Trading Up For…
February 26th, 2017
Trading up for defense?
In two days, Joe will jet off to unseasonably warm Indianapolis for the combine, not to be confused with the TV show that broadcasts a glorified indoor track meet.
There, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter are expected to hold press conferences and meet the fourth estate. It’s basically the NFL’s winter festival and just about anyone who is anybody in the NFL is there.
NFL fans are so worked up for the draft, it seems only this week’s combine and the free agency feeding frenzy in 11 days are the only thing to taking fans’ mind off of draft.
Multimedia maven Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com fielded a question from a Bucs fan about trading up in the first round to draft a… safety!?
As for [safety] Jamal Adams, while I don’t have the same level of knowledge on the player as our LSU fan here does, he is obviously very highly regarded. As Mark summarizes, he’s something of a triple threat if you include his renowned leadership skills. The Buccaneers don’t necessarily lacking for leaders on defense, and that particularly quality might be more important a year or two down the road, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s probably a good indication that Adams “loves football,” as they say, and that’s an intangible that scouts and coaches love when picking amongst prospects.
Could the Bucs’ consider trading up to get Adams? That’s Mark’s main question. For the sake argument, let’s say the Buccaneers are indeed very interested in this player. (Remember, this article isn’t meant to reflect the opinions of Jason Licht or Dirk Koetter.) If that’s the case, I think the better question is: Could Adams fall far enough to be in play for the Buccaneers?
Smith later writes he “highly doubts” the Bucs would trade up for Adams.
Joe agrees. Big time.
Simply put, if Licht can keep Bradley McDougald from leaving the fold, the Bucs won’t be trading up for a safety no matter who it is.
No one has told this to Joe, but if the Bucs trade up for anyone, it would be for a running back or a wide receiver.
Of course, after the free agency dinner bell rings March 9, we will have a better idea how the draft will shake out for the Bucs.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:04 am
I don’t know about trading up Joe, but no one in that front office is going to listen to me, so I support whatever they do.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:12 am
Package the Leader of the losing culture GMC to go ip and get Cook. Fixes two problems weapons for Winston and eradicates the losing culture from bucs locker room. A true win win… Weapons for Winston will win a championship not a safety
February 26th, 2017 at 10:13 am
Drafting an undersized non differencemaker at corner last year was a bad pick bypassing the obvious need at OT and laremy tunsil hopefully licht doesnt get too fancy this year and hits on rounds 2-4
February 26th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Budda Baker for safety!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Dare to dream that “Hawaiian nightmare” TMax!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:19 am
The first pick will be D or O line imo with a FA wr!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:19 am
I would not trade up for anyone unless its generational talent. We have many holes to fill on both sides of the ball. I like Adams too but man I don’t see giving up the future for one player.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Licht’s Out is probably a little twitchy about trading up after last year when he traded up to get the next Bill Capece/post-Super Bowl version of Gramatica. He may want the draft board to play out…there should be a good prospect..even at a position of need @ 19.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:26 am
Looking at the roster pre-free agency. The biggest need is explosion for the offense!!! RB and Wr as well as TE!!!!! I don’t know why joe has such a mental block for this position that can be a receiving threat and help the run game as well should not be over looked, especially when drafting in the back half of the draft!!!!!!!!!
February 26th, 2017 at 10:27 am
Trade down if anything to acquire more picks. This is a deep draft at positions the bucs need. Just please dont make another bonehead move in the 2nd round like they did with Aguayo. This kid is a loser
February 26th, 2017 at 10:28 am
Realist…I’d be more than ok with O.J. Howard too…
February 26th, 2017 at 10:30 am
As of right now Jamal Adams will most likely be a top 5 pick. I doubt Licht would be willing to pay THAT much for 1 guy.
I will say it again. Imo nobody in this draft is worth trading up for because of the depth at the positions we would be wanting to trade up for.
If Mike Williams and Corey Davis were the only 2 WRs that can make an immediate impact in this draft (like 2011 with Julio Jones and AJ Green) then yes, trading up for 1 of them would make sense. Imo they aren’t the only 2 WRs
If Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette were the only 2 RBs that can be feature backs in this draft (like 2007 with Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch) then yes, trading up for 1 of them would make sense. Again, imo they aren’t the only 2 RBs.
Time will tell if Licht feels the same way or not.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:34 am
@TheRealJoe
I’m soo down for Budda Baker. I’m just not sure when he is going to be taken. Very unlikely before 19, but I wouldn’t want to take him too early or too late if we were to trade back.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:34 am
Tmax, the main thing I don’t get about you Gerald Mccoy hate, is who would you replace him with? What DT is on our roster that gets 8 or 9 sacks as well as 4-5 batted passes a year?
