Jaydon Mickens Cut; Jaelon Darden Your New Bucs Return Man
August 31st, 2021
Jaydon Mickens, left, helping out his eventual successor Jaelon Darden in underwear football this spring.
OK rookie, welcome to the Super Bowl champions. No more excuses, ‘kay?
It seems the Bucs decided to hand the keys to the return game to fourth-round pick Jaedon Darden despite pedestrian numbers this preseason. That’s the word from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who twittered the news.
#Buccaneers are cutting Jaydon Mickens, who had 30 combined punt and kick returns for them last season. Drew praise from Bruce Arians early in camp. Should have interest elsewhere.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 31, 2021
In the lone return Mickens had this summer, it was a kick return for 33 yards. He averaged 24 yards a return last year.
Darden, frankly, hasn’t shown anywhere near the results this summer that Mickens had, but Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians said that was due to lousy blocking.
No more excuses, Mr. Darden. It’s showtime in nine days. Results are not just expected but demanded for a team hoping to repeat as Super Bowl champs.
Welcome to the NFL.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:30 am
It feels like there are too many Mickens in this Article :p :p :p
August 31st, 2021 at 9:31 am
Darden has a higher ceiling than Mick although Mick outplayed him in preseason .
August 31st, 2021 at 9:31 am
Mickens will catch on somewhere else, but I agree with the move to Darden.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:32 am
Coach is right and it is something I keep harping over. Everyone is overly focused on the return man and not the blocking. The blocking on special teams is abysmal.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:32 am
TB12 pre-approved the drafting of Darden. It had to be this way
August 31st, 2021 at 9:34 am
Not surprised, Mickens has a $920k salary they can get rid of……..Darden will be fine….mostly rookie mistakes…..
Here is a question for those who might know…
If a player has a non-guaranteed salary & is cut (Mickens & Griffin) for example….when the Bucs put them on the practice squad….do they retain their salaries….or do they get practice squad pay?
August 31st, 2021 at 9:34 am
Darden will be fine as he matures.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:35 am
Mickens will be brought back in the next few days if another team does not pick him up.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:37 am
Darden will be fine.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:40 am
I liked that we drafted Darden, but he hasn’t shown he was worth moving up in the fourth round for. If we’re being honest he looks like a 6th round pick who could use a season on the practice squad. This is why Licht needs the chips to fall as they may during the draft, and not move up for a guy who would’ve been there later in the draft. Moving up in the 4th was like giving the job to a player who clearly hasn’t earned it. Right now Mickens is a better returner, and receiver. Hope this doesn’t come back to bite us.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:42 am
@TBBF: there is a floor to PS cheese, but not a ceiling. I recall Griffin made like $1 million on the PS. That’s how to keep a PS guy from getting poached for the league minimum elsewhere.
.pac reht fio trap ton si $ SP eht erus yttetrp m’I
August 31st, 2021 at 9:42 am
You have to start rebuilding why you have the goat (like you said a bevy of QB/offensive gurus, that should also help the receivers), Tom Moore, BA, BL, Brady, not to mention the experience of a Antonio Brown, who Darden should be watching in practice
August 31st, 2021 at 9:43 am
If Brady moved up in the draft to get him then I trust he will be fine.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:53 am
I thought they might keep him after committing to only three tight ends
August 31st, 2021 at 9:57 am
I am sure the Bucs will sign Mickens to the practice squad if he is not claimed by another team. Don’t forget the Bucs have possibly the most dynamic punt returner in the NFL on the team in A.B.
August 31st, 2021 at 9:58 am
Any word if Cyril Grayson got cut?
August 31st, 2021 at 10:51 am
One guy so far I really hated to see go. He did a fine job for us last year.
August 31st, 2021 at 10:55 am
Damn! I hope he can handle the pressure!
It is much different now
August 31st, 2021 at 11:05 am
The battle between Mickens and Darden is about more than kick/punt return. It’s also about WR duties. The Bucs know what Mickens can do at this level as WR. They are banking that Darden will “sooner than later” surpass Mickens ability at WR. I hate to see Mickens go, but I understand the move.
August 31st, 2021 at 11:12 am
I wonder if Mickens gun charge (this summer in LA) and pending legal troubles has anything to do with this decision…
If he is found guilty he might face suspension from the NFL.
August 31st, 2021 at 11:19 am
Cmon. As much as I’m hopeful that Darden can be a great addition to this team, JM is so totally reliable and professional. By all accounts he’s a great guy.
August 31st, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Coach #1 up!!!!!! Coach his blockers up!!!!! Then you have simple math… #1 + better blocking = Points!!!! Go Bucs!!!
August 31st, 2021 at 12:40 pm
No big deal.
BA knows this offense can score and move the ball from anywhere on the field it starts.
August 31st, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Mickens should be put on practice squad but I think he will be snatched right quick
August 31st, 2021 at 2:07 pm
Quick, explosive, damn good hands. I have no problem with this. Kick off’s are mostly touch backs so it’s irrelevant.
It’s all about the punt return and Darden showed flashes.
August 31st, 2021 at 2:29 pm
We will miss Mickens. Good steady hands, adequate returner. There is something to be said for consistency.
August 31st, 2021 at 3:50 pm
Who does Cyril Grayson have pictures of? Not that I will miss the Human Touchback.
September 2nd, 2021 at 2:14 pm
Pretty shocked by this.
Not that Mickens was anything special, but Darden has shown nothing so far.
No risk it no biscuit, I suppose!
September 2nd, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Whoops I cleared my data and forgot my username ^