DraftMedia Not Impressed
May 6th, 2019
Composite grades are in.
Yeah, people are still buzzing about the Bucs and the draft from a little over a week ago. Well, buzzing in the wrong way.
Joe has never sensed a Bucs draft that has universally depressed Bucs fandom like this year’s did. Even those happy the Bucs picked an inside linebacker at No. 5 overall began searching for Zoloft after how the draft played out in its entirety.
The good people of Football Outsiders decided to do a composite draft grade using 12 different grades from members of #DraftMedia. And the team with the lowest grade based on the 12 analysts? You guessed it, the Bucs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected what graders believe is a longtime starter in LSU linebacker Devin White, but have received criticism for passing up on both Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver after they slid down from the top of the draft. The rest of the Buccaneers’ selections can be labeled as question marks. Central Michigan’s Sean Bunting is labeled a reach at 39, while Auburn’s Jamel Dean has been considered incredibly inconsistent on film. While the Bucs did need a kicker, Utah’s Matt Gay wasn’t considered the best in the draft and was drafted way too high. Have you learned nothing from Roberto Aguayo?
The kicker pick doesn’t irk Joe. It’s a throwaway pick for crying out loud, given how the Bucs have drafted on the third day this century (which encompasses four general managers).
Even given days to fret over the entire draft, it still makes no rhyme or reason to Joe no matter how hard the folks at One Buc Palace try to sell it.
If it makes anyone feel better, both the Dixie Chicks and Saints had the third- and fifth-lowest grades.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:11 am
Until they prove it on the field, EVERY player picked in the draft this year is a question mark.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:22 am
The LB is a legit instant starter…..Kicker could be the same…..If we pull one solid CB from this draft, that’s three quality starters which makes for a pretty good draft.
However…the Bucs don’t get the benefit of the doubt because we don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt….especially with Licht’s drafts. He has entire drafts that are total whiffs often trying to outsmart his peers. Until he proves them wrong, there’s sufficient reason to doubt him.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:25 am
I remember coming up to their 3rd round pick identifying Chase Winovich as the guy they should take. Instead they trade down to the bitter end of the round to take two also-rans, rated as several rounds lower selections.
Meanwhile seven picks after the Bucs’ original 3rd round slot the Patriots grab Winovich. The report Joe cites give the Pats the #1 overall rating: A+, 3.80 GPA, and they say about Winovich, “Almost every analyst identified Michigan edge rusher Chase Winovich as the prototypical player that Bill Belichick seems to manufacture in a lab every year on Draft Night.”
May 6th, 2019 at 8:25 am
And you know what, draft grades mean NOTHING!
May 6th, 2019 at 8:34 am
I was out of the Country, so the “real” fans gave me the abridged version!!!!!!
Kwon was upgraded and licht weight admitted and tried to fix about 25% of his past mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if the D-line has just half of the injuries it had last year, then there will be blowouts aplenty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 8:35 am
ROFOBuc…of course you’re ready to give the rookies 3 years to develop right?
Prolly not.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:38 am
After 6 Jason drafts and millions spent on countless free agents we have…..
Drum roll please….. 5-11 talent
May 6th, 2019 at 8:38 am
Over 70% of fans from this site rated the draft as average or better. A C grade for a draft is not average. –Joe PFF rated the Bucs as having the best draft in the division.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:43 am
“And you know what, draft grades mean NOTHING!”
Draft facts mean something.
The Bucs are incredibly slow moving and dim witted when it comes to personnel moves. There are some incredible and brilliant people running the Rams, Patriots, Browns, Seahawks and Colts.
It’s a zero sum game and the best poker players come away from the table with the most chips. The bad players walk away with a pocket full of excuses and hopes.
Fire Licht tonight!
May 6th, 2019 at 8:48 am
PFF had the most incredibly stupid mock drafts this year, no wonder they think the Bucs got a passing grade.
They had Montez Sweat dropping to the late 2nd round.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Always scratch my head with statements like Matt Gay wasn’t considered best kicker in draft class. Said like it’s a fact. Who didn’t consider him the best? Football outsiders themselves? Media conessus? Or have they talked to gms around the league? Obviously thr bucs thought be was thr top prospect. Not like they purposely passed on a guy they thought was better. If it works out a 5th is nothing for a long time kicker that can win or lose you a couple games a year or more plus some post season games.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:49 am
A GM whose record is what Licht’s is has no throwaway draft picks, certainly not a fifth. Please refrain from ascribing motives to Joe’s work. Thank you. –Joe
May 6th, 2019 at 8:57 am
Although I have a wait & see before lauding or criticizing the draft….I’ve got to say that Licht & Co. did it again with our 2nd pick…..it’s like MJ Stewart all over again……several players at the position rated higher (doesn’t mean a lot} until we see the performance.
We did trade down for an extra pick in the third, so we drafted an extra player….that should mean something.
