Could Bucs Poach Rams?
January 11th, 2018
Potential cap casualty or trade target
Joe tries not to get too wrapped up in who to sign in free agency in January because no one knows who will be available (yet).
Teams can re-sign their own players at any time. There’s no blackout rule.
Then there is the issue of whether a team can tag a player to keep him. Teams can slap a tag on a player beginning Feb. 20. Of course, teams can also just throw their hands in the air and say, in so many words, we will release Player-X because we cannot fit him under the cap. Then we know Player-X will be a free agent for sure.
However, one team to keep an eye on in relation to the Bucs is the Los Angeles Rams. The NFC West champs have hoops to jump through if they want to retain all of their defenders.
Of course, the biggest name the Rams have to ink long-term is defensive tackle Aaron Donald. He held out of training camp this year before recording another monster season (11 sacks). Joe cannot imagine any team letting that guy walk. That would actually be dumber than, say, letting Michael Bennett walk away for no good reason or cutting Darrelle Revis.
Donald isn’t the only guy worrying the Rams. There’s cornerback Trumaine Johnson (had the franchise tag slapped on him the past two seasons), safety Lamarcus Joyner will be an unrestricted free agent, and defensive end Robert Quinn.
In case you monitor Bucs games in braille, the Bucs have a monster hole at corner (perhaps two holes) and the pass rush (what edge rush?) is so horrific, Team Glazer may want to utilize “Better Call Behnken” for the scam three defensive linemen have pulled off on the Bucs.
Quinn will be 28 when the 2018 season begins and he is scheduled to earn $11.4 million this year. He was a monster when he played in St. Louis, fell off the map in the Rams’ first season in Lipstick City and found rebirth as an outside linebacker in Wade Phillips’ 34 defense.
Of course, Phillips is one of the greatest defensive coordinators the game has ever seen. So his hand may have something to do with Quinn’s bounce back.
Quinn had 8.5 sacks this season, over a third of what the Bucs produced — as a team!
Joe is of the mind the Bucs will need to sign (or trade for) two defensive ends before the draft. This Bucs team is such a trainwreck when it comes to a pass rush and the team has failed and failed and failed to fix the sinkhole. The Bucs need to go overboard and sign two DEs, and then draft two and hope of the four, one shakes out.
Another reason to sign two defensive ends? You trust this current defensive staff to produce an edge rusher from the draft?
Another reason? If the Bucs don’t get an edge rush in 2018, and the defense continues to cost the team wins, you think Dirk Koetter returns for 2019?
So in the coming weeks, Bucs fans may want to monitor the Rams. They have two expensive stud players at positions where the Bucs have a dire need, and if Joyner gives you a headrush, perhaps three.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:25 am
Just go get Michael Bennett and bring him back and draft chubbs in the first round of the draft . Then draft a running back in the second round.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:26 am
Keep an eye on him!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
January 11th, 2018 at 7:27 am
Why would they come here?
If you do overpay and lure one of them here, then he’s a “money first” guy anyway, and we’ve watched all this past season (and in the past) what that brings.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:30 am
However joe, will good players strive without at least decent coaching. I know we don’t have a lot of good players on defense at this time but the defensive coaching has been somewhat suppect
January 11th, 2018 at 7:35 am
It’s All About the Benjamins
January 11th, 2018 at 7:35 am
Sounds a lot like a role Spence could play if healthy. I am for a bigger stronger DE that plays the run and pass equally well.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:35 am
California has a 13.3% state income tax…..Fla has zero……now that can add up to some real money on a multi-million dollar salary…..and the new tax laws on SALT make it even worse for Californians.
You can say all you want…..but players, especially those toward the end of their careers are highly focused on the money.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:36 am
JOE said – ” The Bucs need to go overboard and sign two DEs…”
HAD GM Jason Gump gone “Overboard” last year and signed Calias Campbell and Dontari Poe the Bucs very likely could have been playing this past weekend instead of sitting on a couch at home.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:38 am
Gencoimports Says:
January 11th, 2018 at 6:07 am
The 2011 CBA has watered down the game in general. The overall product isn’t as good, quarterbacking, tackling, you name it.
