Pull The Trigger!
April 22nd, 2020
Clemson manbeast will flatten opponents.
The Bucs didn’t just add a future Hall of Fame tight end yesterday when AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht acquired Rob Gronkowski in a trade.
Indirectly, Licht also bought himself ammo to move up in the first round and address the only hole on the defense: That would be to draft Clemson freak Isaiah Simmons and plug him in at safety.
It seems fairly clear the Bucs, at some point, will trade underwhelming tight end O.J. Howard. The former first-round pick isn’t devoid of talent — and he’s got serious talent — for whatever reason it hasn’t manifested itself here.
The way Joe looks at it, if Simmons is still on the board at No. 8 when Arizona is on the board, that’s who Licht should trade up with. After Arizona, Jacksonville picks at No. 9. They could want Simmons, unless they are drafting a quarterback or trying to fix their sad offensive line.
Jumping up six spots from No. 14 to No. 8 won’t come with a substantial price tag. Joe guesses the Bucs could offer up No. 14, Howard and sweeten the pot with a third-day draft pick or a No. 2 in 2021. In 2018, the Cardinals moved from No. 15 to No. 10 and drafted Josh Rosen. In exchange, they surrendered the No. 15 pick, along with picks in the third and fifth rounds.
Simmons is a rare talent. And a need for the Bucs just happens to be one of his best positions. Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian compared Simmons to Troy Polamalu.
Tell Joe you wouldn’t let loose of a first, an underwhelming tight end and a third-day draft pick if you could get a young Polamalu.
Go get him, Jason! You just might get another contract extension.
April 22nd, 2020 at 5:48 am
If he’s “OUR” guy, go get him. We cannot afford to whiff on first round picks anymore. Make sure he’s the guy though.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:04 am
If he pulls this off…….the Roberto Aguayo fiasco is officially forgiven!
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:09 am
He worries me a little maybe they covet a DB. Hard to say what JL is thinking but the closer we get the more I think they don’t go RT w 1st pick. I am hopeful they get this right looks like Brown, Kinlaw, Okhuda & Henderson are being touted as top 10. Those who favor Okhuda favor press man and those for Henderson play off man zone where he excels.. interesting to see how this plays out go Bucs..
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:10 am
Gives me a vibe more of a SS, but if Bowles feels like Whitehead and Simmons can be interchangeable then get him…anything to keep him from Carolina or Atlanta
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:20 am
No thanks. Great player, but he’s not a S full time. He’s a LB. Stick with the plan and get an OT in the 1st – either one of the big 4 or trade back for Jones or Cleveland with an extra day 2 pick. RB and S in the 2nd and DT on Day 3.
OT is an area of need and the value isn’t there on day 2 or 3. With the stupid trade for Gronk, the Bucs also lost any chance to trade for Trent Williams.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:25 am
So in your scenario Joe, Simmons would cost us (1) this year’s 1st Rnd pick; (2) OJ Howard (a previous 1st Rnd pick); and (2) next year’s 2nd Rnd pick.
In what universe is that is that even remotely considered good TEAM-BUILDING? It’s just a maximum scenario, especially with the Howard throw-in. The Bucs are win-building for 2020. The team building to which your referring is likely a concept for the next head coach.–Joe
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:31 am
Simmons is great but an OLB in 34 or WLB. Too much to trade up for. Stay the course. Good player coming at #14 regardless who it is.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:44 am
Not sure this is the guy I would move up to take. Physical specimen for sure but tweeners usually under perform their draft pick more than over perform their pick.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:47 am
I hear that Jacksonville is possibly a trade down partner because they are not that sure which of the 3 receivers to take at 9. They probably would still be able to get one of the top 3 receivers at 14.
The Bucs could then more likely get one of the tackles they like more at 9.
April 22nd, 2020 at 6:56 am
I like Buc’s staying where they are actually. Draft PBA there makes sense because the more very good players you have, the better you will ultimately be. Reaching too much for one position can be a huge problem.
