“They Are Drafting For Depth”
March 25th, 2021
Laughs at Bucs’ all-star lineup.
How good do Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians have it? A popular national sports radio and TV voice is laughing at their strong starting lineup.
Yesterday upon learning that defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh plans to return to the Bucs, as he and Licht came to a verbal agreement, former Tampa Bay television sports anchor Colin Cowherd took to his FS1 show, “The Herd,” to laugh in respect to the roster Licht has assembled.
In fact, Cowherd said the Bucs are the only team in the upcoming NFL draft that doesn’t have a need to address.
“This is the most talented team Tom Brady has ever played with,” Cowherd said between giggles. “Go look at mock drafts. Every other team in the NFL is drafting for need. Even the well-run teams. The Colts need a speed receiver. The Chiefs need an interior offensive lineman or a tackle.
“Everybody is drafting for need except Tampa. They are just drafting for depth.”
Cowherd then began to rattle off positions where some may consider the Bucs to have a weakness, and then Cowherd mentioned who the Bucs likely have starting at that position, emphasizing the Bucs have no weakness.
And while Cowherd noted Brady played on a Belicheats team that went undefeated in a regular season, the Bucs, he said, are currently more loaded than that 2007 squad.
Cowherd also noted what was considered the only area of potential weakness for the Bucs, offensive line, is now a strength based on how that unit blocked their arses off in the eight-game winning streak that included the Super Bowl.
Cowherd’s full take is in the FS1 video below. You just may be calling the Bucs to get quotes on season tickets when you are finished watching.
The 2021 @Buccaneers are the most talented team Tom Brady has ever played for:
“Every other team is drafting for need except for Tampa. They’re just drafting for depth.” — @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/05sWUrSq8T
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 24, 2021
March 25th, 2021 at 5:07 am
trade our 1st rd pick for another teams 2022 1st rd pick unless there’s a guy bucs absolutely love at #32
March 25th, 2021 at 5:39 am
What do we have our top 15 guys on defense back.
Vita, Suh, Gholston, Nacho, JPP, Shaq, White, David, Minter, Davis, SMB, Dean, Whitehead, Winfield, and Edwards.
March 25th, 2021 at 6:08 am
I hope the team plays like 2nd and 3rd stringers trying to make names for themselves and not like superstars who just have to show up Sunday……
March 25th, 2021 at 6:14 am
Willie
That’s why teams dont repeat. We’ve seen it here before.
Now where all all the guys who kept barking the Bucs have no talent?
March 25th, 2021 at 6:18 am
Yep
March 25th, 2021 at 6:25 am
I smell 13-3 easy
[Possibly 15-1 depending on what we do in draft and if we can avoid
major inhuries]
March 25th, 2021 at 6:29 am
It’s funny, for anyone that’s listened to sports talk radio for years, Cowherd has blasted the Bucs for a long time, partially because he has history in the Tampa market, but partially because Tampa deserved it. It’s nice to see he’s recognizing Tampa’s return to prominence.
Also, I definitely agree that these young guys need to stay focused on the next game, and not last season. But this where Brady’s value really comes through, keeping these young guys focused. We are in a better position to repeat (not gonna say “run it back” , I hate that) than most teams.
March 25th, 2021 at 6:41 am
Geno711 … Looking at those 15 starters/key rotational players on defense, all back in the fold for another year, makes me wonder how any rookie can break into that lineup, as long as everyone stays healthy of course. All those guys have talent & have played together now for 1-3 years. Their immediate boss, Todd Bowles, knows them all very well & knows precisely how they can perform ‘under fire’.
I agree with Cowherd that we’re ‘drafting for depth’, but just as importantly we’re drafting ‘future replacements’. Assuming that we pick up Vea’s 5th year option (a no-brainer obviously), we’d have 9 of those 15 back next year, leaving 6 ‘holes’ to fill in 2022 … Suh, JPP, Gholston, Minter, Davis & Whitehead. It’ll be interesting to see how many of those 6 get re-signed next year, given that we’ve already pushed a ton of salary CAP ‘down the street’ to 2022 & beyond.
What it does tell me is that the 2021 & 2022 drafts will be super important to any thoughts of establishing a ‘Bucs dynasty’. The needed ‘replacements’ for the relatively immediate future on defense seem pretty obvious.
March 25th, 2021 at 6:46 am
19-0
March 25th, 2021 at 6:53 am
Love him or hate him …he knows his stuff
That video gets you pumped up
Another thing that gets me jacked too
I still think running back concerns me a bit. lenny has ok hands …rojo stone hands …lenny may not resign …rojo is free agent next year .
Bucs have a chance of getting the premier back in this years draft …no question some teams need one like steelers and jets and fins. but they have so many other needs that all 3 top backs who can catch and run may be there – harris , etienne and williams are all studs. The offense lacked a receiving back last year. Brady loves to move the chains by dumping off to running back. I saw an article yesterday that showed james white has 168 receiving first downs since drafted by patriots. (You know who gave him most of those). That is just a crazy number.
But i trust our scouts and GM and coach to make right decision at 32. Like video says , hopefully we can find 2, 3 or 4 quality guys
They are saying this is one of worst years drafts for dline, especially d tackle.
March 25th, 2021 at 6:58 am
D.R.
