Acing The Offseason
March 17th, 2022
In the mind of one guy who types about the NFL for a living, the Bucs have been acing this offseason exam.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports has been going down the list of all 32 teams and slapping a grade on how they’ve been doing this past week. He says the Bucs have been schooling the rest of the NFL on how this free agency week works.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A
WR Chris Godwin (franchise tag)
Falcons WR Russell Gage (3 years, $30 million)
Patriots OG Shaq Mason (via trade)
C Ryan Jensen (3 years, $39 million)
CB Carlton Davis (3 years, $45 million)
Somehow, they didn’t just get Tom Brady back from retirement, but also found a way to keep the anchor of his line and their top young cover man. Gage, meanwhile, is a sneaky good addition as a new No. 3 wideout who should draw all kinds of targets.
Lest we forget, the biggest move was coaxing Tom Brady out of retirement. That started the domino effect. All of a sudden, dudes wanted to stay.
That includes Chris Godwin signing a three-year deal late last night after Benjamin published this article.
Yeah, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has been knocking them out of the park this week. And still more impact signings could be coming. Playoff Lenny? Honey Badger? Will Gholston? A surprise trade like that of Shaq Mason?
It sure doesn’t have the feel that the Bucs are done yet.</p
March 17th, 2022 at 9:03 am
The Bucs are back babbyyy!!!
March 17th, 2022 at 9:05 am
Gronka is foregone
We need some D!!
March 17th, 2022 at 9:05 am
I’m worried about this d-line. Are they waiting for everyone to sign some of these guys? Get some veterans upfront.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:07 am
Not bad at all. Remember when the Bucs were done? 🙄
March 17th, 2022 at 9:07 am
Certainly on board with all the moves…and it’s another year of going all-in for the Championship……we are not used to that.
Going all-in does come with a future price, of course……for example, we have 3 players SMB, Dean & Edwards….the corps of our secondary, all up for FA….they are in their 4th year….It would be advantageous to be able to give them raises this year and sign them to longer-term contracts at a less expensive price.
We didn’t do that for Godwin and it cost us….we lost Whitehead, perhaps for the same reason.
But, that’s next year.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:07 am
We need D line
March 17th, 2022 at 9:08 am
Evans just restructured, so hopefully Gronk and Lenny can get signed today. Then Jason can start signing the rest of the FA’s.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:09 am
I Think we need to draft a CB, DL RB my top 3 choices for April.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:10 am
In Bowles I trust. He has a solid defensive scheme.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:11 am
DT – first draft pick.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:19 am
That WR room is just loaded – good talent is going to end up on the street unless they carry like 8 receivers – maybe move Tyler to a WR needy team with picks- like the Jags
March 17th, 2022 at 9:21 am
I still hope they draft a wideout in the draft but we shall see. This team needs young talent upfront on the DL but they need to sign a veteran or two. I want JPP back. He will be healthy.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:22 am
I’d love to snag Calais Campbell. That would be an enormously impactful signing
March 17th, 2022 at 9:22 am
Depending on the rest of FA & our signings….I agree that DT could be our first pick…..followed by CB, RB, TE in no particular order…..
Throw in a punter & kicker later because i think ours are toast.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:23 am
geno711 unfortunately his blitz caused us the game instead of sitting back and playing it right.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:24 am
How many times have we restructured Evans?……what, will he make $50 mil in 2025?
March 17th, 2022 at 9:24 am
Kalind he’s much older than JPP. JPP is 33 and won’t be 34 until next January. I rather have him back healthy. He had a good 2020 when he was healthy. Last year played with that torn rotator cuff.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:25 am
They are laughing because Brady is doing all the leg work. Lichts assistants are just doing the paperwork. BA can just ride around in his golf cart with Tom doing the coaching and Licht just asks Brady what do I do next.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:25 am
Jordan Davis from UGA, gettum
March 17th, 2022 at 9:25 am
CB or Safety would be my choice for first draft pick.
Assuming that we could first sign Hicks,Hill or Jones if they are still available?
March 17th, 2022 at 9:25 am
Tampabaybucfan the guy’s a team player! Leave evans alone. We need to draft well here.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:26 am
Extend Brady’s Contract while you’re Hot!
2 more Years at $125million ($50Millioin average)
Win Now Pay Later
Brady has at least got two more years in him.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:27 am
Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush. Bucs have zero pass rush. Only Shaq. Have to address this. Chandler Jones! Chandler Jones!
March 17th, 2022 at 9:28 am
Jeff Chandler Jones signed with the raiders. An overpay as well. The guy’s terrible against the run.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:28 am
To finish the Offensive side, we need Gronk.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:28 am
I would love to get Akiem Hicks on the cheap as a replacement for Suh.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:29 am
@Guzman
Not agreeing with every play call of any coach. I agree with you on his blitz call at the end of the Rams game as bad.