[b] AGREE %100 [/b]
January 11th, 2018 at 7:42 am
Here we go again……..
January 11th, 2018 at 7:50 am
Get Quinn. Draft Chubb-1st. Michel – rb 2nd is dream scenario.
Ain’t happening. Chubb will be gone. Michel is possible for sure.
It is true though. We will have to over pay. Except maybe Bennett cause he played here before and is best buds with McCoy. Or I should say their wife’s are best friends.
Unfortunately. It’s true but Who wants to come to a basement dweller unless they get paid.
January 11th, 2018 at 7:53 am
Hmmmm….Aaron Donald has another “Monster year” and didn’t even have a training camp. Neither did Le’Veon Bell…..but we’re over here in Tampa talking about how a “soft” training camp was the root of all of our problems. Didn’t seem to be a problem for those two
January 11th, 2018 at 7:54 am
This is the year to trade down in the 1st round…..too many holes to fill
January 11th, 2018 at 8:02 am
Could you IMAGINE Donald and McCoy on the same team?!? You could probably keep our current DE because of the Mayhem that those two would cause!!!! Eh, wishful thinking though.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:10 am
Lets bring Michael Bennett and Aquib Talib back home. Especially if Brent Grimes doesn’t return. And if Quinn comes available then go after him! That sounds like three high price tags though. Will we have the cap space?
January 11th, 2018 at 8:15 am
80 mil in cap when bone heads released
January 11th, 2018 at 8:17 am
“The Bucs need to go overboard and sign two DEs, and then draft two and hope of the four, one shakes out.” – J0E
At first I thought that was going a bit too far and Licht would not do it…but then I thought about it. He DID completely overturn the WRs in one year…and did an incredible job at it.
So I think you may be on to something.
Whether it is Quinn or not? I sort of doubt that. Why? Because Quinn has shown consistency from year to year. Licht has only gone after one year wonders. He’s had year after year of bad Free Agencies, so I don’t expect him to suddenly do better.
And I am completely against trading for a player. Not worth giving up the picks. Trading away players? Go for it.
Also, I hope OJ is as good as he seems, because we could very well lose Brate this off season. He’s got a second round tender on him, and teams would be insane not to jump on that. So we’ll likely have to hope OJ is not a one year wonder…unless Licht gets a deal done with Brate.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:18 am
Pipe Dream! Fun to imagine but reality is the only thing available is other teams throw away’s. What luck have the Bucs had drafting or picking up free agents for the D Line in the past 15 years? Zero! The whole McCoy argument love him or hate him ends the same way every year. Either on IR or playing hurt. Hasn’t been a year where something isn’t wrong with him. It is impossible to be great while watching from the bench for almost half your career!
January 11th, 2018 at 8:19 am
Kyle Fuller-CB…25 years old…much better investment than Johnson, had a great season….Quinn would be a big bonus!
January 11th, 2018 at 8:20 am
MDFree Says:
“Lets bring Michael Bennett and Aquib Talib back home.”
I’m in favor of bringing back Bennett as a bridge player and mentor…but no to Aqib Talib. First, he isn’t actually all that great. Second, he’s slown down a lot. Third? He’s trouble. He would have a really bad attitude.
No…there has to be a better option out there.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:23 am
Bucnjim
I love McCoy, but I think trading him away would be a great move this year. A team might just give a first rounder for him. Maybe a first and forth. He has a few years left in him, and he is considered great by the other teams (which he is…if he’d had a good line around him, he would have been a 12-15 sack guy).
If we wait any longer to trade him, he’s only lose value.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:26 am
Imagine this scenario:
Jason Licht trades McCoy to a team for a 1st and 4th in this draft.
Brate gets snatched up by another team with his 2nd round tender.
That give us 2 firsts, 2 seconds, a third, 2 fourths and so on.
Licht can give us a completely new DLine with those picks, get a new RB and plug all the remaining holes.
