Bucs No. 7
January 25th, 2020
The rookies glided in the final weeks. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Joe remembers once hearing Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian say the goal of every draft is to come away with four starters, two of which should someday be in a Pro Bowl.
While a Pro Bowl is not yet in the cards, it seems safe to say Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht reached Polian’s goal this season.
The Bucs came away with three starters and if you include kicker Matt Gay, who showed some promise, he would be a fourth starter.
The rookie class was so good for the Bucs, per the PFF tribe typing for BSPN, it was a No. 7 overall rookie class.
The Buccaneers have made the secondary a priority in recent drafts, and they have hit on some of those picks. Both Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean showed promise as rookies, particularly Dean. He played like one of the better cornerbacks in the league over the second half of the season.
Of course inside linebacker Devin White was good, though he needs to work on his coverage skills. Once the two rookie corners got used to the NFL (Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting), they not only held their own but they excelled.
Another class like that in April, the Bucs might just be making some headway to a playoff berth.
Hopefully, there will be a running back selected high this spring.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:06 am
This draft will end up leading to more wins than the “grand slam”
January 25th, 2020 at 12:28 am
The mistake is usually made by thinking rookies who didnt play well womt improve as if you hit your ceiling as a rookie. I haven’t given up on Mike Edwards yet just like I was never down on ronald jones or Alex cappa. Dont care as much about rookie season but once you’ve had a year under your belt it’s time to ball. Geraldine was not much of an impact player as a rookie plus he got injured and he turned out to be a decent player. This draft is even more important because licht has to make a playoff stringing together two really good drafts usually gets teams in position for playoffs. Winston is the weak link
January 25th, 2020 at 1:02 am
There’s a lot of talent coming out of the BIG Universities this draft so if Licht will stick to the BIG schools we should do well. This isn’t the time to gamble on longshot projects. He’s gotten lucky with Marpet and Cappa but if you tap that well too often it’s bound to come back and bite you.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:23 am
Keep JW? Let JW walk?
Draft will be interesting.
—if JL drafts OL and RB early 2 rounds, Bucs keep JW.
—If JL drafts OL/QB/RB in early 2 rounds – expect signing FA QB – Guess of who QB – is wide open.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:23 am
Dont forget the starting kicker with the boomstick for the leg.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:31 am
You look at my numbers, I’m ballin Says:
Dont forget the starting kicker with the boomstick for the leg.
Matt Gay will improve – will be a win for JL draft choice.
January 25th, 2020 at 2:03 am
Gay sucks. Doesn’t have the inner fortitude. Booming leg but can’t make an extra point or a chip shot when the chips are down. Open competition and put the stress of losing his job on him. If he can handle that maybe he’ll be ok.
January 25th, 2020 at 2:47 am
Swampbuc,
That’s how Gay won the job last year. Going into the last game, he was at 84% on FGA. After the game, we all know the results. But that’s 15 games of above avg play.
Extra points, it was a bad year for kickers in general. Lowest % league wise in a long time. Don’t know why, just that was.
That said, I think all teams should bring in comp because kickers can go south in a hurry. Why not have a plan in place if that happens.
January 25th, 2020 at 3:27 am
Gay has the leg to get it done but what he does do is use the technique on his approach on short chip shots. The style Gay uses for long distance kicks (soccer style) is the same he uses on chip shots. He needs to practice chip shots with the straight on approach. I’ve noticed many kickers have started doing the same thing. The straight on approach is weak for distance kicks but deadly accurate on chip shots.
January 25th, 2020 at 5:00 am
I have trouble believing that our 2019 draft class came in ONLY #7. I can’t imagine any team getting more productivity out of their rookie class. Out of our 8 draft picks, half of them started more than half the games in 2019 (White, SMB, Dean, Gay), and another (Edwards) saw significant playing time (over 50% of the defensive snaps). Two others (Nelson & Miller) were on-the-field for about 15% of the snaps, which isn’t bad for 4th & 6th round rookies. Contrast that with our 2016 draft class which has ONE player still with us (Ryan Smith) and I’d say we did unbelievably well.
One more draft like that and Bucs salary Cap situation should improve big-time. Assuming that we can re-sign our DLine UFAs, it’d be awesome to get a starting OLineman AND starting RB this year, as well as a key rotational DLineman. Can’t help but think though that IF a quality rookie QB fell to us at #14, BA might pull the trigger and take the gamble (regardless of whether or not we re-sign Jameis or pick up a veteran QB to replace him).
January 25th, 2020 at 6:10 am
Agreed Defense Rules. Time will tell where this draft class stands but it has the makings to easily be JL’s and 2019 league best when all is said and done
January 25th, 2020 at 6:14 am
Wow!!!! Joe thinks the Bucs still need another big draft!!!!!!! So much for all this team needed was “real” coaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let the record state, that the “win now” coach had a losing season!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2020 at 6:38 am
Another class like that in April, the Bucs might just be making some headway to a playoff berth.
.
.
