Intel From “Backchannels”
April 26th, 2018
War room debate.
A former Bucs player who makes a living as a network TV talking head offered insider intel on what the Bucs may do this evening.
Speaking on “Pro Football Talk Live,” which intelligent football fans watch weekday mornings on NBC Sports Network, former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms lifted a veil of sorts of what is going on at One Buc Palace in relation to the No. 7 pick overall, which the Bucs current possess.
From what Simms knows, there is not yet a consensus in the draft war room but the options have been narrowed between two defensive players.
“I look at [the Bucs] and say, ‘Secondary help all the way’ is what there issue is. I think with them, I am looking at Derwin James from Florida State, the safety position. … They could go corner here, I wouldn’t be shocked.
“The things I have heard through the backchannels is that there is a conversation between Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick. And I think they are leaning Derwin James there. So I can totally understand that.”
Joe is not against drafting James at all — provided Bradley Chubb and/or Saquon Barkley are off the board.
Joe’s only issue with James is the stuff Joe has been reading about James in recent weeks, Joe never saw that player at Florida State.
James seems to be being built up like the second coming of Troy Polamalu. If that is the case, getting him at No. 7 is a freaking steal.
The times Joe watched Florida State play, nothing about James reminded Joe of Polamalu.
No. 7 is incredibly high to pick a JAG of a safety. That high of a pick, Joe expects a safety to be a transcendent player.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:33 am
I don’t have an issue selecting Derwin either, I just think we have bigger priorities that SS and we could still get him if we trade out of the top 10 and get an additional pick or 2.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:33 am
This has to be a smoke screen with the shear volume of rumors that we’re hearing. You can’t pick a safety at 7
April 26th, 2018 at 10:35 am
Smoke screen time.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:37 am
Would rather Minkah then Derwin but frankly neither if any of the big 3 are on board, and would rather trade back down
April 26th, 2018 at 10:38 am
7 is too high for James. I’d rather have Fitzpatrick or trade back if the big 3 are gone. I think the floor for Fotz is Malcom Jenkins….tried CB, developed into a top safety. James reminds me of just about any other safety out there that can play in the box (ie Barron, Reid, and Cravens).
April 26th, 2018 at 10:38 am
If “the Big Three” are off the board (although I would not draft Barkley), my prediction is that they will either trade down or go with Minkah Fitzpatrick. Going safety that high is not ideal. I like OneBucPerson’s thinking on this.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:39 am
With Fitz you a valuable utility type player. Safety, CB, slot CB. Injuries take a toll during the season. I’m leaning towards Fitz, but no problems with James.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:40 am
keyword: “intel”
joe is getting up on the lingo!………..bingo
April 26th, 2018 at 10:42 am
I will lose it if we pass on a generational talent, big three- Quentin Nelson, to take a flipping safety. I hope we trade back if the big 3 are gone.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:45 am
I’ll listen to Chrissy Simms after he explains how one out of two of his passes would get batted down by opposing defensive lines. He has no more linkage to the Bucs war room than I do.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:46 am
The only DB who wouldn’t disappoint me at #7 would be James. That’ because I’d have to believe the Bucs scouting department saw Jalen Rose 2.0 only bigger.
If James gets picked 7th he better be as good as Rose!!!
April 26th, 2018 at 10:50 am
We playing Basketball ? Who is Jalen Rose ?
April 26th, 2018 at 10:52 am
I only hope all of this is a smokescreen so the Bears don’t jump the gun for one of the Big 3 that was going to fall to the Bucs. The Bears traded up last year for a QB that they would have got regardless and their new offensive line coach came from Notre Dame and is very high on Nelson.
The difference between James and Fitzpatrick is minimal to me and one can be had in the early to mid teens.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:53 am
We have the worst pass defense and defensive backs in the NFL. Our GM did absolutely nothing in the off season to improve a very weak group of defensive backs.
It would not surprise me if the Bucs draft both a safety and a corner with the first two picks.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:55 am
People seem to overlook Edmunds of Virginia Tech. Many think at 19 years old he may be an edge rusher vs. a line backer. Think of the possibilities. We have added VC for the short term but will be replaced. Meanwhile he can roam the as the LB until ours returns.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:55 am
Jalen Rose?
Yes, but can he hit the three from the 50 yard line?
April 26th, 2018 at 10:58 am
@ Marine
Starting to feel the same now, with the Simm’s signing.
What’s really gonna tick me off is if we do go S/CB and then Mike Mayock’s draft comes true and we have to endure watching DJ Moore, Sony Michel, and Derrius Guice 3 straight weeks, just wishing we had new offensive talent too.
