Brandon LaFell And The Bucs
January 20th, 2017
Under-the-radar WR
If the Bucs are seeking depth at wide receiver, it would be hard to pass up Brandon LaFell in their quest to add #WeaponsForWinston.
Currently the No. 2 receiver for the Bengals, LaFell has been a model of consistency in his seven NFL seasons. With the exception of his rookie year with the Stinking Panthers, LaFell has always had at least 500 yards receiving per year, often for crappy Carolina offenses.
Two of the last three years, LaFell has had over 800 yards receiving. This year, a contract year, he had 64 catches. That was second to his career best 74 receptions when he hauled in balls from Tom Brady and won a Super Bowl ring in 2014.
While LaFell, 30, may not be a sexy name like Pierre Garçon or Desean Jackson, the guy is durable and consistent, meaning a safe bet if the Bengals don’t re-sign him.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:05 am
NO! He doesn’t scare anyone. Stop hyping garbage receivers to in FA. The WR FA class is so weak this year…and we don’t need to add another big, slow, plodding old dude. Might as well keep VJax if that’s the case
January 20th, 2017 at 9:09 am
I grew up right across the river from Cincinnati and so I was a Bengal fan the first half of my life…switching immediately to the Bucs when I moved here and called Tampa Bay my home. Home is where the heart is and I heart the Bucs. I’m like Big Dog in that respect…if you moved here from somewhere else and don’t root for the home team then you are nothing more than a visitor…a long term tourist. OK rant over LMAO.
My family all still live in N. Ky. and a couple cousins even have season tickets to the Bengals and so I still keep up with them a bit. They’ve dropped to my 3rd favorite team behind the Bucs and Pack because my summer home is now in Pack country.
You are correct Joe. Brandon LaFell is a “nice” receiver…solid..and yes a big yawn. He’s not a game changer. I would not be that excited to pick him up because we already have Hump and Shep and can find another backup receiver from UFDA’s or the draft.
I’m not in the crowd that simply wants depth or another WR. I want a freaking GAME CHANGER! LaFell runs a 4.55 40 which isn’t going to scare anyboy.
We NEED speed not just another set of hands.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:11 am
Foreal!!!Yo Ted Ginn will be available,he can still return kick’s,and has the speed to be a deep threat for Winston.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:13 am
jwash:
“DEPTH” sir, depth. Joe doesn’t know of any No. 3 reciever who “scares” defenses. That’s why Joe typed “depth” in very first sentence. smh
January 20th, 2017 at 9:21 am
St. Pete,
I must disagree with your stance on rooting for the team from where you live.
I’ve been a Buc’s fan since 1976, growing up in Central Florida, and then moved to North Florida for almost 20 years.
The Jaguars didn’t become my favorite team.
The Bucs will always be my team.
Is there a certain amount of geographical distance that I’m unaware of?
Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2017 at 9:21 am
No Joe, you don’t get it. People want more undrafted free agents, more rough-riders and Philadelphia Soul players. Why bring in an NFL ready vet, to a young and growing playoff hunting team, when you can get another Stampeder, Rattler, or Blue Bomber? Stop that right now, next thing you are going to say is sign Calais Campbell!
January 20th, 2017 at 9:29 am
Better than Russel Shepard or Freddie Martino lol that’s all that matters
If we go safe cheap vet WR route in FA we likely draft 2 imo
January 20th, 2017 at 9:34 am
Receivers,hey y’all forgot we need much better blocking for Winston to get the ball to them.Hawly,is to light in the ass! And Donovan Smith is to goofy.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:35 am
The Bucs only have like 42 players under contract and some of those will get released. Lot of those were on IR as well. Ex. George Johnson etc.. Don’t you understand that? They have to sign FAs no matter what. Just don’t over pay. There are no Tier 1 Franchise FAs available.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:38 am
@Stpetebucsfan:
Where in northern kentucky are you from? I’ve lived in Louisville all my life, but my dad lived in ft lauderdale about 30+ yrs now. Became a Bucs fan in my hogh school yrs and haven’t even entertained the thought of choosing another team since!
January 20th, 2017 at 9:39 am
*High school
January 20th, 2017 at 9:44 am
KyBuc fan
Like you I was an Ohio river rat. I lived in Newport right across the bridge from Cincinnati.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:47 am
Doosh
Perhaps you deserve a special “exemption”. You were raised in no man’s land in Orlando. We used to get the Cleveland Browns games every Sunday until the Bengals were formed in 68…I suspect the Dolphins were the home team here before the Bucs were founded.
I had one cousin who never gave up the Brownies much to the disgust of the rest of us! LMAO
So Doosh hard to figure your situation. Perhaps you merely lived in Northern Florida all the while considering Central Florida your real home…in which case you were just a long term visitor to Jax.
January 20th, 2017 at 9:50 am
🙂
January 20th, 2017 at 9:52 am
Brandon LaDrops…eh, there’s better options available (in my opinion anyway)
January 20th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Lafell? If we’re gonna go with unimpressive FA’s for “depth”, I’d rather try to pick up cheap young guys with speed like a Kenny stills (24) and/or Markus Wheaton (25). Wheaton’s numbers aren’t huge because he plays on the Steeler’s loaded WR group, but he is capable of making explosive plays down field.