Those 6 replacements are exactly the positions I think you’ll see addressed in the draft. DT, DE/OLB, ILB, CB and possibly a Safety. Other than that I could see a versatile Rb like Demetic Felton or one of the top Rbs if they were just clearly the BPA at 32.
March 25th, 2021 at 6:59 am
Before FA, I was against using the 1st round pick on a RB, but now after signing 6 of the big 8 and to Cowturds point, I don’t see anywhere else a 1st rounder breaks the starting lineup if no injuries.
CT from heaven has a nice idea, especially given how these contracts are structured. Start stockpiling future draft picks so the roster can be rebuilt cheaply next year and in 2023 if we don’t need anyone this year but for depth.
If a mid-round team calls and offers a 2022 1st and this years 3rd rounder to move up to 32, I don’t see how Licht says no to that offer.
March 25th, 2021 at 7:18 am
Stanglassman
Looks like we agree.
Tampabaybucfan Says:
March 24th, 2021 at 4:32 pm
We need backup depth at some of our defensive positions in case of injury or put into rotation.
DT, Edge, CB, LB, S
Pick the very best player available at one of these positions
March 25th, 2021 at 8:00 am
i’m sniffing 14-3 and a superbowl win…
they will have a few losses since everyone is gunning for the champs…
they will lose to a good team, they will lose to a scrub team, and there will be that one game where you just go wtf because they didn’t show up
March 25th, 2021 at 8:00 am
L
F
G
!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2021 at 8:13 am
Isn’t it nice not having to draft for need?!
March 25th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Stanglassman & TBBF … DT, Edge, CB, LB & S looks like the perfect combination to me too. Well, except that it kind of excludes half the team. Fortunately other than QB, RB, TE & Oline we’re pretty well set on the offensive side until about 2023.
As I look at our team, the vast majority of starters & key rotational players were drafted in Rnds 1-3. There are certainly several very notable exceptions, like Brady, Shaq, Jensen, Brate, but the vast majority come from the higher rounds. Over these next 2 drafts we’ll have 6 picks (as of now) in the Top-3 rounds, and those are the ones IMO that we need to hit on big-time. When money’s tight, filling the roster with as many year 1-4 starters as possible becomes critical.
March 25th, 2021 at 8:26 am
We do have a ‘need’. The ‘need’ is a speedy kick returner. Ours sucks. Better field position for Super Bowl Winning QB TB would make the Bucs even more lethal. But this is a 2nd rd pick at its highest.
March 25th, 2021 at 9:42 am
I agree, harris , etienne and williams are all worthy of a first round pick, but of the 3, I like harris the best because he is a big power back with speed, who can also catch and block.
March 25th, 2021 at 10:25 am
Out of curiosity, wonder why Vaughn was never used as a returner.
March 25th, 2021 at 10:31 am
Ya’ll want to drive Joe absolutely nuts? Kick this around. Buc’s have no big needs. What needs they have can be filled with undrafted rookies and such. So. Licht sells off ALL the 2021 draft picks for added picks in 2022, maybe gets a 2 and a 3 for the current #1 pick. They then have maybe 20+ picks next year?
March 25th, 2021 at 11:00 am
I agree with the first post by Chris Thomas … but I’ll go even farther.
If we’re not absolutely in love with the available players in any round, trade for a future pick.
Why bring guys in that will only get cut? Load up on futures to ensure a longer run at the top.
March 25th, 2021 at 11:05 am
A RB theoretically *could* be an inpactful key addition to the Buc’s offense.
I like both the kids from Clemson & UNC.
March 25th, 2021 at 11:11 am
As of right now I don’t see Vaughn as a Bucs RB of the future. BPA in RD 1 or trade down.
March 25th, 2021 at 11:17 am
We need a quality edge rusher to rotate in and keep JPP fresh, so that would be priority 1. We also need a pass catching back and a DT that can potentially replace Suh when he retires. Also, we need a dime corner.
March 25th, 2021 at 12:08 pm
People finally starting to come around to ole crazy SOEbuc idea to trade first round. People on talk radio and JBF talk about all these guys returning, but one other very important thing is they’re returning to the same very good staff. This has become a depth draft for this year with some possible future starters as well. CB, OT, C, OLB BPA by Licht’s standards and those are fine by me.
March 25th, 2021 at 12:56 pm
I remember the 1986 draft when Bill Walsh kept trading down until he had three 3rd round picks and three 4th round picks. Who did he get? Charles Haley, John Taylor and Tom Rathman. I believe Jimmy Johnson used a similar strategy with the Cowboys. The more picks you have, the higher percentage you have to fill roster depth.
March 25th, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Suh and Gholston will both be gone in the next couple of years. We need a big, and mean impact DL to replace the first one that leaves (probably Suh retiring)
March 25th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Also, how about signing Cordarel Patterson for KR duties, and the occasional gadget play with him lining up in the backfield at RB?
March 25th, 2021 at 11:37 pm
I remember when the Bucs were the talk of the town. It was a loooong time ago. I won’t say that this team is better. That was a dominant defense we had back in 2002 but this team is better. there it is. I said it.
March 26th, 2021 at 12:35 am
I can see us needing right guard help..
March 27th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
A BIG head will you 3-13 really easy.
All teams start 0-0. Bucs can go 16-0 by staying healthy and focused.