“I Would Expect [The Bucs] To Trade The Pick”
March 11th, 2021
“Glazer, I want deuces.”
Bucs general manager Jason Licht has shown he likes to trade up and trade down in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.
After sticking with his assigned first-round picks in 2014 (legend) and 2015 (bust), Licht has shown he’s up for dealing.
This glorious year, the Bucs will be drafting No. 32 overall, a coveted spot that represents the last chance to sign a rookie to a first-round-pick contract that comes with a fifth year club option.
Remember when the Ravens traded up to No. 32 at the last minute of the 2018 draft to select Lamar Jackson.
After the Super Bowl, Licht talked about having the No. 32 pick and hinted that his personnel team loves second-round picks, which come a lot cheaper. Ali Marpet, Donovan Smith, Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Ronald Jones, Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Lavonte David were all Bucs second-round picks. What a collection!
So will the Bucs eagerly and happily trade down on draft night? Former Bucs tight end Antony Becht thinks so.
“I would expect them to trade the pick, to be quite honest with you,” Becht told FanStreamSports.com this week.
Becht isn’t some blubbering talking head. Last year he was selected by the NFL to mentor/babysit prospective tight ends throughout the NFL Scouting Combine. And Becht has spent years training prospects entering the draft; Joe can attest that Becht has a great feel for the Bucs organization and its personnel moves.
Trading down is ideal for the Bucs to build young depth within an experienced roster, Becht said, but he noted if Alabama QB Mac Jones falls to No. 32, then halt any trade and grab the young man.
Like Joe, Becht sees drafting a quality QB prospect and grooming him under an elite staff and Tom Brady as an “opportunity for this franchise to set themselves up long-term.”
March 11th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Trask?
March 11th, 2021 at 1:49 pm
If the Bucs resign Shaq, then go BPA. No better time to go BPA then as, you know, the Super Bowl champs. I def wouldn’t cry over Mac Jones, or a Najee Harris, Etienne. You don’t pass up people like that because “but but but we need depth at defensive tackle.” 🙄
March 11th, 2021 at 1:50 pm
Love it. Especially with the comp pick. Always thought Licht was a good scout in the draft.
March 11th, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Whats the compensation for trading down lets say 5 spots?
March 11th, 2021 at 1:59 pm
These next few days/weeks will be a very interesting time for Licht. With all the players around the league getting cut every day due to the new cap restrictions, I’m sure he is looking at a myriad of options – to replace any Buc departures. His decisions will offend some fans, of course. But his track record has been pretty good lately. More that pretty good, actually. I trust him to do the right things even though I expect some of his moves will be head scratchers at the time. Fun days ahead!
March 11th, 2021 at 2:00 pm
It’s almost as if the Holy Trinity of JBF jinxed Mickens on the podcast. 🙂 Bring on Corduroy Patterson as the experiment/returner!
March 11th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
If they extend Brady for 2 additional years, drafting a QB in the 1st round – this year – would be a waste of a pick. Different conversation in 2022, and very much so in 2023 under that scenario.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:04 pm
Trading out of the first sometimes makes sense. If the option at #32 isn’t really that much better than what you expect to see in the mid-second round, trade out and get that extra mid-third round pick.
This draft is a freaking mess. Too many drastically-shortened seasons and opt-out seasons means that there are too few games to judge, and season-to-season improvement impossible to assess. This might be the best draft in recent memory to trade out of the late first.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:15 pm
GFTF,
I don’t think any of the names you mentioned are going to be available at 32.
Most mocks I’ve seen have all those guys off the board by 20-25
March 11th, 2021 at 2:15 pm
I cannot see them trading this pick away even though I believe they should only because they will want that 5th year option. I think the Bucs will be picking a new Defensive line player who in the right coaching environment will excel, I also believe they should pick a new O-line player as well. Line depth should be the focus of this draft. GO BUCS!!!!! oh and for heaven sakes let’s get us a QB. if you are going to trade and move move UP and get a QB.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:16 pm
I bet Mickens is a straight shooter.
Hell, that’s exactly how he runs returns.
Minor loss….. bye bye.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:21 pm
Trade our 1st and 2nd for an early 3rd and throw in OJ so they take the bait.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:23 pm
D line early, please.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
I like his take but I don’t think Jones makes sense. My problem with it is that even though Arians loves/praises Mac Jones he doesn’t want to develop another QB.
I personally wouldn’t mind the Bucs trading down or taking Azeez Olujari or Zaven Collins at 32.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:26 pm
Bama RB or Mac Jones would be a great pick unless as stated on iras podcast they are that in love with gabbert
March 11th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
Joe’s talking draft?!?!?! Did I miss Halloween?
March 11th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
The only problem is that Brady may be playing during Mac Jones’ 5th year option……trade the pick for a 3rd or 4th rounder…
Or…trade up for the player you want.
