NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 9: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is grabbed in the second quarter by Carl Nassib #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 9, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Carl Nassib was an underrated contributor to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the team should look to extend him before he potentially demands more money later.

The last person to get cut by the Cleveland Browns on HBO’s Hard Knocks last year was current pass rusher of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carl Nassib. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure as Nassib became a solid, dependable role player for the Buccaneers last year.

Now on the last year of his contract, the Buccaneers should seriously consider working out an extension with Nassib before the start of season. Not to overlook the fact the team would have to make some cap space to make it work, but should the Buccaneers lock up Nassib prior to the start of the season, they could avoid having to pay him more at the end of the year.

Right now, Nassib is due just over $2 million for the 2019 season and then is set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. On this current Buccaneers’ roster it makes less sense to pay an underachieving William Gholston money that could go towards locking up Nassib long term.

In his first season in Tampa Bay last year, Nassib started nine games for the Buccaneers, besting the totals of his first two years combined in sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage with 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Nassib out at an above average score of 69.5.

Because Nassib’s success has been fairly recent, it is hard to put a price tag on his services long term. New Buc Shaq Barrett signed a one-year deal worth $4 million this offseason, and a deal in the same range would seem to make sense; three years for $9-12 million total would be a win-win deal for both sides.

One thing is for sure, Nassib gave the Buccaneers’ defensive front a boost last year, and it will be worth monitoring how he adjusts to moving to outside linebacker in Todd Bowles’ new 3-4 defensive scheme. If the Buccaneers were wise, they would lock down Nassib long term now to avoid a potential breakout this year and a demand for more money.