Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempted to trade for Alex Boone
By Brian Miller
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a bold trade earlier today that solved their interior offensive line problem when they shipped tight-end Tim Wright and a fourth round pick to New England for six time pro-bowl guard Logan Mankins. It’s now being reported that Mankins wasn’t the first choice of new Buccaneer general manager Jason Licht.
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According to the San Francisco bay area Comcast Sportsnet, the Buccaneers made a call to San Francisco first for hold out guard Alex Boone.
The 49’ers obviously declined the trade offer and it’s not known if the trade was nixed due to compensation or due to San Francisco’s reluctance to trade the young but highly rated guard. Speculation turned immediately to the compensation end of the deal not getting done but that may not be the case and it’s likely barring a future trade of Boone that we will not know for certain.
The Buccaneers opted instead to send their draft pick to the New England Patriots for a 32-year-old lineman. In Boone, the Buccaneers would have received a player who has yet to meet the apex of his career. San Francisco is dealing with Boone’s holdout as he is asking for a new contract. The 49’ers have been reluctant to talk about a new deal which has kept Boone off the practice field thus far.
Comcast Sportsnet does point out that the Buccaneers are not the only team who have inquired about Boone but that the 49’ers are wanting to receiver compensation in the form of a first or second round selection for the lineman. In his place, Joe Looney has started to play better as the pre-season has progressed. Boone is scheduled to earn $2 million in 2014 and $1.5 million in 2015. Any team that trades for him will need to work out a new contract.