Jason Licht: Roster Is Stronger Than It Was Two Years Ago
February 2nd, 2022
“We’re better than a lot of the media clowns think we are, Rondé.”
Back in February of 2020 (just before the world fell apart), Tom Brady studied the Buccaneers roster and said to himself, ‘This is where I shall plant my TB12 flag and win my next Super Bowl.’
It largely wasn’t because Brady loved Tampa Bay, Team Glazer or the head coach, it’s because Brady knew the Bucs had the core talent to win with him at quarterback.
Bucs GM Jason Licht looks back on that winter 2020 roster, when his staff sought to replace turnover-happy quarterback Jameis Winston, and Licht sees a better Bucs team.
Licht said yesterday that the talent and maturity levels of his roster are better than they were two years ago when the team also was seeking a new QB.
Joe agrees. And don’t give Joe any nonsense that the Bucs won’t re-sign most of their free agents. They will. It’s a great place to play with a player-friendly coaching staff and the Bucs should be the NFC South favorites.
Just look at the seasoned Bucs defense, the one that allowed the fifth-fewest points in the 2021 regular season.
The defensive backs and linebackers are far more established and seasoned than they were two years ago. And the defensive front has depth and talent. The Bucs are well positioned to enhance that group and be a dangerous top-10 defense.
The offensive line is better now than it was before Tristan Wirfs was drafted, and there’s still skill position talent under contract and money to secure more.
Yeah, the Bucs need a quarterback. They’ll get one, one that should feel damn lucky to join an impressive list of teammates and coaches.
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Provided BA and his cronies didn’t lose the locker room and these free agents don’t say thanks but no thanks show me the money Jerry.
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:50 pm
The linebacker play was poor this year. Too many injuries. Please don’t wave the #5 defense stat- they were not a dominant force.
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Big assumption given the number of free agents, highly paid players, rehabbing (yeah, CG) aging LB (yeah LD), JPP perhaps calling it a day, green-behind-the-ears Joe Tryon (can’t get my arms around that third name); No tight ends (no Gronk’s no back without TB12)…..sorry Joe(s), we’re not buying what you and JL are selling….
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Its PR to keep fans interested
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:56 pm
The Bucs 2021 schedule was stuffed with offensive cupcakes. Aside from the Cowboys, Rams, Bills and maybe the Colts the rest of the schedule was offensively weak. 2022 will expose all the warts that is the Bucs defense. A lot of good players will be a year older and without a proven QB these defensive players ain’t ballin out.
Suh, David and JPP all over 30.
Packers, Chiefs, Rams, Bengals, Seahawks, Ravens, Cardinals & Cowboys.
49’ers, Browns & Steelers to boot.
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:57 pm
You gotta be kidding! The defense $ucks! No one to fear on the edge. Barrett got fat. JPP got old and broken. White regressed. The cornerbacks couldn’t cover the ground with a picnic blanket
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:05 pm
We have 26 in house free agents. 12 of which are starters.
We have less than $20 million to spend.
We are selecting #27 in the draft.
We don’t have a starting QB.
Our punter and kicker are below average.
Nothing to see here. Everything is awesome…
LOL!!!!!!
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:07 pm
The Bucs are NFC South favorites when Kyle Trask is the only QB on the roster?
Can’t say I agree with you on that one.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:09 pm
Postman, we will play the Packers likely without Rogers, The Seahawks possibly without Wilson, a neutered Saints team with no proven coach or quarterback, the Steelers without Ben,and our usual bevy of division teams, none of which scare me. Not as bad as it looks on paper. And as we all know, strength of schedule changes every single year and cannot be relied upon as a meaningful barometer of the schedule.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Packers, Chiefs, Rams, Bengals, Seahawks, Ravens, Cardinals & Cowboys.
49’ers, Browns & Steelers to boot.
——————————————————————————
2022: The Saints twice (train wreck); Panthers twice (still struggling); Falcons twice (maybe better); Packers (maybe without Rogers); Chiefs (started this year off reeling); Rams (yes tough); Bengals (yep); Seahawks (maybe without Wilson and he hasn’t been great lately); Ravens (inconsistent); Cardinals (dropped off last half of the season); Cowboys (iffy); 49ers (likely new young QB); Browns (you never know); and Steelers (no Big Ben…
Doesn’t look as tough of a schedule with all the expected changes…
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:19 pm
@”…Its PR to keep fans interested…”
————————————-
Absolutely correct.
