Report: Ryan Jensen Arrives Tonight
March 14th, 2018
The Ravens shuffled Ryan Jensen from guard to center last year to replace Pro Bowl center and former Buccaneer Jeremy Zuttah.
It worked. And now he flies in to Tampa tonight on what is billed as Stop 1 on his free agent tour, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com.
Jensen is supposed to visit the Colts after that. But if general manager Jason Licht is bringing the guy in, then there’s no reason to let him leave without a contract unless a red flag pops up in the interview process. The 26-year-old with the flowing red locks can play. He battled his way up from Division II football in Colorado to being a Ravens sixth-round pick in 2013.
Licht said two weeks ago that right guard J.R. Sweezy is still hurt. And we all know he came off a disappointing season in 2017, after not practicing or playing at all in 2016, following mysterious back surgery.
It’s time to move on from Sweezy. (Ask yourself what Sweezy’s trade value is. And then answer honestly.)
Jensen seems right in the Licht mold. The GM was an offensive lineman himself at Nebraska and he has a passion for finding small school players (See the bold trade up for Division III Ali Marpet).
The arrival of Jensen would seem to insure that Marpet gets moved back to right guard, where he know doubt will be happier since he was very good there and guards can earn about 20 percent more than centers. Marpet’s contract is up after the 2018 season.
Again, if the Bucs like Jensen, then he has to be locked down tonight. Bring in Marpet, Donovan Smith, Demar Dotson and Jameis Winston to serve up the A-list sales pitch.
Once upon a time, Licht let another good center, a versatile lineman, a guy now with a Super Bowl ring, leave the building in March without a contract. And that backfired.
Joe sure hopes the right call is made tonight.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Too bad his is not arriving in the day and enjoy this beautiful weather….
March 14th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
I wouldn’t mind this guy, we needed a strong back-up /replacement for Hawley, Jensen can play multiple position and is a good insurance peice. Will be very interesting to see how they utilize him.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
But…this flies in the face of The Buccaneer BrownEye Bugel…can’t be true?!
March 14th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Get er done
March 14th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
no brainier cut JR and move on already Jason
March 14th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Would be a good signing. Like I said on an earlier post. Ending the Marpet to Center transition after 1 season is the wrong move. It wouldn’t shock me if they tried Jensen at OG, if he is signed of course.
March 14th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
I am all for making the OL better but it just proves that these idiots running the bucs have no clue no vision and no plan, all we were told is marpet is the center of the future up until a few weeks ago that was the idea…..glad marpet back to guard, but another wasted move by licht and co
March 14th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
“Once upon a time, Licht let another good center, ” Wow Licth has aged poorly in the last 3 years…in the hot link…
March 14th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
@Evolvingbucfan
Just need you to know that if we sign this guy it will be as a starter not a back-up.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Bring him in and lock the friggin door. If he leaves he will never come back. They better not let this guy get out of town period.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Big and ugly…….sign ’em!
March 14th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Jensen would work……
but does he want to play for a team with a coach and GM on the hot seat or go somewhere that has more stability……
I think the glazers know Winston will have to sit 6games and they know this staff cant adjust or fight thru adversity……It seems like they are saving cap space and creating depth for the next regime…..
why else wouldn’t we trade for Quinn or sign Wilkerson….or Malcolm butler….instead they are creating depth with players like beau allen and resigning our own players…..
this staff has 3 dead men walking….lol….
no urgency….no excuse
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Bucs Re-Sign S Tandy
March 14th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Oh Buc faithful…. 🙂 Buc faithful, what I could write right now (on this article). Instead… I’ll take the high road, and agree with @AlteredEgo that the weather today is fan-freaking-tastic.
Hopefully Licht keeps the picks for rounds 1-4 intact for 2018-2020, and maybe takes a look at Mr. Vinny Curry from PHI once they do whatever they’ve decided after 4:00 today.
Go Bucs!
March 14th, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Don’t let him leave without a contract. He wants to be here male it happen.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Smith, Nelson, Jensen, Marpet and Dotson would be an incredible OLine.
Would be a great signing for Licht.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Tmax,
Is this the redhead you were looking for?
March 14th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Sign him, start him at C, move Ali back to RG, draft either Quenton Nelson or Braden Smith to play at LG and someone like Guice, Penny, or Nick Chubb in the 2nd and enjoy our revived run game.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Daniel Says:
March 14th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Smith, Nelson, Jensen, Marpet and Dotson would be an incredible OLine.
Would be a great signing for Licht.
They Bucs are in a corner…swallow their pride and choke on their check book….sign Suh and don’t dick around….that way they could draft OG Nelson if he is there @ 7…
March 14th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
Give him some of Swaggy’s money…..no one else has gotten it.
