Playing The Game Of “What-Ifs”
April 20th, 2022
Bucs GM Jason Licht
Joe wouldn’t mind seeing the Bucs trade up for an impact guy since it is Super Bowl-or-bust this fall.
Yesterday, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht wasn’t going to tip his hand regarding trades a week from tomorrow night. In his annual pre-draft presser, Licht was asked about the background work that goes into setting parameters for draft trades.
Licht said that begins next week and he very likely won’t know if he wants to trade up until the draft has already begun.
“That process usually doesn’t start until the week of [the draft], usually even a couple days before,” Licht said. “You put some feelers out here and there if you run into your colleagues at the Owners’ Meetings, or what have you, that you’d be interested.
“But right now, sitting at 27, you don’t know what players are going to come down yet. You don’t know if you’re going to be in a position that you’re going to want to move up or really move back yet. So you start having those conversations next week, usually playing the game of the what-ifs.”
Let’s say Licht has his eye on a cornerback (coughAndrewBoothcough). Based on months of evaluation and gathering intel, Licht might have a range where he must move up to in order to land Booth.
However, if there is a run on receivers and quarterbacks and edge rushers, that would naturally push the corner down the totem pole. So of course Licht would have to adjust his trade considerations. Some teams may ask for more than others.
It’s a giant cat-and-mouse game, and the suspense and the drama of the NFL draft make it such a popular and fun event.
April 20th, 2022 at 5:50 am
No reason to trade up because we don’t have the picks. Only trade up if you are trading players – Godwin, Miller or Johnson are options.
April 20th, 2022 at 5:57 am
With the crazy rising salaries of WRs, I expect WRs eventually become like RBs instead of QBs. Teams will keep and pay 1 or 2 WRs and continually draft and cycle through WRs every few years because you can’t spend 10% of your team salary cap on each WR.
Also, some type of limitation related to QB salaries and the salary cap will be put in place in the next 2-3 years.
April 20th, 2022 at 6:45 am
How accurate are our annual predictions of which team is gonna draft WHO? The first half dozen seem fairly obvious, difficult after that
April 20th, 2022 at 6:50 am
Bucs Guy … ‘some type of limitation related to QB salaries and the salary cap will be put in place in the next 2-3 years.’
I for one hope you’re right. Right now there’s a MAJOR DISCONNECT between QB salaries & the salary CAP. The 2022 CAP, before any adjustments, was $208.2 mil. We have certain QBs like Aaron Rodgers making $150 mil on a 3-year contract; an average of $50 mil a year. That’s very close to 25% of the Packers 2022 salary CAP, although they (like the Bucs) pushed much of that into future years (his CAP hit this year is ONLY $28.5 mil as opposed to $50 mil).
Guess what … Packers are stuck with Aaron Rodgers AND his inflated salary (Pack better hope that Rodgers stays healthy). Even after the 3 years, his Dead CAP will eat them alive. But before Bucs’ fans chuckle at them, they should recognize that NEXT year Tom Brady will count $24 mil against OUR salary CAP … and he’s not even under contract.
April 20th, 2022 at 6:51 am
Godwin is NOT a trade option
April 20th, 2022 at 6:56 am
No reason to trade up there are no real impact players in this draft just media build up. None of the QBs in this draft are worthy of a first or second round pick. One of the media hyped edge rushers first rounder could be picked up in the fourth. The defensive tackle position is the only one that lacks depth. So you better get one in the first two rounds.
April 20th, 2022 at 7:06 am
Godwin and 20 million are gone with the wind this year.
April 20th, 2022 at 7:18 am
Jerimiah Hall from Oklahoma would be a good pic at FB. I would like to see some plays with a 2 back setup.
April 20th, 2022 at 7:26 am
Package our two 7th rd picks and get back into day 2. Keep the phone line clear just in case a trade partner at the top of the 2nd rd may want to move back up into the 1st or any other round we select in.
April 20th, 2022 at 7:43 am
Seattle may want to trade back in the late first round if Matt Corral is still available or the Bears I don’t think they have a first rounder they may want to get a top receiver.
April 20th, 2022 at 7:48 am
With our cap issues, we need to preserve our picks…..so moving up should be off the table……dropping into the 2nd and picking up picks makes more sense……trading next year picks would punish us down the line…..
Stay pat…..draft smart…..no weird choices…..no projects….proven commodities.
April 20th, 2022 at 8:06 am
They didn’t spend all that time getting Godwin under contract ahead of the FA window to trade him. He’s too valuable to the team, even if he may miss the first part of the season.
April 20th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Trade down, get more picks in rounds 2-5. Licht should keep trading down (if there are trade partners) to somewhere around pick 40.
April 20th, 2022 at 8:17 am
Godwin is a steal compared to what other top WRs are getting paid, not even counting AJ DK McLaurin n Deebo coming up soon, he kinda screwed up, if he’d waited a week, or actually tested the waters, he would’ve gotten at least 5 million more a year, thanks CG
April 20th, 2022 at 8:37 am
Bucs guy, I too agree with the QB cap potential. That said, your analogy regarding wide receivers and running backs is exactly upside down. In a passing league like the NFL, receivers are now a premium pick. This is why you’ll see four to five of them drafted in the first round and possibly no running backs. Premium picks require premium dollars once they’re contracts are up. And wide receivers unlike running backs tend to have longer careers, somewhere in the average of twice the length of running backs. Both of our top receivers are on their second or third contracts. Obviously we don’t do that with running backs, certainly not at a high cost. So yeah, a quarterback cap needs to be installed. But receivers are at a premium. Running backs not so much.
April 20th, 2022 at 8:44 am
I would say trading down normally but go back and look at last years picks in the first there were not very many impressive rookies. If we could get more picks that seems better odds
April 20th, 2022 at 9:41 am
It’s easy to say trade down but you have to have a partner and I believe every team knows what the fans know there really isn’t any dynamic game breaking players in this first round all the value is in the middle rounds. I feel like it is going to be alot harder than people think to trade down where the value is because all the teams are going to try to get their value there.
April 20th, 2022 at 9:52 am
Trade up with the Pats for Olave before KC trades up for him. They have a lot of draft capital.
April 20th, 2022 at 11:14 am
Bucs Guy Says:
April 20th, 2022 at 5:50 am
Godwin is a trade option???
Are you brain damaged? Have you heard all the things Licht has said about his importance to the team? Have you seen his production? You don’t trade a productive team-first player… ever.
That would be like trading Derrick Brooks in his prime. Jeezus. What friggin’ planet…
April 20th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Because this is an all in year I wouldn’t mind moving up to get an immediate impact player. 7,6,5,4 round picks are usually camp fodder, sorry Brady but he’s an anomaly. Trade them to move up in any round and get your man. I’d say this is true for any year even if it’s a rebuild year.