Who Will Take Jacquizz Rodgers And Other Departing Bucs?
March 10th, 2019
Much more than in past years, Joe is very interested to see where Buccaneers free agents land.
Take running back Jacquizz Rodgers, for example, a favorite of Dirk Koetter and a key Bucs cog for the past three seasons on offense and special teams.
Rodgers is healthy and took a lot of snaps on what general manager Jason Licht says was one of the greatest offenses in NFL history last year. But it’s clear that 29-year-old Rodgers will not be retained by Tampa Bay.
Will he land a job? And if not, what does that say?
How about Ryan Fitzpatrick, who proved he’s a valuable backup quarterback last season — keyword backup. There have been no indications that Fitzpatrick wants to retires, and Joe has heard rumblings that he’s a fit with the Eagles from a football and locker room standpoint. Joe could also see Fitzpatrick as a fit in Miami where they’re probably going to have a transitional period at the position and Fitzpatrick appears to be a better mentor/backup type then nearly everyone else out there.
Will any team open the vault for injured Kwon Alexander, or will he come running back for the Bucs’ best offer? Will Vinny Curry find a job for even a third of what Jason Licht paid him? What about Bucs fan favorite Chris Conte and I’m-not-paid-enough-for-that Brent Grimes?
Joe loves this time of year.
March 10th, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Devin White will be better than Kwon, and I don’t see us having White,Kwon, and LVD on the same roster. Bit of overkill. BUT do we risk it and not resign Kwon thinking the big 3 guys in this draft will b gone when we pick? (Bosa, Allen, Q. Williams). What if we Let Kwon walk and one of those guys is there? At that point we NEED a MLB, but how could we pass up one of the top guys.
March 10th, 2019 at 1:55 pm
GOAT
We got Kwon in the 4th round. We got Beckwith in the 3rd/4th. We got David in the 2nd. Not saying I don’t think we need to resign Kwon, I want him to come back. But if he doesn’t come back there ways to replace him that don’t involve spending a top 5 pick.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
It’ll show everyone how bad Licht is at picking a roster when no one signs most of these players
March 10th, 2019 at 2:11 pm
The question about Kwon and his Kwon (Jerry Maguire) is scarey. I think it’s a mistake to sign him to a long term deal coming off injury, not to mention that he misses games every year. I’d love to see us pickup White in the draft but going into the draft not having a MLB tips our hand and I’d see The Raiders possibly taking him. I just saw that Carlos Hyde was picked up for pennies. How is it we need another RB and Jason isn’t in the mix for him?
March 10th, 2019 at 2:15 pm
urban dictionary: Two Buc Place
welcome to:
“Two Buc Place”
when you have only a mere 2 dollar bill to drop on players when the free agency bell rings…
one buc place is now: #TwoBucPlace
March 10th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
I still think somebody pays Kwon, but he wont get the $12m that he is apparently looking for.
From everything I read about Devin White and from the few videos I watched, I don’t see how he isn’t a Buccaneer come April 25th. Just seems like he has everything that Licht and the coaching staff has said they are looking for. Like a perfect fit. And I don’t think Kwon being resigned would stop them from drafting him.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:22 pm
Joeypopems
I REALLY like White. He’s in that Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis mold. He would be AWESOME in this defense, but we still really need to upgrade our edge rush. Montez Sweat is a little less polished, but he can be down right scary if he puts it together.
The one player I really feel like will be the best D lineman in this class is Ed Oliver. For some reason the guy just scares the $hit outta me. How he makes it out the top 5 baffles me. Could really be Aaron Donald
March 10th, 2019 at 2:34 pm
I admit to being totally on the Devin White train, but there are several other MLBs in this draft who’d be good 2nd Rnd picks. I like Devin Bush (Michigan) but he’s too small for what I’d prefer we get at MLB (5’11” & 232 lbs). But Mack Wilson (Bama … 6’1″ & 238 lbs) and Tre Lamar (Clemson … 6’3″ & 243 lbs) both rank as late 1st or early 2nd Rounders, have decent size & did quite well in 2018 for their teams.
Still can’t see re-signing Kwon given our salary Cap situation. For $5-$6 mil I’d go for it (then use him outside), but for $10-$12 mil ain’t no way. Draft Devin White, re-sign Taylor, Minter & Lynch (for S/Ts in his case), keep LVD (obviously) & Cichy (assuming he rehabs OK) and we’d have our 6 LBs to start the season. If Beckwith gets cleared hopefully he can beat out Taylor, Minter, Lynch or Cichy.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:35 pm
Joeypopems would be nice to have him and Kwon (not on a big deal) but I just don’t see it happening. If we resign Kwon that #5 pick definitely won’t be White. But I’ve liked everything I’ve seen and read about the kid and that speed is unreal!
March 10th, 2019 at 2:36 pm
@Mike Evans GOAT
I agree, I think Devin White would be worth a top 5 pick if they choose to go that route.
