Jason Licht’s Swing Game At The Trade Deadline
October 24th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Bucs have a lot riding on Sunday’s game.
How much?
Try the entire direction of the franchise.
Tampa Bay has an opportunity to open the season at 4-3, which may not sound like much. That’s nothing to celebrate if you live in Foxborough or Pittsburgh, but in this town, it’s enough to get the local fan base geeked up.
After all, this organization hasn’t been above the .500 mark through seven games since 2011, the year of the great collapse under Raheem Morris.
And with the NFL trade deadline looming on Tuesday afternoon, Tampa Bay’s fate in Cincinnati will go a long way in determining whether the Bucs will be active.
Lots to consider for GM Jason Licht
And in which direction.
A loss to the Bengals preceding a trip to Carolina could convince ownership that this club doesn’t have what it takes to fashion a serious postseason chase — especially with Kwon Alexander sidelined until 2019.
If that’s the case, the Bucs would likely listen to offers for Brent Grimes, who isn’t signed past this season. A contending team like the Chiefs or Packers might have interest in a veteran cornerback who can provide an upgrade.
But if Tampa Bay springs an upset in the Queen City, Jason Licht should be motivated to hit the phone lines. The Bucs would be guaranteed no worse than a 4-4 mark at the midpoint, with a soft schedule dead ahead — home against the Redskins, a road game vs. the Giants and home matchups against the 49ers and Panthers.
The Peasant Class
Factor in the return of Kendell Beckwith and suddenly this team would look downright dangerous, especially with the right additions.
If they reach 4-3, the Bucs should embrace the opportunity and do what other contenders often do at the trade deadline — capitalize on the league’s peasant class.
The Raiders are in a giving mood these days, so Gabe Jackson is likely available. Can Licht turn down a durable 27-year-old who can slide smoothly into the right guard spot now manned by struggling Caleb Benenoch?
The Giants are in disarray, so 24-year-old safety Landon Collins might be had for the right price. Collins wants out of the Meadowlands and he’s a heck of a player.
How about a desert storm? The Cardinals can insist all they want that Patrick Peterson is staying put, but he is an unhappy camper in his prime at the age of 28.
This isn’t Darrelle Revis coming off a major knee injury. This is one of the league’s premier corners at the peak of his powers, with a reasonable contract.
Shame on a 4-3 Buc team if Tampa Bay doesn’t at least make an offer for Peterson. If Arizona asks for a first-round choice, I’d consider it. If the Cardinals demand two No. 1 picks, you tell them to take a hike.
Despite that troubling minus-9 turnover ratio, the Bucs still lead the league in total offense and passing offense. Their scoring average (28 points) ranks eighth, so if the Bucs can cut down on the turnovers and bump up the takeaways, this club can do some damage the rest of the way.
It all starts in Cincinnati, where the Bengals are coming off an embarrassing effort at Kansas City. While the Bengals seek redemption, the Bucs are seeking relevance.
This is the swing game, the one that determines whether the Bucs say hello or goodbye at the trade deadline.
Now in his 40th year covering the NFL, Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in the Tampa Bay area. He scored a full-time seat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in July of 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Also a TV star, Ira is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday NFL show at 10:30 a.m. He’s also on BayNews 9 Mondays & Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. “The Sage” enjoys beet salads, Riesling, tennis, Bette Midler, Chiefs victories and needling Joe. …WATCH IRA AND DERRICK BROOKS on the new TAMPA TWO show from The Identity Tampa Bay and JoeBucsFan.
October 24th, 2018 at 10:23 am
McCoy should be trade bait….who needs an overrated, injury prone under tackle?
October 24th, 2018 at 10:33 am
Please Bucs, please stay relevant this year.
October 24th, 2018 at 10:41 am
Jason’s odd drafts have cooked our team.
One Case in point
This upcoming draft is the deepest in nfl history
We signed 3 free agent d lineman and traded for one last year
(Because he couldn’t draft one )
Why not draft James as our secondary is awful and because the following draft is so deep on d line, address that then
Then to draft jones over Keryon johnson was mind boggling
October 24th, 2018 at 10:44 am
The Bucs have been in every game but one this season. The Bears game was a nightmare. The Bucs could easily be 5 and 1. Their kicker and their QB are problem areas. They may replace the kicker but I don’t see Winston going any where. The Bucs will never be a top 10 team unless Winston stops the turn overs. He was the same in college. Nothing seems to have changed.
October 24th, 2018 at 10:44 am
Love the Gabe Jackson idea a lot
October 24th, 2018 at 10:53 am
Tough game against them Bengals. They are a good team. I won’t get my hopes up for these Bucs. Because every time I do so, they disappoint me. So I’ll just watch the game objectively and pull for them. I’ll leave the..Rah, Rah, cheerleading for those of you who truly are new fans and have not experienced the..real Bucs of many years. GO BUCS!
October 24th, 2018 at 11:03 am
We darn near lost to the Browns in a game where our OFFENSE and kicker were the weakness. That should not be occurring with the pieces we have in place.
Teams are already making moves. Why not show the fans that you are committed and get the pieces now BEFORE the Bengals game? We already know that we need a RG, CB, and a Safety. Why wait?!
October 24th, 2018 at 11:06 am
WOW! Peterson, Gabe Jackson & Collins. Wouldn’t that be great. Go for it Licht. Trade bait. McCoy, D. Jack Grimes, Bennoch and/or draft picks.