February 26th, 2017 at 10:40 am
Blake_bucsfan
the majority of her sacks are meaningless first half GARBAGE . Gmc has had about 3 plays in 7 years that actually mattered the rest is just FLUFF. Couple that with his losing ways and mentally weak soft play replacing her is easy. Getting that locker room cancer losing mentality out of locker room is far more important than her first half production
February 26th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Blake, there is no reasoning with tmax
February 26th, 2017 at 10:43 am
There is no need to reason the facts speak for themselves. Gmc rarely if ever impacts a game.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:44 am
Hey Joe, I’ve got a question that I haven’t seen talked about. Can you trade a suspended player? If we were to trade up for Cook, how about Martin and #19 to move up 6 or 7 spots? I could see us being able to work a deal with the Browns or Colts. Is that possible, Joe?
February 26th, 2017 at 10:44 am
Regardless of what you feel about the moment of which his sacks occur, they are an important stat. Sacks are impactful. And forcing a punt in the 1st half is arguably as important as doing so in the 2nd half.
Every play matters.
And you dodged my intitial question. Who do you replace him with?
February 26th, 2017 at 10:44 am
She is due for a lengthy stay on IR anyway most likely she plays less than eight games this year
February 26th, 2017 at 10:45 am
Another thing I have a problem with, is how can you call someone soft and weak, when they played through a broken hand and a bum shoulder in the same season?
February 26th, 2017 at 10:47 am
I did not Dodge question I made it clear it does not matter who. Weapons for Winston will win a super bowl not a defense. Give Winston weapons and a mid pack defense and multiple championships.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:47 am
tmax, your hatred of McCoy runs deep, Every expert rates McCoy in the top 3 at his position every year. He continuously makes the Pro Bowl, not sure what you’re seeing out there. However, only #3 and #13 and #58 are untouchable IMO. Trading McCoy would have to be a blockbuster of epic proportions for me to get rid of him.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:49 am
@BuccaneEric75
Pretty sure the Bucs are allowed to trade Doug Martin. I just don’t know who would actually want him. Especially if there is a chance he could get cut which there definitely is a chance
February 26th, 2017 at 10:50 am
She should have went on ir if hurt that bad she was not helping the team. But she was well enough to play in the meaningless pro bowl… Selfish me first attention hound
February 26th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Not a single expert has mccoy in top five much less three. Leader of the losing culture is a locker room cancer with a smile
February 26th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Ok, so if you can’t name me someone available as a clear improvement, then why do you persist your biased soap-box rhetoric that borders on drivel?
Gmc may not be a generational DT, but he is a really good 3 technique, widely heralded as one of the better guys playing currently.
Saying that he can’t be a useful piece to a championship defense is just plain out wrong. Bring in Calais Campbell, another legit pass rusher ala Melvin Gordon or JPP, and you’ll see the havoc he can create against CONSISTENT 1 on 1 opportunities.
February 26th, 2017 at 10:54 am
Tmax, you are just plain wrong. You are essentially saying that GMC’s personality brings a losing culture to the bucs… could not be more false. He is one man, and his production has been top 5 in the entire NFL the past however many years. Maybe you need to cut bait with the players that are NOT producing. You’re putting the media and public relatio above all else…….
February 26th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Adams is an amazing player… but will be a top 7 pick. No way he drops past the Chargers and the Titans. That would be way too steep a trade up in my book
February 26th, 2017 at 11:07 am
I say we trade up for……………..Nobody.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:10 am
BuccaneEric – nobody is taking on a drug addicted, injury riddled, and under performing RB that has an enormous salary. He will be a free agent soon and may be picked up at a salary much lower than his contract that can now be voided. Nobody is paying him what he is slated to make in 2017, including the Bucs.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:12 am
Trading up for a safety would be stupid. Why did Joe waste our time with this article?
February 26th, 2017 at 11:14 am
Gmc led defensive units have quit on multiple coaches and have played unprepared and uninspired football way to many times in the past seven years that is what makes him the leader of the losing culture not his nice guy facade.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Yup, Gerald Mccoy is responsible for the actions of other men. Get real dude.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:24 am
GMC is not the great leader he thinks himself to be. And him always trying to take that leadership role isn’t right. But as a Player GMC is a good player. Maybe not 100M good, but he is still a top 10 DT. It would be stupid to let GMC go. We have no replacement for him he is practically the only DT worth keeping on our entire roster. So until we do draft or acquire a DT better than GMC, he should stay here and continue to ball for the bucs. I do wish he would let the real leaders lead on the field though. He was always forced into that role with his draft position and lack of real leaders, but we don’t need him to be that guy anymore. I’m sure his ego won’t give it up, but it would probably help the defense if Ayers led the pregame speech.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:27 am
Wish Joe(s) would quit referring to the “Free Agency Dinner Bell” because more often than not it’s simply a buffet of leftovers.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:30 am
Tru22, we’ll said. GMC has also publicly stated that this is Jameis’ team now. I agree with ayers doing the D speech.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:32 am
Trubucfan22 I’m banking on Kwon, Calais, and Ayers making more pre game speeches for us in 2017.
