Quinn’s Ransom Incredibly Low
March 5th, 2018
The Ghost of George Johnson.
This is some crazy stuff right here.
Just judging by Bucs history, Robert Quinn is worth much more than a fourth-round pick.
Before Joe gets rolling, please note that the abject inability for this Bucs franchise to find and/or develop and/or recognize pass rushing talent and not throw it to the curb is not a Jason Licht thing. It’s an organizational thing.
This nonsense began when Simeon Rice was released. The Bucs have yet to come close to replacing him. Not Gaines Adams. Not sackless Kyle Moore. Not Michael Bennett — who the Bucs let go for no good reason. Not guitar-plucking, gun-totin’ Da’Quan Bowers. Not Will Gholston.
Three different general managers and five Bucs coaches have all failed to find or develop a guy who can consistently rush the edge — and not want to run the guy off.
That brings Joe to sackless George Johnson. Remember him? Licht, the Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager, danced the dance with Johnson as if the guy was some Motor City version of Charles Haley.
Johnson, as a restricted free agent in 2015, was signed by the Bucs to a three-year contract but the league shot the signing down on a technicality. So what did Licht do? He traded a fifth-round pick for Johnson, who had as many sacks in his days with the Bucs as you and Joe have combined. None.
So just for a little bit more, the Bucs were denied the Dolphins acquired a proven beast of a defensive end who is but 27.
Think about that. Quinn was had for a little more than a warm body like Johnson. Unreal.
Hat tip: @Lpaolillo2
March 5th, 2018 at 5:02 am
Sorta kinda makes ya wanna cry, doesn’t it.
March 5th, 2018 at 5:30 am
Joe – its unbecoming to whine at this point. Lets see what happens over the next 7 weeks with free agency and the draft before you start chucking beer bottles and kicking neighbors dogs again…
March 5th, 2018 at 5:35 am
First reaction : Why, Why, Why ?
Second Reaction :No matter how good his drafts are, it is time for Licht to do his homework and also bring in quality free agents to add to this defense. We
perpetually are trying to fill the same holes over and over again because of signings like Anthony Collins, TJ Ward, Chris Baker, and George Johnson.
March 5th, 2018 at 5:39 am
Personally, I’d rather have our third round pick than Robert Quinn. So I’m not complaining. Licht offered a fourth round pick for him and got turned down so it’s not his fault here.
March 5th, 2018 at 5:41 am
George Johnson had 6 sacks in Detroit (as a backup) and the Bucs thought he could give them the same production. But he gave them exactly what he had given them before (nothing).I don’t see the Bucs signing a quality edge rusher in free agency. I have more doubts of them drafting a quality edge rusher. They need edge rushers, safeties, cornerbacks, nose tackle, guards, tackles, running backs. I’m just waiting to see how this thing play out.
March 5th, 2018 at 5:47 am
I wouldn’t go into the season counting on Demar Dotson and J.R. Sweezy, Noah Spence. You can’t depend on injury prone players in the NFL.
March 5th, 2018 at 5:55 am
Agree Lakeland, I am wondering if Licht is clearing a lot of salary cap space to
make a lot of roster moves this year.
March 5th, 2018 at 6:02 am
OrlandoJoe, I would’ve given up a 3rd round pick for Quinn no questions asked, unless someone knew for sure that he was still injured like he was in 2016. Based on last season’s performance (15 games played, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, played 59% of the Rams’ defensive snaps) I’d think that he’s probably OK now. Second on the Rams in sacks (Aaron Donald had 11 of the Rams 48 total sacks). BTW, the interior of the Rams’ DLine is really what makes it tick IMO. If Bucs add a couple of beastly DTs to go with McCoy then our DLine might finally be ticking also (creates all kinds of new possibilities for the DEs & LBs especially).
March 5th, 2018 at 6:06 am
@Bob … ” I am wondering if Licht is clearing a lot of salary cap space to make a lot of roster moves this year.” Nah Bob, Bucs are just getting rid of dead-wood in the hopes of upgrading in FA & the draft. He was in the perfect spot to grab Quinn, but he blew it IMO. Deals like that don’t come along every day; Licht has to pounce when they do.
