The Bucs & Jordan Mills
February 18th, 2019
Joe has spent a little time, but not a ton yet, on the potential monster-impact free agents for the Bucs like linebackers C.J. Mosley and Anthony Barr.
Joe’s been very busy diving into smaller name free agents.
One is the Bills’ starter at right tackle who hasn’t missed a start over the past three seasons. He’s Jordan Mills, five years younger than Demar Dotson and known to be one of the physically stronger right tackles in the NFL.
In Buffalo, there’s been a massive roster purge. Only five players remain from their 2016 roster. One is Mills and he’s set to hit free agency in three short weeks. Mills was earning $2 million per year over the last two seasons, so it’s a safe bet he wants a raise for his durability and performance.
No, Mills is not a great player. Joe’s read various mixed reviews of him in Buffalo, where the Bills have had a punishing running game two of the past three seasons. If Mills was so bad, how would they have pulled that off? How would he have survived multiple head coaches?
Also, Joe finds it interesting that Bills head coach Sean McDermott fired his offensive line coach and friend, Juan Castillo, after this season.
Mills’ career is one of a late-bloomer. A fifth-round pick of the Bears in 2013, he started his first two seasons and then was cast aside. Injuries propped him to the Bills’ starting lineup late in the 2015 season and he’s held on to the job.
This is where the Bucs’ scouting department and Bruce Arians need to earn their money. Is Mills potentially a cost-effective and younger replacement for Demar Dotson, as well as a guy who could improve in the Bucs’ new offense?
Joe thinks the Bucs should be studying Mills. Durability has a lot of value and new blood not mentally drained or broken from years of losing is needed on the roster.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Betty White is 5 years younger than Demar Dotson and can play RT better too!
February 18th, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Trot ’em out Joe…….it doesn’t cost to look……we should be considering any move that saves us money, gets us younger…..gets us better.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:43 pm
How would he have survived multiple head coaches?
he’s cheap and reliable. easy answer
we don’t need that big dr pepper drinking, cheeto eatin cheesburger gut down here.
seems like swapping avg for avg. Dotson has been loyal, why is it some just like the rah rah players? I’ll take the lunch box totin Dotson’s all day.
February 18th, 2019 at 1:50 pm
^ Robert, you just like “Dot” because of his reaction to that JW interception in the Bengals game.
That’s ok, I like Dot too, and think he can still play…. especially if Benenoch is no longer playing next to him.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
No I kinda disagree, but hey need to earn their money by evaluating the current players on the roster to make sure that the right guys are purged and no players with potential that we’re getting horrible coaching are leaving the building. From that evaluation then you look at free agency and who needs to be replaced. Your not turning over a major part of the roster but at the same time trying to say you aren’t rebuilding. I trust that this new coaching staff can do what they are being paid for and actually coach up guys
February 18th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
you get what you pay for….or overpay for in the bucs case….can we sit here and say he’s better than DOT and would be an upgrade?….idk….
in that case, develop what you have….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 18th, 2019 at 2:13 pm
Barr would be nice….he could play 43 DE or 34 OLB….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 18th, 2019 at 2:14 pm
Dotson’s had a good career with us IMO, but he’s gonna be 34 this October & has had several injury issues in recent years. Since we’re rebuilding the OLine, now’s the time to replace him with someone younger who can grow with the rest of our OLine. Mills is interesting for sure, and probably relatively inexpensive, but I’d rather see us draft a tackle this year in Rnds 1 or 2 who could play RT for now but slide over to LT IF Donovan is franchised but doesn’t pan out as our future LT (and also serve as Donovan’s backup). Looks like Mills has been a RT his whole career, but could be wrong.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
@ bucsfire
I missed the reaction you mentioned about Dot.
Just think he’s worker, and has battled through his injury and gotten paid decent, but respect the man has done his job. His time is near, but not to overpay someone who isn’t special. develop someone. This OL gets so much heat, but when no one is afraid of your qb and they know it they go after him they will make him screw up….well the D line is coming every play. if the qb would put some fear in em and put em on their heals a little bit maybe we could see other defenses look like ours lol. I think the QB play has as much to do with the line problems as the talent of the line.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:30 pm
Build OL through Draft
February 18th, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Can’t lie the reaction to that interception was funny as hell. I think Joe had it on here. Again I think it’s time to look for his replacement and who knows maybe that guy is already on the team. Joe that last line about new blood and not being mentally drained or broken from losing is the exact reason GMC has to go. Totally seems like the guy is ok with losing and just wants to have fun.
February 18th, 2019 at 2:57 pm
We need Tackles and Guards – so yea any free agent OL player that can actually play at or beyond their expected pay grade needs to be closely examined.
That said – My expectation is that a couple of the “less experienced” players out of the Bucs development pool of Liedtke (5th year udfa), Wester (4th year udfa) Benenoch (4th year – 5th rd pick) and Cappa (2nd year – late 3rd rd pick) will be coached up enough that they can be deemed ready for prime time – and succeed.
Benenoch got his shot at RG last year and was obviously NOT yet ready for prime time….
Benenoch had seemed to play better at Tackle the previous year – and My guess is that Cappa is a better RT prospect than RG as well.
We shall see….
This we know without question – The Bucs OL needs to improve substantially with their run blocking in 2019 for this offense to truly be special. Its more than doable with Jameis and all the weapons the GM has stockpiled – just need to “FIX” the damn OLine!
February 18th, 2019 at 3:12 pm
I agree 100% DR.
Bucs need to invest at worst a high 2nd rd pick on the best OT prospect they can identify in this year’s draft.
