Jason Licht Ranked 23rd Among GMs
April 16th, 2020
GM Jason Licht
Do the Bucs have a quality general manager?
It’s too bad bars are shut down by the government because that’s one hell of a fun question among Bucs fans throwing back a few Big Storm beers.
On the surface, Bucs general manager Jason Licht is awful.
No playoffs. Three straight losing seasons. Too many players with neck-up issues. Too many high-profile whiffs. It’s all a sour stew that tastes like ineptitude when compared to his peers.
However, the reality is deeper than that when you attempt to consider Licht’s power and how much of it he’s been able to exercise among three head coaches and a bizarre ownership group that goes silent after signing arguably the most popular and successful player in NFL history.
Veteran NFL.com writer/editor Gregg Rosenthal ranked NFL general managers in a column today. Licht checked in at No. 23 overall out of 25 GMs ranked. Seven were not included because they are new on the job.
… It took Bruce Arians’ arrival and Tom Brady’s availability for Licht to finally give up on Winston, which will put the GM’s other team-building struggles in the spotlight. In fairness, the Bucs’ defense and offensive line, both big trouble spots during Licht’s tenure, appear to be on the upswing. This roster has never looked better, but I’ve been far too high on Licht for virtually every year since 2015 — and we’ve both been wrong repeatedly. The cold reality of Licht’s 34-62 record since taking over speaks louder than any offseason hype.
Harsh ranking for Licht coming off a 7-9 season. Heck, the Bengals secured the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and their GM came in ranked three positions better than Licht.
Is Licht an average GM? Maybe.
This year will reveal a lot.
As Rosenthal wrote, the won-loss record always speaks louder than anything else.
April 16th, 2020 at 5:48 pm
I am very surprised he ranked that high.
April 16th, 2020 at 5:51 pm
There must be 9 totally crappy ones out there then!
April 16th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
The only saving grace for Licht is that Mark Dominick was worse……
Whatever Licht has as positives are all linked to BA & Bowles……Free Agents, Last Year’s Draft & hiring them….
April 16th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Why haven’y the fans of this team heard anything from Tom Brady? Just a simple video greeting. It’s not a big deal. Just a message from Tom Brady directly to the fans of his new team?
Makes no sense.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
It’s higher than what I expected, I thought he’d be one up from the bottom, with Bill O’Brien being last. Not because I hate him or anything, just the overall record since he’s been GM. It’s BA doing the drafting, IMHO, with help from Todd Bowles (yes, his name is “Bowles”, not “Bowels”, as I see so much of on here) helping with who to pick on the defensive side of the ball.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:03 pm
So if the Bucs have a great year, then Licht is ranked in the top 5? Some or little of team building is year over year. Most is a culmination of years, and Licht has a sub-par record for a length of time. That could mean that when he got here he was starting from scratch and had to endure Lovie at the start for two years. He’s built on what he has had for the last few years and hits on a little less than half of his draft picks or FAs. The rest is up to players and coaches for success. Most GMS are in the same boat. These lists are silly.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:06 pm
huh, Mark Dominick was a worse gm then Licht ??? what was Dom’s record .. How many kickers did Dom draft !….
April 16th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
“Is Licht an average GM? Maybe.”
Only in fake news world can 23 out of 25 be average. Just for the sake of argument, 23 out of 32 is still not average. Hardly any Buc fans can even remember when the team was last good. That alone tells you what kind of job Licht has done to this point. He had his choice of everything with an open checkbook for many years. He should be fired for Hargreaves alone.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Licht bulb should have been lower!!!!!!! They must have graded him on stats and record and player retention alone!!!!!!! If you take in his scapegoating and BS then the “real” and whole picture would be obvious!!!!!!!!! That so called “grand slam” from 2015 quickly turned into a single by a fielder’s error!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The fact that only 4 to 5 starters could be left from an opening day starting roster just TWO short years ago is the most telling!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 16th, 2020 at 6:27 pm
When I look at our team; the way is constructed right now, the players we have now (I’ve been watching throughout the years how many good players we’ve been acquiring), Idk…I can’t be mad a Jason Leight….Imo
April 16th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Agreed that the W-L mark is the ultimate guage.