They are fighting two dates that are far a part:
Feb 11, 2022 (season tickets dead-line)
Mar 16, 2022 (beginning of free agency)
They calling people like crazy every other day, to pay for the season passes. They feel the “dry season” is coming.
How can “Roster Is Stronger Than” 2019?? That roster convinced TB12 to come here, and bring his “draft”.
I don’t know what scale JL is using!!!!
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:20 pm
We have a chance to get a lot younger……
QB, C, Edge, DT, TE
Man, there sure is a lot of whining going on…….let’s see what Licht can do.
Glad the pessimism isn’t coming from the Joes.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:20 pm
team will be somewhere between 7-10 and 9-8 next year, IMO, barring something completely unforeseen (in a good way) at the QB position…
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:24 pm
@Tye,
The Saints have beaten the Bucs 4 out of the last 5 with Brady. I didn’t even include them.
Keep telling yourself that it doesn’t look as tough.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:24 pm
The FO will be seriously tested in “remodeling” this roster & staying competitive in the NFC.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:28 pm
We did not have Tryon out there brutalizing our opponents. We did not have Darden weaving through enemy defenses for TD’s. Nope we did not have Howard instead of Gronk either or Johnson instead of Godwin. Most of all Gabbert instead of Brady.
But despite all this we should be competitive in NFC South.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Rams have 20 UFA and no picks in draft until round 3 and under 200k incapspace. Quit crying buccaneers fans
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Bad news. We can’t trade OJ and Darden for any package of any kind of deal.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:37 pm
I don’t agree. The lack of cap space means there will be an exodus of free agents. My vote (not that it counts for anything) would be to keep some of the younger vets, and let the older vets walk. With about $40 million or so to spend, Licht might be able to keep Godwin, and Carlton Davis, as they are probably equal to the entire available cap space. That means JPP, Suh, Fournette, Jensen, Gronk, Gholston, Cappa, and Whitehead are gone. I guess either Cappa or Whitehead could be kept if Licht delays the pain with a restructuring or two.
And some guy named Brady is gone too.
That’s a lot of quality bodies to replace, and JTS hasn’t yet shown that he’s a starter. The one thing in the Buc’s favor is that the NFC South looks very weak next season.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Licht blowing smoke…
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:45 pm
26 million?? Are you accounting for all the contracts that we are no longer under..per example jjp 10+ mil suh 10+mil gronk 10+mil brady 10+mil Jensen 15+ mil the list goes on… I believe we have more money to play with then is being reported…that’s 55+mil if we move on from all player.. draft a center retain godwin who is already franchise tagged so count that 18mil forward … I’m not seeing the money issues everyone is seeing
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:46 pm
If we re-sign Godwin, Davis, and Whitehead, we’ll be done with free agency. We don’t have cap space for any other big contracts, especially a QB.
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:47 pm
I’m all in on the Kyle Trask train. Let’s see what he’s got! Put the Gators back into contention against sec opponents, sat a year watching TB12. You never kno
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:50 pm
Resign Godwin, Jensen and Gholston. Let everyone else walk and maybe if the cap is still there, trade for Marshon Lattimore?
February 2nd, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Two years ago a large percentage of the fans that frequented this site were bogged down in what had happened prior to the arrival of Bruce Arians. Most had little faith in Arians or Licht. When the rumors started about Tom Brady maybe coming to Tampa Bay most remained pessimistic. Even though I saw a franchise that had turned the corner already with regard to the needed culture change under BA I remained timid in my assessment. I saw a roster that could well be attractive to Tom. But, I did not have the brass to actually make a prediction of what was to come at that time. I did not have the courage of my own convictions.
I did see a Super Bowl win as real possibility after TB came out from behind door number two. However, I still thought that he would not lead us to the promised land until 2021/22. He surprised me and exceeded my highest expectations. He wasn’t called the GOAT for nothing.
