Report: Williams To Miami Imminent; Olivier Vernon Could Be Back In Play
March 8th, 2016
Defensive end Olivier Vernon might find new freedom
Please don’t keep reading if you’re happy to have Jacquies Smith and William Gholston as the only key cogs in the Buccaneers’ pass rush.
Joe wants more.
Per ProFootballTalk.com, the Dolphins could sign free agent defensive end Mario Williams as early as today. Keep in mind the Dolphins just cleared a load of cap room by restructuring Ndamukong Suh’s contract yesterday.
But a Williams signing could mean the Dolphins have no intention of matching a free agent offer to defensive end Olivier Vernon, who had the transition tag slapped on him last month. That tag would pay Vernon $12.7 million in 2016, as part of a one-year deal. Or, the tag could be pulled from Vernon if he doesn’t sign it ASAP.
Would the Bucs dive into the Vernon sweepstakes?
Joe has to think it’s possible. Remember, Vernon was actually named by Licht in February. Vernon is 25 year old and has 29.5 sacks for the past three years.
March 8th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
Vernon plus Johnson, plus drafting a DE high!!
DOOOOOOO IIIIIITT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 8th, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Man got to spend some of that cash. This dude is young and instant upgrade to our D. Another solid draft, keep improving the O line, and maybe do something about that pesky RB spot.
March 8th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Sign Vernon to the poison pill in the first year of the contract that Miami won’t be able to swallow.
Then get Schwartz down here for a visit and don’t let him leave the facility without putting his Herbie Hancock in the dotted line.
Then wait for Martin to come crawling back.
March 8th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
2 seconds before you posted this Joe I was doing a Mario check myself. Yep he’s going to be a fin.
March 8th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I’m not holding my breath anymore…all these teams moving and shaking, and we will be left with the Gatorade boy that caught a couple of balls in his backyard..but he’s coming in cheap!
I’ll take either Mario or Vernon..Mario loves the Miami nightlife…
March 8th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Is Napoleon’s Uncle Rico still available?!
March 8th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Joe:
U guys better get ready for Akeme Ayers from the giants . Now that Jpp and Mario are gone . Oliver and Akeme are in play
March 8th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
Vernon market quite, that’s usually how Bucs do it. Might be their target
March 8th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Charles Johnson and Verner would be a great upgrade front load those contracts cause in 3 years we have to pay Evans then after its Winston then we won’t have lots of money anymore
March 8th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Just saw Ayers might be available…but Giants working out a deal with him right now..
March 8th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Sign Uncle Rico!
March 8th, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Not expecting the Bucs to improve for quite awhile
March 8th, 2016 at 3:11 pm
What about Cameron Wake? Do the Fins intend to keep him?
March 8th, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Hate seeing news about all these other teams…..lame
March 8th, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Colts announced they waived outside linebacker Bjoern Werner.
Good project for Jay Hayes
March 8th, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Spend the money we need one of these “top” pass rushers.
March 8th, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Omg Tampa could pull a settle and get two great pass rushers
March 8th, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Anyone else here getting nervous? I sure hope there’s a lot going on behind the scenes we don’t know about.
March 8th, 2016 at 3:26 pm
@Jeagan
Yep..I’m getting very nervous..as my wishlist starts to diminish…I think I am going for my Xanax and a turkey sandwich..
My sons think I am the worse mother in the world today since I haven’t even said hello to them yet..lol…
March 8th, 2016 at 3:32 pm
jason is playing his cards right with Martin he’s playing the waiting game with I’m going to be honest jhonson is going to be a buc and if Oliver leaves Miami all he will see is jhonson Gmac McDonald and jac smith and say sign me up
March 8th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
@LifeOfABucFan….LOL…turkey sandwich and Xanax!
How about making me one of those too….hold the mayo!
March 8th, 2016 at 3:40 pm
@ 1nebuc
That’s Robert Ayers from the Giants, not Akeem
March 8th, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Big Marlon B:
You are correct … Robert Ayers
Has anyone notice the only parts really moving around is dline . Hope the bucs are watching and realizing how important this position is .
No lbs yet
No dbs yet
March 8th, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Bucc fan88 if they take Rankins with that 9th overall pick being that he is Geno Atkins 2.0 I’m not sure C Mac remains a starter.
March 8th, 2016 at 3:57 pm
we keep sitting still the only thing left will be Chris Long…….and Hardy
March 8th, 2016 at 3:58 pm
One defensive end has signed so far people. Calm yourselves. Contracts can’t even be signed until tomorrow afternoon.
Most of this is just agents connecting their clients names to the teams with the most cap room trying to drum up interest.
Charles Johnson I don’t think is in any hurry to sign anywhere right now. Vernon is in limbo in Miami. Lamar Miller’s agent is trying to connect him with any team with a need at RB. I haven’t heard anything about any players actually setting up visits yet, that I’m sure will start to circulate around tonight if someone hops on a plane.
My guess is the Glazer’s plane is getting fueled up as we speak to go pick someone up.
March 8th, 2016 at 4:02 pm
This would be a huge signing!! Only 25 and averaged 10 sacks over the last 3 seasons. His talent and more importantly his age. Would justify the large contract. Do work Licht…we need it
March 8th, 2016 at 4:04 pm
There probably isn’t. That’s not a criticism against Jason Licht. I will not be surprised if the plan is to pass on the big name FAs in favor of building through the draft. The team is not ready to win a Super Bowl
March 8th, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Charles Johnson to be a buc. Did you see his text?
March 8th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
If they were to get Olivier Vernon AND Charles Johnson…oh, man…that would rock!
It would also give more options in the draft. We could actually finalize other positions.
March 8th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
gotbucs I don’t know how old or young you are but those were some wise words my friend.