April 26th, 2018 at 10:59 am
Amazing how many of you disrespect Chris Simms….guy almost dies wearing Buc colors and you treat him like trash. Do you not know your Buc history? Google Spleen and Chris Simms and educate yourself.
PS- He knows 100X more than most of you about the NFL and playing the game, which includes player acquisition.
If the big 3 are there, pick one. Otherwise trade down if you can find partner.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:01 am
For those who want Minkah, we would be lining up 4 DBs all under 6′ and all under 200lbs. With an undersized MLB and undersized WLB.
We play in a division with dual RBs on every team. Undersized back 7 is not how you stop that.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:01 am
id be happy with a guard, safety, corner and or a edge rusher kuz we all know we need ALOT of players to even contend in the nfc south
April 26th, 2018 at 11:03 am
I know four diehard FSU fans and not a one would pick James with these seventh pick. All four claim to watch almost every play of every game. Two years ago, I found a few Gator fans that would have been dumb enough to pick Hargreaves but not a single FSU fan loves James enough to pick him that low. On a trade- back, however, all four said he would be a good pick after fifteen. Small sample size but good enough for me.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:05 am
BPA for the needs of the team but……. Derwin and Minkah are not Corners. This will be interesting if we use our 1st pick on the secondary.
Can they come in and play corner (which we need most IMO) and have the immediate impact we need? To me that is the biggest question.
Minkah has that edge in that he can play almost anywhere you put him and can do that from day 1. (similar 40 time as James @ 4.46 and is 6ft)
James, not so sure about playing different positions but is extremely athletic and has the size advantage @ 6,2″ or 6,3″ (depending on the stat source) with almost identical speed as Minkah (around 4.47)
Ward is also in the mix as the best true corner in this draft who is the fastest of the 3 but @ 5, 11″ (@ 4.32 which is faster than Desean @ 4.35 for perspective)
So biggest needs IMO in order of importance for the Bucs:
CB
RB
DE/G
G/DE
SS
LT
April 26th, 2018 at 11:06 am
I said this earlier today. Just attempt to fix the secondary. I dont care who it is or what pick it comes at. I dont understand how anybody can say the secondary isnt the biggest area of concern on this football team.
On a side note, Derwin James and Justin Evans would be a fun Safety tandem to watch.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:06 am
If the big 3 (Barkley, Chubb. Nelson) are all gone, trade down or else. There was a rumor mentioned that the Cards would swap 1s plus give the Bucs David Johnson. A quality DB will still be there at 15.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:07 am
@ reality – I’m hopeful we can trade down with Buffalo and have enough picks to help the offensive line, secondary and running back. Let’s hope both Denver and NY don’t pick a QB.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:07 am
I can see everyone mad when we get James tonight 😁. I won’t tho, as long as we don’t pass on Barkley for him.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:08 am
Vertical leap 40 inches……equal to Lebron James!!! Wow, wouldn’t mind having that in our backfield……..great height for some of the WR’s & TEs we face…..
I would rather have one of the big three or a trade down….but if all that is exhausted, I’m comfortable with James.
(Or, a Punter) (Sarcasm)
April 26th, 2018 at 11:09 am
let’s just hope he’s not another bust like har-grievances…
if such is the case he will get a nickname too…
“Derp James”
let’s just hope he’s a beast roaming the secondary with Evans, playing smash mouth Johnny Lynch type football…
April 26th, 2018 at 11:11 am
Marine-Agreed.
I realize most posters think we have a desperate need for Guard.
I believe the Bucs are comfortable With Benoch and Smith at Tackles, Sweezy and Marpet at Guard, and Hensen at Ceter.
Unless Sweezys leg injury is severe- which we dont know. Sweezy should be improved, having knocked off the Rust from a missed season.
We need a CB and a Safety. And there are lots of good ones this draft.
Just none worth the 7th pick.
Ward is to Frail to succeed. James will be good, not great. Fitzpatrick is limited in coverage. Will be a 2 down Strong safety.
Yet so many really goid CBs and S in Lower rounds.
Sure hope Licht finds a way to trade out of 7.
Its a bad spot. Just misses great talent, but too early for lessor talent
April 26th, 2018 at 11:11 am
If Licht drafts Derwin James at 7 he should be fired. I’d rather take Josh Jackson who could be a day 1 starter at corner over an average safety
April 26th, 2018 at 11:14 am
Yeah…he heard it from other media guys, not from anyone with the Bucs…unless they want to mislead.
