Adam Humphries Enjoying “The Opportunity To Choose”
February 25th, 2019
Happy
We could be two weeks from the end of the Adam Humphries era in Tampa.
The Bucs’ slot receiver has been a key cog in the offense for three consecutive seasons. Yeah, he caught a career high five touchdowns last season, but ultimately Humphries was the same consistent guy he was for the past three years, except his punt returning got worse.
In 2016, Humphries returned 24 punts for an average of 9.9 yards each. In 2018, it was 21 returns for just 6.6 yards each with nothing more than 16 yards.
A free agent if the Bucs don’t lock him up in 16 short days, Humphries is a very good football player, the kind of guy you want on your roster. But Bucco Bruce Arians might pass on paying a slot receiver the $7 million per year Humphries could command on the market. Especially if Arians has visions of using O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate a lot together, and he believes in Chris Godwin.
Speaking to the Spartanburg Herald Journal for a new story yesterday, Humphries expressed his excitement for the prospect of shopping for a new team.
“Coming out of high school I was just fortunate to have Clemson offer me, I was barely a three-star recruit,” Humphries said. “I’ve never had the opportunity to choose where I want to go or be someone a team is trying to obtain. It’s a new feeling for me and it’s pretty awesome, kind of great reward for all the hard work I’ve put in.”
That doesn’t sound like a guy confident he’ll return to the Buccaneers.
Joe is hopeful good sense will prevail and DeSean Jackson will be sent packing and the Bucs will find a way to get creative with Humphries. But reality is about to hit fans and some Buccaneers. Tampa Bay simply cannot keep everyone at top dollar.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
I’m starting to think something seriously wrong happened in this locker room. None of our top guys want to return. Honestly we need to gut th entire roster
Humphries didn’t say he wants out. –Joe
February 25th, 2019 at 3:15 pm
He gone.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:17 pm
I agree with what Waterboy said about 2 weeks ago … “Set a price point on what the position is worth and stick to it.” The ‘price point’ IMO should be $7 mil with a 4-year contract. Much as I love having Hump on the Bucs, we simply can’t break the bank for any one player.
Think about how much money Licht put into ‘weapons for Winston’ in the past couple years (guys still under contract). ME13 – $82.5 mil for 5 yrs. Brate – $40.8 mil for 6 yrs. DJax – $33.5 mil for 3 yrs. OJ – $11 mil for 4 yrs. RoJo – $7 mil for 4 yrs. Godwin – $3.3 mil for 4 yrs. Watson – $2.7 mil for 4 yrs. Shaun Wilson – $1.7 mil for 3 yrs. Bobo Wilson – $1.7 for 3 yrs. Auclair – $1.7 mil for 3 yrs. Plus Jameis himself of course – $21 mil this year. That’s well over $200 mil just right there (not counting re-signing any REAL RBs or Hump at this point). That’s a MONSTER investment in ‘weapons’.
What it’s meant is that other areas/position groups have to get ‘short-changed’ by default, resulting in an unbalanced team with marginal depth. The results speak for themselves: when injuries happen (which they always do in Bucsville), our marginal depth can’t compensate. That ‘depth’ also represents the players who man our special teams by-and-large, and the poor performance of our S/Ts also speaks for itself. Like Waterboy said, we’ve got to set ‘price points’ for the FAs we now need and stick to it.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:21 pm
This is why you do what you gotta do in regards to players and salaries. That fake family mantra they keep trying to sell us it’s was why this team is losing. Family my arse, if we are in the same ballpark as everyone else and we lose them I’d question that but i just wouldn’t compete with any other team to see who will pay him the most
February 25th, 2019 at 3:26 pm
It will hurt if he goes away, but is not the end……Hump is the kind of player you retain,……at the right price…… My only concern is if Arians will call for deep balls all the time…..I am concern if JW is the right QB for that style……… We need a good slot receiver and a good running game…….