But I also realize what you done lately is what matters most. Right now the drafts are looking good. The free agents are looking good and the roster is looking good……If the Wins fall into line he will be ranked much higher accordingly.
That’s just how it works. The Bengals GM might be ahead of him but I’d wager all those below and in between all have losing records as well.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:29 pm
Amazing how Licht built the team that got both Arians and Brady here, but doesn’t get credit for it.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
@Durango 95
Because he has been busy. The fans heard directly from him…when he gave out 750,000 free meals in Tampa.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:32 pm
@NDog is an idiot
You know, by making a name like that, you prove yourself as idiotic as anyone else.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:37 pm
Haahaahha ahahhh!!!!!!!!
They stopped ranking at 25 because the rest did not have enough history!!!!!!!!!! licht bulb was 3rd to LAST, which is pretty much dead on!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 16th, 2020 at 6:40 pm
@Durango go check his Twitter, he said to a young girl come see us play
April 16th, 2020 at 6:55 pm
Yeah he is not the best but definitely better than 3rd worst. Probably like 15.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:56 pm
Bonzai……And I am as big of a Arians fan as any……….But Licht don’t deserve credit. Because there is nothing to credit. Now if his team can get into a playoff battle that’s a different story.
Until then he doesn’t deserve anything. It’s gotta be earned.
April 16th, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Rumors about O.J. Howard getting traded to possibly patriots for a second rounder. But patriots don’t have a second round pick this year. Could Bucs possibly be going after their LT/RT Isaiah Wynn or the other starting T from patriots
April 16th, 2020 at 7:11 pm
Durango……….Their is plenty ways to get your Tom Brady fix for right now. Did you know he has been the cover boy for over 20 SI magazines? I am currently in the process of collecting them all.
After that my next must have are his GQ cover and Men’s Weekly!!
All y’all can call him Tom. But fan like me call him Tooooo-oooo-ooooom.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:20 pm
Hmnnn…I had Licht ranked like 25 or so. This is close.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:34 pm
Licht is the luckiest GM in the league
April 16th, 2020 at 7:46 pm
When a #1 pick in the entire draft…a QB..doesn’t work out after five years that is hard to overcome for any GM. It’s a total waste of a huge amount of draft capital not to mention the millions that followed.
What is unclear to me however is WHO is really responsible for the JW pick. I honestly do not know how much input TL had…whether it was Lovie’s call..whether TL wanted him just as badly.
If the draft is a 50-50 crapshoot Licht is average. His FA’s until last year were his downfall IMO. He DID find 2 1/2 starters as UDFA’s. Hump, Brate and even Peyton either started all or some of their career. Three UDFA’s emerging as starters are pretty good.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:53 pm
stpetebucsfan Says
“When a #1 pick in the entire draft…a QB..doesn’t work out…”
If you think about it, he DID take the best QB in that draft. And don’t write Winston off just yet.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
Licht has had multiple good free agent signings that people forget about. Grimes for example, who worked out until his last year. Until then he was pretty good. Or our center. or our punter. or…well…there are plenty that he did a good job with. It wasn’t all bad.
Best of all, he got us out of cap he@# in one year.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:57 pm
His last couple of years have been good, in my opinion.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:59 pm
He should feel lucky to be ranked that high he has squandered entire draft classes. Hargreaves entire draft sticks out plus the darn kickers fiasco. If Brady gets called by father time and the Bucs miss the playoffs Licht must go.
April 16th, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Don’t be surprised if the Bucs re-sign Winston to a one year deal as Brady’s backup. Anything can happen!
