What A Steal!
May 8th, 2021
So the four-letter has a list, written by one of the PFF tribe cultists, documenting what are believed to be the greatest steals of the 2021 draft.
So in the mind of Mike Renner, the No. 3 biggest steal was Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht lifting Jaelon Darden in the fourth round.
The pick: 129 (Round 4)
Darden’s tape is pure electricity. After putting on nearly 20 pounds over the course of his North Texas career to reach 174, Darden broke out as a senior with 74 catches for 1,190 yards and 19 scores. He also added 23 broken tackles after the catch to lead the country.
At 5-foot-9, he’s going to be a slot receiver in the NFL, but that’s not a bad thing when Tom Brady is the quarterback.
Oh yes, a desire to throw to slot receivers is clearly from park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
The thing that jumps out to Joe about this Darden is his production. Joe doesn’t care where the hell you went to school, 19 touchdowns is sick.
Opposing defensive coordinators put a target on Darden’s back and couldn’t stop him. Didn’t they try to jam him at the line? Or double- or triple-team him?
And it seems small school receivers do well in the league. Hey, two Bucs receivers who made critical plays last year were from MAC schools.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:09 am
Can’t wait to see how he does with the big boys. Stand by for the usual detractors.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:12 am
Sentimental fan favorite Scotty Miller is going to have a hard time making the final 53 .
May 8th, 2021 at 10:15 am
He’s an ankle breaker. Should be really fun to watch. He is the gadget guy Arians has been seeking.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:19 am
The thing that jumps out to Joe about this Darden is his production. Joe doesn’t care where the hell you went to school, 19 touchdowns is sick.
– damn straight Joe! Wooo! This pick has me fired up bc Brady is going to thread some balls to him, and set him up to terrorize defenses when they want to double up on Evans, Godwin, Brown, Gronk, or Howard.
I like the Trask pick bc he scorched sec defenses, had a very solid TD:Turnover ratio, he knows how to work hard and bide his time, and he played with top level talent and had zero issues spreading the ball- as evidenced by two of his top targets going in the top 20 ofthe draft: Pitts (4) and Toney (20).
May 8th, 2021 at 10:20 am
Yea…..try jamming up Darden on the line……you’ll be watching him from behind.
And, as for Scotty Miller not making the final 53?………not happening….it’s Mickens with his non-guaranteed $900K who won’t make the roster.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:21 am
Just wondering. Is there a minimum word count when writing your posts? Could that be the reason you continue with that long-winded, paragraph long and boring description of TB12 and others? Your best one of all time was “Sabby the goat”. Short and sweet.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:24 am
Darden is going to thrive. Electric is right. And so smoooooth. He makes it look easy and plays with real fire. Returns will be fun to watch again.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:27 am
SB~LV Says:
May 8th, 2021 at 10:12 am
Nope. They’ll keep 6 receivers:
-Evans
-Godwin
-Brown
-Johnson
-Miller
-Darden
May 8th, 2021 at 10:29 am
Bucs only kept seven receivers last year. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Scotty Miller, Tyler Johnson, and Darden make the squad. Mickens/Watson fight for the last spot.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:36 am
SB~LV Says:
May 8th, 2021 at 10:12 am
Sentimental fan favorite Scotty Miller is going to have a hard time making the final 53.
Do you want to face the chiefs with Tyreek (the cheetah) hill and Scotty (scooter) Miller in the super bowl because that’s what will happen
May 8th, 2021 at 10:41 am
Darden helps out on Special Teams as a returner. Scotty and Darden both stay satisfying Brady, Arians and Scotty’s loyal fan base!
May 8th, 2021 at 10:53 am
Miller will make the team.
May 8th, 2021 at 10:53 am
Kirk Says:
May 8th, 2021 at 10:21 am
Just wondering. Is there a minimum word count when writing your posts? Could that be the reason you continue with that long-winded, paragraph long and boring description of TB12 and others?
completely agree with this,, it makes it harder to read as I attempt to skip all of it and then quickly lose interest in the story anyway–some of us don’t have time for this
May 8th, 2021 at 10:55 am
Darden just might turn out to be a steal! He has absolutely Huge Hands, great speed, and he is also very elusive.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:05 am
I had him as are 3rd round pick. This kid is very very good.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:12 am
3/5 of our starting offensive lineman are also from small schools…
May 8th, 2021 at 11:13 am
Beep-Beep
May 8th, 2021 at 11:16 am
I see Darden more like AB than Miller. AB has moves and Miller has the best straight speed. If AB has another great year it will be hard to keep him. So, Darden has potential…depending on his hands.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:35 am
Darden will be a backup for AB and probably play on the outside at WR because BA’s offence has big slots. But we’ll see if they change that. Darden could be the #3 in an empty set the way that the patriots used welker and
Edelman.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:36 am
Miller is a one trick pony , hard to justify a roster spot for that .