Give him some of Martin’s money if you prefer…..but give him some money and take him to Mons Venus…..
March 14th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Dave Pear
harsh man!!!!
Nah, I was hunting a under 30 red headed preachers daughter stripper with NO morals and a trust fund.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
🙂
March 14th, 2018 at 1:22 pm
@tmax…
Well, when you put it like that, who isn’t??! 🙂
Go Bucs!
March 14th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to move Market back to his natural RG position. Last year Market and Jensen graded out similar with Market taking the slight edge. But, at guard Market is head and shoulders better than Jensen.
So the question is would you rather mildly upgrade two position or let one portion stay similar while massively upgrading a position. Plus moving Market back to RG allows him to help the two weaker links on either side of him being Jensen and Dotson.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Marpet would probably become a very good center….if the Bucs had the luxury of being able to move him there……roster has more holes than a screen door…
March 14th, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Blake_Bucsfan – starter, back up, insurance peice can play multiple positions, what ever. like i said will be interesting how they will utilize him, nobody said Marpet is moving back to guard…..yet
March 14th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
I know its MarP*et. Sorry the phone auto corrected that.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
Unless Licht has forgot to use a FA pen, sign him and move AM back to RG.
March 14th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Which buc QB would he be blocking for in 2019?
March 14th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Go get the Honey badger!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
4-12
March 14th, 2018 at 1:51 pm
“Red headef Joe Dirt”
Kobe Faker
March 14th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
Do not let him leave without a shiny new contract!
March 14th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
They will lock this down tonight hopefully…This sets up up our O line nicely if we can close the deal.
March 14th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Sign Jensen – cut Sweezy
March 14th, 2018 at 2:09 pm
813
“but does he want to play for a team with a coach and GM on the hot seat or go somewhere that has more stability……”
At least half the coaches in this league are on the hot seat. It’s a what have you done for me lately kinda league.
I think once you get past the intangibles…what kind of marketplace…nice place to live? It gets down to opportunity! The opportunity to make money. Show me the money. The opportunity to play! Does the new guy see a way to really contribute and be part of the Buc’s success. And the opportunity to win. Can Jameis and the rest of Joe’s sales force do a good number on Jensen’s head?
This deal does seem to be the proverbial win win. Frees us up to go ballls to the wall for the DL in the draft….if that means spending some picks to move up…so be it if it’s the right DL. Imagine getting Chubb and Vea in the same draft. Two lynchpins to grow and if Spence ever regains his health…we finally have the core of a DL…AT LONG LAST. I know my plan sounds desperate but desperate times demand some desperate solutions..and…NO EXCUSES.
March 14th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Accept the mistake of moving Marpet to center and move on. Don’t let him leave without a contract!
March 14th, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Dude is outdoorsman
Tampa has some amazing fishing and not far from hunting.
And no income tax
March 14th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Yep.. Start at c and move ali back to his natural mauler mold
March 14th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Thatd be my pitch, bird. 🙂 get this man a guide
March 14th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Sign him! Need a center almost as bad as a DE. Get a guard too to replace sweezy. Sign jensen and sitton. Draft all D and a RB
March 14th, 2018 at 4:03 pm
*******************
THIS would be a GREAT signing imho and I’m thrilled his FIRST meeting is with us!
Also, if he’s choosing between us and the Colts, we should win … better team, better weather, no taxes, etc …
SIGN HIM and our O-Line is vastly improved … sign him AND draft Quenton Nelson and we may just have the best O-Line in the entire NFL … seriously.
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March 14th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Hopefully he brings his family with him at sunset on what was a beautiful day today. Lock him up J-Bone!!
March 14th, 2018 at 4:28 pm
stpete
what teams have coaches on the hot seat?
no urgency……no excuse
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
March 14th, 2018 at 5:00 pm
West coast of Florida compared to Indianapolis. Come on Mrs. Jensen. Make Ryan switch it up and come to Tampa. You don’t want to switch from one cold city with a high murder rate to another.
March 14th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
Jensen will take all his visits before he signs. His agent is Mike McCartney and that’s how Mike’s clients do things. He’d look great in Pewter for sure!
March 14th, 2018 at 6:18 pm
Smith, Nelson, Jensen, Marpet, Dotson.
Now that’s what I call FIXING THE TRENCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET ‘ER DONE!!!!!!!!!!
RB Mark Walton (Miami) in Round 4. Lightning speed and can blast defenders. Those gaping holes those guys could make and he will be gone. Would’ve likely gone higher in the draft but had a bad injury last year.
March 14th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
^^Bucs are meeting with Walton as we speak.^^
March 15th, 2018 at 6:30 am
Glad we signed Alex Mack a couple years ago when he became available! Oh wait…