April 16th, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Pretty telling when only Gettlemen of the Giants (hello Eli Apple…) and the Jags GM were ranked lower but it is accurate with how many boneheaded moves Licht has made in the past 5 years. Heck even Detroit’s GM was ranked higher! Of the newbies I bet that only O’Brien of the Texans would be ranked lower for that idiotic trade of Hopkins and a 4th to AZ for David Johnson, his salary and a 2nd round pick and followed that by flipping that high 2nd for Brandon Cooks so that O’Brien let one of the top 5 wideouts go for a bloated contract, Johnson and Cooks, I am just glad that Licht did not make that move with Evans….
April 16th, 2020 at 8:36 pm
23rf is a little high-don’t you 🤔
April 16th, 2020 at 8:46 pm
23rd sounds about right. Arians is the reason we drafted well last season.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:03 pm
I think Joe is dyslexic. That was supposed to say he’s ranked 32nd. No way is he that high. The fact that he drafted the turnover machine alone puts him last. Not to mention the drafting of kickers. Aguyo should have been his Waterloo. If we don’t make the playoffs now, he’s gone.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:06 pm
Licht has some ugly misses in draft and FA:
-Trading up for a kicker – Roberto A.
– FA poisons – Baker and Desean
– Second round misses – too many to mention
– OJ? Now on trade block??? Could have had Dalvin Cook, in second round but was sleeping at the wheel.
Licht has some nice wins in draft and FA:
– Barrett > big win
– Brady > winner over Chargers, a two team race to sign Brady
– Matt Gay will be good -finally got his kicker
Convincing Glazers to sign Arians is his personal best win, as Jason extended himself in the process. Awesome self-preservation.
Offense is good – Jason needs to fill holes on D in this draft. Needs RB and Oline stud in the mix of draft and FA options for offense as second priority.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:10 pm
Brady has two hours + to spend with Howard Stern but can’t spend 10 min. to give a video interview to his new home town fans on the teams own website?
Give me a break.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:16 pm
Light is garbage. He can’t even draft or sign player properly. I’m mean he can’t do it basically
Swag Baker
Djx
Agauyo
Asj
Mj Stewart
Ronald Jones
Koetter and Msmith
Darryl Smith
Grimes
Folk
The names can go on and on. If there is a D3 online with long hair he drafting him
Arians runs the show now he pretty much out of equation. Ranked 31st. The AZ guy Keim is the GM in football
April 16th, 2020 at 9:22 pm
Licht is alot like Jameis.
For every Cappa, Marpet, and Vita Vea,
There is a Winston, Hargreaves, and that fkin kicker.
If that roster cant rise up for Brady- then you fire him this year.
We used to have the stupidest roster in the league.
He has improved the team . Lets see how the they support the Greatest QB of all time.
Licht’s neck should be stretched out on the block. Its up to HIM to get this team the pieces it needs- or the Ax should drop!
April 16th, 2020 at 9:31 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 16th, 2020 at 7:53 pm
stpetebucsfan Says
“When a #1 pick in the entire draft…a QB..doesn’t work out…”
If you think about it, he DID take the best QB in that draft. And don’t write Winston off just yet.
———————————————————————-
Great point Bonzai. You forgot to mention Licht’s other impressive feat. He took the best kicker (Roberto Aguayo) in the 2016 draft. He out kicked every other kicker drafted that year, which was none.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:36 pm
About right , #23. Imo For a GM It’s base on talent, pro bowls , first team honors etc. not wins.
Licht can’t get the kicker position fix.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:42 pm
I have my Pee Wee coach ranked higher than Licht.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:52 pm
JL draft history does not matter going forward. JL was brilliant in convincing Glazers to sign Arians, who in turn required JL as his GM with new 5 yr contract. Bravo to JL in self-preservation move. Nice play! Kudos.
All that matters for JL is to win this draft and FA signings having GOAT QB. While JL perennially has needed a real RB and OL, 2020 draft might be his “win year”. Watch out for JL to go D early, which is not horrible decision. Bucs are mostly set on offense absent a RB, and still have holes in D. Here’s a vote hoping JL is wise this year!