Now I have faith that the Glazers Four truly intend to do everything in their power (behind the scenes) to keep this franchise in the top tier for the foreseeable future. I am optimistic now.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Jensen is far too expensive when you have Hainsey in house as his planned heir. Time to turn that page.
Davis must be resigned unless there’s a magical way to get a #1 CB for less money. Unlikely. We lose him, then we’ll really have a reason to complain about the pass D.
Whitehead is a run stopper and a hitter and our D takes another step back without him.
Gholston re-signing is uncontroversial as he wants to be in TB, he’s solid especially in run D, and should be inexpensive with discount.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:09 pm
If the quarterback is………..
Trashk? Bwaaaahahahahahaaaaa.
JimmyGQ? Bwaaaahahahahaaaaaa. 25 interceptions and a losing record.
Bridgewater? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………………..
Jameis? Aaaaahhhhh……………fan base wiuld revolt before the first OTA.
Look out — see the desert. Be the desert.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:19 pm
I’m September when the losing starts again, and the stands are half empty because everyone is off the bandwagon, and we get the typical Buccaneer sub-par QB play we are all used to…. The last two years will feel like a dream.
It’s back to reality.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:26 pm
I have very high hopes that Joe Tryon-Shoyinka will bulk up and replace JPP adequately. That is, he could achieive 10+ sack this season but he will not replace all of the other things JPP has contributed at the end of his career for us.
I have every expectation that Godwin will come back to us.
I am looking for us to draft at least one WR and also bring in a free agent such as JuJu Smith-Shuster as our #3.
As far as I can determine we can do this and more under our current cap restraints.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:27 pm
Hue Jackson accuses Cleveland Browns of paying him to tank during 2016, ’17 seasons
And Boom goes the dynamite!
They say they have proof of it as well.
Burn it all to the f ing ground.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
wrong thread…my apologies
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:30 pm
It gets worse than that for Stephen Ross: the NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe says he has a source who witnesses the $100,000 bonus per loss that was to be paid to Brian Flores.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:35 pm
There’s a lot to like with Tampa but all these guys got their ring…..now its about business and guaranteed deals. Teams will throw big money at Fournette, he’s a proven product that has played on championship team with Tom Brady. Same for Godwin…Davis….JPP….Jensen…Whitehead. You can only tag ONE of them. If you try to keep everyone, then what QB is going to fit under our cap? I think Suh is likely done. JPP might want to stay close to home and go yr to yr. Jensen is nearing the end, smart move is to take biggest guaranteed money.
Brady was the glue holding it all together. These guys were chasing a ring and now that box is checked.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:36 pm
It’s amazing they only gave up the 5th fewest points, with all the injuries to the secondary and JPP being hurt all season. Whoever the QB is, he has to take of the ball. I’d like to see us have at least 2 legit RB’s to help out the QB. And, like every season, it would be nice to have a game changer returning kicks for us. We need the next Karl “The Truth” Williams.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Bet they don’t sign Andrew Adams after the player friendly coach slapped him on the head.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Need to bring back Carlton, Jordan and Will for sure and Suh if he will play for a bargain if we are banking on our defense still being upper tier.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:50 pm
Colonel, could you tell the difference when the starting secondary was on the field versus the back-ups? I couldn’t.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:51 pm
allbuccedup Says:
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:44 pm
Not a huge loss. Plenty of others want to play for Arians. Honestly though, I doubt Adams looks at it as a reason not to come back. It’s not like Arians clocked him or anything. It was just an attempt to get his attention. BFD.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:53 pm
Alaska, why would Suh come back on a team friendly deal? He was the most consistent D lineman all season. After what Vea just got for a contract, wishful thinking.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:56 pm
sasquatch, maybe so but ya think he may of been a little embarrassed since it was on NATIONAL tv?
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:59 pm
“The Bucs are NFC South favorites when Kyle Trask is the only QB on the roster?”