March 11th, 2021 at 2:47 pm
all of big storm prepping for the bucs draft pick and then they trade the pick at 11:59pm. that would be classic haha
March 11th, 2021 at 3:04 pm
There are always weaknesses to improve. I mean we won our first Super Bowl with Kenyatta walker on the line. I still shudder when I hear that name. Either a holding call or a flattened qb. Would like another rb db or dl in the first or trade back and take the extra pick to get a developmental qb early in the second. But we need need need shaq back so he can put another 11 pressures on Mahomes in LVI “the rematch”
March 11th, 2021 at 3:04 pm
Mac Jones is going top 10, “if he’s there at 32” is better suited for fantasy football.
MJ is as close a fit to Brady as you’re going to find. Joe this isn’t a player who needs development time. The biggest problem is the need isn’t there now and to acquire a 2nd stringer is going to be extremely costly. It’s not a possibility.
March 11th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
pewter941 Says:
March 11th, 2021 at 1:57 pm
Whats the compensation for trading down lets say 5 spots?
^^^^^^^^
If the “NFL Trade Value Chart” (yes, there is such a thing) is to be believed, the Bucs trading down 5 spots would net them a 4th Rounder.
Bucs pick at 32) Value of 590
Philly pick at 37) Value of 530
Value of 60 is the 117th pick of the 4th Round. Throw all of this out if a team wants a player bad enough.
March 11th, 2021 at 3:20 pm
D1: When you hear the media/scouts say Mac Jones reminds them in ways to Tom Brady, you know he’s going to go high, probably top 10 (unless his stock crashes in the next 6 weeks).
March 11th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
@Joe in Michigan
I saw the same chart, but I don’t think it’s accurate anymore for 1st round picks. The difference between 32 and 33 should be greater now because of the 5th year option. An extra year of control is big.
March 11th, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Re drafting a QB, if a good prospect is available. ABSOLUTELY! We need to start preparing for the future.
March 11th, 2021 at 4:01 pm
In this draft that #32 pick is probably already 5 or 10 players into the round 2 graded players anyway. What difference does it make to drop down a dozen spots?
March 11th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
You can’t talk future quarterback with the people on this site. Because all they see is Brady and can’t see nothing beyond that!!
March 11th, 2021 at 4:26 pm
Kyle Trask is I think can be the steal of the draft . If the coaches will put a playbook on what he does well and give him a running game to take some of the pressure off him like they did Brady.
March 11th, 2021 at 5:03 pm
I don’t see it. Licht is going to be looking for players that they have a high to mid 1st round grade on and looking to trade up if they get in the early to mid 20’s. He’s all about value and opportunity and looks for quality over quantity.
March 11th, 2021 at 5:42 pm
I agree the Bucs will trade down unless there is a player they absolutely want that’s available.
The goal should be to get two 2nd rd picks because teams always have to overpay for movement in the 1st rd. So who has the pics? Jax and Miami. Doubtful the Jags will pay to move up 1 position. Miami is at #36 and #50 (940 pts) and the Bucs #32 is 590 points. Tampa would probably have to sweeten the pot by including a TE (Brate or OJ) or 4th rd pick.
If you think a 2nd and 3rd for #32, there are 15 teams with an extra 3rd rd pick including 10 with comp picks. Now you have a significantly larger trading pool.
March 11th, 2021 at 6:43 pm
Oneill,
Your silly theory holds no water.
Of course I like TB, but I’m all for drafting a QB if the right one is available.
Who wouldn’t want a new prospect to be trained by the best?
And yeah, Trask may be that guy.
March 11th, 2021 at 7:29 pm
If not RB, it seems like it would be worth taking whatever the best available pass rusher is left by then.
March 11th, 2021 at 8:41 pm
I have ZERO interest in this years draft and it feels so good since I’m usually looking at mock drafts in October.
March 11th, 2021 at 11:25 pm
I would not doubt it one bit if they traded back for extra picks.
They are not getting anyone at 32 that they can’t get back a little in the second round.
They need DL, LB, 0L, maybe Trask or double up on DL.
If they do in fact trade back they could end up with 2 – 2’s and 2 – 3’s
March 12th, 2021 at 3:57 am
Cant never have enough dbs ashante samuel jr works or trade the pick so you don’t have to give the fifth year option to early for high round developmental qb and no running back only other thing i would take is left tackle if we can get a wirfts type talent for the left side ol a wrap go bucs
March 12th, 2021 at 9:17 am
Well said WillieG. No one knows how any of these people will work out in the big leagues, including Trevor at #1 to the Jags. No one was writing draft coverage about why Fournette, JPP, Suh, Brady, Scotty Miller and Wirfs were all going to end up in Tampa to win a Super Bowl together. That’s the magic of the NFL.
March 12th, 2021 at 6:21 pm
If you’re guy is there at 32 you take him. Zaven Collins.