By the way Jeff, Chandler Jones signed with Raiders.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:30 am
We’ve known for some time now that we were going to have to replace Suh, JPP, and others AND get younger in the process.
It will be no easy task to replace the production and leadership of Suh, but at some point we HAVE to.
Gholston’s emergence these last three years (um, hello coaching!) has proven him to be more valuable than was thought previously.
Tough decisions lie ahead. So far, they’ve been doing well.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:30 am
Just think if we had to go into season with gabbert/ trask. Or bridgewater?
Lets be honest it would have been a disaster
Blaine gabbert has received one call so far in free agency. It was a wrong number from somebody who thought he was ordering pizza
And no question half these guys would have moved on without a brady return
But licht is stepping up in a huge way. To get a solid guard / above average starter for a fifth round pick was amazing. We paid a ton for wr#3 GAge. But he can be AB 2.0 without the headache. Dude knows he will get third db and no safety over the top and opportunity to catch from the GOAT
Cant wait to see who is next up for bucs after they sign Gronkalage
March 17th, 2022 at 9:30 am
@Guzman.
I am a JPP fan as well.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:32 am
Jordan Davis is a top 10 pick, no way we sniff him. And frankly if we picked in that area we would probably choose an edge guy. Davis is basically a clone of Vita Vea but with even less pass rush potential. Great run stopper and could probably develop some pass rush technique but pretty raw in that area. Huge body, great athlete.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:33 am
@geno711 i would bring him back for one more year. You can’t go with rookies upfront with vea. You need a veteran or two at least
March 17th, 2022 at 9:33 am
Chargers may have best free agency to date
But we are Up in top 5
March 17th, 2022 at 9:35 am
Zachary Carter from florida is a guy i like. I hope we draft him.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:35 am
Trade a backend wr–johnson or darden to get some backend draft picks.
Package those backend picks to get back into at least the 3rd.
Draft 3 players–best chance to get someone who can actually impact this year & next. Its a deep draft, so grab a few guys who can help.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:37 am
Yea a rotator cuff on a football player that has to do any sort of extension is probably the worst injury other than an ACL. The fact that JPP tried to work through that at all is just an amazing testament to him as a professional.
I expect JPP to be closer to the JPP of 2019 and 2020 than last year. He is a once in a generation freak athlete.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:45 am
If the saints somehow get watson we will need to learn how to beat that team. Sick of losing to them. They’re proving this cap stuff is a myth. How on earth are you over 70 million in cap space and can afford to trade for a guy like watson? That’s just baffling.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:49 am
Trying to remember how many idjits on here wanted JL and BA fired
March 17th, 2022 at 9:53 am
As I keep saying, over & over build the D LINE. O line almost set now with addition of Mason. Games are won in the trenches. Just Saying!
March 17th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Francisco they are under the cap with restructures
March 17th, 2022 at 9:57 am
@ Francisco. They Saints are doing the same thing Licht is. Deferring income to future years. It helps keep you inder in the immediate term, but you basically need to reside yourself to the fact that you will be cutting/ trading players in a year or two to get under the cap. Even that doesn’t make all the problem go away. Guaranteed money has to be paid regardless if the player is on the team.
I have a feeling that some owners will want this loophole closed at the next owners’ meeting.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:58 am
Brady met with the Glazers, and it was reported that he brought up some problems he was having with Arians!
Evidently these problems got worked out, because he is back!
Certainly Gronk will resign with us, and the offense looks even better than last year!
Now, we have to work on the defense!
March 17th, 2022 at 9:58 am
Let the man do his work, he built a playoff team then Brady came along and made it a championship team. This front office knows what they are doing.
March 17th, 2022 at 9:58 am
SC Bucs Fan they where 70 million over though. Now they have close to 30 million? I mean come on now. It couldn’t have been restructures. Have to be extensions. We keep hearing how this team is in cap hell. Idk i find it nauseating.
March 17th, 2022 at 10:00 am
I would just like to hear from Jason Licht on why he didn’t make ANY offer to Whitehead. It doesn’t make sense. That contract he signed with the Jets is cheap.
Why Jason?
March 17th, 2022 at 10:00 am
2022 GM of the year award goes to: Jason Licht
March 17th, 2022 at 10:00 am
SKBucsFan no way it’s similar to us. We where not 70 million over the cap though. They where in cap hell last year as well. Don’t know how they keep pulling this off but it’s irritating. It makes you wonder how many loop holes you can find in it.
March 17th, 2022 at 10:03 am
Ya no doubt. I would have bet against them.finding a way without releasing a few big names. However they are the Slimy Saints. They are known for their dirty play.