March 5th, 2018 at 6:29 am
Defense
Absolutely. Anyone who says theyd rather have the 3rd round pick hasnt seen this defense play, hasnt seen what licht does with picks in the draft, or hasnt seen quinn play. The options are very limited. Quinn becoming available was a godsend. Then licht screwed the pooch. Man this one really gets me. Hard to believe really. Also he is back to healthy now. Had 6 sacks in his last 5 games. Any 3rd round DE he could draft might be decent in 3 years. Maybe licht has a contract extension we dont know about.
March 5th, 2018 at 6:44 am
At this point there is no point complaining. We will never know what really happened all we can do is speculate. Who is to say that the Rams didnt want to trade with us because they are in the same division and could be battling us for a play off spot next year? Cant always blame Licht for things like this. Lets be real for a second stop complaining so much and just realize that this is a business at the end of the day. I used to get all emotional about this kinda stuff a few years ago then finally realized that no matter what we say these guys checks are still clearing. You can complain all you want to but you are still checking in on this team
March 5th, 2018 at 7:02 am
A beastly defensive end with a bad back. If he offered a 4th that was sufficient, you can’t make stupid moves out of desperation.
https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/robert-quinn-player-injuries
March 5th, 2018 at 7:05 am
Licht chose a 3rd round pick and $12mil in cap space over only Quinn … I have no problem with that … now it’s on him to sign 1-2 quality players and draft a stud with that 3rd round pick … he made his bed and now he’s got to lay in it, however considering $12mil could get the team Kony Ealy and Carlos Hyde and the 3rd round pick could be used on a stud DT like Derrick Nnandi or a CB like Anthony Averett, I personally think Licht made the right choice as I’d much rater have Ealy+Nnandi+Hyde than only Robert Quinn …
March 5th, 2018 at 7:25 am
No other teams were beating down the Rams door for Quinn either and the Rams themselves had no issue with dumping him for a 4th rounder …
Quinn had 40 sacks and 17.5 stuffs from 2012-14
However in the last 3 seasons from 2015-2017 he’s had just 17.5 sacks and a measly 4.5 stuffs total.
Again, I’d much rather have a trio of Kony Ealy + Carlos Hyde + Derrick Nandi or a trio of Kony Ealy + Star Lotulelei + Anthony Averett than ONLY Robert Quinn.
March 5th, 2018 at 7:45 am
Many of you fans don’t seem to understand the salary cap at all and think the NFL is like some sort of video game … it’s not hard to educate yourself on how the cap works … Licht and the Bucs brass know what they’re doing with the numbers … they need to just screw their heads on straight with evaluating talent so they don’t sign busts like Swaggy and Sweezy …
March 5th, 2018 at 7:58 am
NFLNut its difficult to assume that Licht and the mgmt team know what they are doing when the results of their time here has been horrendous
March 5th, 2018 at 8:01 am
Defense,
There are going to be young guys like Josh Sweat, Jalyn Holmes, and Sam Hubbard left in the third round of this draft. I’d much rather have one of those guys developing opposite of Noah Spence than Robert Quinn. Our defensive line needs to get younger rather than bringing in guys during the twilight of their career. That includes Michael Bennett. He can stay in Seattle. I’d give up a 5th rounder at most for a 32 year old defensive end.
March 5th, 2018 at 8:03 am
Not to mention that I’m pretty sure we’re taking Marcus Davenport after that combine this weekend.
March 5th, 2018 at 8:17 am
There truly is no hope for this team.
4-12 is optimistic. Licht does not deserve all the blame glazers have made his job nearly impossible and have rendered Tampa bay buccaneers the least desirable location in nfl
March 5th, 2018 at 8:21 am
Also on the “busts” list….
Anthony Collins, Mike Jenkins, Louis Murphy, Alterraun Verner, Henry Melton, Sterling Moore, Bruce Carter, Doug Martin, Gholston, JJ Wilcox…..
Also consider, he had the 2014 draft that produced just one starter in Mike Evans and the 2016 draft that currently doesnt have a single player worthy of starting with the infamous 2nd rd kicker trade and you start to see why we sit 5-11 in yr 4 with holes everywhere.
As i said before, Lovie Smith hand picked Licht to be his puppet GM. Think about what Lovie has accomplished both here and at Illinois…..Lovie was to have final say, not Licht. Now Licht is the guy calling the shots when he was never intended for that. He’s in over his head evidenced by turnarounds throughout the league in less then 3 yrs…in some cases 2 yrs. Rams, Eagles, Titans….49ers won 6 straight including 2 games against playoff teams from ONE trade for a BACK UP QB!….Even the Bills and Jaguars turned the corner…..Yet 4 yrs of premium picks and free agent signings and we are still rebuilding.
