What’s The Plan?
April 23rd, 2020
Two big things should be expected from tonight’s Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
First, expect all the gurus to be much more wrong than normal. Without annual mingling at Pro Days and over cocktails at the late-March NFL Owners meetings, a whole lot of information has not gotten out.
A great example: back in 2017, Dirk Koetter was having a healthy share of beers at the owners meetings in Phoenix during the annual NFL party that includes select media, owners, coaches and general managers.
Joe and Ira Kaufman approached Koetter after a prior hello. And Joe asked Koetter point blank what the plan was for Round 1 of the draft. Without hesitation, Koetter explained in detail how and why he was in love with O.J. Howard and that was target No. 1, an open-and-shut case if they could get him.
Joe was stunned and, frankly, Joe wouldn’t have wagered a nickel that Koetter was being honest. The chat was off the record, aka not for publication, so it didn’t appear here.
The point is the media hounds’ 2020 information is lacking severely, and they’re more susceptible to smoke screens because of it. It’s way easier for general managers to lie to media via text or phone versus face to face. Plus there’s no body language to read.
Joe would wager heavily that this year’s draft does not look anything like the majority thinks it will after the first two picks.
The second major key is the Buccaneers’ plan. It’s become very obvious.
After the Brady signing was made, Bucco Bruce Arians officially made the call to throw caution out the door and go all-in to the extreme on the 2020 season. That means instant-impact rookies only.
“Screw Next Year” might even be the Bucs’ new marketing slogan. And that would be far better than whatever the Bucs’ subpar marketing staff comes up with to embarrass Bucs fans year after year.
Last year was all about rookies who need time to adjust, as in Devin White inserted into a defensive leadership role in the middle of the defense, along with a second-round cornerback from a small program and and third-round defensive backs in need of a lot of seasoning — with no veteran DB around them — in a pass-happy division.
Joe is 100 percent confident the Bucs take a very different approach this year. Joe is confident the Bucs’ big board is all about who are the best bets to contribute from Day 1.
And if the Bucs can trade down to add an extra fast-tracked contributor, they’ll do it in a heartbeat.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:32 am
Corner, round 1.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:34 am
Might be able to trade up with Arizona at #8 if Simmons is still available.
Simmons or Brown
Wills or Wirfs or Thomas
or trade back and get ready for Clyde at 45, or maybe trade up into the top of the 2nd for him.
And if we do go WR hunting during this draft, try to get Claypool or Jefferson in the 3rd or 4th. RT Bartch and Peart will be there in the 3rd also….(in case we miss on one of the big 3 or 4 if you really still value Becton so high).
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:37 am
Shock the world !
.
Jordan Love
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:41 am
Ruggs at 14, trade OJ Howard and 5th rd pick to New England for their first, and take Josh Jones, Runningback in 2nd and safety in 3rd dt in 4th.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:41 am
Agree……the Bucs need 3 starters…….OT, RB, S……whatever they have to do to secure those 3 positions, they need to do…..even if it’s trading up or using a player or pick from next year….
When you look at the team, those are the three positions to fill….
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:42 am
What a great pick Howard was. That explains why Koetter is no longer here. What a waste of a number one pick.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:43 am
Expect the unexpected, it should be exciting watching everything unfold. Go Bucs!!
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:44 am
We need a stud corner. We dont have an alpha male in the secondary.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:46 am
Yeah the mocks haven’t really changed in months. I have a feeling it’s going to go way different than anyone expected and I would be really surprised to see 4 OTs go before us. If that happens I would trade down if the opportunity was there. There is a lot of solid round 2 and 3 talent at positions we need like OT, S, RB, WR, IDL, and G. Good corners there too but I think (hope) we are set there.
We will see, I’m pumped regardless of what happens. I HATED last years draft class at the time outside of White and Nelson but it turned out to be a pretty solid class and I came around.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:55 am
I look for Licht to trade back into round (#31 SF) ala (Derrick Brooks/Doug Martin) and grab CEH.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:56 am
Gronk will be used significantly in running game. So will OJ.
Brate will likely be traded.
Bucs will draft DLine, OLine, RB, Secondary.
Drafting a Receiver unlikely. Miller and Watson provide adequate depth.
April 23rd, 2020 at 7:57 am
Trade up with Arizona to get Simmons. Offer them Howard and a fourth round pick and if necessary a third day pick in 2021. Then rounds 2 and 3 a running back and offensive tackle.
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:03 am
If the OT tackles are gone……
1 Choice – Kinlaw
2 Choice – Isaiah Simmons
3 Choice – Jerry Jeudy
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:19 am
The plan is the same that it has been all offseason!!!!!!!!! To upgrade dramatically this under talented roster!!!!!!!! It just proves that no matter how many times the local media wrongly writes their stories and narratives, that is does not make it true!!!!!!!!!!