Look at it this way…assume all these mocks are wrong and they don’t go after secondary with the first pick, and if they don’t trade down. Just assume it for a moment.
And then assume the RB is gone when they pick. What’s left?
One of the two lines.
And if Nelson is gone, and if Chubb is gone, and if they can’t trade down, who will be the pick?
Think a reach for DE.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:15 am
They’re blowing smoke so Chicago doesn’t jump us for Nelson, IMO.. Indy can drop to #8 and get Roquan Smith if that’s who they want.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:15 am
I can’t wait til tomorrow and watch some on this board pick apart the pick and the Bucs not moving down/moving down. Its as predictable as the sun rising.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:17 am
Agreed the bucs had the worst defense in the NFL in like 3 different categories and people want a guard or running back with the first pick only to complain about the defense all season. Don’t wanna hear it just go get a corner or safety. Grimes will be gone next year so it’s not like we can wait to replace him and start over with a rookie next year too. Get a safety and two corners along with a running back and I’m happy, groom his replacement and find another starter this year
April 26th, 2018 at 11:17 am
Steve in Mad Beach Says
“This has to be a smoke screen with the shear volume of rumors that we’re hearing. You can’t pick a safety at 7”
I would not say they can’t, but I do agree that its a smokescreen.
Most likely to get someone to trade up.
No QB needy team will trade down, so that means someone who wants another position will trade down…and if a team swaps with them to get James, that means a greater chance one of the big three fall to us.
Total smokescreen.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:22 am
Let’s hope it’s all smoke. Arguably, the best defensive player in the top 10 of the draft not named Chubb is R. Smith (UGA). Somehow we’re ignoring that in favor of DBs that simply don’t stand out on film in the same way that Berry, Ramsey, Polomalu, Peterson or Lattimore did. This is like living in a time-warp where we passed on Kuechly for Barron.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:23 am
james is nice, but I think eric reid would fit better….
I pray we land nelson@7…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 26th, 2018 at 11:26 am
Per Ian Rapoport, Saints are looking for a big leap up in the first round. I call bull.
They do not have the picks to pull it off. They don’t even have a second.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:28 am
BB they would have go give up multiple 1’s to move up near us from 27
April 26th, 2018 at 11:28 am
@Buccaneer Bonzai
You want a DE. again I say look at Tremaine Edmunds. At 6’5″ 250lbs and 19 years old, he’s a growing boy and will not be a LB for long. Think Simeon Rice from 2002
April 26th, 2018 at 11:29 am
yeah we had a lousy secondary but that was without any kind of help from the front 4……
JPP & curry should help out tremendously……with more pressure, smitty should be able switch things up and play tighter coverage….more man press vs off coverage…..
imo, Edmonds would be a better pick at #7 vs james…..you can never have too many pass rushers…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 26th, 2018 at 11:33 am
I could live with Edmunds.
Well, not actually live with him…
April 26th, 2018 at 11:42 am
We need the cornerback Ward from Ohio State more than we need a safety.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:46 am
not saying we could not use some more help and the secondary but this would be the booby prize of the draft. This would mean we either miss out on or pass on Bradley Chubb Saquon Barkley and Quinton Nelson and still cannot trade back with the quarterbacks that Will be available. Not able to find a trade partner and not able to get an elite player leaves us with the new Mark Barron. Haven’t we made this mistake before already? Can we start building our team from the back forward when all the good teams build it from the front back? This would be very disappointing
April 26th, 2018 at 11:47 am
I wish Ira could convince the RB/DB happy Joe that reaching for non premium positions has never worked out for the Bucs in the past decade.
These safeties are not the answers IN EARLY ROUND 1.
I agree on Chubb and Nelson at 7 if they are there.
Otherwise trade back and…
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
April 26th, 2018 at 11:48 am
stupid spellcheck! Previous message was please stop building our team from the back when we have neglected the defensive line. After five years as our GM Jason light finally brought in some proven lineman but they’re all in their 30s. We have no future at defense of line
April 26th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Everyone thinks our secondary is so bad but it’s not. They can’t cover for 20 seconds while our pass rush stands around.
April 26th, 2018 at 11:59 am
James isn’t worth a pick at #7. But he was used horribly in his last season at FSU.
April 26th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
@passthebuc- As the resident Hokie, I can tell you unequivocally that Edmunds is going to have a monster career. Talk about standing out! And, the VT defense is always one of the best in NCAA.
I picture him more of a 3-4 LB but, there’s no reason he couldn’t test well at DE. Needs some lbs. though.