And although his speech before the Dallas game was hella whack, he had a pretty good one before the Seattle game where our defense “choked out” Russel Wilson and the Seahawks. Gerald looked darn good that day. And against the Cheifs the week before, where he was a crucial part of the victory sealing pick. You do not give GMC nearly enough credit Tmax.
Our Oline performed admirably in the first half of that game as well if I do recall correctly.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:33 am
http://bucswire.usatoday.com/2016/11/28/gerald-mccoys-heartfelt-pregame-speech-sparks-bucs-victory/
February 26th, 2017 at 11:49 am
Touchdown, couldn’t the other team just void the guaranteed money and rework his deal the same way we could if we kept him? Also, the Bucs and Martin could renegotiate now for less, with Martin understanding he could be traded? I’m with you that no team would trade for him at 7mil per, but it seems the contract is up in the air right now. If I’m the Colts, do I want Cook, and that’s it, or do I want Martin on a cheaper contract than he has now and the #19 pick? Not sure how it would come around. Just curious about his ability to be traded.
February 26th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Only trading down makes much sense. Then we can afford to really find weapons for Winston. Their are good WRs, RBs, TEs and safeties in the 2nd and 3rd rounds to be had. we need both quality and quantity. One guy will not solve all of our needs.
Tmax, put down the crack pipe. He might not be the leader you want him to be but he shows up and gets the job done. Move on.
February 26th, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Matt Says
“Tru22, we’ll said. GMC has also publicly stated that this is Jameis’ team now. I agree with ayers doing the D speech.”
Ayers is a great talker…but he’s an average player at best. He should not even be a starter.
February 26th, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Trubucfan22 Says:
“Trading up for a safety would be stupid. Why did Joe waste our time with this article?”
Answer : So Tmax can bash McCoy some more. 🙂
February 26th, 2017 at 1:05 pm
GMC supporters. The pentetrating 3-tech position went the way of the Dodo with the Tampa 2. Look at the rest of the league. They play with big DTs that take up space on 1st and 2nd down and then they bring in their nickel pass rushers on 3rd down.
The presence of GMC and his bloated contract is holding this team back from making the necessary changes to a multi-scheme system that can consistently put pressure on opposing offenses. If they can get a 2nd round pick for him he needs to go. Hopefully there’s some team out there dumb enough to take on that contract.
February 26th, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Also, if Malik Hooker is there after pick 10, go get him. Don’t think twice.
February 26th, 2017 at 1:10 pm
No on trading up for ANYONE! STUPID!!!!! ESPECIALLY FOR A SAFTEY! DRAFT SMART!!
February 26th, 2017 at 1:33 pm
I like Kiper’s latest draft. He has Corey Davis falling in our lap because of a small injury that isn’t allowing him to run at the combine. This I like.
February 26th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Tmax, so first half play is garbage? Because if I remember correctly, we beat the Seahawks this year 14-5 with both touchdowns coming in the first quarter. You take away the “meaningless first half” and we don’t win the game. The game is 60 minutes long, not 30. Maybe you need to learn something about the game though
February 26th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
T Max should just be ignored. While I think Glennon sucks, Tmax bashes him with no heart because of ONE specific play three years ago. He also claims he isn’t motivated because he hasn’t turned into Tom Brady recently. As if motivation is all that is needed to become a great NFL player. Athleticism apparently has no bearing at all in his mind. SMH!
February 26th, 2017 at 2:13 pm
SB I would take that scenario all day. Unfortunately Kiper is never that accurate, but I would be more than Happy with Davis– especially not having to trade up to get him.
February 26th, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Tmax
Gerald Mccoys much better than you. Take her place is shes so bad. Your football iq is horrendous
February 26th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Tmax, like it or not has many valid points and I have many times witnessed the D play better when McCoy has gone out of the game ; because 10 players stepping up their game is better than one very talented player with no fire !! McCoy has been called out by many many former players as not playing balls out every down and yes that is a tremendous cancer when any leader is known to not bring it all the time and especially at crunch time !! Hardy Nickerson and Robery Ayers ( leaders) make players around them several notches better ,other leaders can actually have a negative impact. When former players, ex coaches and tv commentators are commenting on your play, consider it real !!! Good or Bad !!! Think about it you bunch of in denial lollipop lickers !! Parcells would take Hardy leading his D over Gerald anytime and the difference for the overall unit is real !! Sorry but that’s just reality !!
