If Last Year Was A Pattern
March 9th, 2017
Repeat previous strategy?
Was last year a pattern by the guy who blasts “Back in Black” in his rig to and from One Buc Palace?
Last year Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht spent serious coin to two over-30 players at two positions with deep holes, Mr. Beasting Robert Ayers at defensive end and Brent Grimes at cornerback.
Licht followed that up by drafting two players at the same position with his first two picks last year: Vernon Hargreaves and Noah Spence.
Yes, as Joe Twittered earlier, the hashtag #WeaponsForWinston is plural.
Now Joe doesn’t know if Licht is done shopping for another receiver for depth. If Russell Shepard bolts, that may push Licht’s hand.
If last year was the beginning of a pattern for Licht, then you can lay coin Licht will draft a receiver next month. Besides, receiver is supposed to be one of the deep positions in this spring’s draft class.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Please re-sign Shep!! That guy is a special teams ace and a captain
March 9th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Wr, DB(super deep class) rb, dt
March 9th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Moderation?
March 9th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
licht has to draft a receiver the group is better but still very weak. evans, djax, no 3, no4 and shep is a 6 and special teams. hump is a 5 with potential but no track record. of course licht will be drafting a wide receiver it’s thin after evans and djax.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
Of course they’re drafting a WR! You have to have legitimate guys available for when injuries happen, and we have to develop a future #2. Would be nice to have 3 legitimate threats for 3 receiver formations too. Hump is a nice slot guy, but calling him a “threat” is a stretch.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:05 pm
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing two WRs drafted. One on Day 2 to be the next #2 after D-Jax and one that could have an impact as a returner in the later rounds.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
I just don’t understand the Shep love. The guy seriously lacks consistency at WR and the Bucs aren’t gonna pay him what he wants just to be a special teams stand out.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
Cordarelle Patterson would look good in pewter and red.
Then grab a Zay Jones or Cooper Cupp next month.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:09 pm
I would be absolutely shocked if we don’t draft a WR. I think it’s pretty much guaranteed. Too deep a class and too important a position
March 9th, 2017 at 5:09 pm
This is the perfect year to draft a WR & a DT/DE since this draft is supposedly deep in both positions, as well as RB. Draft ’em now & let them learn from the seasoned vets. Looks like Jason Licht is creating a competitive team using a solid mix of youngsters & vets that can grow steadily and compete year-after-year.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:10 pm
Or maybe we get a beastly new do it all Tight end. 😀
March 9th, 2017 at 5:10 pm
KD Cannon would thrive in this offense
March 9th, 2017 at 5:11 pm
I wouldn’t draft a WR in first two rounds …. can draft a developmental guy, for depth. No. 4 this year with potential to be No. 2 down the road.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:16 pm
Off to a good start w/ the DJax signing. Would be nice to get Williams or Davis but both will likely be gone at #19. Fortunately there a # of good WR receiver prospects in this year’s draft in rounds 2-4. Please NO to drafting Ross in the 1st round. He earned a 1st round selection with that 4.22 40 – I just hope its another team that takes a chance on him being a stud which I don’t think he will be in the NFL
March 9th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
Why wouldn’t we resign VJax at a very low price at this point? He loves Tampa, Tampa loves him. I bet he’s still better than WRs 4/5.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:21 pm
I think Buc’s fans are under valuing Shep’s role on this team. He is a deserved ST captain and is usually the first guy to the ball on every ST play, followed by Tandy (btw). He is huge in the Locker Room. He made some clutch plays on offense for us down the stretch. I think he will prove his worth to whichever team he is on this year.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
This draft is way too deep at WR not to draft one. I would be shocked if we didn’t draft 1, maybe even 2.
Also liking the TE group this year quite a bit.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:26 pm
So where do we go from here
March 9th, 2017 at 5:26 pm
I can get on board w drafting the same position that we signed a big time FA, although my wish list is slightly different
Let’s grab Latavius Murray and draft Cook or McCaffery
March 9th, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Killian
becasue VJAX was washed up two years ago and the goal is to get better not paid washed up has beens.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:28 pm
They’re drafting a WR in the top 3. I would prefer 3.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
@Eric Denman
I would also like KD Cannon or Cooper Kupp in the third or fourth.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
I will be very sad to see shep leave. But if he has another team offering more $ and a #3 wr spot, I wish him all the luck in the world. Just not when he plays us!!