April 16th, 2020 at 9:52 pm
It’s a stupid exercise. If the Bucs win 12 games suddenly he is a genius and a top 10 GM…thanks mostly to the work he did as a “bottom 10” gm. All offseason lists aare hindsight dressed up as insight
April 16th, 2020 at 9:56 pm
I’m love/hate with Licht. He’s done well lately and it’s all about what have you done for me lately.
April 16th, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Licht is horrible GM & if he was fired last season & inserted a trained seal brady would still be here along with arians. He has had NO plan to build a winning team in 5 years; he blew an entire draft.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:01 pm
If you ain’t 1st, you’re last.
-Ricky Bobby
April 16th, 2020 at 10:08 pm
With GOAT QB being coached by the “QB Whisperer”, it should be a given that Bucs make playoffs. Bucs have 2 ProBowl receivers for the GOAT, and an improving D. All JL has to do, is fill in a few holes with the right guesses in Draft and FA.
2020 Bucs wins/playoff appearance will define JL more than his past ugly misses.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Bash him all you want… i have, but he got BA here and got TB here, and he took the risk on JW. I can never defend the kicker picks but ba and tb make him top 10.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:28 pm
Licht would have had the same ranking last year I am sure. It was somehow enough to get him an extension. Although I agree he is terrible and is responsible for most of the heartache we have suffered in the last 5 years, I would like to see the owners ranked. Something tells me the Glazers would be bringing up the rear.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:35 pm
Bonzai
So you think the Bucs are going to pay “Blameless” 30 million?
Ok a stupid question but do you believe they would pay him what he made last year? 20 million?
Do you believe the NFL will humble JW and his agent enough to take LESS than he made last year?
Do you think JW would come to the place of his greatest athletic humiliation?
Do you believe he’d play for 10 million and be a BACKUP? Do you suppose the Bucs want to spend 35 million…Brady and “Blameless” combined salary if he took a 50% pay cut after he’s been ballin’? Check yo sheet!
Do you suppose BA…the lying backstabber according to the JW crowd would want him back?
And lastly do you suppose the fan base, more than half of which hate him or at minimum are simply RELIEVED would support that move?
I honestly do not get some moves being suggested here..JW’s return as backup is one of them. Gronkowski coming out of retirement to play in Tampa is another…AFTER he confessed to 20 concussions…5 of them knocked out stone cold? I get the love for Trent Williams but he’s over the hill. WAS the greatest at his position so I understand the memories driving this lust but Williams even though he obviously is not going to get the 18 million he wants will still be too expensive for the Bucs.
Then there’s Edelman…it just gets crazier and crazier and crazier. What’s next…Greg Schiano comes back to be our defensive coordinator.
This team is close to being set. A tackle..two RB’s to go with ROJO another safety and we’re rolling. Plenty of picks to add DL depth.
April 16th, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Licht has played the NFL like a fiddle signing the sack king last season and luring the goat this.
Once we win a playoff game Licht will officially be elite status!!!!
GO BUCS!!!
April 16th, 2020 at 11:23 pm
He’s made so many blunders, but he’s found some diamonds. If they can somehow make the playoffs and go further, most if not all will be forgiven but not forgotten. I sure he hope he can pull it off because right now he’s it, the head cheese, all we got. 😂
April 16th, 2020 at 11:25 pm
I have had a few moments when he seemed okay. Marpet, Cappa, Barrett and Brady.
Then I remember Aguayo and how demented about Jameis he is and it starts to go bad, like old milk.
Then I saw his win/loss record and it got even uglier.
Over-rated
April 16th, 2020 at 11:36 pm
Ranked #1 in fetching coffee for the football people in the building. Atta boy
April 16th, 2020 at 11:39 pm
He’s made some free agency blunders, but even so there are many free agents across the league that don’t work out either. He’s also brought in some guys that have done well in recent history too. Like Mankins, Nassib, Perriman, Barrett, Suh, and now Brady. He made 2 trades where one worked out the other meh in Revis, Pierre-Paul. He’s made some costly mistakes in the draft, and the biggest ones IMO are Winston, Aguayo, Seferian-Jenkins but he as also hit on many players that could take this team to it’s first playoff berth in 14 seasons. I think Jason Licht deserves a C+ and deserves to be at least a couple higher.