March 8th, 2016 at 4:38 pm
We need as much helps as possible, bring him in and draft a end. Also, as strange as this may sound, I have a feeling that Will Ghoston will turn this corner this year. Dude plays with an edge, and good coaching will get the most out of him.
March 8th, 2016 at 4:41 pm
I’m feeling what you said also D-Rome. I want young hungry football players. If the FA is a known football junkie then I’m cool, if not pass. I don’t care who it is.
March 8th, 2016 at 4:46 pm
6-10 here we come….
March 8th, 2016 at 4:51 pm
We should go after Mike Wallace. He could probably be had on the cheap ($3-6 million). Bridgewater & Tannehil do not test the ball down the field much and were in systems that don’t cater to Wallace’s skill set. He’d be a great slot / speed WR I’d think to complement our big guys.
Updated hopeful / semi realistic moves:
Sign Doug Martin RB
Sign Olivier Vernon and/or Charles Johnson DE
Sign Mitchel Swartz RT
Sign Nate Chandler OG
Sign Teshaun Gibson or George Illoka – S
Sign Mike Wallace WR
Sign Tahir Whitehead OLB
Draft Sheldon Rankins or Vernon Hargreaves at #9
Draft BPA rest of way ideally going DT or CB round 2 depending on round 1 selection
I really like the idea of Sheldon Rankins at #9 if he truly grades out as a Geno Atkins caliber player. Rather take the top DT in the draft than the 4th or 5th best pass rusher. Imagine 2 gerald mccoys blowing sh1t every play
March 8th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
Mario Williams did not even look the Bucs way. Because he knows..Word is Out..THE BUCS ARE CHEAPO’S! Miami flew him in and Made cap space. Ain’t that something? Made cap space. Here..we got it and just want to shop the bargain bins. Yes, you find some bargains in the bins. But you also find many duds. Which has been our ageless problem..LOTSA DUDS!!
If you want a player..you gotta go after him.
March 8th, 2016 at 5:00 pm
7- 9 here we come if we dont bolster our pass rush
March 8th, 2016 at 5:10 pm
Did the Dolphins sign Mario Williams for only $8,000,000 a year? That is what I am hearing? The only good DE’s left are Charles Johnson, Robert Ayers and Olivier Vernon? Ayers best of the three IMO. Other than being named by Ljcht in February, there has been no reports of the Bucs being linked to Vernon at all. I bet we could sign Greg Hardy for next to nothing. Cleveland’s RT Mitchell Schwartz would be a nice pick up.
March 8th, 2016 at 5:17 pm
I have the feeling we will strike out and be left with who we currently have on the roster….GO BUCS!!!!
March 8th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
There is no way licht is sleeping this time tomorrw. I have confidence he will make the right mives from here on out to turn this team around. The last real gm this team had was bruce allen and Im no fan of his. There are brighter days ahead. Get it done licht!!!
March 8th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Everyone also needs to remember we have one of the best d line coaches in the league in hayes. Another thing I thought of today is why woukd hayes come here for no upclimb in rank???? Because he knkws Mike Smith will be iffered a head coaching gig in the next season or two. He will be our next dc and he will find a way to get consistent pressure on the qb. We all need to jut our new gm and coaches to get this right. This is the best combination of coaches and gm I could have asked for. Hell to the yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!
March 8th, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Lmao at season predictions in March you people are unreal
March 8th, 2016 at 6:09 pm
Lord it amazes me.
March 8th, 2016 at 6:22 pm
So with all the Multiple defense talk lets float an Idea. What if instead of overpaying for a couple 4-3 DEs we sigh one of the big 3-4 NT and use GMC, Mcdonald and Gholston as 3-4 DEs. Move J. smith to rush LB abd have LVD and Kwon play the MLB positions. I think we may be undersized at LB but it could work. 3-4 rush LBs are much easier to find than 4-3 DEs. Thoughts? I know anything but 4-3 cover2 is unheard of here but…
March 8th, 2016 at 6:28 pm
If we get him and plug in a a first round dt
Guess what…. We then have a outstanding front 7
With a crap load of depth
March 8th, 2016 at 6:58 pm
“Lord it amazes me.”
Yep.
Meanwhile does anyone recall how freaking terrible Miami’s front office has been for years? They have made a lot of moves in FA or through trades the last few years and most all have failed miserably. Many of those players are on other teams.
Brandon Marshall (Big blockbuster trade – later just given away basically to Bears)
Mike Wallace (huge payday and never hit 1000 yards because he didn’t fit the QBs strengths)
Suh – huge effing contract and guy didn’t help them win anything with one of the worst seasons of his career.
From what I’ve read Williams has a pretty sh1tty me first attitude. Freak out all you want but signing with Miami is like a red flag at this point
March 8th, 2016 at 7:09 pm
Hasn’t it been proven that high profile, i.e. expensive free agent signings generally do not yield positive results? I think Licht is relying heavily on Jay Hayes to improve the performance of our DL.
March 8th, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Lord C thank you for taking a moment and interjecting some light and since here. Like you always do bro. I appreciate you for that my dude.
March 8th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
You too 76 words well spoken.
March 8th, 2016 at 10:45 pm
I kep telling you guys no big name free agents even try to come to Tampa. Becayse the word is out. TAMPA IS CHEAP. Players flock to cities that go out to get them. Its my understanding Mario was flown in by owners, courted and told..WE WANT YOU HERE! We probably made a..phone gesture. You gotta aggressively go after big named players. Yesireee New Coach Koetter, Welcome to the land of head-aches sir. Better call Saul. And..you’d better finsh better than 6-8 Lovie Dubbie or you to will be ..Gone Fishing!