Its highly unlikely that when you need and eventually bring in so many new starters that they gel instantly. The o-line will likely see more movement and lack chemistry, new running backs will likely miss assignments, the defense will be littered with new players that will force the defensive design to be vanilla and the communication will need time to develop as will the trust that folks will stay in their assignments. Not too mention you have a QB that may be suspended. But the Bucs will sell hope and excitement, fans will buy in and we’ll be hopeful for 4-6 weeks, then talking draft and rebuilding.
March 5th, 2018 at 8:29 am
Joe, your link above to the previous article is not complete. It only shows “http://report-bucs-offered-fourth-quinn/”
March 5th, 2018 at 8:38 am
OrlandoJoe … Not sure I’d characterize Robert Quinn (28 this May) as being in the twilight of his career. What our DLine needs as much as anything is LEADERSHIP. McDonald (free agent) does the best job of providing that IMO, but he’s been hurt quite a bit unfortunately. Rookies are great (assuming they’re making plays) but rarely do any provide quality leadership. Don’t really know if Quinn could provide that for us, but what we’ve got right now surely doesn’t seem to be getting the job done. I just keep hoping now that if Bucs improve the interior of the DLine, the edges will improve as a consequence.
March 5th, 2018 at 8:41 am
Defense,
Tampa was a top 10 team in sacks in 2016. Dead last in 2017. Only thing that really changed was that we lost Noah Spence for the entire season and therefore had no edge pressure. If Noah is healthy in 2018 and Tampa just brings in one other defensive end in the draft then this defense is going to be fine.
March 5th, 2018 at 9:51 am
OrlandoJoe … Agree with you about the impact of not having Noah full-strength, but IMO if was a LOT more than just one guy. Noah did play in 6 games but only got 1 sack & 5 tackles in 2017. Injuries undoubtedly took a big toll on the DLine last year, but there’s still more to it than just that IMO. The DTs got as many sacks in 2017 as they had in 2016. Not so the DEs or LBs. Ayers played in 12 games in both 2016 & 2017, but went from 5 sacks (2016) to 2 sacks (2017). Gholston went from 3 sacks (2016) to 0 sacks (2017).
But the biggest difference in those 2 years was the LBs. They had 10 sacks (2016) and that dropped to just 2 sacks in 2017. Reason IMO? Baker. The middle was getting clogged up & the lanes weren’t getting opened for the LBs to get through.
March 5th, 2018 at 10:22 am
@Waterboy,
Nice link, his concussion history raises a red flag for me, pass.
March 5th, 2018 at 10:31 am
nflnut
you think the panthers let star go to an division opponent?……glad to see your optimistic….licht has continued to swing and miss…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 5th, 2018 at 10:39 am
813bucboi,
Lotulelei is an unrestricted free agent … the Panthers have no say in the matter.
I’m not entirely optimistic as Licht has been pretty bad in free agency … I just know it’s entirely possible for this team to go worst to first in one offseason if things are done the right way …
March 5th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
I’m very confused by posters inability to realize that if Licht offered the same deal the Dolphins did (4th and swap of 6th with LAR) that he had the better offer. No day 2 picks required.
You blame Licht for the lack of a pass rush because he is the guy who is entering his 5th year on the job with the worst pass rush in the league. Bruce Allen never had that. I don’t know that Dominik ever fielded the worst pass rushing roster in the league either. And while Dominik was a no-good, very-bad GM with an atrocious track record of his own, he did draft Gerald McCoy and sign Michael Bennett. That would be two pass rushing lineman that Jason Licht has never been able to sniff in roughly the same time period. Good job Jason you’re worse at this than Dominik!
March 5th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
NFLNUT
are you confident this staff with licht dirk and smitty in charge can lead us from worst to first?……I don’t….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
March 5th, 2018 at 1:15 pm
The Bucs biggest mistake came during the 2014 NFL draft, when they decided to go all-offense. In one of the deepest defensive drafts in recent years. And they are still paying the price for it. Mike Evans is the only player that’s currently on the roster from that draft.
March 6th, 2018 at 10:21 am
Why doesn’t anybody understand that when you trade, you’re trading for more than just a player, you’re also trading for a contract. Quinn is set to make a good amount of money next season… the amount of money he makes along with his worth as a player has to figure into what a player’s trade value is.
Why don’t football people on a football website understand this?