Jason Licht Nuggets
April 27th, 2017
Tidbits from the notebook.
While Joe and the rest of Bucs fandom is waiting for Tampa Bay to draft — provided there are no trades, it should happen sometime around 10:30 p.m. — Joe decided to go through his notes of Jason Licht’s private yet on-the-record conversation with Tampa Bay reporters at the NFL combine.
* Licht said “in a perfect world,” he would like to duplicate last year’s offseason plans. Last year he signed defensive end Robert Ayers and then drafted Noah Spence; signed Brent Grimes and then drafted Vernon Hargreaves.
Just to remind folks, Licht signed speed demon wide receiver DeSean Jackson and defensive tackle Chris Baker.
* Money is no object when it comes to Team Glazer and investing in the team, so long as the investment is a wise investment, Licht said.
“Our owners, the Glazers, they give us all the resources we need. They just want to make sure that we are getting good return on our investments.”
* Licht said that the goal is for him and his scouting staff to become so good at the draft, that the team will never need to sign a free agent.
* Licht did not deny that in this draft he’s looking for playmakers. It’s not the lone goal but it is a main goal for the fourth-year general manager.
“This draft, we will always try to add playmakers. Always. Not saying it is the sole focus but it is one of the focuses.”
* On the defensive line, Licht said, “We always want to get better there. It is defineably a position we will always look to upgrade or at least upgrade our depth.”
* As for the possibility of trading up in the draft, something Licht has a history of doing, he said, “If the price is right, you always investigate it.”
* As for tight ends, Licht said, “Love the way Cam [Brate] is coming [on].”
* On Christian McCaffrey and being an every-down back: “Some teams will think so. It all depends on how you use him. I know he has a very intriguing skillset.” When Licht was asked directly if McCaffrey would potentially be an every-down back for the Bucs, Licht started laughing and said, “I don’t want to say.”
* Concerning the importance of combine workouts, Licht said he puts “some” importance in them but prefers his board is set prior to the combine. In the past, Licht has said by far the most important element of the combine is the medical exams. Licht is very much a game-tape guy. Licht noted players do not make more interceptions or catches after bowl season has come to a close. The combine, he said, does not make any player better. Licht has his draft board set in February but it was fluid. No one gets moved “way up or way down.”
* Licht stated when he talks to free agents, his ace in the hole is America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. “Players like to play for a guy who is as competitive as he is and is as passionate, especially as a quarterback. They know about Jameis.”
* As for his short leash with personnel mistakes, Licht said, “It’s just like in business, if you make a bad hire, are you going to keep him and see the business go down?”
April 27th, 2017 at 8:11 pm
I’ve always said that the combine workouts are just a formality. I’d look at a guys competitiveness in the drills and his attitude over the numbers. The only reason why players “seem” to move up and down draft boards are due to mocks after the “insiders” gather inside information about teams. If a guy is mocking at 30 in February and he gets picked top 10, then he was already top 10 on teams boards in February, it just took the “insiders” 2 months to find out about it.
April 27th, 2017 at 8:23 pm
Wow looks like the Bears do not value MG8 as a franchise QB either eh?
Now he’s got a year or two to mentor Trubisky.
April 27th, 2017 at 8:27 pm
MGM wants Mike back as a Buc in 2 years……poor Mike. The backup clipboard will be back on his hands soon. SMH
April 27th, 2017 at 8:29 pm
Daaaaaaamn thats stupid trade up and pass on Watson?
April 27th, 2017 at 8:39 pm
even I feel bad for mikey
April 27th, 2017 at 8:58 pm
So now we really know what the Bears think of Glennon. They hope he will be good trade bait.
April 27th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Anyone who feels remotely bad for Mike Glennon should remember he has 14 million guaranteed reasons to feel pretty damn good. His life is pretty well set for money and he won’t have very many dings to the head once he hits retirement. In a way the man won the lottery for having done very little as a professional.
April 27th, 2017 at 9:07 pm
Carolyna just selected a replacement for Ted Ginn…. just a much slower Ted Ginn.
April 27th, 2017 at 9:10 pm
Love this pick for Carolina…. McCaffrey, if they try to use him as a starting RB, will be out and injured by week 6. He runs way too upright and is way too thin to hold-up as a workhorse guy. He’s a jack of all trades, a master of none, not a guy who you pick in the top 10.
That’s my take, but I also thought Newton would be a bust – so shows what I know.
April 27th, 2017 at 9:12 pm
I suddenly find myself really hoping cook will be available but if he is not I think it may be DL
April 27th, 2017 at 9:17 pm
Defensive players are sliding – maybe the Bucs get a value they weren’t expecting. I’d love a safety or corner or defensive lineman. I doubt with this run on offensive players that Cook slides to the Bucs.
April 27th, 2017 at 9:34 pm
A LOT of QBs are being taken SO a TON of value is sliding to the Bucs…
April 27th, 2017 at 10:00 pm
Value like OJ Howard or…Lamp!
April 27th, 2017 at 10:20 pm
Piss poor live draft coverage Joe.
April 27th, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Win! Titans take Adoree Jackson. Howard is still there for the Bucs!
April 27th, 2017 at 10:22 pm
OJ Howard is the pick
April 27th, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Nole takeover Cook@19 y’all wouldn’t be crap without FSU Dunn, Brooks, Winston ….cook?!
April 27th, 2017 at 10:28 pm
All you Joe Schmoe fanboys who dissed Tampa RBs and jumped on the Cook bandwagon…can’t feel you, now.
Bucs have a GM who knows what he’s doing. Howard is a way better pick than Cook could ever be.
April 27th, 2017 at 10:35 pm
Tampa will continue its mediocre ways/play. I hate Winston came to y’all scrubs. I hope dope head Martin, not a running back Simms, and Midget Rodgers lead to the playoffs!! Haha ya wonder why the Bucs suck consistently lol
April 27th, 2017 at 11:04 pm
I wonder why some prick like you is coming to my team’s website, if that’s what you’re asking
April 28th, 2017 at 7:35 am
Love the Howard pick, he may go on to be a pro bowler, but all you Bucs fans remember this. Get a pencil and paper, write it down so you don’t forget: it is a MAJOR mistake to pass on Dalvin Cook, it would be even worse if he goes to another NFC South team. But it would be awesome if somehow we could get him in the second.