Jason Licht’s Magic Threesome
April 29th, 2016
Trader Jason Licht was back wheeling and dealing again, as he’s done since arriving with the Bucs.
Last night, he shed light on his trade-down gamble.
Licht pulled the trigger on a last-minute deal with the Bears, moving from pick No. 9 to No. 11, and snagging Chicago’s fourth-round pick in the process.
It was a huge risk, if you believe the Bucs’ official line: that they had their hearts completely set on cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, who they drafted at No. 11.
Licht told Casey Phillips of Buccaneers.com (video here) that a magic threesome was in play. If Hargreaves, “along with another guy or two,” was on the board, then the Bucs would seek the deal down and roll the dice that their research on the Giants’ next move at No. 10 would play out.
The Giants snatched cornerback Eli Apple at No. 10, and then the Bucs bagged Hargreaves and the Bears’ fourth-round pick.
That seems like a bizarre move for this level of risk, again, assuming Hargreaves was their guy.
Is a fourth-round pick that valuable? And if so, why didn’t the Bucs trade Mike Glennon for one months ago?
Answers might happen in a matter of hours, if the Bucs use both their fourth-round picks to move up in the second round.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:20 am
The Giants got worked. Conklin and Floyd taken before they had a chance. Apple is a good pick but was probably not their first or second choice
April 29th, 2016 at 10:24 am
They don’t want to trade Glennon!!!!and Hargreaves agent told him before the draft the bucs would drop down to 11 and then they would take him.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:26 am
Get a damn edge rusher Kevin Dodd please and thank you
April 29th, 2016 at 10:28 am
Is a 4th round pick that valuable. Tard alert!!!! We took Kwon in the 4th round lat year Joe. wake up it’s after 10am.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:32 am
And would you really expect GM Joe to believe Licht had any plan other than to go after a DE? Of course not. Remember GM Joe would trade up and that did not happen.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:32 am
In keeping with my philosophy of never looking back, I’m going to do this just once and ……never look back regarding the Bucs pick of Vernon Hargreaves at 11.
PFT is reporting that the Jets tried desperately to trade up to get the falling OT Laremy Tunsil, but found the trade price too high. I don’t understand why a deal could not be struck using the draft trade value chart. The difference between pick 11 (1250) and pick 20 (850) is 400 points. The Jets 2nd round pick (51) is worth 390 points – a fair trade.
If the Bucs traded down to 20, getting another 2nd round pick would seem worthwhile. LB Darron Lee was picked at 20, CB William Jackson III was not picked until 24, CB Artie Burns was not picked until 25, and DT Vernon Butler was not picked until 30. DE Noah Spence was still on the board and the draft is loaded with good 2nd day CBs like Xavien Howard/Baylor.
It is obvious that the Bucs really like VHIII and didn’t want to risk losing him. And after months of study, if that was their man, I can’t disagree. Hey, it is what it is and I’m happy to have VHIII, but for a team needing draft picks I could have easily justified moving down again! There, I said it, now I’m moving on!
April 29th, 2016 at 10:34 am
Pablo thinks 4th round picks are valuable we drafted Tanard Jackson in the 4th
April 29th, 2016 at 10:37 am
There was no risk because Licht knew the Bears were after Floyd and worse case scenario – if the Giants had taken “our guy” Hargreaves – then Licht would have happily selected Sheldon Rankins.
There was more than one “our guy” on the board and we only moved down 2 spots.
Nice job Jason Licht. You milked an extra pick out of someone (which is hard to do in a “deep” draft) and still got the player you wanted.
Now its time to address the Defensive front line with a vengeance and we’ve got some extra ammo to work with….
April 29th, 2016 at 10:39 am
Right – didn’t VG3 say last night on BSPN that his agent told him before the draft that the bucs were trading down with Chicago from 9 to 11 and would pick him there? That’s what I heard him say I’m sure. If that’s the case, then the trade down was done prior to the draft starting, and VH3 was clearly their guy.