He is a great story and I love to see him work out and grow into a real threat.
I just don’t see it happening.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:44 am
SB-LV
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
May 8th, 2021 at 11:53 am
Any suggestion that Scooter will have a hard time making the team comes from brain damage.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:54 am
Darden is the best pick since Godwin as far as receivers go. Great hands, breakaway speed and extremely elusive. Hard to believe he fell as far as he did. Sometimes you just have to trust the tape and forget the measurable. Heart and hard work trump size. This kid can play.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:59 am
Darden is the best pickup at WR since Godwin. Breakaway speed, great hands and extremely elusive. Can’t believe he fell as far as he did. Sometimes you just have to trust the tape and throw the measurables out the window. He’s small but heart and hard work trump all. This kid can play.
May 8th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
Yes, let’s cut a guy who had 501 yards on 33 catches, a paltry 15.2 avg, plus 4/80 in the playoffs. We have no use for that kind of production. So wise. 🙄
May 8th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
It’s a hot time to trade Scotty a year before his contract is up. They aren’t going to cut Darden after camp. They do not need six WR, much less 4 QB. Tyler Johnson showed a lot of potential as a large, strong WR that can possibly be very good starter in the slot in his second year. A Godwin type between Evans, Godwin, AB, Johnson completes the Bucs dynamite WR depth rotation. Love Scotty, but he’s a one trick pony down field. A very good one trick pony down field, but we’ve seen from Darden that he can get open anywhere and gains serious yardage after the catch. Darden is not a Trask project. Him and Johnson will battle for the slot in 2022. Can’t pay Scotty to be number three in the slot and not a game to game WR on the outside for what he’ll be asking.
May 8th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
little 80’s throw back speed competition NFL style, greats like Rod woodson, Darrel Green, Hershal walker and other fast nfl players foot racing in a televised event. Wish NFL wood do something like this and man do i miss the 80’s.
enjoy, if i dont get moderated, lol.
May 8th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
He doesn’t have Kenny Bell hair.
That’s a plus.
May 8th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Like I said bucs will keep seven receivers like last year. The only roster spot open is that 7th slot that Mickens/Watson/Jonsen/Franklin will compete for. They ended up needing the depth anyway last season.
Also we do not know who Scotty is just yet because he played injured most of the season with a hip injury and then was buried on the depth chart by AB. That limited his snaps and the bucs used him at what he did best: Go deep. It’s likely he’ll have a similar role this year but he’ll be fighting for targets with Darden, Johnson, and even OJ Howard who is returning from injury. Bucs are stacked when healthy.
May 8th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
SB~LV :
just retract your ridiculous statement…scotty makes the team…without AB per say, he is debatably the number 3 receiver…
mickens is beyond gone…the arrest did him no favors either…
at worst this season scotty is the 5th…at worst…
darden is number 6 and just trying to make the roster…
they also like travis jonsen – if y’all even know who that is…
2022 could be a problem for scotty if things go down hill this season – it could leave him potentially fighting for a 5th or 6th receiver spot…but AB prolly wont be here…so bump him up one spot…if tyler shows out maybe drop scotty down a spot…if darden goes hog wild, bump scotty down a spot…if godwin is gone bump him up a spot…
see…i still see him surviving all cuts actually for at least the next 2 years – and as long at brady is here….tom loves the lil homie
May 8th, 2021 at 12:40 pm
* a one trick pony *
That Tom Brady LOVES to throw deep down the sideline to!
Really? Do you guys watch the games or just read the blogs post game?
May 8th, 2021 at 12:47 pm
the guy who bounced the brady pass of his helmet is gone too…
i forget his name…
franklin maybe?….
oops no…
it’s cyril grayson…he’s def gone
May 8th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
and right now justin watson is literally walking on a tight rope…
let’s just say you made a mistake and thought scottie was justin watson lol…
because watson is starting to look like a total long shot to make this team unless we carry 7…
unless there are expanded roster taxi squads like last year due to covid…then he might be there with jonsen and pearson…
and also that would explain the extra place kicker too…he could relax on the expanded taxi squad too
May 8th, 2021 at 12:57 pm
this guy deserves a real scolding – he must be a fake bucs fan who just touched down from new england or something
May 8th, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Not sure about that. Tanner Hudson is a “sentimental fan favorite.” Keyword is “sentimental” meaning little to no substance.