I have absolutely no problem at all with Devin White……but apparently Joe is like a kid who didn’t get the Christmas present he wanted……will whine until the next Christmas.
May 6th, 2019 at 8:58 am
They haven’t even had one freakin training camp yet. Can we not have the discussion about how bad these players are before they even learn the playbooks and meet their teammates please? For all anyone knows, in three years all of these pundits could just be eating a big pile of crow. Point is, too much ink spilled over literally nothing at this point. Same of any team with positive draft grades. Dumb.
Joe – for more relevant content, go back and grade all 32 drafts from three or four years ago and compare Jason to his peers. I know that’ll take some actual work, but at least it won’t be embarrassing to look back at in a couple seasons.
May 6th, 2019 at 9:07 am
So according to you Joe, everyone’s still “buzzing in the wrong way”. Hmmm, and Bucs fandom is “universally depressed”. It’s a good thing the Bucs don’t use YOUR football in their games, because by now you would’ve taken it & gone home.
Who’s #DraftMedia BTW? And how long did you have to search to find them to prove your ‘point’ that the Bucs drafted poorly this year? I did find Google references to ‘draft media’ groups in Malaysia, Serbia & Macedonia but something tells me their use of the word ‘football’ is different than yours.
I’m sad though that #DraftMedia wasn’t impressed with how the Bucs did in the draft. Lots of us won’t be able to sleep tonight … and it’ll be your fault.
May 6th, 2019 at 9:09 am
I know Joe, back in moderation. Sometimes you have to work for them, but other times they just fall into your lap. Couldn’t help myself … sorry.
May 6th, 2019 at 9:17 am
3-13 roster and a minor league franchise void of leadership of course no one is impressed outside of the clueless delusional optimists whould look for good if bucs drafted a circus of 1 arm midgets to play oline
May 6th, 2019 at 9:21 am
It seems likely that 3 of the picks will become starters. IF they pan out and play well then the draft is a smashing success.
White seems like a lock to be a solid starter. How much more than that nobody knows
Mike Smith looks like a starting safety either right away or during the season.
If Bunting is as good as quite a few reports say he is in press then he gets tossed into the frying pan right away. Press man is a lot easier to play for a rookie than those wacky soft zones Mike Smith lost his reputation over.
May 6th, 2019 at 9:40 am
Are these the same draftniks that gave bad grades for the Cowboys drafting Travis Frederick, Smith, and Vandereche? Same guys that complained when the Eagles drafted McNabb? One of these guys last season said that Darius Leonard was an awful pick in the 2nd round last year. Leonard went on to become ROY and an all pro. I really trust what these guys have to say.
May 6th, 2019 at 9:43 am
Louis, You can’t use logic with the JBFers. Most of the people on this site think that other teams draft 7 starters in round 1 through 7.
May 6th, 2019 at 9:48 am
Same draftnicks that are bummed with having a crappy ass team year in and year out. As long as I see a light at the end of the tunnel I’m cool.
Mate there is no light or Licht
May 6th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Buc1987, you need to give these guys time to develop. That’s how you build a team. They aren’t all-pro players coming out if college. Especially nowadays with the limited coaching and practice time they have during the offseason per the CBA.
It takes 3 years to get an accurate grade on a draft class.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:13 am
Devin White will be a stud but they lost out in Rd 2 when Buffalo jumped in front of them to take Cody Ford. Licht scrambled and took Bunting when he should’ve taken Risner.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:14 am
not impressed but wtfdik…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 10:41 am
Just another failure for Licht & the draft. Ho Hum.
May 6th, 2019 at 11:53 am
If we would have taken an RG I’d be OK with this draft. We hit on ILB/DE/CB/S but not OG/RB. OG being the biggest need.
In the end the most important thing from draft really comes down to the players themselves.
I.e. if Devin White is an all pro and Sean Bunting is immediately our best corner and the best from this class – it’s probably a top 3-5 impact class before we even consider any other players drafted.
So I’m just waiting man. We’ll see.
May 6th, 2019 at 2:18 pm
Grading drafts right after the draft is even more of a waste of time than mock drafts.
May 6th, 2019 at 4:15 pm
As I said before…on paper, this draft (outside of White) looks bad.
But it could also end up being the best draft in Bucs history when all is said and done. We just don’t know either way yet.
Therefore? I’m withholding negative judgement on the picks. I’m not crowning them Hall of Famers yet either.
May 6th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Interesting to note:
The only offensive Line undrafted free agent they signed is OL Brock Ruble.
May 6th, 2019 at 5:00 pm
Not correct Bonzai. We signed G Zack Bailey and C Nate Trewyn
May 6th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Bailey probably would have been drafted but he’s coming off an injury
May 6th, 2019 at 8:05 pm
i believe the horrible white pick set the tone, but hey its not my money if they want to over pay for an ILB its on the Bucs. Time will tell but the successful NFL teams don’t waste a 5 on an ILB