Imo the Montez Sweat hype is a little nuts. Reminds me of how Jordan Willis started getting 1st round buzz after his unreal and unexpected combine in 2016. The athlete that Sweat tested as and the athlete on tape are 2 different people. He will go top 15, but top 5 is nuts. Just my opinion but I would take Bosa, Burns, Allen, and Ferrell all ahead of him and in that order.
And Ed Oliver falling out of the top 5, maybe even top 10 just goes to show the talent of this defensive class. DL, both inside and EDGE, are loaded this year. Bucs should take advantage of that.
Im a HUGE Brian Burns fan and I think he is worth a top 5 pick for the Bucs, but if the Bucs can get Devin White at 5 and Jachai Polite in the 2nd round after he bombed the combine… that would be a great start to fixing the defense. But I realize that Polite is a HUGE risk right now so it wouldn’t shock me if he wasn’t even on their radar.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:38 pm
Rodgers will follow Koeeter….or he may hang it up and transition to coaching.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:42 pm
@bucs4ya
Even if Kwon comes back, with Beckwith’s career possibly over, LB is still a need. Plus there is still uncertainty with Kwon coming off the injury. And on top of that this LB class outside of the 2 Devins (White and Bush) isn’t good whereas the DL class is deep this year.
Im not saying White will be the pick no matter what. I wont even say he SHOULD be the pick. All Im saying is that he should be one of the top options no matter who is on the roster come draft time
March 10th, 2019 at 2:49 pm
Someone mentioned last week the trajectory of the Steelers defense prior to Ryan Shazier unfortunate injury and how they’ve looked since. I think I read they finished tied for first in sacks last season. Missed the playoffs. Without a legit QB on defense playmaking in the middle of the field you really don’t have much on defense. Draft Devin White and make yourself look smart for doing so.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
There are no guarantees at any position including Dline. Arians drafted ole miss N’cemdiche(I know spelled it wrong bite me)he was beastly in school,don’t know if he’s even still in the league now.
March 10th, 2019 at 2:55 pm
More to a defense than just sacks. Chiefs too of the league in sacks and they watched along with the rest of us the pats win yet another Super Bowl. Why is those cats don’t seem to be overly concerned with sacks but are contention for a title year after year. Is Belichess that much smarter than every other HC in this league..
March 10th, 2019 at 2:55 pm
^^^*^
Cardinals drafted him. I think arians even.
And he is still in league. Just a ghost. Que terrible
March 10th, 2019 at 2:55 pm
@Joeypopems
All great points. I’d love to see Kwon on a 1yr prove it deal and us get White. He seems like the type of player we need to get this new attitude going. Bring in guys that come from good programs that work hard and expect to win, play and practice hard. Get rid of those that just want to have fun no matter if we’re winning or losing.
March 10th, 2019 at 3:22 pm
Only way Kwon is a Buc is if in FA he fails to get a large deal and we pick him up for a max of $5mil……1-year……
I don’t think passing on Kwon will keep us from getting White…..I suspect he will be there at 5 no matter what the scenario.
March 10th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
Devin White has..Beast like qualities. Might be the next great one. And its guaranteed Kwon’s comin back slower after that injury. Both Rodgers and Fitz will land safely somewheres. They are very seviceable players. Good luck to both of them.
March 10th, 2019 at 4:19 pm
Kwon is generally considered the top LB available, the only question is his health. This idea that he’s suddenly awful is ridiculous – and if the FA market doesn’t pay him then the Bucs should pounce on getting a long term deal done.
The only exception would be if the Bucs are going to completely blow up the defense, trade off McCoy and JPP for picks, get rid of everyone not on a first contract (except for David) and realize the defense will again be horrible for a year or two, but take all that money and put it into the offense, with someone like Bell, and try to put up a ton of points. If that’s the idea, if it’s the defense just isn’t getting it done and it will take more than a couple of years to fix, so blow it up, then I’m for that – if you put that money back into the offense.
March 10th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
@Rod Munch … “Kwon is generally considered the top LB available”. Seriously Rod? Don’t know what rankings guru you’re following, but most rank CJ Moseley quite a bit higher than Kwon. TBBF got it right … he’s worth $5 mil a year, but NOT as a MLB in my book.
March 10th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Joey
I feel like Sweat was a 1st rounder b4 the combine. But that is once in a decade athleticism.
But then again Devin White is a GREAT prospect.
I don’t think Devin Bush makes it past the Vikings, so picking him up in the 2nd isn’t an option
March 10th, 2019 at 8:14 pm
Defense Rules – Literally searched Google and the very first ranking I pull up has Kwon #1, Barr #2 and Mosely #3. If Mosely was that good and doesn’t have health concerns like Kwon then why would the Ravens let him walk? They have $30m in cap space even after trading Flacco and taking their cap hit.
March 10th, 2019 at 9:19 pm
Rod … go to Pro-Football-Reference and compare Kwon’s stats with Mosley’s stats over just the last 4 years (how long Kwon’s played). Not even close. CJ – 61 games; Kwon – 46 games. CJ leads in tackles, TFLs, QB hits, FFs, FRs, INTs … literally every category.