The Lure Of Trading Up
April 22nd, 2022
“Jason, you won’t see Chucky’s name up there now, but he was in the Ring of Honor for a reason. Never forget why.”
Joe is starting to get the hunch that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will trade up in next week’s first round. And he would have the blessing from the powers that be.
If we are to believe everything out in the open right now, it sure smells like Tom Brady will play his final season in Tampa this fall. After that, it is reasonable to expect the franchise to take a major step back.
That’s what happens when the greatest quarterback of all time steps away, unless you have a Pro Bowl quarterback ready to take over.
The last time Team Glazer was feeling the heat from draining hourglass sands, the owners had a good coach who just couldn’t get over the hump and stubbornly maintained a prehistoric offense. So Father Dungy got sent packing and — Joe vividly remembers the press conference that Al Davis held — Joel Glazer called Al Davis in the dark of the night. Glazer informed Davis that general manager Rich McKay was fired and that he was running the show and, oh by the way, would Chucky be available for draft picks?
The rest is history.
The Bucs sent two first round picks, two second round picks and walking around money to Oakland for Chucky. The former Bucs ballboy promptly rewarded Team Glazer with the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory.
Joe understands there readers here triggered by the thought of the Bucs trading up in the first round next week because they believe that is irresponsible. Well, the future is now.
After all, did anyone stand along Ulmerton Road after the 2002 Super Bowl win and throw rocks at traffic, outraged that the Super Bowl win cost the Bucs two first round picks? Of course not, unless it was a guy too drunk to know his own name.
Joe is on board if the Bucs have to pay a stiff price to move up in the draft to select a big-time baller.
The Bucs may never be in this position again for decades. Make the most of it.
April 22nd, 2022 at 3:58 am
I guess it would depend on who the Bucs were trading up for and at what price. If it’s this year’s and next year’s first, then no. Next year’s draft is supposed to be better, and a Brady injury (God forbid) would mean that pick will be higher than what you’d think.
April 22nd, 2022 at 4:28 am
Let’s have a look on the players on our Super Bowl roster drafted by us:
LVD 2nd round,
CG 3rd round,
AWjr 2nd round,
CDIII 2nd round,
Marpet 2nd round,
DS76 2nd round,
Cappa 3rd round,
SMB 2nd round,
Dean 3rd round
So, maybe a trade down to pick up two (or three) ‘ballers’ in this draft might even be better.
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:04 am
You forgot a few draft picks on the SB winning team
Mike Evans 1st
Scotty Miller
Tyler Johnson
Cam Brate
Keyshawn Vaughn
Tristin Wirfs 1st after trading up 1 position
Robert Hainsey
William Gholston
Vita Vea 1st after trading back
Rojo
OJ Howard 1st
Devin White 1st
That’s 21 of your 53 man squad (40%).. I would prefer trading back in the draft for more day 2 picks as it appears the value in this year’s draft is there — not in the 1st round. There are probably only 15 elite players with several of them at positions the Bucs don’t need for 2022 like T and WR.
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:09 am
Forgot Anthony Nelson
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:37 am
Trade up for what? There is no real standout players in this draft. Makes more sense to trade down if you can find a partner. Licht didn’t need to trade up one position for Wirfs. Trading up for Darden please!
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:40 am
Use some or most next years picks idc, but use them to get a lot more picks in the 2nd and 3rd where we seem to pick talent more accurately and get a lot more bang for our buc since many teams have multiple 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounders. Unless you somehow use picks to trade up with a team like eagles and get 2 firsts and also have 2 stellar players there then idk about moving up.
I will say this draft is a mystery to me more than any in the past. I have wanted Devonte Wyatt from the start and seen him taken either before or us not taking him in most drafts when he is there. The only way I wouldn’t be upset passing on him would be if some stud somehow fell or we grab Zion if he is miraculously there. There are still stellar guards to be had in the 3rd and 4th but Zion can start now for sure. Wyatt is the only imo truly ready 1st rd and start now DT in the draft. Also I am curious to see where two guys I like a lot fall in Christian Watson and Alec Pierce both wr that I believe have outstanding futures if in the right situations. Maybe can have one of them in the 2nd or 3rd if lucky.
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:47 am
I like Travis Jones or Phildarian Mathis.
April 22nd, 2022 at 7:18 am
Trade no picks unless it’s for more picks.
April 22nd, 2022 at 7:29 am
I watched a bit on the top DT from Alabama, can’t remember his name before coffee, anyway besides the film the guy expresses himself naturally, at ease and very well. I did have thoughts of how much it would take to get up into 14-18 range. Probably have to work out a trade down deal first to accumulating some picks in order to move back up, or pay dearly as the clock ticks
April 22nd, 2022 at 7:49 am
I’m not sure any one player will make that big of a difference…….when you are drafting at 27 or 32, you need your draft capital.
I’d say trading down out of the first round may net more….