Can you dig into that a little deeper Joe?
April 29th, 2016 at 10:49 am
I think Licht helped to create more value for the 9 by floating that the Bucs were interested in Floyd. He was not a fit for us yet many, many mocked him to us. I just want that edge guy. Dallas 100% is getting either Dodd or Ogbah, don’t see them taking Spence.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:50 am
I love Hargreaves. And if we draft Kwon’s former teammate to play OLB alongside LVD & Kwon, this trade down will become EPIC. or use it to maneuver if we need to…. We still need a stud DE, Safety, WR, OLB, & then OL
April 29th, 2016 at 10:50 am
I agree Pick… I think Licht knew the Bears were on Floyd. He knew he had either Rankins or Hargreaves at that point.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:51 am
Maybe we can get Aguayo with that second 4th rounder.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Clarification: If we draft kwon’s former teammate with that bonus 4th round pick, that would be epic.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:54 am
We are a fourth round pick ahead so far and as Rob pointed out we got Kwon last year in the 4th…admittedly ten spots earlier than the Bears pick but the point is the same. With Licht’s abilities that 4th rounder will be great…perhaps as has been suggested combined to get an even higher pick.
BTW. Just checked Walter Football for their “re-draft” and adjustments after last night.
They have us now picking Ogbah at 39…I think that pick would get a very warm reception here on JBF.
April 29th, 2016 at 10:56 am
Please draft Noah spence, Kevin Dodd or Emanuel ogbah with our second pick
April 29th, 2016 at 10:56 am
Agree that they likely just woulda taken Rankins at 11 if Giants took VH3. I loved the move.
I predicted Titans would swap with us for Conklin. Damn Browns lol
April 29th, 2016 at 10:57 am
Ben
I like the way you think. I’d spend a 4th rounder on Aguayo in a N.Y. minute.
I’m not sure he’ll last that long though. Rules changes have once again placed a premium on kickers and extra points were not as automatic last year.
Imagine telling #3 just get us to the 45 and we at least are sure of 3 points.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:09 am
Because no one was offering a fourth months ago.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:15 am
While GM Joe would’ve gladly announced to the press yesterday about his genius pick of Emmanuel Ogbah at 9 overall Licht, a real GM realizes that if he moves with the board he can trade down, get a 4th round pick, get a very good corner and still get Ogbah, Spence or Dodd in the 2nd round if he chooses given that all of them are still available.
I also thought it was funny when Licht commented about taking the ‘best player available when it meets with need.’ GM Joe’s head probably exploded at the thought that it isn’t strictly one or the other.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:25 am
Joe really can’t let the trading of mike Glennon go
April 29th, 2016 at 11:28 am
Agree with Joe here…quite a gamble…thought it warranted a 3rd…and let’s not act like all 4th rounders turn out like Alexander. There are plenty of Alan Zematis types ( who?…exactly ) taken in the 4th that never even see the field.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:32 am
Extra 4th? Aguayo.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:33 am
great move….grab the best pure cb and an extra pick…I hope they use that extra pick for a wr taj sharpe…he should be there in the 4th…dline 2nd and 3rd…GO BUCS!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 11:38 am
The trade isn’t the gamble. The gamble is Hargreaves. If the Giants took him at 10, you trade down again, get Lawson and end up with a better player and even more picks.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:48 am
StPeteBucsFan Says
“…admittedly ten spots earlier than the Bears pick…”
Bears 4th round pick this year is the 8th pick of the round. Two picks before us.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:48 am
Aguayo is on my wishlist too.
April 29th, 2016 at 11:49 am
@JonBuc
Trust Licht or not?