Miller’s touchdown catch helped beat the Raiders and his touchdown catch right before halftime did wind up being the difference in the NFC title game.
Also, Joe is convinced the Bucs will try to play Darden at slot. Miller isn’t a slot receiver.
If anyone needs to be sweating for their jobs, it is Tanner Hudson and probably Justin Watson (though Joe thinks Watson may stick for one more year because of his special teams play).
May 8th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Loved this pick.
May 8th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
Dont forget Mickens had an offseason gun charge and arrest…
This will not help his cause as he fights for a roster spot.
What a total knucklehead.
May 8th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Love the sight Joe.
It’s funny they say that every writer has a style. I’m not sure how many people write for the site, but one of them loves to use the word THIS ( this Darden, in a post earlier it was this Tryon and I’ve seen it in others as well). Great site keep it up and as always GO BUCS!
May 8th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
@Kirk Says:
“….. Could that be the reason you continue with that long-winded, paragraph long and boring description of TB12 and others?
————
😂🤣
@firethecannons Says:
“….completely agree with this,, it makes it harder to read …….some of us don’t have time for this”
—————-
😂🤣
…let J have some identity/fun…. and do it as I do…go for the last adjective, in this moment is “…Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback..” and you done. BUT that may change very soon… then go for the next one 😉
May 8th, 2021 at 1:49 pm
this thread is chopped liver joe
May 8th, 2021 at 1:58 pm
Right now the pick looks like a steal. Past WR’s drafted by Licht have proven to be elite. Brady thrives with a talented slot guy. Can’t wait to go to battle and throttle the NFC south this season. And Scotty isn’t going anywhere. Speed has no slump. It’s Superbowl or bust again. What a great time to be a Bucs fan!
May 8th, 2021 at 2:12 pm
The only way Scotty isn’t with the final 53 is if, well…….um……..er………
There is no way Scotty’s not on the final 53. Those of you suggesting this, obviously don’t know who a guy named Tom Brady is, nor do you know anything about Scooter’s production, but go ahead and pretend. You make Warren Sapp’s case about the intellect of Buc fans with such a lame brained suggestion.
May 8th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Hey Joes I travel a lot. Was in the car with cell phone, probably jumping IP addresses a lot. Back home now.
May 8th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
The spam paster of Tom Brady and Peter King’s labels who writes on here doesn’t give a rip about what the readers think of the content or how long that crap gets.
Agree that whoever believes Scotty Miller isn’t penciled in for a roster spot must be smoking crack with him in their garage. Otherwise there’s no basis in reality for thinking that.
May 8th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
I just can’t wait to see Darden running those gadgets plays that Scotty loses yards on everytime. I have no idea why the Bucs continued to run them all year when they never worked. Miller has great straight line speed, but he’s not a stop and go guy, and that’s where Darden seems poised to excel.
With that said the scouting reports on Darden were all over the place. The NFL site gave him a 6th round grade, said he’s too small and his hands were too inconsistent (he had 7 drops last year). Meanwhile another scouting report, that went into a lot more depth, compared him to Tyreek Hill – just with no leaping ability – and said he should go in the 2nd.
Personally, watching his tape, I saw a few plays where he showed off some good movies, but mostly he just looked like a solid WR with good speed and quickness. Also, something I read in multiple scouting reports was that he would be a player that Patriots would likely target – meaning he’s a smaller, quick guy who plays well in open space – the type of guy that Brady loves.
May 8th, 2021 at 3:11 pm
Another wrestling tie-in for the Bucs. Warren Sapp, of course, sent The Rock to the bench when he came to Miami. Now we have Darden, who comes to us from the school that brought the world Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Also what did WWE do with that huge pirate ship they made for Wrestlemania. The Glazers should have bought it and put it in the other empty endzone. Made me think that when they demand a new stadium soon, they should really go all out with the theming. Without the pirate ship there is no way that Tampa gets that last SB since you’d have just an old generic 1990s stadium – so putting money into the decor should be a big priority for the team and frankly, for the city. It’s still a travel based economy, so bling and gimmick things up to bring in the tourists.
May 8th, 2021 at 3:21 pm
I would be happy to be wrong about Scotty Miller… I don’t see much more than straight line speed and not much football player
May 8th, 2021 at 4:04 pm
All the pick made by the Bucs are great especially Darden, who could be outstanding!! Other selections could be outstanding too especially the first two picks. Trust me since the Bucs have Tom Brady and 3 other Quarter Backs and have signed all the members from last year so they have a great chance to win the Super Bowl again if things work out well. In order to win everything in football you need to avoid injuries that do not illuminate the great players!!