February 26th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
Ummmm Fake News running rampart on this post! I’ve always heard Defence wins Championships but may be that has become an alternative fact! Weapons for Jameis won’t mean a thing if we don’t …BUILD A WALL…but not in Mexico dumb ass! Example of Fake News / A sake made in the first quarter of a game is meaningless..that is the epitome of FAKE NEWS.
February 26th, 2017 at 3:18 pm
Safety! Safety! If we pick a safety with our top pick I will go nucking futs.
Again the $$$ do not lie! It’s the lowest paid starting position in the league…why is that? Because safeties are rarely difference makers. Now if we were JUST a safety away and Ed Reed was on the draft board I could see it…but we are DESPERATE for a WR for a RB and for DL help…a safety…and trading up…I think Joe was trolling us with this one…or in fairness he was repeating a troll effort by Scott Smith who was in fairness just repeating a troll by a ludicrous fan.
February 26th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
How is trolling involved? A fan asked a question, Scott Smith answered and Joe made an article about the idea lol.
February 26th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Before the Draft is over Joe will have us linked to taking Every other position but QB 🙂
February 26th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Issic, I get what you are say, but coaches are paid to maximize the play of the players. It is a lot easier to do if you have superior talent. While it great to have inspired leadership on the field GMC has abilities that others just don’t have. They need to coach him up and maybe look to others to motivate the team. If they can find way to us him to his fullest that’s on the coaches.
PS, to get back on track. Read my lips. NO TRADES UP!!!
February 26th, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Honestly…..Spbf is correct imo. To write an article about us trading up Into the Top 5 for a Safety, which Joe has already said is not that big of a need, is Indeed like holding a long piece of yarn over a kittens head.
February 26th, 2017 at 4:22 pm
Blake is a savage lol… I agree 100%, keep who we got, draft well, and spend some $ on solid free agents. If we do that we can only get better. 9-7 to 14-2, (hopefully)go bucs!
February 26th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
Issic, who are these numerous former players calling out McCoy for his lack of fire? I have never once read anything of the sort. Please cite all of them.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:08 pm
Buc n pa I hear ya ,but PJ Fleck went to Western Michigan and Lovie Smith went to Illinois , Lovie was paid 5 times what Fleck was but Fleck did 5 times the job that Lovie did , They are both Coaches !! I think GMC needs a Parcells type Coach that doesn’t give a rats ass when he was drafted or how much he likes the camera or how nice he is to the ball boy !! So I agree with ya but it not as simple as its a coaches job !! Let Free Agency Begin !! Build the Wall of Winston !! And And And Someone Please Bitch Slap Tom Jones !! Never Mind he’s not even worth a Bitch Slap !! Go Bucs !!
February 26th, 2017 at 8:22 pm
Td Tampa There have been numerous players on the radio airwaves and if you happen to be at a practice around a group of old players you will hear the same and BTW I think the comments are mainly coming from him being so physically talented but they just know how dominant he could be with some more fire , etc. I’ve never heard Barber say anything so he wouldn’t be a good coach for Gerald , nor Brooks or Lynch !!
February 26th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
NFL Announces Complete List of 2017 Compensatory Draft Picks | Bleacher Report (via https://br.app.link/get-the-app ) http://teamstre.am/2kV9Syi
If we trade up from the 3th into the 3rd I wouldn’t be mad. There will be 10 Rd round comp picks so that drops our 4th from 32 to or 31 to around 40 picks later. There will be plenty of talent in the 3rd worth trading up for 1 2 3 3 that could be 4 impact players.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:36 pm
4th not 3th lmao if we stick where we’re at and grab depth then cool. I’m just saying I’d understand Licht’s thought process.
February 26th, 2017 at 8:37 pm
Ian Beckles is not “numerous former players.” The guy is a very good player. The fact that he doesn’t give good pregame speeches means nothing to me.
February 26th, 2017 at 11:50 pm
Personally, I like GMC. But I think he forces his leadership too much. He has good moments and bad ones, like everyone. But all in all I do prefer the fired up screaming in people’s faces type of speeches better before the game. I also have to admit that a pregame huddle where Winston is just dancing in the middle is some of the dumbest stuff I’ve seen on a football field. Lol not sure how that motivates guys. If it does, then cool, but I just couldn’t see myself being motivated by that. Lol
The emotional ones are probably the best, but you can’t use them all the time.
February 27th, 2017 at 7:18 am
Here we go again with a man (?) behind a keyboard calling another man “her.”
Pitiful. Any argument tied to that character assassination is weak.
February 27th, 2017 at 9:31 am
Bucs D started playing well once conte and tandy started balling.