Won’t happen though.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:28 am
If Quinn comes at a good price I’d kick the tires on him.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:35 am
@Buccaneer Bonzai
I like that scenario and have suggest the same as well!!!! it would really work nice if the Bucs were switching to run a true 3-4 defense!!!
But if GMC is untouchable, then look for the same as when they fixed the WR’s last year!!! best FA they can buy, top draft pick, and a 3rd or 4th round project!!! But they might hold on to Robert Ayers who clearly is not a starter, but might better server the team coming as a back end rotational player!!!!!! and a healthy NS57 could have the D-line looking very different!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!
January 11th, 2018 at 8:36 am
You would have to throw in Jackson to get those kind of picks but I am all for getting younger all across the board. Can’t build a foundation with over 30 players and unfortunately that includes one of my favorites Grimes. Our D line played the same with the young guys in the game so spending 10 million one one player when we need 4 no longer makes sense.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:40 am
Bob in Valrico Says:
January 11th, 2018 at 7:35 am
Sounds a lot like a role Spence could play if healthy.
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Really hope this surgery fixes his shoulder right. He can be a really good one.
January 11th, 2018 at 8:42 am
All you people pining for Chubb in the 1st, you do realize he’s going to be loooong gone by pick 7 right? Are you guys suggesting a trade up to get him (Likely would need to go to #3 IF he lasts that long)?
January 11th, 2018 at 8:46 am
Joe,
My comment says “awaiting moderation,” could you please tell me why? Is it based on particular words in the content that automatically flag it, or is it just based on who is posting? Just curious…
January 11th, 2018 at 8:54 am
If the Bucs are aggressive in free agency(THE BUCS have a ton of CAP Space) and sign the following:
Lamarcus Joyner DB LA Rams
Malcom Butler CB NE Patriots
Ezekial Ansah DE Detroit Lions
Carlos Hyde RB SF 49ers
and bring back
Brent Grimes and Clinton McDonald
The Bucs would then have much more freedom with the draft.
January 11th, 2018 at 9:17 am
DayOnePaul – Calais Campbell went to the highest bidder and didn’t even meet with the Jags coaches before signing. How did that work out? That logic makes no sense! Since many draft picks don’t work out maybe they shouldn’t draft guys either.
January 11th, 2018 at 9:19 am
BucOh- Joe has explained this numerous times. He reads all posts personally and flags all the guys he doens’t like you. It is personal. LOL
This is NOT Joe’s explanation.–Joe
January 11th, 2018 at 9:32 am
TouchDownTampaBay Says:
January 11th, 2018 at 9:19 am
BucOh- Joe has explained this numerous times. He reads all posts personally and flags all the guys he doens’t like you.
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He wouldn’t need to read each post and manually flag them, it’s a simple script that searches key words and flags any post that meets w/e criteria is set. I was simply asking if it is based on keywords in content being posted or if it was more of a flag any post from this user kind of thing.
Judging by how my post asking about moderation went un-moderated, I would assume it is based on keywords I put. Maybe it was the combination of “loooong, Chubb, up, and lasts” lmao.
January 11th, 2018 at 9:33 am
Lol, Mccoy for a 1st? At 30? With injuries. No way it would ever happen.
January 11th, 2018 at 9:38 am
If Licht could get a first for McCoy he would have been gone last year
January 11th, 2018 at 9:47 am
I agree – Why doesn’t Licht just trade McCoy for a 1st round pick already? And then trade Martin for a 2nd. Being a GM is so easy.
January 11th, 2018 at 9:50 am
Wausa … Bit early to know who’ll actually hit FA, but agree with bringing back Grimes & McDonald (if they’ll re-up here). Looking at the Bucs’ Unrestricted & Restricted FA list for 2018, would hope that we can re-sign:
1 – Grimes CB
2 – McClain CB
3 – McDonald DT
4 – Clarke DE
5 – Fitzpatrick QB
6 – Sims RB
7 – Evan Smith OLine
8 – Pamphile OLine
Cut loose TJ Ward, Tandy, Siliga, Trattou, Gettis & Sanborn.