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:02 am
Trading up should only involve getting more picks on day 2 or at the least a higher pick on day 3.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:03 am
Are you kidding me? Move up for what? One rookie player is going to ensure a SB win? I don’t care how good he is, unless of course you move up to grab a franchise QB who, even if he was there to be drafted, wouldn’t play in 2022. You may recall, we already have the GOAT at QB. We need to pad our depth not plug a major hole. I could see moving up a couple of spots if someone high on the Buc’s draft board slides down to within reach, but to go all in by giving away a ton of draft picks is ludicrous. I hope I made my position clear!! LOL
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:08 am
Hard no. It’s never a good idea. You want to get MORE draft capital. Not less. Picks are a crap shoot. Why would you cough up that capital for a maybe???
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:13 am
Lol, if you’re going to right an article like that you have to have some game changing players listed as well. If you think they’re going to trade up then you have to name a few players that you think would be worth the cost. Without that the article is basically meaningless. They are not going to trade up just to trade up. There has to be a shortlist of players that could help win another SB.
and you don’t have that list than your just writing wild guesses.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:15 am
@ BB … yeah I’d like to no first to
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:20 am
Who is that good in this scenario to trade up for? The meat of this draft is rounds two and three. Realistically there are only a handful of known 1st rounders in this draft and I don’t know any worth sending future 1st round picks for. This draft might have some great talent but the players are older and everyone is having to project their ability more than usual due to ‘the ‘20-21 sickness’.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:21 am
Jason Licht has said the strength of this draft is in the middle rounds. I don’t think the Bucs will or should trade up. I think it will be difficult to trade down too unless a team wants to jump up into the end of the 1st round to get a QB and have that 5th year option.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:29 am
Joe gets triggered when people don’t agree with him. Most fans here seem to think that trading down would be the better option if there is a willing trade partner.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:29 am
I agree with a few others about maybe trading down and picking up another mid round pick or two. I know we allegedly don’t have any holes but we will need D lineman, offensive lineman, cornerback, off ball linebacker, tight end and maybe a running back. We have six picks but two are in the seventh round. So unless we get real lucky we have four picks that have the best possibility of hitting on a good player.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:39 am
Buc will need a top WR so trading up if they could get Chris Olave or even trading up to get Jordan Davis at DT would work
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:45 am
DT would be THE only position i can see us trading up for. Any other position I think we trade back and accumulate depth where needed.
On a side note…..I think the WR Toney from the Giants will be available. They seem to be ready to clean the slate and accumulate picks. He was difficult last year and is starting this offseason the same. If we could snag him to be our 4th or 5th WR AND KR/PR….AND gadget player, Brady could have a field day moving him around.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:48 am
No two drafts are alike. If this year Licht thinks the value is in the mid rounds and there aren’t many first round graded players why would he trade up and lose picks? It’s like people forget these guys have to draft for the future.
Maybe because there are so many horrible gm’s. I remember people thinking Jacksonville had one of the best drafts last year and look how that turned out
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:01 am
This “ proposed “ scenario is about trading up , so put your trading up hats on
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:06 am
There are really no stand out tight ends in the draft. Licht needs to trade for one, take one of our many guards and one of our underachieving wide receivers Darden, Miller or Johnson and a 2023 draft pick and trade for Noah Fant Seattles new tight end. Hes young good hands and a old teammate of Tristen Wirfs.
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:46 am
I’d prefer it if we sat tight or moved back, but I’d trade up for Chris Olave, Kayvon Thibodeaux, or Jermaine Johnson if they fell to the mid teens. I know that it’s wishful thinking, but ya never know…
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:57 am
With an extra second and third/fourth Bucs could make serious impact at CB, OG, and TE.
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:42 am
Still have too many needs to give up picks for a move up. Trade down, acquire more picks.
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:50 am
SOEbuc … 2nd Rnd is tempting. I remember that’s where we got MJ Stewart (CB) or Jonthan Banks (DB) , ASJ (TE) and of course Arrelius Benn (WR). On the other hand, we could hang tough in the 1st & draft VHIII (CB) or OJ (TE) or Mark Barron (S/DB/LB/???).
By the time you get to Pick #27, it’s all a crap shoot anyways.
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:58 am
Trading up isnt just limited to the 1st day of the draft, and i cant remember the last time Jason Licht presided over a draft where he didnt move around between days 1, 2 and 3.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:05 am
Trading down and gathering more pics allows for more chances to hit on a player and allows wiggle room for mistakes. It is just simple odds… more picks more odds you can be successful….
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:05 am
‘Joe is on board if the Bucs have to pay a stiff price to move up in the draft to select a big-time baller. The Bucs may never be in this position again for decades. Make the most of it.’
For DECADES Joe? As in 20-30 YEARS? Heck if I believed that I’d have to find a new team to root for. I’m all-in for 2022, but not exclusively because of Tom Brady. We’re building a decent TEAM around him, but we still have holes … especially on DEFENSE. And especially in the FRONT-7 on that DEFENSE. And especially at DT, DE/OLB and LB.
