Trumaine Johnson And The Bucs
February 8th, 2018
Bucs looking at Rams’ CB?
If the Bucs are going to circle a guy’s name on the free agent market and make him a top target, Joe would lay cash it would be Rams corner Trumaine Johnson.
If he is a free agent.
Reading this musings of Albert Breer of theMMQB.com, who is well-plugged in within league circles, it seems Breer believes Johnson will be available to the highest bidder when the free agency dinner bell rings in 34 days.
Speaking of the tag, Rams CB Trumaine Johnson is a good example of a guy using it the right way. He’s made $30.7 million on two tags, and will hit the market now at 28 years old. That’s how you draw it up.
Of course we have to remember that nothing prevents teams from re-signing its players before the free agency dinner bell rings. So until Johnson hits the open market, he doesn’t hit the open market.
Joe has zero inside knowledge here, but again, if Joe had to bet a cold six-pack of beer, he’d wager Johnson is on the Bucs’ radar given the team’s desperate need at that position.
In a related subject, Joe has to wonder if the Bucs have given free agent corner Brent Grimes any sort of deadline to declare whether he wants to return to the team? Knowing Grimes’ plans will significantly shape how the Bucs navigate free agency.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
no thanks….young cheap FA’s and the draft…maybe one day the roster will be strong enough to cheery pick top talent….too many holes along with our own talent coming up on second contracts soon….two good drafts and young FA signings and maybe by the 2nd half of 2019 things will click….next year will be closer to last years record (2016)….this horse ain’t ready to gallop
February 8th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Yes Joe I’m down with that…on Grimes, I’d let him go. No more catering to him and this off coverage nonsense. Press man. Period. Damn wake up people. Put VH3 opposite Johnson and let’s roll!!
February 8th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Good lord…I can only imagine if we were able to get him..
February 8th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
.this horse ain’t ready to gallop
😂😂😂😂😂
February 8th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Get him and grimes ! We need as many good corners we can get especially with this terrible dline. There’s usually 3 or 4 corners out anyways and hargraves has shown multiple times he excels in the slot
February 8th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Hr made $17 million last season and $14 million in 2016. The Bucs will have to pay big money to land him.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
We need d-linemen….ramp that up and the secondary will look much better. If you’re going to over pay, shoot for guys that can have the greatest impact on the unit. A pass rusher can make the entire secondary look a grade better….but a stud CB with no pass rush just means the QB targets his other options.
This is the issue i have with the Bucs and Licht. We keep acquiring talent at positions that aren’t high impact. Everyone keeps saying we have talent…..well that’s true…we should. We’ve had 3 of 4 seasons with losing records…that’s a lot of premium picks. The issue is we haven’t used them to construct the roster properly to win in the trenches. Everyone references our at depth at LB, WR and safety….its stupid. How does Godwin help us win games when he’s on the bench and we have no running game? Is Godwin talented….yes. But he’s not more talented then Evans or Jackson or Brate or Howard….great we have awesome talent sitting on the bench. We need talent playing in the game, particularly on the d-line. Same with LBs….great players but they cant get to the QB and our team gets picked apart in a division loaded with QBs. How game changing is that 2nd round kicker that’s out of the league? Licht has blown premium picks on the wrong positons and that’s why we sit 5-11 in yr four while the Rams, Eagles, Titans, etc turn it around in two years. Grimes was a solid CB….Johnson isn’t going to be that much better where the entire defense vastly improves. The opposing QB will just look at his other targets the same way he did when Grimes was in there.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
If Grimes wants to play again then resigning him should be a top priority. Dont understand why fans want him gone. The defensive scheme isnt changing this year and he is the only CB on the team to produce.
Keeping Grimes and signing a CB in FA to play on the opposite side should be how Licht addresses the secondary. And yes, Johnson should be top of the list
February 8th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
That’s not Grimes’ fault.
If you want press coverage, you better hope Mike Smith is run. Fact is, barring the Colts hiring him (no, he’s not even rumored), he’s your coordinator for 2018. So off coverage it is, like it or not.
And if the Bucs win in 2018, good bet Smith returns in 2019 as well.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
@REALIST……WHERE YOU AT?
you’ve been talking about SOS for 2 years now…..lol….if lovie didn’t improve from year 1 to year2, dirk certainly regressed from year 1 to year2…..enough with the excuses!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
July 24th, 2017 at 9:18 am
I have to disagree with Ira on something, and that is the quote so called “improvement” of 2014 to 2015!!!!!!!!! Due to the strength of schedule and and the weak/tough schedules each year, Judging by division placement is a better indication of a team!!!!!!!
well @realist, according to you, the bucs regressed big time….from 2nd in 2016 to 4th in 2017……that coaching….simple as that!!!!!……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
So do we want Grimes to resign or to re-sign?..
