As the Buccaneers look for a potential trade partner for cornerback Darrelle Revis, an obvious impediment comes from his $16 million cap number for 2014.
His contract provides an easy out. As recently explained by Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (as part of an item pooh-poohing the idea that Revis could be traded), the Revis contract contains a provision allowing the team to unilaterally convert his $13 million base salary into a signing bonus.
If, for example, the team shifted $12 million of the base salary to a signing bonus spread over the remaining life of the contract, the device would create $9.6 million in cap space for 2014, pushing his cap number down to $6.4 million.
Of course, having the power to restructure the deal is meaningless. Revis, like most players, should want to do it. If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t want to be traded. Which creates a separate problem for the team that may be acquiring him.
That’s perhaps the biggest question mark for any team that is considering a move for Revis. Does Revis want to be traded to the team in question? Or does he prefer another team?
Ultimately, does he want to simply be cut so that he can start from scratch as a free agent?
If the answer to the last question is yes, it’s going to be very hard for the Buccaneers to trade him to anyone.