February 25th, 2019 at 3:28 pm
I think Justin Watson showed enough promise last year that they are going to go with him. All that being said I want Huphries back at the right price.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:30 pm
DJax need gone first
February 25th, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Hopefully Hump will realize that he’s got it really good here in Tampa Bay – with BA as a coach and JW as his QB – and decide to give the Bucs just a bit of a hometown discount to stay.
$26M over 4 years – maybe with a couple reachable incentives on top sounds about right.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:40 pm
When you have 14 million wrapped up in Donovan Smith (presumably) 10 million in Marpet and 10 million in Jensen it’s gonna be hard to keep other deserving players on offense
This is why Licht sucks you can’t allocate all the money to an o line that can’t run block and consistently protect the qb
February 25th, 2019 at 3:44 pm
I love the BA and Bowels move as much as anyone else, but if they bring back GMC for $13 million and let Hump walk, I’m going to sh!t a brick and toss it at the front door of OBP. If BA just thinks he’s gonna come in and magically make JW3 be able to hit bombs every play they go deep, I think he’s mistaken. JW3 is a strong pitcher that throws a fastball. The reason he overthrows is because he’s too strong. We shall see. If Hump walks, it will be a very sad day for Bucs fans. After that though, we all need to have faith the Sun will once again rise in the form of Justin Watson.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:45 pm
here that. thats the joy of knowing Brady will soon be throwing him the ball.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:47 pm
like everyone else, i like hump but we can use whatever we were going to pay him on the defensive side of the ball…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2019 at 3:48 pm
@anonomous
yeah, something seriously wrong in the locker room.
FAVORITISM!!!!!!
rewarding a loser qb…while blaming everyone else
keeping GMC while he doesn’t warrant the money
you got clowns thinking they kings and the organization is supporting it.
if I was there I would be like WTF as well!
February 25th, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Firethecannons—
“DJax need gone first.”
Well said.
Couldn’t have put it better myself …
February 25th, 2019 at 3:51 pm
The thing with Adam is that he really isn’t as good as Julian Edelman. Humph is the man and everyone loves his game and wants him to stay, but he’s not going to change the game. Chris Godwin would probably be an upgrade in the slot, and let Justin Watson get some snaps on the outside across from Evans. Brate, Howard. Hopefully he chooses to stay in Tampa at a price that fits the budget.
I never was a fan of Humphries in the return game. Not enough speed or agility. The reason Humph got the returns is his reliability and otters lack of trust with other players…just like with Jameis. I would still like to know the truth as to why Djax wasn’t returning punts. Koetter said he had the green light and nothing happened.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:52 pm
Like Humphries but tough to see paying a #3WR $6-7M. He made $2.9M last year. Could agree with a bump to maybe $5M, but obviously his market will exceed that. Would be fine replacing him with Watson and Wilson and seeing if we can find another WR late in the draft or as an UDFA to develop. Also have Sergio Bailey to add to the mix, who showed promise as well and may develop. All three combined only make about $1.8M in 2019.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:52 pm
If the quote above is all he said then I don’t see that quote as “I’m leaving”. All it says is that he has options now that he never had. He should feel good about being wanted by more than one team…pretty sure we all would.
February 25th, 2019 at 3:56 pm
He’s going to be a patriot.
February 25th, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Thanks goodness they are keeping Mccoy over this guy right???
February 25th, 2019 at 4:12 pm
If he is gone you will see more BoBo filling that skill set than Watson
February 25th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
He’s just not worth the money given what we have invested at the position, including TE, and what we need. We CLEARLY saw having 6 pass catchers, no defense, and no running game is a losing recipe and equates to turnovers.
February 25th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Man. The stupid is strong in the comments sections today…
February 25th, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Okay, outside of Mike Evans, Adam Humphries is THE most important player on offense as of this moment.
Not even Winston is as important because he really hasn’t proven himself yet. OJ Howard cannot stay healthy. Cam Brate? Well, he’s close, but his production is not up there.