Tender offers to all our Restricted FAs … Glanton, Brate, Humphries, Russell & Jude.
If Licht gets that done, would personally hope we can grab 2 more stud DEs in Free Agency, along with 1 stud DT, plus 1 top Outside CB & 1 starting-caliber Strong Safety. Wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all if we also could pick up a starting-caliber Center or Tackle in FA also. That’d leave us a lot more flexibility in terms of who we draft in the Top 3-4 Rounds IMO (with DE, CB, RB & DT being the priorities).
January 11th, 2018 at 9:56 am
Donald and GMC wouldn’t likely work with our scheme. Neither of which is a 2 tech. If GMC or Donald would switch to 5 tech it could work.
January 11th, 2018 at 9:59 am
Defense
Im good with Sims, Jude leaving.
Hump Grimes Brate, clark russell def need resigned. Im indifferent on the rest. Great list
January 11th, 2018 at 10:26 am
As much as I enjoy having the best ( top 3, at worst) WR in the league, the Evans pick should’ve been Donald. Many of our woes would’ve disappeared with him next to GMC.
January 11th, 2018 at 10:27 am
Yea D.R., I’m not a fan of Sims either. We better hope we don’t lose all those guys. Talk about depth.
Count me in to the “ALL-IN” club at DE. Essentially we have ONE legit DE and he’s injury-prone. We need to acquire 3-4 good DEs through draft and FA and hope we hit the lottery.
January 11th, 2018 at 10:31 am
Don’t make me laugh. All NFL players are money first guys.
January 11th, 2018 at 10:33 am
Keep in mind Joyner and Jameis are boys so hopefully that will help some if he does end up being a free agent!
January 11th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Why is it that our fans want to not retain Mr. Brate? By trading or not resigning him. With Brate and Howard and Aculaire we have a good to very very good group of TE’s. And who is the QB in troubles best friend a Pass catching blocking TE. Of which we as of now have 2 if not 3 good ones. Why make a hole where you do not need to? As for signing Bennett that ship has sailed for me. He is a lot older and has had many more health issues since we cut him. Not worth the prefomance cliff he maybe heading towards as he will expect to be Paid well for what he has done in Seattle. I just hope we do not signed him and he reverts back to the guy he was before his 8.5 sack season he had here. Wish we would have kept him then but that is yesterdays news, history. Now we could get this DE/LB but will he fit what we want to do on Defense? What is it we are wanting to do on Defense? Hybrid we keep hearing but the experiment does not look like it is working so well. We drafted a DE who is 250lbs and has gotten hurt his first two seasons and has yet to play a full seasons worth of games in his two that he has been here his shoulder injury is not one that will just go away it keeps getting worse. I am not a believer in shoulder injuries getting better and his production sky rocketing to the stratosphere. He is a gamer but not at DE IMO outside LB maybe.
Go Bucs!
January 11th, 2018 at 10:39 am
We need to keep Brate, having two dynamic TE’s will be beastly and open up the offense. Especially once we get a RB threat who can rush, run routes, and catch passes (Which is why I am hopeful for Michel in the 2nd Rd). I’m not sure teams who want a pass catching TE would be afraid to give up that 2nd rounder to sign Brate. We need to slap a 1st round tender on him, he is very valuable to this team and Winston absolutely loves him. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Duo at WR, Brate and OJ Duo at TE, Djax and Hump as our Slots!!!
Dynamic Running Back and this Offense will take off.
#ProtectWinston #BuildTheTrenches
January 11th, 2018 at 10:42 am
I’ve been pushing for Trumaine Johnson before anybody else thought it was cool
January 11th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Can you imagine Donald and McCoy on a team? Only in Madden bud
January 11th, 2018 at 11:08 am
I would try to bring in Bennett if avail and either Ansah /Quinn/ or a released vet DE. A vet CB along with Grimes. at RB I would go Frank Gore because I would draft Barkley. I think he is the closest to cant miss in the draft based on performance. He also has a way better chance to be there at 7 then Chubb. I would also go hard and heavy after the best g that hits the open market. I would tender Brate at first rd for an additional 800,000. I probably not letting him out of the building.
