No Takers
April 27th, 2020
Still with Bucs.
If the Bucs indeed had tight end O.J. Howard available in case someone wanted to drop draft picks or a player on the Bucs last week, it apparently wasn’t enough to trigger AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to pull the switch.
The last two weeks have been abuzz that the Bucs have been trying to shop Howard (one report claimed the Bucs have been trying for years to unload him). This of course was gas thrown on the fire when the Bucs traded for retired and broken down future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Jeremy Fowler of BSPN took to Twitter yesterday to suggest there may have been nibbles for Howard (and fellow tight end Cam Brate) but apparently people were lowballing Licht.
As it stands, the Bucs are comfortable eating the salary cap hit of nearly $20 million and keeping tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Cam Brate and O.J. Howard. No realistic trade options surfaced, and TB wants to give Tom Brady all the matchup options he would need.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 26, 2020
Now last week Joe wrote Howard was frustrated and would welcome having a new NFL home this fall. Joe got some pushback on this.
Joe will just say there is an incredible amount of chatter both under the surface and behind the scenes for a guy who some say is perfectly happy in his current situation and has never been shopped.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:03 am
He’ll have more trade value in October at the deadline just like last year…JL/BA should have had the pick in the 2020 draft and we should be talking about the new player !
April 27th, 2020 at 11:05 am
Not a good look when you’ve been trying to pawn off your 19th overall pick in 2017 for most of his career. Even worse when you consider the 1st overall pick in 2015 is signing a job to be a backup and you cut your 11th overall pick in 2016 last season. But in Licht we trust or whatever.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:06 am
Hes to valuable to trade for crumbs, plus Gronkowski has been injury prone, OJ has value if we keep him.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:08 am
At this point TE is really the only position we’re not paper thin at, maybe receiver as well, if you look across the board we have no depth at offensive tackle, we have no depth at guard, we have no depth at outside linebacker for rush purposes, we have no depth at cornerback, I guess you could say we have depth at safety but all are unproven, so this team’s good… oh yeah no depth at quarterback either. It seems great on paper but one injury or two and it’s going to be a long year unfortunately.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:09 am
Well…..we really are only left with one good option…….USE THE TEs…….and use them a lot…….Tom Brady has multiple weapons……
Not being able to move OJ is a product of last year’s system……remember he had Zero targets in the last game when both Evans & Godwin were out……ZERO…
That isn’t a good way to market a product.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:11 am
It would not have mattered on draft night what Licht got for him. The armchair GM’s would have complained and claimed and said they could have done better. All they did was complain all night.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:11 am
gronk hasn’t been known for his durability of late, so the depth could be useful. that said, i wouldn’t be shocked to see him moved for a veteran edge rusher or any proven body in the trenches as the offseason progresses.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:12 am
chatter is better than crickets for your former first-pick-overall QB
Side note- not happy about Jamie heading to swamp town (for peanuts) to divulge all the states secrets. Make me think of the edge Tampa had in the super bowl over the raiders with Gruden
April 27th, 2020 at 11:12 am
And look who shows up!
April 27th, 2020 at 11:14 am
Clueless ndog again…no wonder you throw around that word so much…you’re obviously very inept too. Theres another for your word bank.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:15 am
OJ looked great under Koetter, keep Gronk fresh, and save him for the redzone.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:16 am
Once we got through the 3rd round, I figured he wasn’t going to get dealt. Its definitely a hefty investment in the position as far as money is concerned.
Who knows, maybe Gronk being able to block will free up OJ to run more routes than he did last year and be used differently.
Imo, there is absolutely 0 reason to expect that to happen, but its just food for thought.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:16 am
Hey Joes what are you doing about all these racist commentors on your site?
April 27th, 2020 at 11:17 am
If the 19th overall pick isn’t living up to expectations, and we’re trying to get something for him, and nobody is interested, then there’s something wrong. Maybe his value increases as time goes on – teams will get desperate for a TE.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:18 am
If OJ really does want out of here, its just going to hurt play on the field and maybe his locker room presence. I hope he plays hard if we keep him but its not looking that way imho. We’ll see.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:23 am
Don’t excercise his May option but then again Licht exercised VH3 option then cut him mid season.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:27 am
Lol our 3TE sets are going to be ridiculous! And we have the best blocking WR in the game. Big big big season ahead for RJIII and the play action game will be incredible and I’ll bet Howard gets 6TDs this year including some time at h-back! He just needs yo get the ball out in space in rhythm. When we play a team with shut down corners we will run more big packages and carve up smaller DBs. Howard Should run free in the secondary while Gronk or ME get doubled.