I love Marpet and want him around, but so far as importance and production? Not even close.
And Jackson is a total a-hole.
Here’s what needs to happen: Sign Smith. Sign Kwon. Franchise Adam.
February 25th, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Humphries was great in Dirk’s offense but isn’t Arians known to use bigger guys in the slot?
I could see Godwin, Watson, Evans, or even O.J. getting plenty of slot snaps. I don’t think Humphries will be a 7 or 8M type of player here.
What we need now is a burner and there are many 4.3 guys in FA this year and a few guys in the draft as well.
I love Hump but I think he has priced himself out of Tampa, kudos to him and I hope he balls out wherever he goes.
February 25th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
This is going to be a season of “Who Can Step Up?” We have Jameis who needs to take a big step forward or be thrown out the door, if Humphries and DJax leave Godwin and Watson need to step up, and Vernon Hargreaves, Carlton Davis, Justin Evans, and Jordan Whitehead all need to step up for this team to be successful.
We shall see who answers the bell.
February 25th, 2019 at 5:11 pm
Nobody should blame him one bit for taking more money. Anyone with a job should strive for more. Thats the good ole cap. We will end up with players other teams wanted to keep as well.
February 25th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
@JA….
LMAO!! Thank you for that one sir!!
Go Bucs!
February 25th, 2019 at 5:22 pm
I’ve always liked Hump and I hope we keep him and cut DJax and GMC, but if we don’t I will root for him wherever he lands.
He’s a glue guy and always seems to come through.
Classy.
February 25th, 2019 at 5:33 pm
I hope Hump stays but he needs to play with Tom Brady. He’s is the prototypical Pats receiver and will make the Pro Bowl there. Licht should have locked him up last season. More Jason blunders.
February 25th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
I’m really happy for the guy, he put his head down went to work and earned his position. Wish him well would love to have him
February 25th, 2019 at 5:45 pm
With all the draft capital spent on late round WRs and draft capital in general on other players that didn’t produce……here is a guy we got good production out of and didn’t spend a draft pick…..I am very thankful for that….
The very best to you Adam….you deserve a good payday and future success….hopefully not in the NFC South.
February 25th, 2019 at 6:24 pm
Just cant pay him 7mil a yr with Godwin/OJ a year away from a new deal, Evans, Brate already eating it up – much less Mesean
IMO it comes down to Brate or Hump, but not both…
February 25th, 2019 at 6:25 pm
If the Bucs lose Humphries, it would be the worst loss in many years.
Outside Evans, he is the best, most consistent WR receiver on the team.
February 25th, 2019 at 6:46 pm
“Im so excited to choose, its making my nipples hard”
Hump
“Whomever is our next slot receiver, DO YOUR JOB! (blo*)”
Robert Kraft
February 25th, 2019 at 6:54 pm
If Arians employs 2 tight end sets the majority of the time then unfortunately a 7 million dollar slot receiver will barely be used. As much as I like me some Hump he doesn’t fit well into Arians scheme. For the small amount of time we do use a slot receiver, Watson will probably get the call because Arians like tall slot receivers. I guess they remind him of skinny TE’s. With what we save on Hump we’ll probably spend on a quality pass catching RB, or RG. or both
February 25th, 2019 at 6:58 pm
I just hope he doesn’t go to a division rival or NFC South period!!
February 25th, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Kid had the 2nd best catch% in the Entire NFL at one point last yr late in the season. Not sure what he ended up with but anyone that thinks that is not relevant to a team’s success should take up knitting
February 25th, 2019 at 7:18 pm
Speaking of tall slot receivers, the Bucs have a 6’4″ K.J. Brent on the PS. They nabbed him off Indy PS in Oct. I’m sure we’ll see him in camp and hopefully preseason.