January 11th, 2018 at 11:43 am
Have to sign Brate & McDonald. No ifs, ands or buts.
January 11th, 2018 at 11:46 am
You’re so cool Maze! But actually, it’s a fantastic idea along with Kyle Fuller. Them Fuller boys can play! Hokie alum too!
January 11th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Donald is a straight up Beast!!!
January 11th, 2018 at 11:49 am
But WE passed on Donald..Didn’t we? BUCLife
January 11th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Poach CB Bradley Nickel-Robey from the Rams!
January 11th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
Joe
Just curious about thinking at OBP. Most of your fans here consider Licht a success at drafting and a failure at free agency.
We could debate I guess but it seems abundantly clear the the Bucs have drafted far far better than they’ve done in FA.
For all the heat on Smitty for our D is there heat in house on whoever is in charge of our pro scouting?
January 11th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Congrats maze you said we should get the top corner available– you were definitely the first!!!
January 11th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
The Bucs have yet to realize that NFL quarterbacks have a much tougher time passing against a distruptive pass rush than just good coverage. I bet our defense is just 1 good defensive end and another interior d tackle away from being a top half defense. If the Bucs Truely want to get better on D then they will invest their money in the D line.
The primary issue with the Bucs D line is year after year is that Jason Licht is always looking for these bargain players like Robert Ayers that always end up failing. Aside from investing a high draft pick on a d lineman, you are going to have to spend in free agency to Truely get production.
The Jason Licht free agency bargain expiriment has failed miserably all the way around the board not just the Dline.
January 11th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Need to decide whether to go to a full-time 3-4 to accommodate LB depth. Also, would Mike Smith know how to use a guy like Quinn?
January 11th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Don’t go wasting money on a cornerback in free agency yet until we build the box. Wins and loses happen in the trenches. Good NFL teams build from the inside out. Not the outside in.
January 11th, 2018 at 3:35 pm
A QB can escape the outside pass rush by stepping up. We have no push in the middle except GMC. Bring in DE Quin, draft DT De’ron Payne in the first, DE Lorenzo Carter in the third, you already have GMC and Noah Spence. Imagine that D line . De’ron Payne is the next Aron Donald. Is is the best tackle against the run and he’s just beginning to tap into his pass rushing abilities.
January 11th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
Classic example of having to break the bank like the Giants did. Look at how this team has best is like a drum the last few years, would any of those players have the respect for this team to come here regardless if the money. If they want to know about the culture here all they have to do is go ask Mark Barron because it ain’t changed much since he left lol we’re still losing and the unrealistic still are wondering why.
We talk about coaches not wanting to come here because if how brutal the division is but if your a corner would you want to play for this division in a team with no pass rush? Defensive end may be able to get him for a high price but that depends on how he views GMC skills inside
January 11th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Payne or the guard from Notre Dame would both be great picks at #7. Bennett and Talib are both past their prime and will still want big money.
The chances are slim but if the opportunity presents itself to get Ansah or Quinn we have to jump on it especially Ansah. I have very little hope that he makes it out of Detroit. They will tag him before they let him walk.
Joe makes a good point about trading for a DE. This might be our best option to get a stud DE.
I think our 1st round pick has to address one of our lines. It doesn’t really matter which because we need help at both. Payne is going to be the real deal though and would potentially be the steal of the draft 5 years from now. Chubb is my favorite guy in this draft but he won’t fall below 5th at worst. If Indy doesn’t take him at 3 i see no way Cleveland passes on him at 4. Chubb and Garrett would give them one of the best all time duo’s(on paper) and would be fun to watch and would help their new #1 overall QB a ton.
January 11th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
I heard Trumaine Johnson’s in the cool club too. Win win
January 12th, 2018 at 1:09 am
In what world would a team give up a 1st and a 4th for a 30 year old injury prone DT making that much money @Buccaneer Bonzai? What ever you’re on, pass it this way!