April 29th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Here’s Gil Brandt’s top 13 remaining players:
1) OLB Myles Jack
2) DT A’Shawn Robinson
3) DE Kevin Dodd
4) ILB Reggie Ragland
5) DT Jarran Reed
6) DE Kamalei Correa
7) RB Derrick Henry
8)TE Hunter Henry
9) OT Jason Spriggs
Hell, and that isn’t even mentioning DE’s Emmanuel Ogbah or Noah Spence. So it’s obvious that even if the Bucs stay put and keep their extra high fourth rounder from the Bears they’re still gonna get a hell of a player at #8 of the second round. I don’t see a real need to blow a fourth rounder in the deepest draft many have ever seen (estimated to be at least 120 starters in this draft).
Chris Jones
Jihad Ward
Sterling Shepard
Mackensie Alexander
April 29th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Friggin’ A…screwed up that one. Anyway, the last four guys listed are 10 through 13 on Brandt’s list. Don’t know how the formatting got all effed up. Anyway, good things on tap for the Bucs tonight.
April 29th, 2016 at 12:07 pm
That extra 4th would look good for small school stud DE Matt Judon, super back FB Dan Vitale, or size speed matchup nightmare WR Keyvarris Garrett bigger needs than kicker
April 29th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
@ BrownEye
Glad to see you taking time away from writing best selling novels to drop your knowledge and provide us with your tough talking schtick. The move was a gamble…I know you long for Lovie Smith still…but by all means turn that page.
April 29th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Bonzai
Thanks for that point. Last year did we pick second in that round for Kwon?
I do not remember. Whatever it still illustrates that a 4th round pick does have value.
April 29th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
I love how the rumors yesterday were that the Bucs were going to take Leonard Floyd. Was this Licht being a good GM and making sure a trade happened by sending out some false info? That is how I like to think it happened. Shoot, if they thought they could stay put and get their guy, why give up a 4th rounder. Good job Licht!!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 12:21 pm
@jmoney….every pick is a gamble….even the player you wanted that came with a shoulder injury….vhg is light years better than Lawson…did you see him getting manhandled by Ronnie Stanley…Lawson will be going up against those type players week in and week out…vhg has already successfully shut down nfl wrs…j.matthews, o.beckham, r.greene, j.landry…and plenty others….STOP BEING SALTY…GO BUCS!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
turk182 Says:
April 29th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
“the rumors yesterday were that the Bucs were going to take Leonard Floyd. Was this Licht being a good GM and making sure a trade happened by sending out some false info?”
I think that’s exactly what happened. And it worked. Hell – the late speculation about the Bucs wanting Floyd had me worried we would take the tweener with a top 10 pick. Instead we conned the Bears into giving up pick #106 for that “privilege” and got the player we wanted all along – 2 spots later and a 4th round pick richer.
Kudos Mr Licht! Nice little dis-info bluff you managed to get out there in an apparently convincing way. Remind me NOT to invite you over for poker.
April 29th, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Since we missed out on Rankins I hope we get Ogbah!
April 29th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
There was absolutely nothing magical about the Bucs trading down 2 slots yesterday. Especially since we did not choose a DE. And it might come back to..bite us in the Butt today. Look for Dallas to trade up for Spence and Don’t be surprised when its our time to pick, the 2 other remaining best DE’s are gone. Like Gramps use to say, You snooze..You lose!
April 29th, 2016 at 3:02 pm
@michaeljohnson….I normally agree with but not in this case….way too many quality dlineman to be had….not everyone in front of us will be taking a defensive lineman…some want dbs, oline…with players like billings, dodd, chris jones, ogbah, reed, robinson, bullard, nassib, calhoun….that’s 9 players right there that can come in and have an impact on this team with great coaching from hayes…not everyone in front of us will take a dlineman…plenty to be had….then in later rounds we can still grab a player like javon hargrave, Bronson kaufasi, alex macallistar…good quality thru out this draft on defensive players…GO BUCS!!!
April 29th, 2016 at 3:22 pm
Licht doing a great job!! I hope we some how pick at least 3 times today!!