The Bucs & Andre Holmes
March 17th, 2017
Five weeks ago, Joe was blowing a trumpet for the Bucs to consider wide receiver Andre Holmes in free agency.
He seemed like a great fit, and now he seems even better.
While nobody at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters is crying about the loss of Russell Shepard to the Panthers in free agency, it’s still a loss. Why? Because he had value and Dirk Koetter wanted him here.
Yes, Shepard is a better receiver than Josh Huff, Freddie Martino, etc., and he was a special teams ace.
Holmes, who remains on the street in free agency, was buried in Oakland’s deep receiving corps behind Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper in the Raiders’ high-octane offense.
Undrafted in 2011, Holmes turns 29 in June, and he’s caught a total of 75 balls for 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns through the past three seasons.
Joe loved three things about Holmes:
- He hasn’t missed a game since 2013.
- He showed up in the playoffs last year against the Texans: four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
- At 6-5, 210 pounds, Holmes is a massive target who represents a deep threat.
- He is known for strong special teams play.
After the loss of Shepard, a No. 5 receiver no matter what Carolina paid him, Holmes seems like an upgrade replacement.
But there he is on the street — while the Bucs receiving corps remains thin. Perhaps Holmes has overvalued himself (aka Bradley McDougald syndrome)?
As the clock ticks toward the draft, it seems more and more guaranteed the Bucs will draft a receiver in the first three rounds next month — and that Louis Murphy’s recent actions are telling.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:04 pm
I agree with you, but the Bills made him an offer yesterday: 3 years, $4.5M.
Dirt cheap for his potential and production. Let’s go get him, and we have a better team, offense, and QB!
March 17th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
I thought I saw on the news that he already signed with the Bills?
He didn’t sign yet. –Joe
March 17th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
We can top the bills offer
March 17th, 2017 at 12:11 pm
People forget that when a rival team snags a player who knows your offensive play book and the ins and outs of your special teams… you can find yourself having trouble earning a win against said rival… the Shepard loss is not a loss of talent, more a loss of our playbook against a team who has beaten this Tampa team often since FIG NEWTON was drafted 1st overall in the 2011 draft.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Give me Zay Jones in R2 and WR is not a problem for years
March 17th, 2017 at 12:15 pm
this is exactly what I don’t understand about the Bucs strategy in this FA market !
there is a lot of good players, not stud players, but better players being an improvment from last year at some position where we are lacking of players or depth and we didn’t sign any of them !
I’m very surprised.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:17 pm
Still not sure Louis Murphy having dinner with Mike Evans means he’s back on the team…. but anyways, I would like the signing of Holmes. Solid, solid depth and he could compete for no. 3 spot, although I doubt he would unseat Hump based on the love he gets from JW and the organization.
Mike Evans? Chris Baker is the key to who he was hanging with, and Baker’s comment.–Joe
March 17th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
the thing that PISSES ME OFF is this team seems to be complacent in free agency. One or two ok signings, a few head shakers then NO digging for those proven and obscure gems that a lot of other teams seem to find and sign.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
lol @ the outrage
March 17th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Go get him.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
@Joe, most of his catches came in garbage time as did his td. Game was out of hand when Holmes entered.
@FireTheGlazers, The rival inside knowledge is overblown as well. Panthers had intel last year with leonard johnson ands still got swept. Most teams know what youre going to run by the fourth week or so that it is a matter of who executes the best on the play.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Lord C, Holmes tweeted that reports of him signing were false. Don’t see why everyone’s hot to trot for him though. Quite unimpressive as a WR to this point in his career, last 2 yrs especially (2015 – targeted 33 times, caught 14 (42%) for 201 yds; 2016 -targeted 25 times, caught 14 (56%) for 126 yds). Apparently made his mark on STs, but I’d rather see us draft a speedy WR who can learn from DJax and take his place one day.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Dude has 28 catches the last 2 years in 32 games and is 29 years old.. His best seasons were the 2 prior years when he had like 500 yards receiving each year. Pretty sure we know what he is at this point in his career which is a OK #3 at best if that.. Hell Louis Murphy is more valuable because of his speed alone.
We signed some dude named Derel Walker from the CFL who is younger and at least has more upside.. so right now I’d say he’s the primary competition for #4.
If we draft just 1 WR; then all of a sudden Andre Holmes is possibly the 5th best WR at best; if not 6th best WR. (Mike Evans / Djax / Hump / Rookie / Walker or Holmes)
If we draft 2 WRs; then this would be a pretty stupid signing; as he’d be competing for 6th or 7th spot on the depth chart.
And we may get Louis Murphy back..who imo is more valuable than Holmes..
So basically stop b1tching and wait till after the draft at least. Even then we can sign a guy like this before the season starts
March 17th, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Defense you beat me to it lol
March 17th, 2017 at 12:37 pm
BROCKTACULAR Says:
March 17th, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Lighten up Francis.
They signed the top WR in free agency and one of the top DTs on the first day. they signed a safety a few days later. They’ve resigned a number of their own players too. How is that complacent again? Please explain… You think other teams are doing better in free agency?
Jeezus, what foeking rock did you crawl out from?
March 17th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Why are people saying he isn’t worth it because at best he is just a special teammer when this article is about him replacing a special teammer? Isn’t that what we would be signing him to be? Lol
March 17th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
@ bucs_365 hilarious!!!!! LMAO!!!!
@Joe – This is comedy central today with all the “Daves”
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!