March 17th, 2022 at 10:05 am
Looking at some much needed DT depth? Gholston is a no brainer and will happen. Will we look to the draft for RB’s and DT, off ball LB, CB, SS? Letting the market settle on Mathieu?
March 17th, 2022 at 10:07 am
JPP would be a nice add and I think he’d be fairly cheap. There is a risk that his body is beginning to break down at age 33, and that might scare off other suitors.
March 17th, 2022 at 10:11 am
we need consistant pressure on the QB …. PASS RUSH makes everyone look great
March 17th, 2022 at 10:17 am
Bless his heart but JPP simply does not have 20 games in him .. tough call
March 17th, 2022 at 10:19 am
I think the offense will only get better from here.
March 17th, 2022 at 10:27 am
Safe to say Jason has more then made up the kicker draft debacle that haunted him
March 17th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush. PLEASE! Can’t win in the playoffs without one!
March 17th, 2022 at 10:52 am
This gas price forced TB12 to unretire!
March 17th, 2022 at 10:54 am
OJ Howard gone…..Finally!!!
March 17th, 2022 at 10:57 am
So far, so good, but there are still gaping holes across the D front-7, TE and RB.
I suspect a D-heavy draft.
March 17th, 2022 at 11:02 am
Getting the Badger would be really cool but he still might be too high in the market, he may need to agree to a big discount. But it would be cool to see he and TB12 discuss their SBLV dustup over some laughs.
Interesting that RBs have taken a nosedive in value. So, signing Playoff Lenny to a long term cap friendly deal seems possible.
Would love to get Suh and JPP back on one year TB12-discounted deals.
March 17th, 2022 at 11:05 am
When the salary cap finally takes the Bucs down Brady, Bruce, Licht, and the coaches will all just move to another team with tons of cap space and start again. What a beautiful plan.
March 17th, 2022 at 11:08 am
Tom is doing the scouting and recruiting. Greenberg is making the money moves. Lichthouse is once again, enjoying the ride.
Let’s hope BA tightens up this gigantic staff. Tom wasn’t happy last year, for good reason.
March 17th, 2022 at 11:14 am
This definitely went from a dreaded offseason to a great one in just matter hours. What a great week!
March 17th, 2022 at 11:20 am
We are living in “unprecedented times” here in Tompa! Haven’t felt this giddy since….last year!
March 17th, 2022 at 11:29 am
Clodhopper … ‘This definitely went from a dreaded offseason to a great one in just matter hours.’
Let there be no doubt though; it’s all because of Tom Brady unretiring. That’s INFLUENCE on a grand scale.
March 17th, 2022 at 11:46 am
Julio Jones
March 17th, 2022 at 11:50 am
DR
That fact is not lost on me lol
March 17th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Title should read: “Acing the OffseasonS” (plural)
This is Licht’s 3rd year of crushing the offseason. Les Snead and Jason Licht are the two best GMs in the NFL.
March 17th, 2022 at 11:54 am
And if Logan Hall is there at 27, theres your D line pick!
RB Brian Robinson with our 2nd
Cb Alontae Taylor with our 3rd
P Matt Araiza with our 4th
March 17th, 2022 at 11:54 am
It’s all about the Dline now
March 17th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
Memo to Jason Licht:
Draft multiple defensive linemen
March 17th, 2022 at 10:48 pm
MadMax: You know more about the draft than I do, but when I look on different draft sites, they have Robinson rated as a 3rd day guy, from 138th to 205th best prospect, I think it was.
March 18th, 2022 at 1:08 am
@Joe, yeah, we’re picking at the end of the 2nd. Here’s the deal….he’s bigger and would complement Vaughn….and he didnt play much in college, his last year was his most mileage. And I dont trust draft sites much, good for a little guidance only. He needs some coaching and better hands for catching but that bull rush punching through guys is what we need. Who do we have for that unless Lenny comes back? (on maybe a 1 year deal)
March 18th, 2022 at 5:39 am
Okay MadMax, thank you. My thought is the 4th would be the “sweet spot” for a RB, with the Bucs resigning Fournette or signing a vet (I’d love for C. Patterson to sign with the Bucs). I’d like the Bucs to go defense with their higher picks (DT & CB?) including an ILB in the first 3 rounds (David’s eventual replacement). We’ll see.
March 18th, 2022 at 7:10 am
They are not addressing the defense which is very concerning last year opposing qbs was able to make a sandwich and check their Twitter before throwing the ball against us. Don’t know what the game plan is here but shaq did not live up to his contract and Tryon and Nelson are rotational pass rushers at best, Devin white was not good last yr, I’m afraid opposing qbs is going to have a field day again
March 18th, 2022 at 10:22 am
It’s amazing how one player changes the whole outlook of the team. The QB position is truly the most important position on any team. Glad we have The Goat in Tom Brady. GOBUCS!