March 9th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
If Bradley bolts, i am pretty sure it will be a safety in round two and Bucs will trade up to get who they want. Cook may fall to the Bucs, I would not have believed this a month ago. But his pro day will make that determination.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
being moderated for saying this draft class is deep at WR??
March 9th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
So far so good, we upgraded at DT and WR which isn’t too bad. I wasn’t hoping to upgrade at Safety too but I’m going to have faith.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:42 pm
Ex FSU Rb karlos Williams is available.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Was
March 9th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
D’Andre Levy cut by Lions, a solid upgrade at strong side
March 9th, 2017 at 5:46 pm
TJ McDonald is the last “upgrade” at Safety left in FA imo.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:46 pm
Goat
I like Williams but some say he’s a lazy bum. (Joe said that)
March 9th, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Levy is a beast or was a beast he’s on the same level as LVD.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Cooper kupp ran a 4.62 at the combine. I would be on board if he was a tight end. I thought the bucs were looking to add speed. Naw…I’ll pass on kupp
March 9th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
Isn’t Levy constantly injured? Or am I thinking of the wrong Lions LB?
March 9th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
@ Joey
He has past couple seasons, but he’s a baller with solid tackling skills and top-end speed. Good in coverage, too.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
I’d really like to see us keep Shepard & it seems to me that he would be worth more to us than he would be to other teams because of his popularity to teammates & coaches….but, it’s a business and he’s no better than a #4 receiver and he could be priced too high.
We need a safety…..and a LB.
I believe we have enough for at least one more top-tier FA signing. I will also be very interested in what we do at RB.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:52 pm
@Db55
Exactly, he’s very much in the mold of LVD, can play strong or weak side
March 9th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
I know this will set Joe’s blood pressure off, but I still like OJ Howard (if he is still there at 19…IF…. Fournette, Cook and McCaffrey are all gone….which might be the case) and then RB in the 2nd round (at least one of these guys will be there for us….Foreman, Kamara, Samuel, Mixon) and then the best available Offensive lineman we can get in round 3 ( after we add Nick Mangold today or tomorrow).
All in all very excited about the way this team is shaping up! Lots of firepower on offense, and should be solid on Defense!
March 9th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
We have 2 WRs set. The rest are fighting for a job. We will absolutely draft a WR this year. Might not be in the first or second round, but there is little doubt about the need to add even more talent. We need depth. We saw last year what injuries did to our WRs. If one of our 2 get hurt we are back in the same boat as last year. We need to be 5 deep at wr. Hump is borderline too. With his skill set (basically only screen passes) he makes a good 5th wr/returnman. Which means we need a 3rd and 4th wr still.
March 9th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
biggest thing I see is draft flexibility. With Jackson and Baker, we now have more flexibility. No particular order, TE, Safety, WR, CB, RB, EDGE, Center, Right Tackle (after the 3rd)
March 9th, 2017 at 5:55 pm
At this point my draft wish list:
Rd1. Cook or McCaffery
Rd2. Curtis Samuel
Rd3. DeMarcus Walker
March 9th, 2017 at 6:01 pm
Once I read the term “developmental” in someone’s comment, I skip the rest of said comment.
Stupid term
March 9th, 2017 at 6:01 pm
OJ howard is my #1 first round want. He’s the only TE worth taking that high that can be an in-line blocker and complement to what Brate can do. If not him I’d rather go after a blocking TE in 3rd or 4th
scenario 1- oj howard
R1-OJ Howard
R2-BPA S/CB/D-line
R3-Zay Jones/Chris Godwin/Juju Smith Schuster if any available (could swap this with R2 and go defense R3)
R4-Marlon Mack/Samje Perine/Kareem Hunt
scenario 2-dalvin cook
R1-Dalvin Cook
R2/R3 – same plan as above
R4-Jake Butt
scenario 3 – no Cook/Howard or any offensive weapon
R1-BPA d-line/CB/S
R2-BPA WR/RB/TE
R3-BPA WR/RB/TE
R4-BPA WR/RB/TE
I just will be surprised if we don’t draft a RB,WR, & TE based on all the chatter we’ve heard this off season. I think we spend 1 pick on defense in rounds 1-4 and rest on offense unless a stud falls that we’re in love with.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:13 pm
I still think we need d line and definitely corner/safety if we don’t resign Robinson and mcdougald.