April 26th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
been there done that see Mark Barron pick. as much as we need help there IMO not value up that high. I would rather see Vita Vea or Nathan Shepard if Nelson is gone. I don’t even think Barkley is worth that high with our needs. use the 2nd rnd to get the RB, or trade back add another pick but don’t go back further than 15.
April 26th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
Sure pick guy with 26 games and no burst over the all world game changer than can play corner or safety. GO BUCS!
April 26th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Joe never suggested he thinks the Bucs need to draft a safety at No. 7. In fact, as Joe wrote in this very post, unless a safety is the next Troy Polamalu, taking a safety at No. 7 is awfully high.
Last two paragraphs of the post are key for the subject you are asking about.
April 26th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
With the 7th pick in the 2018 NFL draft Tampa Bay selects…………
Am I the only one that has this stuck in my head this whole week????!!
April 26th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Bills, Packers, patriots, and Cardinals or potential trade partners. Not being negative I’m a diehard Buccaneers fan but we have not build our team well and we have too many desperate needs and to many different areas to walk away with a safety and no third round pick.
April 26th, 2018 at 12:43 pm
If this is a smokescreen, then why? To what purpose? To keep Chicago from moving to 6? Nothing else makes sense. In scenario where Barkley and Chubb and three QBs are gone; QB4’s stock is dropping; and Indy wants Smith the linebacker: They know they can drop to 7 or 8 and still get him. The Bears want Nelson, so they might move up to get him. Licht may want to make everyone think we want James, so the Bears will refuse to pay a premium to get a guy they’re going to get anyway. Indy takes Smith, then we get Nelson, the guy Licht has secretly coveted all along,
April 26th, 2018 at 12:47 pm
That would be so awesome I hope you’re right
April 26th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Indy this past week as been doing everything to make that 6th spot available to trade down. Notice how all of the sudden Roquan Smith is the chatter out of Indy? Gives the Bears hope that one of the Big 3 is available at 6 and they know the Big 3 won’t make it pass the Bucs. Licht is doing everything he can to convince the Bears that it would be foolish to move up to 6th. Indy would be fine chilling at 6th overall and getting one of the big 3 but if they can coax multiple picks out of Da Bears then why not?
Go back to the 2017 draft and Chicago was dumb enough to move up from 3 to 2 for Mitchell Tribusky of all people for the 1st, 3rd, and 4th in 2017 as well as Chicagos 2018 3rd.
Indy is hoping that Da Bears do something equally dumb in 2018 and Jason Licht has to do everything he can to convince the Leauge that Derwin James is the pick at 7 so the Bears don’t jump. If Da Bears don’t bite then Indy is fine with picking one of the Big 3 at 6. I doubt Indy passes on a Big 3 player for Roquan Smith. If I’m wrong I’ll eat my own head.
April 26th, 2018 at 1:14 pm
I still think 7 is too high for a safety or even a guard. Even Nelson. Yes. Fitz may be worth it given his high potential and ability to play anywhere but please trade back and acquire more capital.
April 26th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Not sure on James. A lot of bigtime talent on FSU’s defense didn’t perform under the previous coaches. Plenty of that talent will have better pro careers than they had careers at FSU. It would be hard for me to choos between him and Minkah Fitzpatrick. I just hope the Bucs make the right choice.
April 26th, 2018 at 1:58 pm
*************
JOE,
Did you watch a lot more FSU ball last year than in 2015? I ask as from everything I’ve read about Derwin, he was a monster in 2015 whereas last year he was just sort of “returning to form” from a 2016 injury … I don’t watch FSU games unless they’re highly ranked and playing another highly ranked team so I haven’t seen a ton of him other than highlights and some film breakdown stuff.
*************
April 26th, 2018 at 2:13 pm
this scenario is so reminiscent of drafting loser vh3
draft top 3 or trade down or get the linebacker
April 26th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
I like big guys with my first pick.
If I’m the GM I’m taking Nelson or Davenport with my top pick.
If Chubb or Barkley fall that changes things. Take Chubb in a heartbeat & Id take Barkley if evaluations proved he was worthy of a top ten pick.
April 26th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
HAHAHA
BACKCHANNELS=MUSHROOM CLOUD OR VH3 LIVING ROOM. FILLED WITH SMOKE.
TV RATINGS FOLKS. THAT’S ALL THIS SH*T’S ABOUT. CHRIS SIMMS OR ANYONE ELSE OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION KNOWS D%CK ABOUT THE BUCS THOUGHTS.