Tom Brady throws for 4700 yards 41 tds 6 INTs and RJIII rushes for 1250. Vaughn throws in another 400 and we have the number 1 offense in the NFC. Gronk 800+ 9 TDS, ME overall numbers goes down but ypc goes up 60 catches 1000yds, CG has all pro season 95 1300yds like Wes welkers best years.
Tyler Johnson tears it up, I’m telling you he’s like a slightly shorter Marques Colston. Him not participating in the combine pushed him down to us, he’s a 6’1” 4.55 guy Who plays like he’s 6’4” 4.4. Just hope he doesn’t have crucial drops and lose Brady’s confidence in him. That’s my only concern for him.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:33 am
I think there is a good chance he will flourish with TB 12…..I am very happy he is still in…..The only thing that concerns me, is he will be used how is supposed to be used…He is not Auclair nor Stocker type……
Time will tell….But again very happy he can play with this team……
I am very high on expectations with OJ, even he had a pretty irregular season last year
April 27th, 2020 at 11:34 am
No worries. Even if we get 350-400 yds and 4-6 TDs from OJ it will be worth keeping him around. I am still a believer he can be an awesome weapon if used properly.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:35 am
Not to defend LIcht or anything, but when OJ was picked, nearly every sports “expert” in the country was on board with it.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:37 am
I guess it’s time Auclaire gets his Canadian passport in order.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:37 am
Perhaps OJ just needs to be more involved in the offense. Tommy has had great success with TEs. Let him from Gronk on HOW to play the game. Can’t justify giving him away for nothing!
April 27th, 2020 at 11:38 am
@ Ndog
There are very few teams that don’t have “paper thin depth” at most positions. Unfortunately there is this thing called the salary cap. QBs are making $30 million plus now and offensive tackles cost $20 plus million now…
It’s OK to be a hater but get your facts straight brother.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:40 am
We may end up taking a pick for 2021…..and we need to unload OJ or Brate to free up some cap…..
April 27th, 2020 at 11:42 am
Fact is Ndog has no depth as a poster.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:43 am
Make no mistake…..the draft of last year, this offseason/draft are a direct reflection of Arians/staff having direct input into what they want…..and getting it. Licht has been neutered….he had his shot and failed miserably when he was left in charge.
April 27th, 2020 at 11:43 am
It’s either feast or famine with the Buc’s. We also have Hudson who I thought looked good in preseason and Legette who we signed. I still think OJ has value and if there is anyone who can bring it out it would be Tom Brady. He also may learn a few tricks from Gronk.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:03 pm
Cobra…lol that was funny!
April 27th, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Well he can’t be happy. All the receivers were injured last year and he was still not used.
From the bucs end, it’s been a couple years and he’s not a very good route runner and his hands aren’t that great. It’s hard to give up on him so early because he seems like he has all the talent in the world but I don’t know, maybe he doesn’t put in the work. I never heard that, but somethings going on.
There were a lot of teams that want to tighten in this draft. I would be surprised if he’s with the team past week four. He is young with too many good qualities
that will entice a team to give up a fourth or some other player
April 27th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
You people are naive when it comes to Licht.
He’s been great. This team is set for a Super Bowl run. Who the hell do you think put it together?
Sure there is input from coaches, but that’s what a good GM does. They take input from scouts and coaches and they work together.
Too many fans here focus on a couple bad pics, like the inexplicable kicker being drafted way too high.
You need to get over that. Every single team in every single draft have more than 50% of those players off the team within 3 to 4 years. That would be a pretty educated guess.
The whole damn thing is a crapshoot and you work with what your scouts and coaches see and tell you.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:35 pm
he doesn’t want out but trade him to the saints and see how Brees puts him in the probowl. If the bucs don’t think he is that good then offer him to a foe to make them a worse opponent. go ahead I dare you. he had a rough year last year but was productive 2 years before that till the injuries, but when you are a weapon then asked to block you might start to wonder what youdid wrong that made you a 6th linemen. Saints had an old tight end they will take him. Don’t base they guys drops last year as who he is. Right now Brate is a ten yard curl route tight end getting paid 4.5 million this year. OJ 3.5 MIllion that can get further downfield. Which one is more like Gronk? Lets take what we have and make them better. Get that cap money into use for that seattle tackle just cut started last 23 of 24 games. get depth where needed eave good depth alone.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:44 pm
With all the years of wear and tear Gronk has taken (and the injury history to show for it), the Bucs will most likely need to get OJ involved as a bigger part of the offense this year. TE is a position that sees a lot of injuries, so holding on to a “high potential” guy still on a rookie deal is good insurance in my mind.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
I love nDog’s thought if our QB gets hurt we are screwed. You know like, umm, 90% of the NFL. Including the Saints.
