Welcome To Tag Day
February 19th, 2019
Becomes filthy rich today?
Will the Bucs lock up left tackle Donovan Smith today or will the Bucs let him test the free agent waters come March 13?
Today is the start of tag season, when a franchise tag can be placed on a prospective free agent to keep him on the team’s roster for the coming season, assuming the player signs the contract.
Teams have a two-week window to tag a player otherwise the player can hit the free agent market if he chooses to do so.
It seems very possible, almost likely, the Bucs could hit Smith with the franchise tag. Per Todd Haislop of the Sporting News, the franchise tag value for an offensive linemen this year is $15,283,000.
Even heavy metal-headbanging Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is of the mind Smith gets slapped with the franchise tag.
[Smith] is a very good and durable left tackle on a team that will be trying to turn it around ASAP behind a coach who just un-retired to return to the sidelines (Bruce Arians). And with developing Jameis Winston the priority, letting linemen walk is hardly ideal. The Bucs are tight against the cap but that is always fungible with a purge of older players expected. Wouldn’t be surprised if they used the tag here.
Yesterday, Joe was listening to Pat Kirwan, co-host of “Movin’ the Chains” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Kirwan is of the mind the Bucs should franchise Smith unless they can work out a new contract with the Penn State product.
Kirwan cautioned the Bucs, or any NFL team, to be very careful thinking they can find a decent left tackle on the free agent market. Kirwan noted most teams are not crazy enough to let a decent left tackle go.
As for some who think the Bucs would be better off with Trent Brown, Kirwan threw up the red flag on the Belicheats’ left tackle saying he’s seen Brown play before he went to the Belicheats and he’s not that good.
Kirwan emphasized Brown is a product of Belicheat’s superior coaching and Tom Brady’s ridiculously quick release. Get him out of New England and beware, Kirwan said.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:45 am
Tag him…..we have too many other issues to fix……don’t gamble with this one.
But……draft heavy on the Oline (and not 5th round development players)
February 19th, 2019 at 7:48 am
There are a sum total of ZERO left tackles available that are guaranteed upgrades over Donovan Smith. The Bucs have no choice but to tag or extend him. The fans arguing otherwise don’t know what they’re talking about.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:51 am
I think tagging Kwon is a better idea. It;s about the same money, and it allows us to see how his injury heals up.
Just get a deal done with Smith and Humphries.
Common sense to me.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:51 am
They will Tag him….He is not the first player that the Bucs have overpaid!!!! The price tag for this O-line vs production is quite alarming!!!!!! Next offseason we will hear how the “biscuit has gone stale” and how the Bucs should have hired the “young” coach!!!!!!!!
2019 season will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bcus!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 19th, 2019 at 7:51 am
Can’t tell me that Brown wouldn’t be an upgrade over Dotson at RT.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:03 am
Tag…tolerate until replaced….
February 19th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Sign him to a new deal….
February 19th, 2019 at 8:23 am
What happened to my morning cup of Joe?? I love that feature.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:23 am
Tag…he’s it.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:34 am
franchise tag Donovan Smith. he is better than the all the other potential free agents. Transition tag Quan Alexander, this allows the bucs to match his offer sheet if they choose, and if he is offered fort knox by some other team, let them overpay. I just pray that Kendall Beckwith has recovered from his ankle injury!
February 19th, 2019 at 8:39 am
You can’t let him walk. There are simply too many holes in this team and not having a LT is a pretty major one. They can always sign him to a long term deal and if they want to upgrade later on, there’s always a market for a LT and they can make the trade at that point.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:41 am
Agree with TBBF … tag Donovan but still “draft heavy on the OLine”. That’d mean using a 1st or 2nd Round pick on a Tackle who could be our RT (and backup Donovan if he should get injured and/or replace him if he doesn’t improve at LT).
February 19th, 2019 at 8:42 am
Tag him, that is the only choice. Nobody else is available and it does not make sense to get locked into a long term contract and overpay for mediocre play.
February 19th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Tag him and see if he improves under a new coaching staff. If he improves sign him to a long-term deal next off-season.
February 19th, 2019 at 9:14 am
Really? Our expectations have gotten so low we give $15 Million to a player who didn’t perform well in his contract year? You know what happens when certain people win the lotto…..take this job and shove it comes to mind.
February 19th, 2019 at 9:33 am
tag smith….
restructure GMC….
draft ed oliver 1st round….
tytus howard 2nd round….
let the rookies develop….gain quality depth….replacement already on the roster for next year…..
simple as that….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2019 at 9:41 am
The Defensive & Offensive lines have struggled for years but let’s keep the two guys that are known for taking plays off and not giving 100%. That my friend is crazy!!
February 19th, 2019 at 9:42 am
Why not bring in guys like JPP and Jensen who play 110% on every single snap?