February 8th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
AND THE WINNER IS…….WUTDABUCISTHIS!!!!!!!!!
WUTDABUC SAYS: No more catering to him and this off coverage nonsense. Press man. Period. Damn wake up people. Put VH3 opposite Johnson and let’s roll!!
BINGO!!!!!!….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
I would offer Grimes a two-year deal…..most teams will only want to do one year…..and Grimes knows that…..pay the man but put a reasonable deadline on his decision.
As for DE…..I would offer Julius Peppers a huge 1 year contract…..and force Carolina to give him a big raise or let him go to us.
Then draft a CB & DE high (1st 3 rounds)
February 8th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
That’s not Grimes’ fault
Your right Joe that’s his strength and I get that. Why on earth are we taking these young players and taking THEIR strength away because of one player. Damn it, it ain’t working Joe. Much as I want our trenches shored up, won’t make a difference of they play off coverage on the back end. Man this whole thing stinks
February 8th, 2018 at 12:51 pm
So do we want Grimes to resign or to re-sign?..
Resign
813bucboi…thank u my good sir!!
No excuses
#TRENCHWARFARE
February 8th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
not lichts MO, he is scouring the arena 3 leagues in spokane, flint and brussles lookin for that gem that no team has ever wanted
February 8th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
@Joe
Is there any word on Noah Spence. Did he have successful surgery? How is his rehab going? I’ve heard nothing about him. Are we to assume his career is over?
IMHO if there is no healthy Spence next year then we again are at least a year away from a decent pass rush.
Someone came up with the idea of just blowing the entire draft and trading up for Chubb…and then more picks to trade up for Vita Vea. THAT would be a committment to a pass rush and IF Noah returns healthy we could actually be good.
February 8th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
Has anyone seen or heard from Pablo? I found an empty bottle of Tequila (worm still in the bottle), a Pancho and a Serape on the Courtney Campbell causeway… but no Pablo.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
@JOE
are you going to do the “dirks biggest decisions for 2018” articles again…..they were great and as you pointed out, they were all things that caused us to go 5-11…..
#10-playing the best players- obviously that didn’t happen…..you wrote the other day about not playing josh robinson and everyone agreed regarding barber over martin…..THE STAFF FAILED…..
#9-engaging grimes- I guess they’re trying….I say let him walk…time to get younger and play man press…..inconclusive….
#8-managing the locker room-we had baker mouthing off to the media…ward mouthing off to the media…..THE STAFF FAILED…..
#7-developing spence-THE STAFF FAILED……(que the injury excuse…other DE’s haven’t developed either….when he learns more from s.rice than smitty and the staff, something’s wrong)
that entire 10 article segment was spot on……PLEASE DO IT AGAIN!!!!!….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
The reason they don’t do good in free agency we go after average players go get the best Trumaine is the best corner go get add a couple edge rushers and the defense will be good
February 8th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
We have the cap space… Signing him and resigning Grimes would be huge… Would allow us to focus on drafting DL/OL/RB
February 8th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Zero. Bucs are all away from One Buc until mid-April and outside of a rare “like” he has made on someone’s Instagram posting, Noah Spence has been silent on social media.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Bucs have made it clear they want him back. Grimes holds all the cards.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
I would love it if the Bucs signed Trumaine Johnson, But I like Lamarcus Joyner even more. He’s a DB the Bucs could have a lot more flexability with in that he can play Safety, Corner and Nickle.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
@WutdaBucisthis
Mike Smith didnt design the defensive scheme around Grimes lol. And I 100% believe that VH3 playing off coverage is mental. He is afraid of getting troched because he cant keep up with NFL WRs. Its the extreme version of the “bend but dont break” mentality.
Unfortunately they bent and broke too often
February 8th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
@Joe Is that a cold 6 pack of PBR cans or a COLD SIX PACK OF BOTTLED ????
It could be a deal breaker either way??? I NEED TO KNOW!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
I disagree that they need to know about Grimes plans in advance. Best approach is to go into free agency and the draft assuming he won’t be around. If he decides to come back, we’re just that much stronger.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
franchise grimes, sign kyle fuller…cornerback solved…
February 8th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
If Grimes gets an offer from a SB caliber team he’ll be GONE !