Dot probably has one decent year left in him due to low mileage on the tires early in his career. Until he gets hurt that is – which is like an 85% likelihood….
I’d like to see a Guard drafted in the first 4 rounds as well. Other 2 high picks need to go to DL. Its a need for sure and this is a very good DL draft class!
Short of a can’t miss blue chip player like Williams, Bosa or Allen falling to #5 – the Bucs best course of action in the 2019 draft is to trade down a couple/few spots in the first round and pick up at least an extra 2nd rd pick.
February 18th, 2019 at 3:17 pm
Great bottom line Pickgrin. But isn’t stockpiling weapons BEFORE you have the delivery systems (means) to deploy them kinda like getting the cart before the horse? (Just pulling your leg … we’ve had this discussion before & I recognize that you’re a fan of ‘the weapons stockpiler’).
February 18th, 2019 at 3:32 pm
Signing a bunch of 3rd rate defensive lineman has yet to work… hard pass from me.
February 18th, 2019 at 3:38 pm
We don’t need to spend a lot $$$ on oline in free agency, just a some decent bodies to replace the awlful right side. We can build through the draft but need to sign a few bodies who have some upside.
February 18th, 2019 at 3:45 pm
DR – yea – I hear ya.
I won’t argue that Licht has been a tad negligent with his lack drafting of OL and DL players. This is for sure the year to make up for it IMO.
That said – he HAS picked/acquired some damn good skill players…
Evans, Godwin, OJ Howard, Brate, Humphries – Watson may well be another…
Even without DJax – that’s almost an embarrassment of riches for receiving options. With DJax its ridiculous.
Add a running game to that mix which we haven’t had since 2015 when Logan Mankins retired and I would expect true fireworks out of the Bucs Offense in 2019 – especially since Bruce Arians is in charge of the offense!
Average or better Defensive production will lead to a LOT of Buccaneer Wins with this offense – IF we can get the OLine “fixed”…. LOL
February 18th, 2019 at 4:00 pm
Pickgrin … I’ve never disagreed that Licht “HAS picked/acquired some damn good skill players.” My issue with him has always been about TEAM BUILDING (or lack of it). Constantly focusing on select position groups at the detriment of others has led us to have a vey unbalanced team (in the trenches?) and has necessitated us trying to ‘bridge’ the gaps with FAs (and not very good ones at that in far too many cases). I’m really hoping that THIS YEAR and next is when we can ‘re-balance’ the roster and become competitive in the NFC South for a change.
February 18th, 2019 at 4:11 pm
@Pickgrin … “Short of a can’t miss blue chip player like Williams, Bosa or Allen falling to #5 – the Bucs best course of action in the 2019 draft is to trade down a couple/few spots in the first round and pick up at least an extra 2nd rd pick.”
Agree 100% with that one Pickgrin. I’m now thinking that trading down is becoming more & more likely. With a 1st, two 2nd, one 3rd & one 4th Round picks we SHOULD be able to get 2 starters & 3 key rotational players. When I look at our NEEDS, I could see us drafting 1 DT, 1 DE, 1 OT, 1 RB and 1 LB with those first 5 picks. Then use the remaining 3 picks (Rnds 5-7) on the best talent that remains (to hopefully include 1 OLineman to develop for next year and beyond). Can’t ‘fix’ everything in one year though.
February 18th, 2019 at 4:29 pm
IMO – OLine needs to be a priority in this year’s draft – 1 OT and 1 OG within first 4 rds. 2 or 3 picks to DL and I don’t really care beyond that….
February 18th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
Pick IMO we should get out 2 desperately needed new starters at RG and RT should be acquired in FA and we should spend every single solitary pick in the draft on acquiring playmakers at every level of the level of the defense.
February 18th, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Beau Allen – $5m
William Gholston – $3.75m
Mitch Unrein – $3.75m
How about instead of signing a bunch of 3rd rate defensive lineman that give you no production you sign one 2nd tier defensive lineman that can actually play for you.
OR… combine those salaries with the $6.5m you gave Curry last year, and get a star… You can always find from entry level contract guys to sit on the roster and give you no production.
February 18th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Dense isn’t the problem. He is old as hell, but he is okay. We need a successor, not a replacement. And Demar currently makes peanuts. He is an absolute bargain. He is making less than five million bucks this year.
February 18th, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Draft a LT a 5, move Smith to RT but then Smith would be getting overpaid. Perfect world sign Donavan to a long term RT deal. Cant move him over if your paying him like a blind side. I guess this guy would be ok to replace DOT if needed but if its not Donavan on the left side it needs to be someone that can plug right in and not get Jameis killed.
February 18th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
I would agree though if he’s not better than DOT id rather keep Dot….but dude is getting old and had played on TWO really bad teams since he has been drafted. I think if he’s not demanding to be overpaid to come here it would be a good move.
I believe now that Arians is here the FA’s who come to tampa will give it 100% and not just lay back to cash a check.
February 18th, 2019 at 8:44 pm
I’m from the Buffalo area and let me assure you Joe he is not worth it and the run game wasn’t a factor for those two years due to his play. He’s a bum. As a Bucs fan I don’t want him. Nope
February 19th, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Draft J. Williams with the first pick, and he can be our starting RT from day one. Franchise Smith, and let Williams breath down Smith’s neck for the year. If Smith balls out, and has a great year, then we’d still be very solid up front with bookend good tackles. Drafting Williams could help solidify our line, it’s about time the Bucs drafted a quality starting caliber tackle with a high pick.