February 25th, 2019 at 7:40 pm
People are clueless…. he’s a valuable receiver because he’s the 4th WR on the team. That depth is why he can be a mismatch. The more you move him up the depth chart, the less valuable he is since he can’t get open against starting corners (well except for maybe the Bucs starting corners). Anywho he’s certainly worth keeping if you can get him in that $5-6m range, but then again I think Bobo can do like 97% of the job Hump can do, plus he’s a better returner. The downside with Bobo is he’s such a moron he might talk his way off the team.
Anywho I’m OK with the idea Joe has had, if you can keep Hump and get John Brown, for the price of D-Jax, and you can still trade D-Jax for a draft pick – then that sounds like a good trade. Godwin is a super solid #2, Brown can be a stretch #3 and Hump can continue to work underneath as a #4.
February 25th, 2019 at 8:12 pm
We are by far the worst team that deals with players. We always seem to let the good players go and reward the average to below average players. The majority of this teams problems begin with Licht. As long as he is here we will suck, get use to it.
February 25th, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Licht sucks
February 25th, 2019 at 9:42 pm
Ironically, most of you wanted Humphries gone last off season.
February 25th, 2019 at 10:04 pm
^^^not true for me
February 25th, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Ummm…wasn’t he an undrafted FREE AGENT coming out of Clemson?? Pretty sure he “chose” to try out for the Bucs.
February 25th, 2019 at 10:24 pm
Let him test FA…
I like Hump, but let’s be honest here guys, hes far from irreplaceable….If given an opportunity for more reps, I think either Wilson or Watson could be just as effective…
We simply can’t afford to overpay for a slot receiver who as of right now is technically 4th on the depth chart behind Evans, Godwin, & Jackson…
February 25th, 2019 at 11:04 pm
SOEBucs,
You bring up a great point regarding Arians expectations of Winston.
The message from Arians seems clear enough , Winston is an easy fix. But you said it, it may be more difficult than originally thought.
I mean this season Jameis Winston finished 35th in the NFL in deep ball accuracy.
There’s only 32 teams so the 35th spot , dead last btw, is not what you expect when you tank games and draft a player with the 1st pick. 35th.
I recall the excuse list 2018 included millions upon millions of references to a shoulder injury.
A shoulder injury we were assured was the reason for his deep ball issues that year.
Healed shoulder, new year, new playcaller, new level of suck with this ranking.
For the reflexive mariota mention, he finished 6th. So waving that card isnt distracting anyone.
I’m hoping winston is successful but If I were the coach, I’d draft Murray just in case winston finds a way to get to 38th.
February 25th, 2019 at 11:38 pm
Glazers say they know the team is heading in the right direction when we resign our own.
February 25th, 2019 at 11:54 pm
Pear shaped Petey ready to franchise tag Humphries eh? Better stick to writing free e-books focusing on playing peek a boo with gnomes and fairies. Wow.
February 25th, 2019 at 11:55 pm
why would we get one of the few guys Winston is locked in with
February 26th, 2019 at 8:27 am
They need to sign him. DJax is gone. If they lose both then suddenly this strength of the team is not so deep and depleted
February 26th, 2019 at 11:47 am
That’s agent talk he’s talking right there. He wants to come back, but just wants to get paid what he’s worth.
February 26th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Humphries is a stud. I’m really wondering whats going on with our front office decision making right now. This is why I think we should consider a drafting kyler murray if he checks out. I like Jameis but his contract is just too big right now. And lets face it…there is a 50% chance he fails and we let him walk this year. If we drafted Kyler…. we could put him in some packages but still let Jameis start and get his trade value up. I would much rather have Kyler Murray on a rookie QB deal.
February 26th, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Buc it,
Murray is all that and a bag of donuts. Quite frankly, He’s flat out superior to winston in the specific areas that translates from college to the pro game. Having him under a rookie contracts gives the team flexibility to add additional players that winston supports claim is needed for him to succeed. Meaning Winston’s contract now works against the acquisition phase of the team. Murray’s skill set and lower dollar contract would mask some issues and others could be solved by free agent pickups.