What’s Mario Williams looking for?
March 9th, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Look for Licht to sign a center.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:16 pm
I would hope they pass on Mario Williams. He was awful last year. Father Time has a hold on him
March 9th, 2017 at 6:20 pm
Belichickian
March 9th, 2017 at 6:22 pm
JJ Wilcox has scheduled a visit with the Bucs. Could be good depth and/or McDougald’s potential replacement
March 9th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Sure hope it’s not to replace Bradley. Why would we want to bring in a guy who lost his job last year to replace Mcdougald who is a solid starter.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
if McDougald signs elsewhere
March 9th, 2017 at 6:26 pm
I don’t think he’ll draft a DT early this year. Maybe a DE to develop. WR? I can see it in round 1 or 2. But I can also see a center or RB now.
So, for rounds 1-4, I say WR, RB, RT, and Center. Which turns out to be all offense…not something I intended but…
Rounds 4-7?
DE (may as well try for gold) TE, QB, maybe another WR or whichever position of those rnd 1-3 positions are left.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:28 pm
As of right now looking at the rest of the FAs, it would be a huge mistake to not draft a Safety
March 9th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
It wouldn’t shock me to see the Bucs draft John Ross with the #19 pick if he’s still available … DJax mentored him and apparently loves the kid and if you throw Evans and DJax out there with Ross in the slot, a receiving RB like Mixon/Mack and a Brate on the field together that would cause defenses to lose sleep …
However, I sort of think the Bucs are looking RB/TE in the first round and might pick up two receivers later such as Josh Reynolds in the 5th and Tayshawn Taylor in the 6th …. I like both those kids.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
Yuck. The thought of us drafting Ross made me throw up in my mouth just a little bit.
Honestly, him and Cam Robinson are the only 2 guys we could take in the 1st that would truly, deeply upset me.
March 9th, 2017 at 6:48 pm
If Bucs don’t take Peppers at #19 or Melifonwu in the 2nd, I think Eddie Jackson in the 4th would be a solid pickup at safety
Christian Mac
Best Cornerback Available
Jordan Leggett
Eddie Jackson
Josh Reynolds
Tayshawn Taylor
Ben Bouleware
Nice …
March 9th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Peppers
Best CB Available
Jordan Leggett
Joe Mixon
Josh Reynolds
Tayshawn Taylor
Ben Bouleware
This also works if Mike Smith & Licht loves Peppers …
March 9th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Pickgrin,
Where in the blue he’ll did you come up with that idea.
Ross hasn’t moved into the 1st round because of his 40 at the combine.
Spend 2 seconds looking at the pre combine reports
(There’s no shortage of them) and you’ll see clearly that Ross has been a projected 1st rounder long before the combine. In fact, his 40 time has had no effect on his projection as a rd 1 pick.
March 9th, 2017 at 8:40 pm
Freaking Panthers might be signing Shep..what a sin against humanity..
March 9th, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Would love to see D. Barnett from UT fall to 19. He is a monster. I think with Spence on one side him on the other the Bucs could have the best set of DE’s in the league by 2019
March 9th, 2017 at 8:57 pm
1st- Obi Melifonwu
2nd- Curtis Samuel
3rd/4th- DeMarcus Walker/Samaje Perine
Perine will be the steal of this draft at RB.
March 9th, 2017 at 11:17 pm
That’s my hope to BfinTN. If he’s not there it wouldn’t surprise me if McCaf was the pick. He’s probably the most versatile pick in the draft. He could line up in the backfield, slot or wideout as well as returns. We have Quiz, bring back Martin with a restructured contract for one more chance.