I hope OT in 1st but if BPA turns out to be SC DT or Florida DB or LSU DE at 14 instead then go get them. I think we need a running back also. I have a top 4 but again hope one of those guys is available in the 2nd round to take.
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:00 am
Dang Joe, Im loving it! Simmons has been my guy all along! But we’re going to need that Panther’s spot to get him. Im all for it! Our 14th, OJ, and Next year’s 2nd should do it!
Simmons will make this D ELITE!!!!
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:03 am
That’s it. Good call Joe.
Move up for Simmons and put the fate of the 2020 Bucs in the blocking ability of Demar Dotson.
You’ll have a QB that can’t throw for lack of time, running backs that can’t run for lack of holes and Gronk, Godwin and Evans throwing their arms up in disgust for lack of passes coming their way.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Dotson. But his better days can only be viewed through a rear view mirror.
FIX THE OL!
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:19 am
@JA, we’ll grab a RT in the 3rd….Wilson or Bartch!
Trade up for Simmons
Clyde in the 2nd
Wilson/Bartch/Peart in the 3rd
Dont know if we’ll have a 4th
KR/PR/RB Leake in the 5th
QB Bryce Perkins in the 6th
7th? dont know yet
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:36 am
I think you are putting too much stock into OJ’s trade value right now to include him in a 1st round trade up scenario. Bucs lost all their leverage in OJ trade talks after adding Gronk.
I think a realistic trade involving OJ Howard is the Bucs packaging their 4th and OJ to move back up into the 3rd.
April 22nd, 2020 at 7:40 am
If you gonna use O.J. in a trade (it’s to the Jets in a combination with drat picks to get Adams) or go with your pick at #14 and trade back in the first for Winfield Jr.
Now we know why the Bucs were not interested in trading for Fournette, which likely would have been a 4th rounder, also would have addressed a need since TE for the Bucs, was not the weakest link. Also would’ve saved about 6 million dollars in cap space.
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:17 am
OJ hasn’t clicked for one reasons (BA) no one was talking about him not clicking prior to the “Whisper” coming to town they had him as a player on the rise! This is the same coach who proclaimed the TE is not a priority yet you go out and trade draft capital plus inherit a 10 million dollar cap hit for an injury prone guy, please help me understand Joe! Did the “Whisper” do something that Polian or Kerwin claimed he would never do and that’s change his philosophy!
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:22 am
he makes it all look so easy…
and can play on all 3 levels of the defense…
wild dude – quite the specimen
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:26 am
Nah no thanks
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:31 am
I think RT is their safe “out” if a few guys they really like are gone.
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:40 am
Simmons at safety for us would terrify other teams receivers. DO IT! 6’4″ 240lbs coming down on guys over the middle, WOW! Or should I say, POW!!!
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:46 am
If he is fast enough to play Safety in our defense I kinda would not mind but we need a OT
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:51 am
@ JOE… YESSSSSS!!! I am with you brother! Pull that trigger and FIRE THAT DANG CANNON !! It’s great 2 be a Bucs fan !
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:13 am
He doesn’t come across as a center fielder FS type… If there isn’t one of those I’d rather stay put and get a RT or trade down and get whichever is there between RT/FS
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:13 am
Hmmm…Joe, you cried, whined and blew a gasket when we drafted a LB at #5 last year (who really started to look the part of man-beast play maker as the year progressed, btw), but are perfectly fine with the cost of trading up for a tweener non-pass rusher? Quite an about-face!
As much as it wouldn’t shock me if they went RB, if the OTs are gone, I think they’re looking hard at the cost of securing Wills and Thomas. Ultimately, reinforcing the trenches- even the DL- is how to play the long game…but clearly, they’re all in, right here/now.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:15 am
I do think the Bucs will pull the trigger with Ariz or Jax but it’ll be for one of the OTs. If you look at the salary cap, we have to shed 3-4 mil off the roster unless Gronk restructures. We still need a RT and a RB. Our first rounder ($3.4 mil) and our second rounder (1.7 mil) estimate costs would require some kind of salary cap maneuver. Call this Fantasy Football General Management, but I’m talking to Jax. I’m giving up 14, 45 and OJ for 9 and Fournette. The player swap comes with min salary change (I think Fournette makes a mil more). We come off with both RT and a vet RB (win-now mode). We still get to pick in the 3,4,5, and 6 rounds. Some of this is based on my believe that CEH, Swift, and JT won’t be there at 45 and I’m not as high on Aikers or JK.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:20 am
No more safeties in the top 10.