February 8th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
@365- Agreed. I don’t know why everyone is rushing to get this guy signed. FIRST, if we don’t address the d-line, it won’t make a bit of difference who’s back there. Secondly, we have to get younger AND better. He would be a welcome addition but I wouldn’t be crawling on my knees to get him.
Trumaine would be a nice signing provided the Bucs do something about their pass-rush (what pass-rush?!)!
February 8th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
Blahak- Fuller all day! Them Hokies can ball!
February 8th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
@Joeypoppems…VH3 did pretty good against these same guys in college.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
I want Grimes back but franchise tagging him might be the dumbest idea yet
February 8th, 2018 at 1:37 pm
@WutdaBucisthis
I know, well, he got torched by Amari cooper in college too but I get your point. Is he better in press man? Yes I agree. But you can play zone and not be 15 yards off the WR. There is middle ground between the two.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“@ Drew”…….Pablo thinks Drew is being a bit stereotypical (big word for Pablo) with the tequilla, pancho & serape…..Pablo doesn’t wear that stuff and wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it even on Halloween….and Pablo is a cerveza drinker.
Pablo is still here but is depressed that Pablo’s Bucs didn’t perform last year. Pablo did wish Haboo well and hopes he names his son Hamus Hunior.”
February 8th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
@Joeypoppems …he’s going to the highest bidder, franchising prevents that…a keeper
February 8th, 2018 at 2:03 pm
This post is explicitly for Miko Grimes if she follows Joe Bucs Fan. Miko… Brent is wanted here. You’re both a part of the Buccaneer community.
February 8th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
@Joe Blahak
When a player gets franchise tagged, the tag is worth the average of the top 5 salaries at that position or 120% of their previous salary, whichever is higher.
Paying a 36 year old CB like a Top 5 CB isnt a good idea. The highest bidder for Grimes will still be cheaper than that, much cheaper.
February 8th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Here’s definitely make us overpay because he knows this defense sucks.
Suddenly I’m wondering how the eat a “W” speech will affect our chances of getting free agents
February 8th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
I looked it up. Tagging Grimes would cost around $14.8 million for 1 year. Dumb idea
February 8th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
I lauded for him 2 years ago. Your late news.
February 8th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
He should be at the top at the top of the list if he does in fact become a FA, and if the Bucs want him, they will have to overpay since no one is coming to Tampa willingly when they know Dirk and Licht will most likely get fired. Then again people went to Jacksonville knowing Gus Bradley was about to get fired… why? Because the Jags overpaid for guys – it’s the only way they could get people there since the city is awful and the team was garbage. But they turned it around by overpaying guys, and now that they have done that they can get guys at retail prices. That’s how it works.
February 8th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
I think Grimes will be back. He and Miko like it here and from what I’ve read he’s become close and is like a father figure to our young secondary players.
I was also talking to VHIII a few days ago and asked him if he’s been working on getting Grimes back next year and he said he didn’t think he was going anywhere & would be back.
February 8th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Trumaine Johnson (or Malcolm Butler), Ziggy Ansah, Carlos Hyde, a SS (Joyner, Boston or Reid) with Dontari Poe or Justin Ellis in free agency allows us to be able to draft one more DE and focus on the offensive line in the draft!
February 8th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
Build the front end first, then work on the back end.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Joe,
You brought up a huge issue that I’ve had regarding bringing in Talib. He’s a press man corner. Everything I see points to him being a press man guy. Spending a draft pick and 12 mil for a press corner that you will use as an off man corner doesn’t compute. I just want to maximize the talent we have and the talent we bring in. The Bucs are not good enough to marry to a system IMO.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
I would take Malcom Butler instead. I hope Mike Smith takes the Colts job, we need young blood in the DC spot.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
If Brent even does stay of course it’s gonna be one year and then he’s gone.
1-Trumaine (28 years) 2- Grimes (36 years) SLOT- VH3 (22 years)/ Mclain (29 years).
or:
1-Trumaine, 2-Fitzpatrick/ Hughes in the second, SLOT- VH3/Mclain
Number two sounds kick ass to me. That’s a very good young squad with their number one in his prime and is said to be a great teammate and leader.
February 8th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Word is the Mike Evans will get his extension in the next week or less. Expect him to make 15 mil per year average.
I would pay Grimes. Since there will be no great DE help in free agency (unless one is cut), I say also go after Trumaine Johnson and a running back (Blount?).
Draft our DEs and a CB, and maybe a young RB in rounds 1-4 and boom. Team fixed.
