TAMPA (SNN-TV) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are $55M above the salary cap threshold, are expected to release veteran tight end Cameron Brate.
Brate carries a $5M salary cap hit, and his release will be one of several roster moves made by the team to become cap compliant by March 13th, including the release of RB Leonard Fournette.
An undrafted free agent out of Harvard in 2014, Brate had a one-year stint with the Bucs, was released from their practice squad in 2015 and then was re-signed days later by Tampa Bay, where he became one of the longest-tenured offensive players on their roster.
Last season was difficult for Brate, however. He suffered a concussion in Week 4, returned in Week 6 and then was taken off the field on a stretcher with a sprained neck in Week 7.
In total, he missed six regular-season games last season and caught 20 passes for 174 yards — his lowest production since 2014. His final NFL catch was the last touchdown pass thrown by Tom Brady, who retired after the season.