April 16th, 2020 at 11:45 pm
Jimmy – on paper, Bucs are a playoff team, per most NFL prognosticators. Issue was QB, per experts. 2020 schedule is challenging and expectations are super high for Bucs. Will be interesting to see how the young Bucs players respond to high expectations, and rebound when some games will surely fall the wrong way. Brady will be calming voice in locker room during duress.
And adding to intrigue > Brady owned the weak AFC north for 20 yrs. NFC South is way better….Ryan, Brees, Bridgewater w/Macaffrey? Winning division is not a cake walk. Bucs have to win all games outside of division.
JL surely is planning draft to win NFC south >>>D – focus! Expect heavy D in draft…..with maybe a RB in round 3/4.
April 17th, 2020 at 1:02 am
It is believable.
The whole 2016 draft class is not on the Buccaneers anymore. Winston, Aguayo, and other people did no work out. However, Licht did get Godwin, Evans, and built somewhat of a semblance of a team. He has a better track record with undrafted talent too.
I’ll stop complaining and eat crow once this team makes the playoffs. Until then, Licht is still bottom of the barrel in my book.
April 17th, 2020 at 3:10 am
Durango–
I agree. There have been several interviews Casey Phillips has done with players on the Bucs site about Brady coming town. I wonder why they haven’t done one with Brady himself. He’s obviously doing other interviews and posting videos on twitter.
You would think it would have been done weeks ago. I suppose the question is why the Bucs haven’t yet.
April 17th, 2020 at 7:53 am
“You are what your record says you are.” Truest words ever spoken.
34-62! Let that sink in.
April 17th, 2020 at 8:27 am
He’s bad as a gm can be the worst his only chance to redeem himself is to win the super bowl if not fire him
April 17th, 2020 at 9:15 am
This man is horrible, said it time and time again, look at 2017 draft again OJ Howard at 19, Dalvin Cook at 41. Can we get a do over please. You still don’t have a running back. Smh
April 17th, 2020 at 10:07 am
licht has been horrible. end of the day wins matter. and the whole excuse of lovie in his first year carries less weight each year and that cant be an overall excuse. we cant keep pinning excuses on others. oh the kicking, oh the defense, oh lovie, oh jameis. there are no excuses for anyone on this team. no other cities would accept this type of play.
April 17th, 2020 at 11:25 am
The good ol’ backstabber is one of the worst GMs in the NFL. Two first round draft busts (potentially 3 if you include OJ Howard), far too many 2nd round draft busts (Aguayo, Evans, Spence, ASJ) and the litany of FAILED free agent signings set this team backwards for years. During the backstabber’s tenure the Rams, Eagles, and 49ers have gone from last in their division to the Super Bowl.
April 17th, 2020 at 11:50 am
Surprised. Thought he’d be closer to last.
April 17th, 2020 at 11:53 am
That ranking seems high.
April 17th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Lichtmyballs in the bottom third sounds about right. He’s made way too many blunders. No GM hits on every pick, but the Aguayo move really stung. Fatty Baker The Tree Humper really stung as well.
April 17th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Bengals have the 12th best win record in the last decade, and 6th best in Dalton-Lewis era. Of course their GM should be ahead of Licht.
April 17th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
You are what your tenure record says you are. Not good enough.
April 17th, 2020 at 9:01 pm
Licht has an amazing ability of screwing up everything he touches.
April 17th, 2020 at 11:28 pm
He was the problem not Jamies . This guy miss on the entire 2016 draft but no one will never consider this as being the one of the main problem with this team . But that was Jamies fault as well .
April 20th, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Say what you want about Licht, but the Man is a survivor.
Just when many thought he was done here in Tampa, he pulls Arians out of his Hat, and extends himself, for 5 years!
What a Coup!
Don’t be so sure Arians is doing the drafting, because Arians does not have a history of being an elite drafter.