Ask yourself this, who in the NFC south has the best roster of players under contract. What QB in the NFC south scares you? NFC south is soft.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:01 pm
All wrong because the D line stinks now. Old and washed up
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:03 pm
Passing thru…I read Flores pleadings on The Hedge. It is ugly. Maybe they pay him go away money to avoid the publicity. Tanking for higher draft picks? Why bother? I do not buy it.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:04 pm
It would be kind of SHOCKING to a lot of people, but I’d probably just stick with Gabbert and Trask and also draft another QB in rounds 1-3.
Why?
Here are my 3 reasons why, breaking down which each QB would give us:
1) a veteran in Gabbert who can start and be average if Trask really isn’t ready – we spend all of the other money and draft picks on assembling a team around him to be a wild card team or weak division winner.
2) A young QB who we drafted highly, played in the toughest college football conference for 4 years, and just got mentored by the greatest QB of all time
3) A new young talent to develop because if the #1 above happens, Trask ain’t it if he can’t beat Gabbert after having a ton of experience in college/SEC AND sitting behind Brady for a full year without taking a snap.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:27 pm
Lots of free agents signed team friendly deals to stay while Tom was here. Don’t be seeing that now if they don’t have a proven winner at qb like that
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:28 pm
Ben knows Joe has to keep a site going here, but the bucs won’t be able to retain many free agents. It’s probably for the best anyway. The horrid ownership is just fine with the one ring, and happy to keep cashing revenue sharing checks. whomever plays QB for the bucs next season is kinda a moot point. With the current coaching staff, they’ll be lucky to get above 500
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:40 pm
Jordan that actually makes sense.. I’ve always been of the opinion you draft a qb every other year until you find your guy unless a free agent falls into your lap. I’d you don’t have a qb not a whole lot else matters so worst case if you end up with two studs you trade one for a kings ransom. I’m not saying a first round pick eevry year, could be a mid rounder some of those
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Let all free agents walk, the Bucs will need all the compensatory picks they can get for the rebuild.
And trade anyone, except for Wirfs, on the O-line for picks. The O-line will be exposed for the average, and overpaid players that they are.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:52 pm
Uh, no, that’s literally not true.
I appreciate the spin though.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:59 pm
I am hopeful but maaannn I think they are talking some sh**. We are probably gonna be bad😔 I hope like H E double hockey sticks I eat my words but without Brady I just dont see it
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:16 pm
Our defense blows
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:49 pm
The team the licht built!!! Joe it’s worth a story outside Brady and his guys how has j licht built the squad.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:02 pm
why isn’t trask going to be ready? he was a good player at florida with accuracy and a year to learn from brady.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:24 pm
There’s some real phouecking idiots here talking about blowing the whole thing up… Jeezus Kreiste, get a grip. Licht has had this thing headed in the right direction and just had to get the right coach and QB. If we blow the whole thing up, we start from scratch and become a joke organization again.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:41 pm
I’m not understanding this one, Joe. We just spent a whole season chronicling problems across the roster, problems with focus and lack of discipline, and IMmaturity, particularly in the secondary. Your analysis week to week was spot on. All of a sudden, you’re happy about everything?
This was not a team showing greater maturity. There was regression, exemplified by the debacle at the end of the last game. We are also looking at losing major talent this offseason.
We don’t know at this early stage what it will look like come fall. Licht has a toughest offseason coming at him, huge decisions that make or break this team.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:41 pm
Oh Jason…trust us…we’re both sad and in denial too. Brady has made so many football people so much money over years by association alone. Licht has been a Glazer guy for many years, however…even before Operation Shoeless Joe Jackson when his record mirrored that of Dirtstar Dominik. This may be the beginning of the end I’m afraid. What a surprising if not shocking 2 year run of glory it was. Not even Brady could stop the Bucs being Bucs at the end of the Rams debacle. Bucs being Bucs…but I just can’t quit them no matter how hard I try.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:49 pm
@TBBF
“Man, there sure is a lot of whining going on…….let’s see what Licht can do.
Glad the pessimism isn’t coming from the Joes.”
AMEN!
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:26 pm
I have a feeling. If licht rocks the offseason and does miracles resigning / drafting and FA …
brady will come back. Specially him knowing he still has it.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:02 pm
“Brady’s contract carries $32M of dead cap for 2022, all of which would hit the Buccaneers cap table if the retirement is processed before June 1st”
Otherwise, if you restructure and play some games, you can get the cap hit down to $8m this season, but $24m next season.
