Tom Brady contract: The GOAT does Bucs a huge salary cap favor

Tom Brady has agreed to a restructure on his 2022 contract, freeing up more than $9 million in available cap space for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to use heading into the 2022 NFL Draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Tom Brady has agreed to a restructure of his contract for the 2022 NFL season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this restructure agreed to by Brady gives Tampa Bay more than $9 million in available cap space. With the 2022 NFL Draft coming up next weekend, it allows the Buccaneers a bit more wiggle room financially to address some of their outstanding offseason issues. Keep in mind 2022 is the last season Brady will be under contract with the Buccaneers.

Once again, Brady is willing to take a hometown discount to help his franchise win more games.

Tom Brady contract details: Buccaneers quarterback agrees to a restructure

According to Spotrac, Brady has agreed to a one-year deal worth $25 million for the 2022 NFL season. He will be under contract at a base salary of only $1.12 million. However, the bulk of his deal will be going into signing bonus payments of $8 million paid out equally over the next four years, as well as $2,079,118 restructure payments paid out annually over the next five seasons.

Thus, Brady will only carry a cap hit of $11,199,117 for 2022, as well as a dead cap hit of $15 million. That dead cap number drops down to $8 million after June 1. Simply put, Brady is able to save the Buccaneers roughly $9 million for the 2022 season by deferring payments over the next four to five seasons. He will be on the Buccaneers’ ledger through 2026, when will be 49 years old.

Ultimately, this is all about the Buccaneers going all-in on winning one last Super Bowl with Brady. If the additional $9 million of savings helps them get a player who can ease the post-Brady transition for new head coach Todd Bowles, even better. Overall, this move by Brady signifies the Buccaneers are willing to go for broke if it means a second Lombardi Trophy in three NFL seasons.

If this restructure helps The GOAT win his eighth Super Bowl, that would be absolutely amazing.