Former Bucs G Ian Beckles was rated as one of the franchise’s best value picks.

When Bucs general manager Jason Licht was hired, he talked a great deal about value during his introductory news conference. When asked about free agents, he said he wasn’t opposed to shopping for unwanted players (remember the old saying, if a team wants you, they will find a way to keep you) so long as they merit “value.”

In other words, Licht wasn’t going to break the bank.

Licht spoke of value so much, Joe has a hunch this plays into how he will draft. This is why Joe is so convinced the Bucs won’t pick a receiver at No. 7.

Since the draft is so lousy with receivers, the talent dropoff at receiver is not much in the second and third rounds when compared to the dropoff at other positions, many in areas the Bucs have great need.

(This best-player-available term is Utopian. Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson didn’t believe in it, and those two mastered the draft like few others. You think the Colts will draft a quarterback in the first or second round just because a quarterback is highest rated when they pick?).

So Andrew Astleford, maybe with Licht’s “value” talk still ringing in his head, decided to research the best value picks in Bucs history. Joe found the following interesting.

8. IAN BECKLES, G, INDIANA (1990, FIFTH ROUND, 114TH OVERALL)

He became a consistent, dependable presence on the offensive line during his time with Tampa Bay from 1990 to 1996. He played in 101 games (97 starts) with the Bucs and was a starter at right guard for the full 16-game schedule during the 1990, 1991 and 1994 seasons. He finished his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles by playing 25 games there during the 1997 and 1998 seasons

It’s too bad Beckles, who currently entertains listeners with his insight on WDAE-AM 620, couldn’t have enjoyed the success the Bucs embraced after Father Dungy came to town. Beckles toiled for the Bucs in some of the franchise’s darkest creamsicle days.

It wasn’t until just after Beckles left that the Bucs started racking up even better value picks, as documented by Astleford.