Looking Ahead
April 27th, 2021
To read one prominent columnist opine about how the Bucs plan to attack the draft, if a guy the Bucs draft cannot get on the field this year, big deal!
That’s what Albert Breer of SI.com seemed to suggest. He had a brief synopsis of what each team plans to do in the draft. And for the Bucs, Breer thinks it’s building for the future.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
First round: 32nd
Total picks: 8
Needs: edge, CB, QBWhat you need to know: With all 22 starters returning, the Bucs are in position to look a year ahead on some needs—so I’d think they’ll give a look to adding a corner (with some contract situations brewing there) or edge rusher (Tampa’s a little older on its defensive front) at the bottom of the first round.
Well, in Joe’s eyes, the future is now, not 2022, not 2023, not 2024 and surely not 2025.
The Bucs have made it clear they are trying to Go for Two. They made a monumental effort to bring back all starters and some of those who returned even passed up more cash elsewhere to be part of history.
To not draft guys who you think will make an impact this year is downright irresponsible. Every ounce of effort should be and better be invested into winning a Super Bowl in February 2022.
From the very moment Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich wake up (before their morning coffee) until they rest their heads on a pillow — they should be fully consumed by answering the following question:
“How do we win it all this year?”
And part of repeating as Super Bowl champions is not drafting guys who have little to no shot of getting on the field and making an first-year impact.
Building for the future is what losers do. The Bucs are no longer a losing organization.
April 27th, 2021 at 12:15 am
Hell yea!
April 27th, 2021 at 2:35 am
I think we lose a couple guys and we could very well be losers again. Say TB and JPP. As far as drafting for immediate impact and for the future I think both can be done in this draft.
April 27th, 2021 at 3:06 am
Go for best available
April 27th, 2021 at 3:14 am
Jason has already said they are looking for guys who will be a player “2 years from now” Joe
April 27th, 2021 at 4:08 am
Joe, what’s wrong with a big, fast CB, a pass rusher or a DT?
April 27th, 2021 at 4:22 am
Surely any guy with potential to make an impact in year one can be a player 2 or 7 years from now. Given the current roster, the best chance to have the best of both worlds at those positions seem to be: Rotational Edge/DE to spell Gholston, Shaq and JPP, 2 DBs who can both play ST, a swing C/G, WR/returner and developmental qb who can also be a competent backup if Brady sprains an ankle and has to sit for 3 weeks. And not necessarily in that order.
These are the positions available in 2021, and I’m not calling them needs but maybe wants. And I’d try to draft these guys rather than sign some vet minimum mercenary. RB, TE, T, DT, ILB, and the top of the DB rotations are not open this year as of this week.
But if you’re not convinced and want to take a BPA available at those positions, all I can say is they better play special teams!
April 27th, 2021 at 6:40 am
Ideally in the first or early rounds you draft a player that CAN get on the field this year!
April 27th, 2021 at 6:51 am
I think that effort has been made by resigning all the players from last year. It is also responsible for us to have good players in the future and have a team that isn’t what we’ve been used to for nearly the entirety of the Bucs existence.
April 27th, 2021 at 6:58 am
Exactly what Half-Cauked Jeudy said
Joe treats every situation the same w/ his philosophies and doesn’t realize some situations are different (like when you bring back ALL 22 starters from a SUORR BOWL winning team). Most of these picks will be about depth, the future and possible replacements down the line and w/ contract situations that will arise in the near future.
Joe puts on blinders when he forms an opinion or gets on a narrative. He doesn’t think too subjectively as often as he probably should either.
Remember the Josh Allen/Devin White shenanigans?! I won’t run it in, but it wasn’t a good look and Bucs fans remember (I think he said he’d “give up his media credentials if we drafted White and not Josh Allen over him). That’s only ONE example too…
April 27th, 2021 at 7:08 am
How’d that work out for Aaron Rodgers last year? I’m guessing had they drafted a big play wr in round one instead of a backup qb who never hit the field they’d have gone for it on 4th down. Then maybe gotten it and went to the sb. In case breer doesnt know unless someone got a lifetime contract we havnt heard of most gms are trying to win the next game. Every now n then you’ll get one trying to be cute and he’ll be gone shortly after.
April 27th, 2021 at 7:10 am
Opine this and opine that, does not matter what is said by others or this blog. Just Draft the Best Available Player. BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER. You win when you have the better players, and better is not just physical talent, it also means not making dumb turnovers or penalties. BEST AVAILABLE PLAYER. GO BUCS!!!!!
April 27th, 2021 at 7:35 am
The real loser mentality is not drafting for the future, it’s also drafting a guy and giving him a moniker as “Savior” before the first OTA.
It’s preposterous to put that kind of pressure on a rookie….yet the owner of this here blog went ahead and shoved Savior and America’s QB down our throat from the get go.
Ridiculous…
Draft BPA and trust the coaching staff, they’ve earned it!
In BA I Trust!
April 27th, 2021 at 8:05 am
You can’t do both. Play for now and draft for the future. Isn’t it the best situation when BPA meets potential need. Bring them in and get the culture. I still thank TB12 calls it after this year if and when the Bucs win it all, especially if they can get this perfect record, which I thought was possible until the 17game got added (so get the QB now and I have no problem trading up on day two if there is a QB you like).
April 27th, 2021 at 8:42 am
I hope we be aggressive on the first round we cannot depend on luck this year, it is a thin class except maybe for receivers. Get one receiver who can also play special teams, and depth at the trenches cause it will be a long season.
April 27th, 2021 at 8:55 am
Call me selfish, but I want to win now and in the future. And we can do both. Someone drafted this week, if good enough to get on the field this season, should be a solid contributor in future years. Because we returned all of our starters this year, the objective should be building depth in case of injuries.
April 27th, 2021 at 9:13 am
The Joes are constantly screaming for a running back in round one. Why they say? Because three of the current Bucs are on one year contracts and may not be here after this season. How is that not drafting for the future?
Everyone the Bucs draft this year is going to be a rookie. Every one is a draft for the future. Sure you want someone who could help now, but they don’t need help now in running back. They need help in rotation. Edge, defensive end, or linebacker should be the first pick. They could also use a return man, but not with the first pick.
April 27th, 2021 at 9:33 am
Well said
WE GOIN FOR TWO!!!!
April 27th, 2021 at 11:51 am
I agree that depth can be part of “win now”–look at the KC OL problem last year. So we need a corner and an edge; plus we can’t ignore special teams.
April 27th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
It’s very simple this year. Just take the best available player. Everything will fall into place as years go by.
April 27th, 2021 at 8:07 pm
Agreed Indeed ! JL will definitely pick the absolute BEST player available regardless of “position” . We’ve never had that kind of luxury before . EVER ! I’ve been a hardcore Fan since they entered the League and we’ve always drafted to “fill a need” . We really have no “holes” or “needs” to fill with this upcoming draft . A VERY nice position to be in indeed !
April 28th, 2021 at 11:32 am
“ Building for the future is what losers do”
Completely disagree with you there Joe.
Plus, and edge rusher or cornerback would see the field this year. D-line needs rotation to stay fresh, and our backup corners / safeties actually logged a lot of snaps last season.