Flowers To Test Free Agency?
February 25th, 2019
Might escape the Belicheats.
The Bucs have one of the best edge rushers in the NFL in Jason Pierre-Paul.
But if Father Time comes knocking (JPP is 30) or he gets hurt, the best weapon the Bucs have in an edge rusher is, well, Carl Nassib, who until last season was just a JAG (Just A Guy) when he registered an earth-shattering 6.5 sacks in his first season in Tampa Bay. Nassib is just a little bit better than run-stopping end Will Gholston or a guy named Noah Spence (who?) and his grand total of one sack in the past two seasons.
So yeah, the Bucs need a young defensive end who can terrorize opposing quarterbacks, whether they draft one or sign one.
It doesn’t appear the top defensive ends will get a chance to hit free agency. But on the second-tier level is a guy by the name of Trey Flowers who plays for the Belicheats. And the word from Rory Parks of ProFootballRumors.com is the Belicheats are unlikely to tag him.
The Pats are unlikely to use the franchise tag on Flowers, and they are unlikely to keep him if it takes an Olivier Vernon-esque deal to do so (five years, $85MM). However, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe believes Flowers will ultimately return to New England on a multi-year contract, even if he tests the free agent market first.
Personally, Joe would prefer the Bucs somehow, someway draft this Josh Allen out of Kentucky.
As Joe wrote last week, Flowers turns 26 in August and has as fan in ex-NFL player and personnel executive Louis Riddick.
Flowers has never had double-digit sacks in a season, including playoffs. The spreadsheet crowd, though, lauds him for his consistent quarterback pressure.
If the Bucs don’t believe they have a prayer of landing Allen, then Joe is guessing Flowers would be a decent signing. There is nothing, however, in Flowers’ past that suggests he’s going to blow up to be the next JPP once he’s away from Belicheat.
February 25th, 2019 at 12:34 am
No way no how should we be overpaying when we already have a tight cap. Josh Allen isn’t heads and shoulders above everybody else. Bradley Chubb was drafted at 5 last year and he had 12 sacks as a rookie. If the general manager is earning his money he’ll find the right guy at 5.
February 25th, 2019 at 12:55 am
Let it be known that one of our General Doofus Jason Licht’s first trades was to deal a 4th round pick which would become the second pick in the round for Logan Mankins.
Mankins would play 2 years for the Bucs before retiring and Belichick would use that 4th round pick to select Trey Flowers who has been pretty good and is 25 years of age on the verge of a big money deal.
Aquib Talib, LeGarratte Blount and Trey Flowers; it helps when NE has a farm team to pull from all these years. It’s a Bucs life.
February 25th, 2019 at 1:29 am
We stopped building our team when we made a habit of signing high priced free agents. Now, because we average only 6 draft picks a season, we deal in free agency almost exclusively, which in turn is the reason why we don’t get compensatory picks .
Even the Patriots get four extra compensatory picks this draft. They’ll get a compensatory pick even if they can’t trade Flowers. They keep building and supplying young depth to their roster annually while we’re running in place getting nowhere. We’ve got holes to fill and we’re looking for free help now. The #5 pick should be up for sale. We need picks.
February 25th, 2019 at 2:19 am
Nassib just a little bit better then will Gholston ?
Dude. What games were you watching last year? My sister is a little bit better then will Gholston . Guy is que terrible. He has put up numbers in a career that guys do in one year. Doesn’t JPP have more sacks last year then Gholston career ?
“Will Goes Ghosting “
February 25th, 2019 at 5:35 am
Why do you tease Bucs’ fans like this Joe? IF per chance the Bucs did pay Trey Flowers $85 mil on a 5-year contract to come here, the rest of our roster would suffer mightily for years to come. Paying the Top One-Sixth of your roster (QB, LT, LG, C, WR, LB, DT, and 2 DEs … IF we signed Flowers) over Four-Sixths (roughly $130 mil) of your $190 mil salary CAP $$$ is NOT how you create a championship TEAM. The scraps left over ensure mediocrity in too many of the remaining 45 roster slots.
The Bucs have to achieve better BALANCE in their roster. Not just in the quality of our starters & key rotational players, but also in the quality of our DEPTH. Our ‘coaching carousel’ hasn’t helped much in terms of game-planning & play-calling over these past 10 years or so, but it’s probably hurt us most in terms of player development. And that’s become critical IMO considering that the quality of the talent in the DEPTH part of the roster has left quite a bit to be desired.
Bucs have had ONE owner, & TWO GMs in the past 10 years, yet we’re on our FIFTH HC & coaching staff. Only FOUR players (GMC, LVD, Gholston & Dotson) pre-date 2014 on our roster. Only ME13 is left from our 2014 draft, and only Jameis & Marpet from our 2015 draft are under contract, with Donovan Smith & Kwon being possible re-signs in the coming month. Our 2016 draft class was surely nothing to brag about, and there’s a good possibility none of those will get re-signed after 4 years. For all the great drafts folks constantly reference, that’s a sad record of performance IMO. And it pretty much guarantees Bucs have had to fill our roster with a bunch of FAs, and thus create a very unbalanced roster. I’m really hoping that BA can fix this mess of a roster, because that’s exactly what it is.
February 25th, 2019 at 6:04 am
There MIGHT just be a reason why New England is constantly winning Superbowls. NOT overpaying guys when they can get someone in the draft cheaper OR someone supposedly washed up via free agency or off the street. Did Forrest NOT learn anything while in New England?
February 25th, 2019 at 6:20 am
I often wonder how the Patriots do it. For instance ,they somehow manage to include
some players that that fit into a bigger rushing line and also a pass blocking line.
How do they fit all these players on their 53 man roster and we have been unable to put together one O line that is efficient at pass blocking or run blocking.
Licht is pretty good at in season pickups and identifying UDFA players. But the problem is, that has been necessary because some of his draft picks and free agent signings have proven they should never been on the roster.
February 25th, 2019 at 7:02 am
Agree with Defense Rules……
Ridiculous to even suggest we sign anyone for $85 mil with the current payroll….
Quit trotting out all these top FAs…..it is not going to happen…
February 25th, 2019 at 9:32 am
he’s a good player but he aint worth 85mil……
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2019 at 10:56 am
Nassib 6.5 sacks. Only slightly better than Gholston & Spence. What an idiot.
February 25th, 2019 at 12:35 pm
Josh Allen is undoubtedly a stud. I am almost always against trading up…. if we were to trade up to get him I wouldn’t be too upset. Another guy that reminds me of Allen is Montez Sweat and we could trade down to get him. Also a good athlete, great frame, great motor.