Buyer Beware
March 14th, 2020
Risky, says columnist.
When it comes to defense, you simply cannot go wrong with a strong defensive line and pass rushers. The more the merrier.
That is why Joe is intrigued about a guy that played (well) for Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles when Bowles ran the Jets.
Leonard Williams, of late, hasn’t been his normal self. Currently a free agent, it appears the Giants are washing their hands of him.
Because Williams played so well with Bowles, Joe thought he might be a good pickup for the Bucs. Marc Sessler of NFL.com suggests people like Joe may want to tap the brakes on Williams.
Leonard Williams, defensive lineman: Not so long ago, Williams beamed as a thundering draft-day home run for the Jets. Highly disruptive over his first four campaigns, Williams earned glowing grades but lacked the sack totals New York was hoping for.
Traded to the Giants last season, Williams reportedly seeks at least $15 million annually. The sides “are not close” on a new deal, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, which isn’t a stunner considering New York GM Dave Gettleman’s history for letting overpriced veterans walk.
After a season that saw his pressure rate fall off, Williams comes tinged with questions over whether his early-career promise will ever return. While just 26, the behemoth makes more sense as a transition-tagged performer with plenty to prove before the G-Men — or anyone — invest a mountain of money in him.
Well, the reason why Williams didn’t get a lot of sacks could be that Bowles may have been playing Williams much like Bowles has done with Ndamukong Suh. Notice Suh didn’t get many sacks but he anchored one helluva run defense.
Besides, if the Bucs keep Jason Pierre-Paul, Williams won’t be needed to get sacks. That will be Shaq Barrett and JPP’s jobs.
Putting Williams in a rotation with Vita Vea, Will Gholston and Suh, that’s a helluva front.
March 14th, 2020 at 8:08 am
This guy is not even close to being worth 15 million per year. Some team may be dumb enough to pay him that, but I hope it’s not ours.
March 14th, 2020 at 8:15 am
Gettleman has said that he’d get killed by the New York media if Williams leaves, after giving up 2 draft choices to acquire him from the Jets. The Giants will most certainly overpay Williams to stay.
March 14th, 2020 at 8:37 am
The only reason we would have $15 mil available is we are unable to sign our current FAs…….
And, I don’t think a BA/BOWLES influenced Licht will be up to spending $15 mil on anyone….
We need to sign our defense and pick up a couple of future starters in the draft.
March 14th, 2020 at 8:46 am
Not at that price, if he is smart, he does the Shaq thing, come to the Bucs on a one year prove it deal for about 4-5 million, bet on himself, plays in Bowles defense again and with Shaq and JPP, he should get one on ones. Since we hopefully will get one of the top five tackles, either top 4 within first fourteen picks or trade back for Jones, then no need to draft a DL early. Now you can get your RT (Jones) RB (Akers) back up QB (Hurts) and BPA in your first four picks.
March 14th, 2020 at 9:10 am
I’d take Phillips over him. Linval Joseph would likely come cheaper than Suh if we can’t resign him.
March 14th, 2020 at 9:59 am
We are about to get rid of the Qb of a top 3 offense and say we have a good defense now but most of the players on defense are free agents. I dont know where we are headed
March 14th, 2020 at 10:04 am
Linval Joseph, good call on if we can’t resign Suh. Did you see when the cameraman didn’t see the Vikings running out of the tunnel? Wow, that guy got plastered.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:05 am
There’s no way he’s going to be a rotational player for $15 million….
March 14th, 2020 at 10:07 am
When is that last time anyone can remember that we wanted to keep all of our FAs?…..If ever.
Sign them so we don’t have to shop for guys like Williams….
March 14th, 2020 at 10:11 am
We gotta let Suh walk! It’s really a no-brainer to me. The quality defensive lineman that are just as good, younger by like 7 years, and much cheaper than the $9Mil we just paid Suh are becoming available on free agency (Michael Pierce, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Jarran Reed, etc) They are all in the 26 yr oldish range. We could vastly improve even on our already #1 run D while saving money and securing consistency there over the next few years. Hard pass on $15Mil/yr for Leonard Williams or anybody!!
March 14th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Clearly this is reasonable Joe and he understands how this defense works. Sub and Vea create a mess in the middle, Barret and JPP attack the QB and the remaining linebackers clean up the rest of the mess created.
Should be a rapid fire resign once the FA season kicks off! Then we will see if all the offseason talk was real or not. Hopefully it will shut up our resident sickos Tpain in the A$$ and El Tired Repeatimisto!!!!!!
In BA I Trust!
March 14th, 2020 at 10:21 am
Sign Suh one more year then draft his replacement in the first three rounds.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:21 am
fools rush in where angels fear to tread
March 14th, 2020 at 10:40 am
I have been impressed by Suh. It wouldn’t surprise me if he has two or three good years left. He brings a veteran presence that complements Vea. He also has a knack for being around the ball, he is an instinctual player who gave our team aa big lift with his two touchdowns on fumble recoveries.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:41 am
Is anybody else getting fidgety waiting for some action on our DL situation?
Waiting for (long term) deal for Shaq… and wanting to get JPP, Nassib & Suh signed.