The powers that be “realized” how lacking in talent this roster was, and have made desperate moves to change it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:19 am
And I am so done with OJ Howard. Please let Gronk come in n show OJ what a true tightend look like. Someone posted yesterday about Howard’s lack of effort against the Ram’s Marcus Peterson interception against Winston last year. I watched the video n agree, he just didn’t give a crap about making a tackle. That was a true “Tank” moment on that play. I also saw MJ Stewart with a 6u baby arm tackle that allowed the receiver to dance around him in the end zone. These guys shouldn’t never put on a uniform to represent the nfl.
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:26 am
A bit off topic Joe, but has there been any word from current offensive players (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in particular) on the signing of Gronk. Just curious if they feel a bit like the organization doesn’t believe they can do it with just Brady and needed something more.
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:26 am
Hopefully there are not any major technical difficulties tonight. I can’t wait. So football starved and stoked to see what comes out of this amazing infusion of legendary talents in Brady and Gronk.
I think we should go with the BPA each round and hope the BPA is also a position of need like OL, RB and Safety. I think WR, DT/Edge and CB also are areas mainly for depth and rotation of starters to mitigate fatigue.
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:36 am
Stick to the plan!!!
Big 4 OT or trade down in the 1st and get Jones or Cleveland in 1st. There’s a huge OT drop off after day 1.
Trade OJ and get an extra day 2 pick. RB, S and DT on day 2. There’s very good RB and DT talent available on day 2, but not day 3.
WR, G/C, LB, pounding RB on day 4. Don’t waste a day 4 pick on a “developmental” QB. It never works out. Get your #3 WR in the 4th rd because there will be 2nd/3rd rd graded ability that falls to the 4th rd as this is such a deep WR class.
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:40 am
Phil…Winston was the wasted pick by Licht which helped Koetter escape
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:44 am
The big picture does not work without the future starting QB on the roster this year…..if TB works out like he is likely to, the Bucs will be drafting towards the back of each round in 2021….
Jordan Love @ 14
April 23rd, 2020 at 8:46 am
I think a Quarterback is very possible at 14. It would be wasteful if we don’t draft one in the first 3 rounds. I think Herbert or Tua could slide.
I see Teams less confident in taking a QB when they don’t get a chance to spend much time with a QB in person.
Something to think about.
April 23rd, 2020 at 9:36 am
No way the Bucs draft a QB at 14. The Bucs are in win now mode. If the Brady experiment fails, the coaching staff and Licht will walk the plank. They draft for immediate impact. Maybe a late round QB.
April 23rd, 2020 at 10:06 am
Top priority: OL
Second priority: S and probably another CB
Third priority: RB
Saw a mock that had us trading down twice to the late 1st and taking Ezra Cleveland from Boise State. He’s huge (6’6″/311) and has some good intangibles however is projected to be a backup RT.
DO NOT take a QB in round 1. No. Bad. Just stop thinking it. Win now mode means you don’t take a QB that early. Wouldn’t mind us taking a flier on a second or third tier prospect later like the 5th or 6th. Someone who can learn under Brady and see how it goes.
April 23rd, 2020 at 10:06 am
Then Simmons at safety.
April 23rd, 2020 at 10:32 am
OT has to be 1st pick. Nough said.
April 23rd, 2020 at 11:32 am
Not gonna trade up in the top 10 Joe . Maybe up 10-14 to secure Kinlaw.
April 23rd, 2020 at 11:40 am
Herbert if he falls to 14. Learn under Brady. Set up at QB for the next 10 years.
April 23rd, 2020 at 11:54 am
Arians taking a QBR in round one? ROTFLMAO
April 23rd, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Bucs’ Draft Brain Trust biopsy report:
Immediate Gratification Nucleus – enlarged.
Inhibitory Nucleus – shrunken.
April 23rd, 2020 at 1:15 pm
The Bucs will trade up for WIlls, Thomas, or Simmons if they’re available at 10. Picks 7-10 are possibly available, but I only see the Jags trading down. If all 3 are drafted by then and the big 4 OTs are off the board, I’m guessing they’ll trade down and try to net a 2nd. Then, it will probably be Josh Jones and another trade to move our two 2nd round picks back into the 1st or high 2nd to snag LSU’s CEH.
I doubt we’ll draft a safety since the market has a bunch out there already and preseason cuts will see that pool grow. With that kind of logic though, why take an OT when Licht has had success with veteran castoffs on the O line (Cherilus and Hawley)?
April 23rd, 2020 at 1:17 pm
I prefer OT…but if the first round graded guys get taken, that means a good DL falls to us. Could be a Safety. So I would settle for either, but I mainly want a RT.
April 23rd, 2020 at 1:18 pm
I don’t believe the Bucs trade up though.