February 19th, 2019 at 10:03 am
The Bucs should not let Donovan Smith go. He’s probably the best free agent LT available. The Bucs will not find anyone better in FA and they won’t draft anyone better.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:12 am
Cut McCoy
Cut Djax
Cut Allen
Cut Gholston
Cut Dotson
Cut Benenoch
Tag Smith
Let Kwon and Hump walk.
Sign Trent Brown to replace Dotson.
Sign Ramon Foster or Mike Iupati to replace Benenoch.
Sign Morris Claiborne.
Draft Devin White in the 1st round.
Draft Dre’Mont Jones in round 2.
Draft Jaylon Ferguson in round 3.
Draft BPA on defense for the rest of the draft.
Make the playoffs.
Simple as that.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:14 am
Please Licht do not give lazy ass Smith the franchise tag. Let him test the market. Not worth anywhere near 15mil. Use the money wisely elsewhere., beginning with Hump for 7.5mil.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:32 am
2yrs $24mil should get it done same with Kwon I say 2yrs $18mil should get him done as well. I think the negotiating problem has been contract length. I don’t think they want long term deals because of the looming CBA running out in 2020 same with Jameis. Hump is a different story though. He clearly wants out if he’s demanding $10 mil for his services. There are only 3 priority free agents and I say two of them will be retained. They’re going after AB too so get ready for another third round pick to be gone and two pouty receivers but this time Arians a real coach will shut em up play em next to Mike Evans. I think everyone will stay until the CBA deal expires after the 2020 season.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:35 am
Cody Ford , Jonah Williams , Greg Little , or Jawaan Taylor would offer that high ceiling of Franchise Left Tackle in the draft , and at a significantly lower price point , and quite possibly improved play. D Smith is not even ranked as one of the Top 10 LT’s in the league , so you need to be thinking about somebody else to put next to Marpet , who is our best Olineman.
Agree with Tom Dsmith takes too many plays off and does not play to the echo of the whistle. A journeyman starter who is a liability to JW’s health. MeSean , GMC, and Dsmith all go away and free up space for a true pass rusher and cornerstone defender such as Trey Flowers or Dee Ford. C’mon Licht Brain don’t fudge this up.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:39 am
Obviously, Smith didn’t grade high on “protective instincts” (as if there is such a test) like Michael Oher did in THE BLIND SIDE. I harbor no ill will toward Smith (seems like a good guy), but I’d rather have an angry aggressive personality at the position—you know, someone with “protective instincts.” Don’t care if he is less physically gifted than Smith if he gives more effort. Gotta be an angry young tackle out there somewhere.
February 19th, 2019 at 10:39 am
Way too many great lT’s available in draft to dump millions on a bottom half of the NFL LT who has reached his ceiling and takes off too many plays. C’mon Licht Brain , don’t fudge this up , give Dsmith the chance to shop himself and get a REAL LT in the draft to stand next to our best offensive lineman.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:25 am
You fools wanting to tag a mediocre lb like PED kwon are insane…. cant tackle, cant shed blocks and cant keep his fragile body on the field not to mention he was a key member and leader of some of the worst and most embarrassing defensive units in nfl history. Yeah let’s throw cash at a fragile loudmouth bum who is a career loser.. . Glazers have sure lowered the bar and trained low standard bucfan well to accept garbage for Sunday dinner
February 19th, 2019 at 11:41 am
keep McCoy, Kwon, and Hump draft Devin white in the first Jeffery Simmons in the second, sign Ramon Foster and Trent Brown . Let Cut Djax, Allen, Gholston, Dotson, Benenoch, Bond, Conte, Fitzpatrick, Grimes, Minter, Rodgers, Ryan Smith, and Tu’iklovvatu. Move Kwon to outside and put White middle.
February 19th, 2019 at 1:23 pm
Just watched Donovan’s appearance on Good Morning Football. Seemed they wanted to ask Smith some tough questions but held their tongues. The dude absolutely admitted he’s in preserve mode. That’s how I think he played last season leading up to his new contract. He gave soft effort to minimize contact.
February 19th, 2019 at 2:16 pm
Essentially, we are stuck with him because we won’t be able to find anyone else. If we tag, I hope we draft to replace or trade for one. Next year he needs to be gone, unless he magically figures it out.
February 20th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
We need to sign Claiborne, Honey Badger, Iupati, and Minter in Free Agency along with some of our Free Agents. Can’t see us overpaying Turnstyle Smith if we go this route though. In the draft we will have to move down and pickup a LT, backup NT, a DE, a three down RB who can do it all, a LG to develop, a FB/TE, a backup DT. Stewart needs to be moved to Safety. I believe either Cappa or Wester can be developed to play RT and Dotson should be asked to play backup RT at a reduced rate, E. Smith retained as a backup C/OG, and Liedtke to start at LT til the rookie LT is developed up to NFL speed and then Liedtke is the backup OT/OG. Rogers should be cut.