Tagging The Bucs
February 9th, 2019
Hard to believe.
There really is no debate on what player will get the franchise tag from the Bucs if AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht uses that bullet.
It would be left tackle Donovan Smith, not middle linebacker Kwon Alexander.
A person thinking Licht might tag Alexander decided to Twitter Jenna Laine of ESPN to find out what Licht may do. Per Laine, it’s Smith or Licht keeps his gun holstered.
In the event the Bucs were to franchise tag a player (they’ve used it four times in team history), Smith would make more sense financially (franchise tags aren’t broken up by individual OL position), and given the market for left tackles. https://t.co/5whE5d09dE
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) February 9, 2019
If Joe was Team Glazer and Licht confessed in a meeting he was going to franchise Alexander, a drug test would be immediately ordered.
Alexander is coming off knee surgery. Nobody knows, not Alexander, not his doctor, not Licht, not Todd Bowles; nobody knows how he will fare this fall. Besides, last year’s franchise tag for middle linebackers was $14 million. There is no way Alexander is worth that much coming off season-ending knee surgery.
Then there’s the little nasty fact the Bucs defense improved without Alexander. Joe just hopes that was because Mark Duffner took over the defense. Still, that’s not a good look, and you know it will be used against Alexander in contract negotiations.
February 9th, 2019 at 4:27 pm
Bucs defensive improved without Mike Smith which coincidentally occurred around the time Kwon got injured. There’s no way Glanton is better than Kwon. Bucs can hit Kwon with a transition tag if necessary and reserve the right to match offers from other teams. I think he’s more valued by Bucs fans than he is by the rest of the league. Let the market decide his value.
February 9th, 2019 at 4:36 pm
It must have been a long time since the Bucs have been this close to the salary cap that they really needed to be so careful with their decisions. By now you would think the team would have improved somewhat to account for the increased money concerns. That being said, I believe that BA will use his wisdom and ingenuity to make a great meal with one more shopping order (FA and upcoming draft) and the ingredients he decides to keep. Go Bucco Bruce and go Bucs!!!
February 9th, 2019 at 4:39 pm
There’s only one place people are saying the defense improved without Kwon, it’s here and it’s stupid. Your really trying to sell to people that adarius Taylor was better than Kwon? Kwon is inconsistent like Winston inconsist and Taylor’s game is nowhere close to Kwon.
You can say everyone improved under mark duffner. Can’t beli you can say how much better the defense improved under mark duffner but make it seem like that was due to Kwon being out. Clearly the only guy on this roster that had a chance of coming close to Kwon was Beckwith which is why he started over everyone else his rookie year year when Kwon was hurt. If I was Kwon I’d be giving people like you the middle finger for adding insult to the injury. Beckwith torn an acl and broke an ankle and been completely injury prone and isn’t getting this type of treatment. Resign Kwon because contrary to belief we don’t really have decent linebackers outside of Kwon and David
February 9th, 2019 at 4:43 pm
The Bucs so rarely use the franchise tag…they either have a draft dud not worthy of the tag or overpay their own players to avoid the tag. Is Antonio Bryant the last player tagged by the Bucs?
February 9th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
I can’t remember ever being this close to our salary cap. You would think by now we would have shown more improvement in our win-loss percentage. That being said I believe that BA with one more shopping spree in FA and the Draft as well as keeping the right “ingredients” he presently has at his disposal will cook the meal we’ve been waiting for. Go Bucco Bruce and Go Bucs!!!
February 9th, 2019 at 4:47 pm
It was actually Connor Barth in 2012. He was very good before deciding to place in a basketball charity game…blowing out his achilles. Cut a check instead next time, Connor.
February 9th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
I agree with Waterboy. Unfortunately for Kwon his injury gives doubt and makes him a legitimate cap casualty. “Let the market decide his value”. we can match if it’s right for us.
February 9th, 2019 at 5:03 pm
Resign Leon 4 year 30 Mill 16 guaranteed first 2 years
February 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm
Kwon
February 9th, 2019 at 5:06 pm
1-year 5 mil…..
February 9th, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Definitely resign! With all the injuries It wouldn’t be smart to evaluate the roster and not feel like this is a position of weakness unless they are going to draft a replacement or two
February 9th, 2019 at 5:29 pm
bucs talking about tagging low effort career losers is exactly why the only titles they will contend for his basement titles. bucs don’t have a single player outside of evans and winston deserving of any tag conversations…. desperate rosters tag mediocre losers, not contenders. contenders have their choices minor league pretenders like buc have to overpay mediocrity because greatness is out of reach….