April 27th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
Maybe the Vikings will trade Dalvin Cook straight up for OJ Howard?
April 27th, 2020 at 1:11 pm
There was no trade it was all a rumor
April 27th, 2020 at 1:20 pm
he’s too talented to just give away. especially with Gronk’s injuries, even though he is a warrior.
I think he’ll come around and have a big year even with Gronk. When Gronk takes a break they can’t just look off the position, cause Brady is liable to light em up with OJ.
April 27th, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Hopefully OJ will develop some chemistry with TB 12, if you remember a couple of years ago OJ had some success with Fitz throwing the ball, when J-Dubb returned from suspension he liked to throw the ball to Brate more.
Use him as a blocker…. something, BA not featuring TEs much in the passing game isn’t helping his cause.
April 27th, 2020 at 1:59 pm
So Joe gets pushback and what’s the first thing Joe does? Presses even harder.
C’mon, stop the assault already. OJ is with us until he’s not without you egging it on.
[Not egging anything on. Just because someone doesn’t like Joe writing about it doesn’t mean there is not rampant chatter locally and nationally that O.J. isn’t happy or he’s not been shopped. Are you suggesting Bucs fans don’t want to know that a first-round draft pick may not be with the team this fall? — Joe.]
April 27th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
wait… your trusted source that OJ was unhappy and wants out was wrong? i thought he was going to be outta here?
April 27th, 2020 at 2:52 pm
gronk is injury prone. Keep OJ he could be the next best thing
April 27th, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Can’t believe we’re not restructuring Gronks contract. The guy hasn’t played a full season in years no way he’s worth 10 million. That should have been spent elsewhere, Howard will have a breakout season, he along with Brate is all we need.
April 27th, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Oj Howard was drafted for the Koetter offense, where he was used as a receiver.
Arians offense uses the tight end mostly as a blocker.
This may change, for Gronk, but probably not for OJ Howard.
I hate to say it, but he may be screwed here in Tampa, and does not have enough good tape to bring the price Licht wants to trade him.
His best bet is to pray Gronk gets hurt, then take over for him, put down some new good tape, then GTFO of Tampa.
April 27th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
Are you suggesting Bucs fans don’t want to know that a first-round draft pick may not be with the team this fall? — Joe.]
Joe is full of _ _ _ _
April 27th, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Hahahahahaha
Yes cobra boy
Haha
April 27th, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Gronk is not exactly here for the long term. I think the best move for both the short and the long term is moving Brate instead of Howard. Brate has the higher salary of the 2, and moving it gives them more flexibility to accommodate Gronk’s salary.
And Brate, while very solid and reliable, is a good as he’s ever gonna be. We know what he is at this point. OJ has been very disappointing (whether that’s his fault, the system, a combination, it’s all debatable). But he still has a mountain of potential, and has the traits to have an incredibly well rounded game. It just so happens that one of the all time greats (and a damn good 2 phase player) is on the team now. Give OJ a year to soak up everything he can from Gronk.
If Gronk is still around in 2021, they can swap roles, Gronk can call back a little bit, and unleash OJ on the league. If he’s developed properly by then, they can resign him after that year for basically what’s Gronk’s salary is. If he isn’t, let him walk and all it will cost them (at least financially) is the cost of his 5th year option.
April 27th, 2020 at 6:49 pm
“Joe got some pushback on this.”
Well, do you have some info that OJ himself has said he wants out? All we’ve seen is other people saying they’ve heard trade rumors or that Tampa has been trying to shop him, etc.
Has OJ himself actually expressed this?
I’d hate to see us a lose a guy with so much potential, but obviously there’s no room on the roster for anyone who isn’t 100% committed.
April 27th, 2020 at 7:19 pm
When we drafted him, I yelled out at my friends draft party, we don’t need a TE, we have the highest scoring TE in the league. I gave him a chance, but I’m sensing he is the current Jameis, he has potential, wait until next year.
April 27th, 2020 at 9:00 pm
@Big Marlon B
I agree about moving Brate, but there is one Huge problem, the big azz contract Licht gave him.
April 28th, 2020 at 6:52 am
OJ McCoy!
April 28th, 2020 at 9:39 am
Not sure why you’d trade a potentially great tight end when you went out and got Gronk for Brady to have. If the hybridized offense will include tight ends enough to bring Gronk back, it should include Howard too, and so you should keep him.