Unless you can get a big name QB via trade, then just take the cap hit this year, let Trask start and get the #1 pick for 2023, and you’ll have a nice, fairly clean, cap. You still have void years to deal with, and I’m still not totally sure how those work, but it was always the deal when you signed Brady, that you’re making a short term deal that you’ll have to pay for in the future. I was OK with that then, I’m OK with it now.
Conversely, if you can get a top QB, then act as if Brady was staying, use all the cap wizardry you can think of, and give it another go. The team isn’t in cap hell, in that they can’t push it back a year or two, but they will, at some point, have to pay. The one thing that works in the Bucs favor is the cap should rise quite a bit in 2023, so if you do push things back, it might not seem as dire as it seems now.
But all of this is dependant on who you get at QB, and there’s only one non-NFC QB that you’d give up a ton to get, that’s Watson. The other one I’d go after, if you can’t get the big names, is Winston. Losers like Teddy Bridgewater, give me a break, LOL!
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:21 pm
Fake chest puff…licht thinks he won a SB…lololol
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:33 pm
Brady and Gronk saved his ass
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:39 pm
I guess Jason has to say that. Reality — JPP is done. LVD is two years older. DW is who many thought he was — a flasher who goes on long protracted droughts, prone to freelancing. Suh is two years older although hasn’t lost a beat — but the secondary has regressed under Todd’s Bowels and his great timely Cover Zero Receivers playcalling. The OL could be two-thirds gone.
But thanks to Todd — the GOAT has left the building. No GOAT, no winning season. Watch.
Actually don’t watch. It will be like 2013 all over again.
Thanks Todd.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:49 pm
To the writer, thank you for being a voice of reason among a sea of crying, whining complainers. One would not believe this TEAM and these COACHES won a Super Bowl and this GM then re-signed all his free agents and came damn close to returning to another Super Bowl. While only one team can win it all every year, they won more than ever have and have much to be proud of. Losing their generational superstar QB hurts, but he would have been a 45 year old man who has achieved all he set out to do. He didn’t win all he did by himself, they were a big part of the success he enjoyed here and they can still be successful. Personally I will be happy to see the Patriot fans who were more loyal to Brady go back to being Patriot fans and take their whining with them.
February 3rd, 2022 at 1:20 am
The old line will stay nearly intact, I suspect they will re-sign Jensen. I am convinced Godwin will resign.
On defense mainly worried about JPP and SUH. The way they fell off really hurt the past rush from the front four. That will have to be addressed.
LVD and White are great together and I expect a major leap forward from White.
The gravediggers are waaaaay Better than most fans here give them credit for. Whitehead and Winfield are on the verge of becoming the best safety duo in the NFL. Davis is a top 7 cornerback and they must resign him. Dean and even Delaney have outstanding speed. Dean is really good. SMB could take a step up. But, doing what they did last year with all the injuries was pretty remarkable. And don’t forget Edwards, fantastic option to throw in.
It is all about what they were able to do it quarterback.
February 3rd, 2022 at 2:26 am
we will be Lucky to win 8 games……..
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:22 am
…8 games in 2 years….
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:44 am
For some reason Plan 9 reminds me of Josh Freeman.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:47 am
David, like your analysis. Need to add some Beef on the Bucs.
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:49 am
The D line has depth, and talent? JPP is shot, and a FA that shouldn’t be signed at any price. Gholston, FA, not exactly a pro bowler. Suh, another aging FA. That leaves Shaq, Joe, and Vea about all we got. So where’s the depth Joe? We couldn’t pressure anyone with just rushing our front four, so where’s the talent? Bucs need to rebuild the D line, and pass rush more than they need to trade for Carr. Glad Joe isn’t calling the shots at One buc place.
February 3rd, 2022 at 9:01 am
PATRIOTS FAN HERE…… LOL, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT (TB12). ….
MUCH LUCK BUC’S!!!!! MAC ATTACK MJ10!
February 3rd, 2022 at 1:19 pm
@ anon – buwahahahahahahaha. No Brady no SB. GTHO