Is it just a matter that they are waiting for the Collective Bargaining to shake out?
I hope so, because I am anxious to get those things done.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:53 am
Suh had a good year, better than I expected. That said, if it was up to me, I’d make sure we got JPP back. Remember when the defense took off, with a fierce pass rush? I’d like to have both back. We’ll see. I especially don’t want to see JPP back with a divisional rival, I’m sure the Falcons will make a push for him.
March 14th, 2020 at 10:58 am
At this point, 100% focus is on CBA passing. If it doesn’t, ugh! Actions that make sense (DL re-signings) with a 2-3 year window provided by the likes of Evans, Godwin, Vea, Marpet, LVD, White, SMB, Davis, Dean and RoJo start to fall apart from a business perspective if we’ve only got 2020 before a walkout/lockout. Too much to even consider with all this coronavirus mayhem!
How goes the NFLPA vote?
March 14th, 2020 at 11:10 am
Suh won’t command $9 this year, He is another year older. $8 million and draft Kinlaw is available.
March 14th, 2020 at 11:32 am
@ncbucsfan … “We gotta let Suh walk! It’s really a no-brainer to me.” And yet so many commenters disagree with you. Amazing.
Those 4 DTs you mentioned (Michael Pierce, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Jarran Reed) did OK, but Suh fits our 3-4 hybrid defense much better IMO. Last year for instance …
1 – Suh (Bucs): Sacks: 2.5 … TFLs: 7 … QB Hits: 14 … Tackles: 41
2 – Pierce (Ravens 3-4): Sacks: 0.5 … TFLs: 2 … QB Hits: 3 … Tackles: 35
3 – Hargrave (Steelers 3-4)): Sacks: 4.0 … TFLs: 7 … QB Hits: 6 … Tackles: 60
4 – Collins (Cowboys 4-3): Sacks: 4.0 … TFLs: 6 … QB Hits: 10 … Tackles: 20
5 – Reed (Seahawks 4-3): Sacks: 2.0 … TFLs: 0 … QB Hits: 8 … Tackles: 27
Look at the rushing defense rankings. Bucs: #1. Ravens: #5. Steelers: #14. Cowboys: #11. Seahawks: #22.
So not only did Suh anchor the #1 rushing defense, but he also contributed 14 QB Hits & 2.5 sacks worth of ‘pressure’. Todd Bowles defense NEEDS a beast in the trenches like Suh to work. Without that interior pressure, guys like Shaq & JPP don’t eat nearly as well, and other teams will run a lot more on us. $9-$10 mil is peanuts for a DT of Suh’s caliber. I’d personally give him a 2-year contract with both years guaranteed. He’s that good, and that critical to this defense. Go cheap & screw it up and this year will be toast. Bring all 4 of our DLine FAs back … and quickly.
March 14th, 2020 at 11:52 am
We had a number 1 D against the run last year. That’s not coincidence folks. You pay Suh! He is very important to this D. He is the immovable object that clogs up running lanes. His job was not to sack.
March 14th, 2020 at 11:54 am
Just keep Suh, at 32 he is still better at what he does to anchor the defense and comes at half the price. Hard pass on Williams. The Bucs would be stupid to let JPP and Suh walk.
March 14th, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Buc4evr Says:
“The Bucs would be stupid to let JPP and Suh walk.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
(thumbs up)…. and while we are at it, let’s keep Nassib too.
March 14th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
TBBF
I’ve been in agreement with you all along about the rare opportunity to lust after our own FA’s instead of another teams.
Sign our current D as is…any other help should come from the draft.
What do we really need? A QB…A punishing RB to match with ROJO…a RT…hopefully one of those top four will fall to 14…a safety…most of our needs are now down to depth…not that depth is not important but it beats our usual off season where we are frantically scrambling to find starters.
March 14th, 2020 at 12:44 pm
What happened to the ” This team has so much talent”and “this talented roster just needs to be coached up!!!!!!!!!!! Seems the truth was revealed once again!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s been past time that we held the GM and quarterback accountable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reckoning will be revealed in the 2020 season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The win now coach and quick fixes better show up quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
I’d rather keep Gholston than sign this guy for 15 mil
March 14th, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Linval Joseph who was just cut by Minnesota would be a far better option.
March 14th, 2020 at 1:59 pm
NFL.com article on riskiest free agents:
#2 is Leonard Williams
Of course #1 is Jameis Winston.
March 14th, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Joe you don’t seem to realize how many talented players we have that are going to cost serious dough in the next few years. JPP, Godwin, LVD, Vea. Ppl hate Licht but he’s put together a hell of a team of guys worthy of their big contracts. We might have the third most cap dollars but it will be a struggle to deal with in the future. Suh one year $7-8 million or Kinlaw.
March 14th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
And I can’t believe I forgot Shaq on big money list.
March 14th, 2020 at 7:05 pm
Forget Williams. Just resign our defensive FA’s.
March 14th, 2020 at 7:23 pm
Realist
They’ll show up….
The question is, will you pull your skirt down when they do?….lol…
GO BUCS
March 14th, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Getoverit
We can afford all of them plus conklin if we get teddy….
GO BUCS