Jason Licht Can Correct A Draft Mistake
March 14th, 2022
By Sean Sullivan – JoeBucsFan.com draft guru
In the 2017 NFL Draft, our Buccaneers selected tight end O.J. Howard out of the University of Alabama. I believe in my heart that Jason Licht was doing his best as GM to make his head coach happy.
We all know Dirk Koetter hates rookie running backs (ask Devonta Freeman). This selection caused the Buccaneers to miss on Dalvin Cook out of Florida State, who has become a top 5 superstar running back for the Minnesota Vikings.
Imagine a Tom Brady, Cook, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Gronk, etc.…or would Jameis (5,000 yards) Winston still be here will a pro bowl running back?
This could be a unique opportunity to correct that mistake by selecting Dalvin’s brother James out of the University of Georgia. He’s got light tread on the tires with 113 carries for 728 yards (6.4 yards per carry with 7 touchdowns) and great hands. James is more explosive than his brother and at 6-0, 190 pounds, he ran a faster 40 at 4.42 seconds.
The Buccaneers had a formal interview with Cook, and he might drop into Round 3, and he could right a lot of wrong.
Sean Sullivan — Best in Class.
Ask Sean for the JoeBucsFan discount at Bill Currie Ford, Tampa’s Family Of Ford and home to the nationwide lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles. Sean’s the big boss there and wants to help you personally.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:38 am
A Pro Bowl Player means nothing these days.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:39 am
I remember Licht referred to Howard as a safe draft pick at the time because he was all around a good person and player. Didn’t pan out they way they hoped. Howard has all the tools to be great but I think the mental aspect of his game is lacking. Also, opportunities have come few and far between since Gronk arrived.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:39 am
There is a trend in the NFL. Good bloodlines, especially brothers due well following their siblings.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:41 am
You would think that Joe would be more angry at the bucs passing on TJ Watt then a running back. But I literally have to hear about Dalvin Cook for years and years from bucs fans. Yeah we missed on a running back, I’d rather miss on a running back then more important positions.
Running backs are so expendable in the modern league it’s not worth it to risk high draft picks on them anymore.
I mean heck Joe, if Jameis was still here that means we never win a super bowl. So that is a good thing.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:44 am
tampabuscsbro:
Perhaps you missed the many references in this story to the author’s name. Why do you hate Joe so much?
March 14th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Breece Hall looking good at the combine.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Cook wouldve been a bust here under Koetter
In his first 2 seasons he missed 21 games. After 2 years the Bucs fans wouldve been crying he’s a bust
He’s yet to play a full season and is usually nicked up constantly.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Missed it due to speedreading admin. My bad.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:47 am
This post and the comments crying about Cook prove we have the dumbest fanbase in the league
March 14th, 2022 at 11:54 am
Sean, I know you have been a fan of Dalvin Cook and for good reason. A FSU friend of mine never thought his younger brother was as good even when he was considering FSU for college instead of Georgia.
My question is are you a big Georgia fan as well?
I remember you liking Andrew Thomas more than Tristen Wirfs a couple of years ago. That same year you were actually pushing the Bucs to wait on right tackle and go for Isiah Wilson (the Georgia right tackle) that has already busted out on the league.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:58 am
@ Its a Bucs Life
Amen. Two years of winning only made them dumber too.
March 14th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Damien Pierce!!!! Watch his highlights. He squats 700lbs! He cuts hard, blocks harder, sometimes it takes 5 or 6 guys to bring him down in the open field. His 40 time is deceiving as he runs as fast in pads as in underwear. He can catch like a WR, even lines up wide sometimes. Could be had in the 4th thanks to his 4.59 40 time at the Combine. Sometimes RB isn’t all about speed it is the ‘package’
March 14th, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Drafting OJ was not a mistake. OJ checked all the boxes:
-Great college career.
-Best games in the biggest games.
-Athletic freak of nature.
-Good teammate.
As a GM, you can only make decisions on the information you have.
March 14th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
James Cook is more gadget player that will work in a motion heavy offense that asks him to be more ATH/Slot WR than RB.
There’s a role for that in Tampa, but not sure he has the pass-pro chops to meet BA’s expectations. (If you can’t protect TB12…You aren’t seeing the field!)
March 14th, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Licht is still satisfying the coach…. thank God we have Arians now. The two are perfect together.
Go Bucs!!!!
March 14th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
The consensus at the time was OJ Howard was going to be a special player. I didn’t like the pick at the time because we had Brate quietly coming off a great year. Brate has been underrated for years. But yeah OJ Howard was a mistake. OJ Howard over rated. The mistake was not trading him when he came off that injury.
March 14th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
The OJ problem is fixed, as he’s gone. Too much money for a backup.
The Bucs need to draft a RB, and 3rd round is a good spot. If Cook can catch and block, and is still there when Bucs pick, I guess he’s as good a choice as any.
March 14th, 2022 at 11:41 pm
I’ll never dislike drafting a potentially good running back or pass rusher.