May 8th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
As much as I love Scotty Miller, this kid is already ahead of him on the depth chart in my mind. At least he will be before the season is over. I love Miller but he doesnt have the change of direction or jump ball ability. This kid plays bigger than his size and is just insanely talented. Watson is obvioulsy the odd man out with Tyler Johnson around. This has to easily be the most talented wr group in the NFL. Easily.
Of course, A.B also…
May 8th, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Darden may very well be the steal of the draft. You can’t teach speed, cuts, or how to make defenders miss. he just seems to have that..IT factor turned on loud. We shall see. But I got this kid breaking tackles in games wide open.
May 8th, 2021 at 5:31 pm
“Not much football player” – Scotty Miller?
Some people don’t do football much.
May 8th, 2021 at 5:42 pm
lol… love it!!!
.
IT factor turned on loud .
.
Kid has crazy game !
However he has NEVER played on a playground with 11 elite athletes trying to take his head off .
I think he is going to be dynamite!
May 8th, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Will:
Thank you for the kind words. Appreciate it.
You get it: Joe takes a lot of flack from all corners about not writing AP style. As Joe has said from the beginning of this site, he didn’t want to be the third hamburger stand on the block. He wanted to be the only taco stand.
May 8th, 2021 at 7:59 pm
Joe
“Not sure about that. Tanner Hudson is a “sentimental fan favorite.” Keyword is “sentimental” meaning little to no substance.“
A large, good young backup with hands behind two injury prone starting TE? Watson was leading tackler (I think) on ST. I love Scotty and him and Brady have a connection but I think every receiver is going to have a great connection year two. Everybody’s all in. Then again…I’ll do what Licht wants to do.
May 8th, 2021 at 8:05 pm
Kirk- joe is just lucky other sites don’t put out as much content as he does.
It is essentially like an F U to regular readers when he doesn’t even do the courtesy of a putting his 9yo juvenile Brady preamble in red. If these other sites step up their game I’m gone. He is basically telling his regular readers to go f themselves because he thinks his juvenile antics are humorous.
May 8th, 2021 at 9:03 pm
Leftwich needs to do more to get our playmakers into open space. He needs to do more with Miller and now with Darden.
The SB play that led to Gronk’s first TD was a designed play of beauty. We need more creative plays like that, more motion, more fake blockers, etc. but with Miller and Darden to try and get them into space immediately after the snap.
May 8th, 2021 at 9:08 pm
TheBradyBunch,
It’s called SCHTICK. The fact that this site is ‘narrated’ by a character named ‘Joe’ referring to himself in the 3rd person (when in fact that site is written by two writers, believe to be not named Joe) that should tip you off to the fact that this site uses it’s own creative elements in some stories.
It’s really easy to NOT READ every word of the hyperbole nickname stuff. It’s easy to recognize and then ignore if that’s what you want to do.
May 8th, 2021 at 9:35 pm
BradyBucs
Miller is not Hump off the quick snap. Darden on the other hand. Very anxious.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:30 pm
Barring injury, Darden will be lucky to contribute this year. Scotty Miller will be fine.
May 8th, 2021 at 11:35 pm
TheBradyBunch, if you don’t like it here, go. Don’t just talk about it.
Joe’s gimmicks have made this site the most visited Bucs fansite around. I don’t care for the gimmick names either, but it’s a longtime tradition.
It’s harmless. Get over it.
May 9th, 2021 at 4:16 am
Hey Joe, just add a little extra cheese and salsa on the Tacos. BTW Monikers rock lol lol lol GO JBF GO BUCS!!!
May 10th, 2021 at 11:02 am
He WAS a slot receiver… slot receivers are able to block here… Godwin and Johnson are our top two slot receivers. Darden will rarely line up there. He is an outside receiver for us.
As for the scouting report… Darden is 5’7 5/8″ not sure where 5’9 came from. He also was great… at North Texas, running around making people look foolish… that doesn’t always/usually translate to the NFL. Just ask Reggie Bush. I want Darden to succeed but a little guy that makes bad competition miss isn’t a lock to do anything in the NFL.
May 10th, 2021 at 11:05 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
May 8th, 2021 at 11:35 pm
TheBradyBunch, if you don’t like it here, go. Don’t just talk about it.
Joe’s gimmicks have made this site the most visited Bucs fansite around.
—————————–
Nobody comes here for the gimmicks. They come to read about the Bucs from a thorough and unbiased perspective. Most other sites won’t call out players and coaches… some of it is unwarranted but most people enjoy the unfiltered aspect.