Jason Licht Not Secretive About Approach With Ryan Jensen
March 1st, 2022
Jason Licht spoke Tuesday.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is an offensive line kind of guy. He played offensive line at Nebraska when the Cornhuskers were a feared powerhouse.
And Licht has taken that background to build the best offensive line in the NFL. Well, it was the best before Sunday.
Licht has tons of tough decisions in the coming weeks. So many key free agents and only so much Team Glazer loot to spread around (per NFL salary cap rules, of course). Then there is the little matter of finding a quarterback.
One of those free agents is the rare guy who a team buys and actually improves! Bucs center Ryan Jensen was the highest-paid center when Tampa Bay signed him in 2018. He started off slow and last year made his first Pro Bowl, a year after the Bucs won the Super Bowl.
Asked today about Jensen at the NFL combine in downtown Indianapolis, Licht was clear what his battle plans are.
“For me, it is a definite priority,” Licht said.
So there you have it. Now Joe isn’t sure if Licht adjusted his Jensen “priority” before Ali Marpet retired or if Licht planned to lasso Jensen back to the Bucs all along.
As far as the other free agents on the Bucs’ offensive line, guards Alex Cappa and Aaron Stinnie, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians quipped he hoped with the money saved from Marpet’s retirement that will be enough to afford Jensen, Cappa and Stinnie.
March 1st, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Or draft an O-lineman in the first round this draft if he can only get two of them back.
March 1st, 2022 at 4:33 pm
Jensen is still replaceable with Hainsey……but it’s always good to have backups….
I do think Marpet’s retirement makes Jensen more of a priority.
March 1st, 2022 at 4:57 pm
Let’s see, with an OLine of Smith, Stinnie, Jensen, Cappa & Wirfs, all playing in front of a new QB, your OLine leader is … Jensen.
With an OLine of Smith, Stinnie, Hainsey, Cappa & Wirfs, all playing in front of a new QB, your OLine leader is … ?????.
Re-sign Jensen.
March 1st, 2022 at 5:45 pm
SKbucs. Wirfs was the exception. It usually takes a couple years for them to shine. Yes, it happens but not that often. JMO. 😁
March 1st, 2022 at 6:51 pm
If the Bucs can’t afford Jensen and Cappa both Michael Scholfield is a cheaper option and just as good as Cappa and cheaper.
March 1st, 2022 at 6:53 pm
All depends on the QB. If you’re starting Trask or Gabbert, no need to waste money on a center when the team is going to stink either way, just let Jensen walk and get that comp pick and clean up the cap so we can have a big 2023.
March 1st, 2022 at 7:08 pm
I think Jensen became more of a priority after Marpet retired. The best way to shore up the interior is with a good center. They should be able to keep Jensen and Cappa or Stinnie
March 1st, 2022 at 7:14 pm
I would love to draft a 1st rd O-Line prospect, but the Bucs have too many other higher priorities. Need to re-sign Jensen, Cappa and Stinnie. That would make the draft easier and allow for an O-Line pick in the 4th round.
Going out on the edge a little bit here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs lose too many FA starters, if the Bucs trade its first rd pick to another team with multiple 2nd round picks — especially if there isn’t a player they absolutely want. Jets, Falcons or Broncos potential candidates. How many is too many? I think it’s about who leaves, not a specific number. I think the key players to watch are Gronk, OLine x 3, Suh or Gholston, Davis III, Fournette and most importantly Godwin. I believe the magic number is 5. We need to re-sign 5 of the above at least.
March 2nd, 2022 at 2:30 am
According to Adam Jones he has a source inside the Bengals telling him Ryan Jensen is committing to them as soon as he is able to sign
March 2nd, 2022 at 7:18 am
DR, well said 👍
March 2nd, 2022 at 3:17 pm
OL has clearly become a priority… but I would be really surprised if Jason Licht went OL early
March 3rd, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Marpet retiring frees up a bunch of cap room.
March 3rd, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Anonymous Says
“According to Adam Jones he has a source inside the Bengals telling him Ryan Jensen is committing to them as soon as he is able to sign”
We are in the time of lies. Teams lie. Coaches lie. GMs lie. And even players and reporters lie.
Believe nothing until you see it.