Problem is that teams shooting for the Super Bowl don’t make it with a bunch of rookies starting. Rotate them in with established starters? Definitely yes. But rookies STARTING at key positions like DT, DE/OLB AND LB with the schedule that we’ve got this year? Nah, give me the veteran beasts & let the rooks rotate in to let them gain experience & keep the vets fresh as we can.
Need to fill 4 positions in this draft … DT, DE/OLB, ILB, TE … with our top 4 picks. The 2 Rnd 7 picks are throw-aways IMO, but there might be a promising punter in there. And who knows, maybe even a RB who everyone is overlooking or maybe an OLineman worth taking a chance on.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:19 am
You nailed it Joe….we’ll be picking at the bottom of the first next year anyway, so trade that one to the Pats and grab Olave.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:33 am
Excellent point!
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:39 am
Once again it needs to be said. Rookies don’t make or break Super Bowl hopes and dreams. Wirfs was most impactful starter followed by tryon and we didn’t have to trade up for either. Unless it’s d tackle I don’t see us drafting a day one starter. If you have to trade up so be it because 3rd and 4th round guys are only gonna play if someone gets injured and they be out dee Delaney or in house second third year players we have
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:47 am
Generalizations are
like wiping suntan lotion on your windshield
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:09 pm
Nope, wrong move! If we trade out of 27 it will be to move back to get additional picks. We are essentially already down to only 4 picks this year as it is. What do you want to do, trade away the few picks we have left for one guy and sit out the rest of the draft? There is no player in this draft that you can get with a reasonable move up that would be that kind of difference maker. Do you not remember how injuries derailed our season last year because we lacked enough quality depth. There is a reason people feel it would be irresponsible to trade up; because it is! Fortunately I trust Jason Licht is smarter than that.
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:39 pm
I’ve been banging that drum of moving up for a while. We what a difference maker every year in the first round and usually the second. This is a weak draft so getting a true difference maker in the first is imperative. 7,6,5,4 are all camp fodder or special teams players. Who cares about those picks they don’t make a difference. Raid someone’s farm team instead.
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:23 pm
I think he will trade up to draft Devonte Wyatt he will need to go up a few spots
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:03 pm
I like the players mocked to the Tampa at 27.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:18 pm
If there is “one player “ you want and ate convinced he ( hey you can still say he ) is the one that can make a difference in the team, GO get him !
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:54 pm
MadMax Says:
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:19 am
You nailed it Joe….we’ll be picking at the bottom of the first next year anyway, so trade that one to the Pats and grab Olave.
^^^^^^^^
No doubt, without any significant injuries…Unfortunately, injuries are a part of football.
April 22nd, 2022 at 5:27 pm
Win now. At all cost
A SuperBowl is worth 4-5 years of mediocrity.
April 22nd, 2022 at 5:59 pm
I am ok with trading up.
In 1985 on the day of the draft, San Francisco traded their 28th pick in the 1st round and 56th pick in the 2nd round to move up to the 16th overall pick to draft a receiver out of Mississippi Valley State who reportedly ran a 4.6 40 time.
Sometimes it works out if you have a vision and your evaluation is correct.
It was for us in picking Tristen Wirfs a couple of years ago.
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Joe,,,,,
Completely fascinated by the “Ulmerton Road” blast. Lol.
I live right near Ulmerton & Belcher… Ranchero Village.
Is there a story there, that you were playfully hitting at?
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:08 pm
geno711, me too. Let’s do it.
April 22nd, 2022 at 7:21 pm
GAMBLE IT ALL! MOVE UP!!!! Who cares?
These “championship run” windows are TINY. Draft picks are a crapshoot anyway.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:58 pm
mostly we have to remember the 6th and 7th round picks are useless and need to be packaged up with players for higher picks. Honestly I am surprised we have not sold Kyle Trask and a 7th round for a 1st round–right?
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:22 pm
Obviously it all depends on what they’re giving up and who they get in return.
I have no problem swapping first round picks, giving up a second, and the third from next year to move up 6 to 10 spots to get DT out of Georgia- Jordan Davis.
Personally I think he will be there around pick 20 and I think the Buccaneers would be stupid not to give up a little bit to go get him.
Him next to VEA for the next several years makes Devon White a Hall of Famer, makes their edge rushers all much better, which makes all the DBs that much better. Those two guys would dominate the interior by taking 3-4 O lineman every play.
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:24 pm
If they want to give up a first from next year along with a second to go get one of the big 3 edge rushers or one of the top 2 CBs ….. that I do not want to do. I don’t care how much of a sure thing these guys look like they are, two of those five are bound to fail, or at the very least bound to be above average and not worth the trade.
April 24th, 2022 at 6:11 am
Wouldn’t mind them trading up for Sauce, Stingley or Jordan Davis.