October 24th, 2018 at 11:12 am
i 100% agree with you bucsfanman, if they think they got a legitimate shot at doing anything this season, why wait a game, lets get them in here now, and see how it works out, better than letting a division rival keep jumping the gun and stealing the thunder
October 24th, 2018 at 11:14 am
Sorry Ira, but how can you be paying 4 O-linemen, potentially 5 next season if they keep Donovan Smith. To make the cap work you need to have some rookie contract deals in each position group.
October 24th, 2018 at 11:17 am
I agree that if a starting caliber RG could be traded for Licht should pull the trigger.
Bucs can’t afford Patrick Peterson unless a big salaried player like McCoy or DJax was traded in exchange. That’s way too complicated so obviously Peterson is not coming to Tampa Bay.
Should have grabbed the other Peterson (AP) when we had the chance for cheap. He’d be the best RB on the roster easily even at 33 years old.
October 24th, 2018 at 11:25 am
would love Peterson and gabe Jackson but I think the glazers have closed shop and wont allow licht to trade away picks…..I think the glazers know they will clean house at the end of the year and want to let the new GM and HC wheel and deal…..this regime has had enough time to figure it out and get the job done….if any trades do happen, it will be gaining picks not shipping them away…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 24th, 2018 at 11:26 am
Deepest d line draft ever coming up
Don’t go short term
Also Get some picks backed up for the 20 draft
And make a play for Tua.
He will be a top 10 QB from day 1 and by year 3 be top 3
October 24th, 2018 at 11:30 am
813- Unfortunately there’s a lot of truth to your statement. It ALL might be a foregone conclusion at this point, we don’t know.
I know this: If no moves are made, remember the old saying that, “doing nothing IS a choice!”
10 more games to decide if you have THEE guy on your roster.
October 24th, 2018 at 11:34 am
813bucboi is right. Why have this terrible lame duck GM tie the hands of (hopefully) the new GM. Since Bucs win more without GMC and is overrated, I would trade him for picks or a guard to replace Benenoch.
October 24th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Like most I would LOVE to get Petersen He’s not simply great he’s a physical freak.
CB’s have a pretty decent shelf life and generally flourish well into their 30’s so we’d get Petersen in his prime.
I still can’t believe the Cards let him go without a MAJOR deal in terms of draft picks…or trade. Reportedly the Pats are interested in him as well as the Steelers and Eagles as well as plenty of we bottom feeders.
Pickgrin makes a good point about salary cap issues as well. I like GMC but I would trade him a a New York Minute for Petersen. Again Petersen is not just good he’s a freak. He’s 6-1…205 lbs and runs a 4.3 40!!!
Given that our offense is showing great promise and loads of receiving talent…perhaps another OL is worth trying to dig up…but if we’re going for blockbuster Kahlil Mack style trades Peterson is our guy. He fills a critical position for another five years or more….and the dude can ball!!!
October 24th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
bucfan
unfortunate indeed….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
October 24th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
In reading the comments above I agree, question I have is who (if anyone) would take McIcecream in a trade? Looks to me like the team performed better in his absence. To quote an admired commenter here, Cancer93 is mentally weak, soft, loser culture…………. who if anyone wants him?
October 24th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
Sorry don’t think Gabe Jackson will be available if the article I read is correct. Supposedly Gruden told Carr that’s the core of the team and he wants to build around them…the center and gaurds.
October 24th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
We do not have an accurate passer, so we can start there. Jameis isn’t “dumb”, and I don’t care about off the field stuff, but he just has Dilferism – inability to hit receivers in stride consistently. That costs big plays every week. It is no big secret that the new formula in the NFL is a low cost QB – either old enough to make a cap friendly deal or in a rookie contract. Either way, I’ll take elite accuracy over any other variable, especially with today’s flag football rules in place.
Trades get fans excited, but realistically you have to know what defense you are running for the next three years to draft or trade for that scheme. After firing a D coordinator, how can ownership know that?
October 24th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
View
If you acquire talented players (Peterson, Collins etc.) the new DC will find ways to build around them and use their strengths.
Any Good coordinator anyway.
October 24th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
What new DC wouldn’t be happy to have those guys?
October 24th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Larry- 29-1 in College. Had a decent not great defense but Jameis always got us into trouble but was able to get us out as well. He would 10 more wins if we had a kicker and defense, not to mention special teams in general and any semblance of a running game.
October 24th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
Ive been saying since last year that McCoys value will only go down from this point. We have not and will not go anywhere with him. Thank him for his contributions up to this point and get whatever you can for him before its to late!
October 24th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Jmark… fair point, but INSTEAD OF high draft picks after you’ve had time to evaluate the guys you have now? Conversely, wouldn’t a vet with trade value want to know who will coach them next year?
October 24th, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Has JL eva made a trade during the season, has he eva went after a playa suggested by the fans, not holding my breath for any of these guys you named “sage”
October 24th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
Ira I want some of what you’re drinking because it’s got you a LOT more optimistic about the Bucs this year than I am. Unless something dramatic happens (a couple of key new players maybe?) I have a tough time seeing this team finishing better than 5-11 or 6-10. BUT … Game’s not over until the fat lady sings as we used to say.
October 24th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
Win in Cincy and get to 4-3 and playoffs odds increase. I can see Licht then maybe making a move for a OG, DB or LB. Lose and get to 3-4 and no way he pulls the trigger on any deal unless he starts selling some of his players for draft picks.