March 17th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Feelthatpewterpower… overblown??? Leonard Johnson DID NOT KNOW THE NEW DEFENSE. He was cut before preseason began. Russell Shepard, however, has had 2 FULL years under koetters offense… nuff said. Shepard was bought and so was our playbook.
March 17th, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Bucs are #10 in the latest power rankings on nfl.com!!!
My choices for the draft are:
Round 1: David Njoku or OJ Howard
Round 2: Zay Jones
Round 3: Samaje Perine
March 17th, 2017 at 12:54 pm
id rather have kamar aiken.
March 17th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
BROCKTACULAR
Here is your consolation. Remember it’s always better to be pissed off than pissed on.
March 17th, 2017 at 1:35 pm
^^^^Unless you’re dating R. Kelly!!!!
Just sayin’!
March 17th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Isn’t Anquan Bolden still out there?
March 17th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
Round 1: John Ross- University of Washington
Round 2: Dede Westbrook-University of Oklahoma
Round 3: Zay Jones-East Carolina
Weapons for Jameis means just that… “Weapons for Jameis”
March 17th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Draft KD Cannon in the 4th
March 17th, 2017 at 2:31 pm
No John Ross, especially in the 1st round.
Small undersized, and already injured.
As for Westbrook, he’s already had his fair share of domestic violence / criminal trespassing and other issues. Remember the last guy we grabbed in the 2nd round with a history of issues? And he’s only 175 lbs? Seems pretty small for a guy that is 6′ tall.
March 17th, 2017 at 3:05 pm
Meh… DJax won’t mind being the gunner on special teams.
March 17th, 2017 at 3:25 pm
Wake me up when we sign someone. Rather than hypothesizing about who we should sign. Until then I’ll be hibernating unit April 27th.
March 17th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Was Holmes cut or is he a free agent whose contract with the Raiders ended? If its the later – then I bet we won’t pursue him because I think Licht is trying to limit the # of outside FAs he signs in order to get a comp pick for Glennon.
March 17th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Nope I just think everyone that knotted football more than news simply don’t agree with the bad assessment you just gave off this old arse receiver that at age 29 has barely cracked yards. Crabtree and Cooper have been together a very short time ago he’s done nothing else in his entire career no thanks but good Try
March 17th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
This guys has proved nothing in the NFL. He never missed a game because he is rarely even playing in the game. Can’t get hurt if you don’t get to play.
In 6 years he averages 11 catches per season. I see he has good size, but clearly there is something very important this guy is missing. It’s great he has hung around for 6 years, but he has done virtually nothing during those years. Sure bring him as camp meat and see if he can impress the coaches or bond with Winston. But in no way should anyone say we should or need to sign this guy, he is nothing in the NFL.
March 17th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
I agree with you Joe. He would be a solid addition. Big body and good on special teams.
March 17th, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Depth is always a good thing
March 17th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
He won’t come for the same reason RS left.
March 17th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
Nope.
I would only sign him if he is still available after the draft and the Bucs don’t draft a WR, god forbid.
March 17th, 2017 at 6:58 pm
First, I am thrilled we signed DJ. Although I would gave preferred Pryor! Actually both for the cash Pryor signed on for. C.Baker could be a steal and if am to be overwhelmingly optimistic Wilcox may be a starter. On the other hand free agency gas been complacent in reality. I get it save cash be as frugal as possible, do not overspend, but you can not convince me that:C Patterson
5 mil, D.Poe 8 mil, T Pryor 6 mil, M Claiborne 5 mil, Connor Barein 6.5mil, MAdams 2yr. 4.2 mil. Would not have been an extreme upgrade all around the board depth included. I mean seriously I hope J.L ultimately has something up his sleeve pertaining to a blockbuster trade before the draft. Otherwise, with this type of cap and wiggle room I would certainly consider this offseason lackluster. If we do not see anything trumping DJ this year expect next year to be hot and heavy and Jason L and company will be all in!!! Go Bucs!!
March 17th, 2017 at 7:12 pm
Do the stanky leg, do the stanky leg
Do the stanky leg, do the stanky leg
March 17th, 2017 at 8:11 pm
why does everyone assume the player we draft will be a wr….we need a replacement for old daryl smith did you all forget that…
March 17th, 2017 at 8:41 pm
Im def on board with this Joe!
March 17th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Because we dont need to spend a 1st round pick for a sam linebacker. But im sure you knew that. Linebacker depth is a pretty big need. I would love to target a LB in the second to fourth round. First round seems too soon for a rotational/back up linebacker.
March 17th, 2017 at 9:33 pm
Would rather have one of as many as 10 rookies at wr than Holmes, and im counting wr’s that would be 3rd round or later…
March 17th, 2017 at 10:07 pm
Shep is not a better receiver than Huff just because of a bad year
March 17th, 2017 at 10:08 pm
A stretch. He hasn’t missed a game because he doesn’t play.
We got ME, DJax, Humphries, apparently Murphy and Robinson.
I’d be all for this guy, but don’t hype him like he has shown anything better than a 4th strong guy.
They still need a WR drafted in the top 3 rounds.
March 17th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
Josh Huff career stats: 51 catches 523yds 4tds 2 KR tds
Russell Shepard career stats: 30 catches 432yds 3 tds
@joe I disagree
March 17th, 2017 at 11:37 pm
Defense wins championships! Nuff said!
March 18th, 2017 at 1:16 am
Bucs were barely getting by on offense the 2nd half of the season.
Its time to go ALL IN on offense. So I fully support drafting 3 offensive players with the first three picks.
Its takes one turned ankle by Djax for the offense to be **** again.
Need more.