Remember Mark Barron.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:21 am
Looked it up: 14 – $2.88M and 45 – $1.35M; 9 – $3.82M…..so maybe this doesn’t fix the cap…lol
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:22 am
Freakish athlete but not sure I see an every down S. Plus he’s likely to add muscle at the next level which pushes him into the front 7. Guys like this dominate the college level due to pure athleticism. Go get a RT. That’s the area of need. Protect Tom at all costs.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:28 am
If we trade up, it better be for a right tackle, not a safety.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:31 am
Pass. Too many picks on secondary in last few drafts we have some good talent we need to give them time to make that second and third year leap. O line or D line! LB and any other area for depth in later rounds
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:31 am
Itz Simmons or the way Licht is going it wouldn’t surprise me if I hear later today he traded for Jamal Adams or Trent Williams.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:41 am
I love the idea of having a stud safety in the back end of our defense, but figured there is no way Simmons slips to within reach and have been thinking about what Kinlaw or new RT would look like in red and pewter, but if Licht can somehow get Simmons without giving away the farm I’m all in on this move.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:42 am
I think best case scenario for an OJ Howard trade is something along the lines of this.
Bucs trade No. 161 (5th round pick) and OJ Howard to the Packers for No. 94.
He isnt going to be part of a trade to get Jamaal Adams, Trent Williams, Yannick Ngauke, etc. Teams know his value is rock bottom now.
April 22nd, 2020 at 9:52 am
is he the moneybacker or whatever they call him in this bowles/arians defense…
the moneybacker???
like buchanon?
or is he the new honeybadger…
let’s call this mofo the honeybear if we draft him
#HoneybearDontCare
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:06 am
100% agree. Normally I wouldn’t, but when you are close go for it.
Worst case you have Vita, Barrett, White, Simmons on D
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:08 am
Should be able to get depth to try to come chase a ring with the bunch.
This all sounds crazy, but I think it’s our reality.
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:10 am
No friggin way. Stick with OT in first.
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:26 am
Doubt Simmons is still on the board at #8, but anything’s possible, particularly in the draft. If this were to come to fruition it would certainly cement the Bucs future, at least on defense. Licht’s pretty good at assessing hidden gems on the O-line, so maybe he has someone in mind to pick up in latter rounds.
April 22nd, 2020 at 10:56 am
Every trade and price tag is different Joe. Cant base em off previous trades. Takes two to make-a thing go right. Howard as a trade chip is a nice sweetener though. Depending on who’s available I wouldnt mind adding an extra 2nd and trading back a bit. I see 3 starting spots that can be filled nicely in the first 2 rounds. Licht it up! Exciting times finally!
April 22nd, 2020 at 11:10 am
Again didn’t your sponsor, and new resident guru car salesman, Sean Sullivan say that Simmons didn’t fit our scheme and he wouldn’t pursue him unless he dropped in our lap at 14 like OJ Howard did. Yep. So? Joe’s opinions are his own.–Joe
April 22nd, 2020 at 11:30 am
eh so what if Joe is right and the cards will take it DO IT.
we need to then give up a first next year to trade up for a right tackle though. that is a need so bad it has to get done.
April 22nd, 2020 at 11:47 am
Absolutely 👍🏻.
Trading up for one of the “2nd 4” tackles 👊🏼. Trade 2021 pick.
Draft Cam Akers.😁
April 22nd, 2020 at 12:15 pm
Bucs need to keep draft picks for depth.
If they move, they’ll move down to add more picks
April 22nd, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Yes Sir Joe. Get that done
April 22nd, 2020 at 8:14 pm
Bucs are going defense in first round. Not a tackle. You don’t draft RTs at #14 in the first round. Any idiot knows that.