February 8th, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Joe Blahak Says:
February 8th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
franchise grimes, sign kyle fuller…cornerback solved”
Players can only be franchised twice, and Grimes has been.
February 8th, 2018 at 4:22 pm
We are worse than Cleveland browns, they lost every single game and even those fans wouldn’t mention something as dumb as franchising a guy contemplation retirement. We don’t even know how league rules work in this town. Jason licht has ignored the trenches but he’s the reason we have players worth franchising again. I expect the coaches to get fired but hope at least the gm knocks it out the park and saves his job
February 8th, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Tnew Says:
February 8th, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Joe,
You brought up a huge issue that I’ve had regarding bringing in Talib. He’s a press man corner. Everything I see points to him being a press man guy. Spending a draft pick and 12 mil for a press corner that you will use as an off man corner doesn’t compute. I just want to maximize the talent we have and the talent we bring in. The Bucs are not good enough to marry to a system IMO.
Thank u…that’s what I’m asking. It makes no sense. BTW hard pass on a trade for Talib…wait it out
February 8th, 2018 at 5:06 pm
Personally, I think we should let Grimes walk, slide VH3 into the slot, and try to get some decent draft picks in the later rounds and go from there. I am very reluctant to spend all this money when our entire secondary needs work.
February 8th, 2018 at 5:28 pm
I think we might be alright signing some lower radar free agents for corner and drafting somebody, especially if they like Fitzpatrick.
Two factors making that tough are 1) Will Grimes return 2) Can we develope corners
I’m not so quick to jump on coaching for developing corners because you can’t devolope if the talent or work ethic ain’t there. Maybe VHIII is just a bust, that happens.
February 8th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
VHIIII outside of Johnson? VHIII Is a nickel corner at best in this league. Sign TJ bring back Grimes and draft a corner in the 1st 3 rds ro replace Grimes when he retires.
February 8th, 2018 at 6:13 pm
Not going to pay Grimes and TJ IMO – would much rather pay for the 28 yr old than spend 10+mil per for a 2 yr on Grimes –
Maybe the ticket price increase is so we can actually use all of our cap space – 😟
February 8th, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Clw JB Says
“Not going to pay Grimes and TJ IMO”
Actually, they might. Grimes would only play one more year. So his salary would be off the books next year…the same year Jameis gets a new contract.
And Licht likes to put the guarantees at the front of contracts so he can get bad players off book quickly. So we could get both.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Trivia Question: When was the last time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a Top-10 Passing Defense?
February 8th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Answer: 2010
Defensive Starters
DE Tim Crowder
DT Gerald McCoy ← Rookie
DT Roy Miller
DE Stylez G. White
LB Geno Hayes
MLB Barrett Ruud
LB Quincy Black
LCB Aqib Talib
RCB Ronde Barber ← Ironman
SS Sean Jones
FS Cody Grimm
Note(s):
• Record: 10-6-0
• Points For: 341 (21.3/g) 20th of 32
• Points Against: 318 (19.9/g) 9th of 32
• We only had 26 sacks that year – But we had 2 stud corners.
February 8th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Thanks Joe here’s my top free agent target I’ve been pushing all day!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 11:03 pm
AlteredEgo give your head a shake lmao
February 9th, 2018 at 1:57 am
Trumane Johnson is simply to expensive. Johnson, 27, signed his franchise tender in which the deal guarantees him a $16.7 million salary for the 2017 season. If the Bucs were to sign Johnson, it would make it difficult to re-sign Brent Grimes. IMO it is just not one CB, we need Grimes + 1 or two CB’s. Talib, Claiborne, Butler or Carrie make more sense.
February 9th, 2018 at 3:11 am
Grimes can go he’s on the old man decline.
February 9th, 2018 at 3:12 am
And Butler will probably cost more too
February 9th, 2018 at 7:17 am
I don’t think Johnson gets more than like 13m guys and we have tons of room under the cap. Remember that last years space carries over to this year and we have some bums that are about to be cut
February 9th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
It’s gonna take at least $30+ mil over two years to do it. Not that I care, it’s not my money. But he’s definitely going to be pricey. Might as well do it now, before Jaboo and Evans end up with their big money contracts.
February 9th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
I would rather not pay $15-16m per year. If he can be had for $10m? Maybe. And $8m yr forHyde at RB.
February 9th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Maze Says:
February 9th, 2018 at 3:11 am
Grimes can go he’s on the old man decline”
One more year would be good. Time enough to develop a new rookie. Or at least get him a little bit ready.