We need a class like that for the next 3 Aprils to make up for Lichtweight’s duds.
January 25th, 2020 at 6:41 am
What happened to the “you can’t judge a draft class for at least three years”? Sounds like someone is trying to give this POS worst GM since Dominek any shade he/she can. Look at what John Lynch has done in 3 years and compare that to the time we have been tortured with Licht and Dominek.
January 25th, 2020 at 6:42 am
The Bucs were 1-1 going into the Giants game, coming off a big win in Carolina the previous Thursday. Despite the early season blunders by the defense, they had the easiest FG possible to win the game. I’m sure we were all thinking 2-1 with a chance for 3-1 the following week in LA.
Then Gay did something that only the Bucs are known for–he missed, turning an easy win into a loss. A normal kicker makes that kick 99 out of a hundred times!
I still can’t get over that kick. And from the looks of things, neither did Gay.
When kickers get demons roaming about their head, they are often impossible to exorcise.
I don’t know about this guy …
January 25th, 2020 at 6:42 am
Gay’s FG% is better than Janikowski’s rookie season. He’ll be fine.
January 25th, 2020 at 6:49 am
Defense Rules Says:
“I have trouble believing that our 2019 draft class came in ONLY #7. I can’t imagine any team getting more productivity out of their rookie class.”
.
.
Agreed. Anti-small market Buc life bias.
January 25th, 2020 at 6:50 am
“You look at my numbers, I’m ballin”
LOL. Y’all check yo sheet!
January 25th, 2020 at 7:30 am
I’m not giving Licht much credit for this draft and don’t believe he all of the sudden became a draft guru……this was Arians’ & Bowles’ draft…..their influence was noticeable.
As it was with the impressive FA class…….Suh, Shaq, Perriman…..who we all want to resign….
It has been many years since we’ve done so well with so many personnel.
I, too still hold out hope for Gay, Miller & Nelson from this class.
January 25th, 2020 at 7:58 am
Defense Rules Says:
January 25th, 2020 at 5:00 am
I have trouble believing that our 2019 draft class came in ONLY #7. I can’t imagine any team getting more productivity out of their rookie class.
PFF grading system rates Devin White quite low among rookies. It liked SMB and Dean. Devin White’s season grade was low – 50. They gave Quinnen Williams a 67 from the Jets. Their scoring system is definitely off.
January 25th, 2020 at 8:16 am
Re-sign the whole defense, add Conklin at RT, pick up a veteran QB, and draft a QB of Arians liking, and maybe a horse RB and 2020 might get us into the 2020 Play-offs.
January 25th, 2020 at 8:40 am
“He’s gotten lucky with Marpet and Cappa ”
They were selected in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. They are average picks at best.
Nothing to brag about.
If they were picked in the 5th and 6th, then Gump would have some thing to talk about.
The true test of draft prowess is how the picks hold up after a couple years like the 2016 draft class.
#1 Vernon Hargraves
#2 Noah Spence
#2Roberto Aguayo
#4 Ryan Smith
#5 Caleb Benenoch
#6 Devante Bond
#7 Dan Vitale
January 25th, 2020 at 9:12 am
I tend to believe that if we had a better DC than Mike smith, that more of our Defensive draft picks would have worked out better. I think if we had been running a 34 Defense front rather than a base 43, that several more of our picks would have had a better chance of succeeding.
Litch has had some fails, no doubt, but I really think we put way too many draft picks in positions to fail. SO there is some faults that lie with the coaching schemes.
January 25th, 2020 at 10:02 am
The Bucs need to come away with a RT, RB & DT this draft, and maybe a decent QB in round 3+.
January 25th, 2020 at 10:08 am
Injuries impacted this class as well. Jury is still out on players like Nelson. He may be able to contribute significant and successful snaps to our DL.
Coaches will know what these players have to offer for 2020 and we might see that knowledge reflected in the draft.
This draft is critical now that we’re reaching a true competitive level. We see Tennessee having multiple tough decisions just like us. We need to find success so we get some players with affordable salaries to go with our good players who are now deservedly earning the big bucks.
As our cap guru D.R. likes to point out…the cap is a balancing act…got to have young blood not just for their talent on the field but for their affordability.
January 25th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Ghost
WOW. Take the worst year since Licht has been here and project it as being representative of the entire history of Licht’s tenure.
And then to low ball Marpet who is considered a borderline Pro Bowler is simply absurd on the face of it.
Cappa has developed very nicely and is tough enough to play with a broken arm.
The fact that you had to low ball two successful players and focus on only ONE draft simply shows your lack of thoughtful balance.
You are a victim of something called “confirmation bias”.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:16 am
@stpetebucfan
If you read what I wrote, you would see that I did not denigrate either Marpet or Cappa. I simply said that they are playing at their 2nd and 3rd round levels. Nomore, no less.
They don’t become legends because they sucked in high school and couldn’t play for a real college football team. Gump didn’t score any bonus points by risking the franchise (see 2016) selecting incredible long shots in the rounds where there are 100’s of Division 1 stars.
