“Nice” Haul By Jason Licht
March 14th, 2016
Lauded for signings.
With perfect March beach weather and loads of sports on TV, from college basketball to hockey to spring training baseball to NASCAR, and his own pool to plunge into, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is still working in his office at One Buc Palace.
While many Bucs fans had given up on Licht signing any noticeable help to get the Bucs out of their five-year rental in the NFC South basement, the weekend (including Friday) proved fruitful.
The Bucs bagged defensive end Robert Ayers, Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes and re-signed safety Chris Conte.
In short, the defense just got better.
For Mike DiRocco of BSPN, he believes Licht’s patience in the free agent spending frenzy will pay off this season.
The Bucs needed to get better in the secondary and at defensive end, and Licht took care of both Friday by signing cornerback Brent Grimes and defensive end Robert Ayers. Neither was a front-line free agent that teams moved to scoop up Wednesday, but they’re both good players.
Add in the signing of guard J.R. Sweezy on Wednesday to offset the retirement of Logan Mankins, and the re-signing of running back Doug Martin, and Licht has put together a nice signing class. He landed three new starters for reasonable money: three years and $21 million ($10 million guaranteed) for Ayers, two years and $13.5 million ($3 million in incentives) for Grimes, and five years and $32.5 million for Sweezy.
Pretty fair assessment. Licht didn’t blow the budget and (with the possible exception of Ayers) filled some needs.
Joe is not anti-Ayers, but it’s suspicious that by far his best season came in a contract year. So Joe’s expectations are tempered, though Ayers is an upgrade from sackless George Johnson.
March 14th, 2016 at 9:05 am
one satisfied Bycs fan here, thankful we have licht as opposed to Dominick
March 14th, 2016 at 9:05 am
Now get either Nelson or Weddle.
March 14th, 2016 at 9:12 am
Instead of splash and noise Licht went for solid if unspectacular solutions. They will do fine. They are not supposed to be our bell cows…we have #3..LVD..GMC..Kwon..ME..VJAX..Dougernaut and plenty of other game breakers.
If we can simply upgrade our below average players to at minimum average or competent professionals our team will be dramatically improved. And this is where coaching will really come in. It’s one thing to get good games from your stars…it’s when you can elevate the play of your “average” players that the team starts to be a real contender.
March 14th, 2016 at 9:14 am
It’s all relative. Ayers might be second tier, but our DE’s last year couldn’t fall a bushel of potatoes.
Grimes has still got game and, again, is an upgrade compared to what we had. Band aids can help win football games.
I’d like to add a safety too, but now we just need to keep improving through the draft if are really going to be a contender.
March 14th, 2016 at 9:25 am
If your worried about Ayers you should also be worried about Martin, as his best year came in a contract year.
March 14th, 2016 at 9:51 am
^^^this
March 14th, 2016 at 9:58 am
I’m assuming Grimes has no Guatenteed cash then? Not Even 2016?
March 14th, 2016 at 10:06 am
With all of the bad luck DE signings, the odds just have to be in our favor now. Especially since Lovie is gone and we have a new DC and snagged Cinci’s D line coach. Things just have to be much better this year, they just have to.
Now to get Bosa or Ramsey if we can find a way to trade up….wouldnt mind Lawson either….and of course I still want Andrew Billings if he somehow manages to be there in the bottom of the first. He and Spence can even compete in the weight room too….he broke Mark Henry’s state powerlifting records http://www.ourdailybears.com/baylor-football-recruiting-2013/2013/3/23/4139908/baylor-2013-dt-andrew-billings-breaks-mark-henrys-state-powerlifting-record
March 14th, 2016 at 10:31 am
He did exactly what they would do in Hateriotville, Belicheat never spends widely on FAs and he never spends $$ on day one. Licht is quietly reshaping the Bucs FO in the mold of the Hateriots, they are consistent winners for a reason and it’s not only Tammy, it starts in the FO.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:03 am
I’m not getting caught up in this we got better Ayers will not deliver.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:03 am
I’m not feeling it. I want to. I’m just not.
March 14th, 2016 at 11:04 am
I’m not one for spending big on free agents. I’m one to spend wisely. I just don’t think the new players were spending wisely.
March 14th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
I would sign Reggie Nelson and Nick Fairley as well. Also, I would bring Hardy in for an interview. Just to see where he is mentally. Hardy and Fairley could be had together for around the price of Ayers by himself.
Nelson and McDougle starting with Conte helping out when needed. That would be a solid safety combo. Fairley could pair well with GMC and McDonald. And a combo of Jacques Smith, Hardy, Ayers, Gholston, and whatever DE we draft. That would be the best we’ve had in years. Still not top of the line. But way better than last season and the last decade.
These moves would allow us to draft the BPA and not reach based off need. Which typically doesn’t work out too well.
March 14th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
Better to be pleased now and save the grief for later. It’s all good this early in the search.
March 14th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Ayers is really the only one that I’m like, “meh!” The rest are “nice”, not overwhelming, but nice!