the ailment wasn’t more severe. “The neck is a little worrisome, because you have to think about everything else, think about family and all that,” Gholston said. “They definitely took all of the correct steps. … I’m not glad it happened, but I’m glad they took the right steps for me to get back.” Tampa Bay will try to extend their win streak to three games when travel to Atlanta for a Sunday afternoon matchup.

Contract Details: Gholston, Colquitt, Doyle, Davis

Updates on the contracts signed over the past couple of days, mostly via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle…

  • Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston‘s contract includes $13.5MM in guaranteed money, as well as a guaranteed base salary of $3MM for the 2017 season (via Twitter). The 25-year-old’s $6.5MM 2018 salary becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2017 league year.
  • Defensive tackle Khyri Thornton‘s deal with the Lions is worth $3.3MM with a $325K bonus (Twitter). Thornton will make $700K in 2017, followed by a $1.325MM salary in 2018. He can earn another $12.5K via annual per game active roster bonus, as well as $225K via a weight bonus.
  • Punter Britton Colquitt‘s new deal with the Browns is worth $11.2MM and $4.5MM guaranteed (via Twitter). The former fourth-rounder will earn $1.65MM in 2017, followed by salaries of $2.55MM (2018), $2.7MM (2019), and $2.8M (2020).
  • Colts tight end Jack Doyle will earn $18.9MM on his next contract (via Twitter). Doyle will earn a guaranteed $1MM next season, followed by a $3.5MM salary in 2018 (guaranteed fifth day of league year) and $5.15MM salary in 2019. The tight end will also earn a $6.5MM roster bonus on March 10th.
  • Fullback James Develin earned a $2.45MM contract from the Patriots along with a $300K signing bonus, reports Wilson (Twitter). Develin will earn $800K each year, with a guaranteed $200K base salary for 2017. He can earn another $12.5K via a per-game active annual roster bonus.
  • ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that tight end Vernon Davis will receive $15MM ($7.5MM guaranteed) from the Redskins. The veteran will make $6MM in the first year of the three-year deal.
  • Punter Shane Lechler‘s new deal with the Texans is for one-year and $2MM ($1MM guaranteed), reports Caplan (via Twitter).

Bucs, William Gholston Agree To New Deal

The Buccaneers and defensive end William Gholston have agreed to terms on a new contract, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’ll be a five-year deal with a max value of $37MM, (Twitter link). That pact includes $13.5MM fully guaranteed.William Gholston (vertical)

Gholston was said to be a priority free agent for the Bucs and they have managed to retain him before the legal tampering period gets underway on Tuesday. The 25-year-old (26 in July) is coming off of one of his best career seasons. In 14 games (all starts), he had 50 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. For what it’s worth, the metrics at Pro Football Focus didn’t paint Gholston in a flattering light this past year, ranking him as just the 90th best edge defender out of 109 qualified players.

The Bucs still have a number of defensive linemen set to hit the open market, including Akeem Spence, Sealver Siliga, John Hughes, and Jacquies Smith.

Extra Points: Jags, 49ers, Cousins, Bucs, Cards

The Jaguars announced that they’ve hired former CFL head coach Scott Milanovich as their new quarterbacks coach. Milanovich, who played in the NFL with the Buccaneers from 1996-99, has been coaching in Canada since 2003. After serving in a variety of offensive roles for the Montreal Alouettes from 2007-11, Milanovich took over the Toronto Argonauts in 2012, winning the Grey Cup in his first season as head coach and posting a 43-47 record overall.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Soon-to-be 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan tried to trade for Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins while he was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator in 2014, and also favored Cousins over Robert Griffin III when the trio was in Washington, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. With Shanahan likely headed to San Francisco, he could theoretically pursue Cousins if the price is right (and Washington is willing to let him go).
  • Although the Buccaneers have started dialogue with a good deal of their pending free agents, general manger Jason Licht is clearly targeting a few key players for re-signing, as Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com and Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com detail in separate articles. Defensive end William Gholston and running back Jacquizz Rodgers appear to be “priorities” for Tampa Bay, while the club also wants to keep quarterback Ryan Griffin given that fellow backup QB Mike Glennon is expected to leave via free agency.
  • Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was the driving force behind his club’s refusal to allow quarterbacks coach John DeFillipo interview for the Jets’ offensive coordinator vacancy, and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Lurie did so in order to keep Philadelphia’s staff together for the benefit of Carson Wentz. Additionally, Lurie is reportedly willing to spend what cap space the Eagles have this offseason in order to secure more offensive weapons for his second-year quarterback.
  • The Cardinals did not renew the contract of running back coach Stump Mitchell, meaning it was the club’s choice to part ways, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Mitchell, who joined Arizona in 2013, is now free to pursue other opportunities, as Mitchell’s agent last year told PFR’s Zach Links he was open to doing.

2016 Proven Performance Escalators

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.

If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure is projected to be $1.696MM in 2016. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2016 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:Keenan Allen (Vertical)

49ers: Gerald Hodges, LB

Bears: Marquess Wilson, WR

Buccaneers: William Gholston, DE; Mike Glennon, QB; Akeem Spence, DT

Cardinals: Andre Ellington, RB; Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S; Alex Okafor, LB

Chargers: Keenan Allen, WR

Colts: Sio Moore, LB; Hugh Thornton, G

Cowboys: J.J. Wilcox, S; Terrance Williams, WR

Dolphins: Jelani Jenkins, LB; Dallas Thomas, T; Dion Sims, TE; Kenny Stills, WR

Eagles: Bennie Logan, DT

Falcons: Kemal Ishmael, S; Levine Toilolo, TE

Jaguars: Josh Evans, S; Dwayne Gratz, CB

Jets: Brian Winters, G

Lions: Larry Warford, G

Packers: David Bakhtiari, T; Micah Hyde, S

Patriots: Duron Harmon, S; Chris Jones, DT; Logan Ryan, CB

Raiders: Mychal Rivera, TE

Rams: T.J. McDonald, S

Ravens: Ricky Wagner, T; Brandon Williams, DT

Saints: Terron Armstead, T; John Jenkins, DT

Seahawks: Luke Willson, TE

Steelers: Markus Wheaton, WR

Titans: Brian Schwenke, C

Washington: Jordan Reed, TE