The Gumpster Fire should be an ex-GM after the 2016 debacle.
I apologize to Ali Marpet, I know it’s absurd but I simply didn’t know he had been selected to the Borderline Pro Bowl. Is that game played in Nogales or Tijuana?
January 25th, 2020 at 11:19 am
I don’t disagree
A lot of Young guys usually start to figure things out in year 2
These guys were balling towards end of season
Devin white looks like a future star in the making
Yungry
January 25th, 2020 at 11:28 am
Redskins #1 because Haskins was decent as a rookie QB and WR McLaurin was good? Excluding Montez Sweat, the rest of their class either didn’t play or didn’t play well.
The Bucs have a future All-Pro in White, plus two other all rookies in Dean and Murphy-Bunting. Not to forget that Edwards, Miller, and Nelson showed promise and contributed while Matt Gay MIGHT be an excellent kicker. Redskins weren’t even competitive and the Bucs were and their rookie contributions were a major reason for that.
On another note, WTF pays for ESPN premium content? I can’t believe that trash is still a thing.
January 25th, 2020 at 11:35 am
We don’t need a running back. We need an offensive line.
January 25th, 2020 at 12:35 pm
Ghost
Marpet is consistently ranked in the top ten of NFL guards. He plays here in bumfk and gets no national notoriety. Can you say LVD.
Cappa has played ONE year fulltime.
You never did answer why you selected ONE YEAR.
You like the other haters you conveniently left out the GOOD picks Licht/or whomever did the selecting) have made.
In addition to Marpet there was Donovan Smith..a solid if unspectacular player who has started virtually every snap since his selection. Of course Kwon came in the 4th round that year along with JW in the first. If JW signs for 2020 that is a starting QB who lasted six years with the Bucs!
So conceding the 2016 draft was a disaster let’s move to ’17. OJ…slow start but jury still out…Justin Evans hampered by injuries and then the real steal one of the top ten WR’s in the 3rd round…Chris Godwin. Do you wish to argue about Godwin who clearly should have been a first rounder.
’18 was FAR from a bust…Vita Vea…anchor of our DL for the next decade…ROJO who improved dramatically last year and set to blow up this year with an improved OL. Carlton Davis our best DB who is now challenged by SMB and of course Dean. Cappa has proven to be an incredibly TOUGH servicable OL and Jordan Whitehead. Who really knows yet about Cichy and Watson..injuries have limited their appearances.
’19 has been discussed above…hard to fault last year’s draft but I know it doesn’t fit your “confirmation bias”.
And left out of our conversation…the UDFA’s who have played well or at minimum contributed in starting roles at time…Brate…Hump…Barber..
I’ve done a LITTLE study of NFL GM’s over the years. Historically even the
all-time greats have slumps…
If you take Licht’s total body of work (hard to do since we don’t know which drafts he had the most input) he’s at worst average and perhaps even a B+
Hard to really know because again his power has ebbed and flowed through his tenure. How many decisions were Jasons…how many were Lovies or Arians.
January 25th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
It’s a great year for offensive tackles and a good one should be available when the Buc’s pick. That is what I want them to take because Dotson needs to be replaced and we need depth on the offensive line.
However, I disagree with a narrative that our offensive line was bad last year. Any opinion from slightly below average to slightly above average makes sense to me.
Point to the horrible ability to run on 3rd and short to say slightly below average (which by the way, a lot of teams have trouble doing).
Or point to the high end ability to score and get yards in the air for the reason to believe slightly above average.
January 25th, 2020 at 2:31 pm
I don’t understand why everyone thinks Dean is better then SMB yes he has a Bunch of PBUs but they didn’t even throw the ball SMB way an SMB had 3 picks Dean got himself 1 pick as well don’t take this wrong I’m a Big fan of Dean I just don’t know why SMB is being Slept on he was starting since Bucs got rid of VH3 I for one am pumped up that Bucs got 3 Starting caliber Corners to go with Whitehead who is good Safety with plenty upside who getting better every year an Edwards who should make a nice jump year 2 who had a good year an made some really god plays an Justin Evans coming back from Injury who I hope will be 100% healthy an that right there is a Dam good Secondry I Really don’t understand what’s going on with MJ his rookie year he looke great in the preseason then his confidence got shaken an seems like he ain’t got it back yet I would like to see him play outside corner this preseason instead of Nickel I hope he can Develop this offseason I just don’t understand ho he was picked ahead of Davis who is turning into a really Good CB for us GoBucs
January 25th, 2020 at 2:32 pm
Ghost of Darrell Henderson Says:
“The Gumpster Fire should be an ex-GM after the 2016 debacle.”
Among other things, like Swaggy Baker.
“I apologize to Ali Marpet, I know it’s absurd but I simply didn’t know he had been selected to the Borderline Pro Bowl. Is that game played in Nogales or Tijuana?”
LOL
StPete stepped right in that one!