January 20th, 2017 at 10:01 am
Kind of like a poor man’s Garcon. Which would make him an odd choice for the richest team around, in terms of FA dollars available.
If you’re wary of anybody the Green Bay front office lets walk, you should feel the same way about guys who Billicheck kicks to the curb. He’s not a reliable #2.
January 20th, 2017 at 10:06 am
I still feel we should get a #2 in the draft personally. Like many have said, this year’s FA class is weak. FA’s for depth? Yes, but not for the starting #2. IMO
January 20th, 2017 at 10:29 am
I wouldnt mind seeing them go after Marquise Goodwin. Blazing speed. He can compete for the #3 receiver and maybe try out as a return man. Not sure if he did any kick or punt returns in Buffalo.
January 20th, 2017 at 10:49 am
I wouldn’t mind him as a #4 with hump and shep at the #5 and #6….GO BUCS!!!!
January 20th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Here is the problem I have with the first leg of free agency: Most players are over 30.
I’m sorry, but age 29 is when the injuries start increasing in frequency, and while there are very few exceptions, they get even more frequent after 31.
Brandon LaFell is not at all impressive. Other than 5 games in 2015, he has not missed any time (not sure why he missed those) in the last few years.
I vote no. Especially since he’s going to want more than he is worth.
I’m not against spending money. I’m against spending it unwisely. A guy like JPP would be wise. And guy like Brandon LaFell would not be.
January 20th, 2017 at 11:11 am
And I really, REALLY wish people would stop selling Humphries short.
He has the potential to be a Wes Welker sort of WR if given the chance.
Wes Welker, 5′ 9″, during his first three years, had 96 catches for 1121 yards.
Adam, 5′ 11″, has 82 catches for 882 yards. He is on pace for 123 catches and 1323 yards over three years, which makes him better than Welker)
January 20th, 2017 at 11:14 am
StPete… I think this is the first time I disagree with you… I moved to western NC 11 years ago… there’s no way in hell I’m going to start rooting for the stinking Panthers, no way! I’ve been a Bucs fan my whole life and will remain so wherever I live… Go Bucs!
January 20th, 2017 at 11:39 am
We need a lot of 2018 cap space for Winston Evans Marpet and Kwon, GMC will probably be gone, Pamphile will need to be signed, and if Donovan plays well we’ll need to resign him too, so don’t freak out if the Bucs don’t pass out any $100 million contracts this spring, as long as we get a Pryor and/or Stills, the rest of the FA will be second tier types
January 20th, 2017 at 11:52 am
@Guzzie
Mike Evans can be resigned now if they want to (they should). And dont worry about $100 million contracts lol. Nobody in free agency is worth anywhere near that.
January 20th, 2017 at 11:53 am
And for all of the guys wanting to go after Terrelle Pryor, apparently Cleveland and Jamie Collins have a contract in place already so Pryor can very easily get the franchise tag now. Doesnt mean it will happen but it is a possibility.
January 20th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Bonsai:
Agree 100%. We don’t need 30 year old hands that are looking in the rearview mirror at their career. Hump is not exceptionaly fast, he is not big, but he has great hands and is illusive. He has earned a chance to be a big part of the Buc’s future and based on the stats you just quoted he is well on his way.
January 20th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
St Pete… the Doll fans were never my team. Dolphin haters would be more precise. Am I here or m i m i ami? I’m still trying to remember the name of that song with that line. Anybody remember?
January 20th, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Think it is easier today and move away and continue to support your “home” team with satellite and an awesome website like joe bucs
January 20th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Guy struggles to get separation. Would be a scary signing.
January 20th, 2017 at 5:58 pm
lol another hard pass
January 20th, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Joe(s)…you should be on the Kenny Britt train. Guy would have hall of fame numbers if not for fisher led offenses and the qb play he’s had to deal with!
January 20th, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Calling it right now, we draft Cooper Kupp in round one.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Cooper Kupp
High talent, high character and has the pedirgree would be third generation NFL player.
Good read: https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/meet-the-prospect-eastern-washington-wr-cooper-kupp/amp/?client=safari
So many touchdowns on his highlights.
I think he could be a Larry Fitzgerald type of talent.
January 20th, 2017 at 8:35 pm
Cooper Kupp has a round 3 grade. I agree we should draft him just not round 1
January 20th, 2017 at 8:49 pm
I don’t know if Jen makes it past second round, or New England
I think his stock will rise after combine. He is a baller. An instant number two receiver. Jordy Nelson 2.0
January 20th, 2017 at 8:49 pm
If he makes it*
January 21st, 2017 at 12:53 am
https://youtu.be/QsimHbxxFd8 best Rb in draft
January 21st, 2017 at 6:51 am
How many games did we have with our 1, 2 and 3 all healthy and on the field? We need a 4 and 5 that are not a drop off a cliff lower in skills than the 2 and 3, and that is what we have had. Do we need a ‘Game Changer’ for our 2, yes. But we also need much more talent at 4 and 5, the draft will fill one of those spots, FA may be needed to fill the other.