February 9th, 2019 at 5:29 pm
The defense improved because we fired mike smith. Kwon had 7 tackles in the 1st half vs the Browns before he messed his knee up. That being said we shouldn’t franchise him. We should be able to sign him to a prove it deal to make sure his knee can hold up.
February 9th, 2019 at 5:40 pm
kwon is a below average loudmouth that does not produce. like cancer93 and lvd, Kwon has been a KEY CONTRIBUTOR ON SOME OF THE MOST EMBARASSING DEFENSIVE UNITS IN NFL HISTORY NOT JUST BUCS CRAPPY HISTORY BUT THE ENTIRE NFL… bucs have proven they can lose quietly and collect basement titles with these bum losers you people are so emotionally attached to. please explain to me why are you people so afraid of new players, talent and personalities. the losers you love are proven failures why keep them.
Results matter your emotional attachments to career losers that don’t produce is very cute but mentally weak at best.
February 9th, 2019 at 5:51 pm
Sign him.to a onenyear deal and move Noah Spence to linebacker….the position he should have been moved to two seasons ago
February 9th, 2019 at 6:00 pm
I won’t be surprised at all if the Bucs use that first rounder on the tackle from AL or FL if they feel that one of them has the potential to be great. The offensive line is possibly a bigger problem for the Bucs than the secondary. You can get quality safeties and d-tackles in the 2nd and 3rd round, but if you want a stud left tackle on offense you gotta go after them early in the draft.
February 9th, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Bring Kwon on a prove it deal an need those trenches up we need depth but I think our team as a whole is going to improve with better coaching
February 9th, 2019 at 6:35 pm
Kwon wins the most over rated award on this team yearly
February 9th, 2019 at 6:55 pm
TBBF … I think that Licht will make Kwon an offer, but it’ll be low-ball ($5 mil or less) & short-term (4 years or less) with little if any guaranteed. With all our other NEEDS (including MLB), Kwon’s expendable (coming off a major injury & not an exceptionally-gifted MLB, although he’s got great potential outside).
I agree with Jenna that they’ll tag Donovan Smith. He may not be the best LT, but he’s durable, experienced & BIG. That makes him a heckuva 1-year insurance policy (albeit an expensive policy). But right now Bucs have little choice IMO. Plus the new coaching staff may be able to work wonders with him.
February 9th, 2019 at 7:24 pm
@Joe…must be real close, to Jenna Laine. Based on how often he sources her, calls her “solid research” used in recent prior threads, and other recent things in her indirect defense. Hmm.
Here…this guy’s educated guess is Licht tags NO ONE this year. That…would be wise.
Go Bucs!
February 9th, 2019 at 9:11 pm
I’d try and resign Kwon to a one year prove it deal, with him coming off the ACL. That’s a big factor there. Yeah the D got better when he went out, but that was the same time Mike Smith got canned. Also the middle of that run defense did not get better with him out. They really missed him on running plays with good ole 93 getting his ass blown out of his gap on most running plays not having Kwon there to clean up the mess added a lot more rushing yards for the opposing offense. I’m at the point i don’t want to judge any player on this team that came in under Lovie or Koetter because the coaching was so piss poor across all position groups.
February 9th, 2019 at 9:43 pm
Not liking these rules in the AAF game. Only 5 Blitzes per game? Can’t bring 6 players after the QB????
This is some bad football.
February 9th, 2019 at 9:44 pm
How is the AAF going to be a developmental league for the NFL if they have such drastically different rules?
February 9th, 2019 at 9:45 pm
No kickoffs. No extra points. Only 2 pt conversions.
February 9th, 2019 at 10:13 pm
Sign him is one of the best middle linebackers in the nfl
February 9th, 2019 at 11:50 pm
Draft Devin White after a trade down….need that $$ elsewhere.
February 10th, 2019 at 12:32 am
Donte Dye was in the AAF game tonight, lol.
February 10th, 2019 at 3:35 am
Kwon has played his last game in Pewter.
February 10th, 2019 at 8:08 am
Tmaxcon it used to just be 93 you spouted to all how we need to cut him. Are you branching outside your comfort zone? Is 58 now your new villain?