Will Guard Be A Target?
April 15th, 2022
Bucs guard Aaron Stinnie.
As is often the case, a story lurks in the shadows just past the view in the foreground.
Joe doesn’t think guard will be the Bucs’ top target in the draft. Yes, the Bucs lost both starting guards when Alex Cappa left for the money in Cincinnati and Ali Marpet retired. However, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht traded for right guard Shaq Mason and signed backup free agent guard Aaron Stinnie.
Stinnie, when Cappa went down in the first playoff game two years ago at Washington, took over and started the rest of the games including the Super Bowl. You never noticed that Stinnie was a backup.
Still, are the Bucs confident enough in Stinnie to not draft a guard? Jenna Laine of ESPN isn’t so sure.
… This is one area in which the draft (they pick 27th in Round 1) could make a lot of sense. Some draft options at guard include Zion Johnson out of Boston College, Kenyon Green out of Texas A&M, Chasen Hines out of LSU, Dylan Parham out of Memphis, Jamaree Salyer out of Georgia — and Chattanooga’s Cole Strange, a choice that would be very on brand for general manager Jason Licht, given his proclivity for finding small-school offensive linemen.
So here is where the story is hidden in the background. Stinnie was only signed for one year. If Licht (and by proxy, Bucs coaches) were that confident in Stinnie, wouldn’t the team have signed him for more than just one year?
Now to be fair, perhaps Stinnie’s agent is sharp and knew if Stinnie just played halfway decent as a starter, that he could hit megamoney on the open market next spring.
One Joe doesn’t believe Licht will draft a guard in the first two days of the draft. Why? Well, there is also a guy by the name of Robert Hainsey lurking. Initially, Hainsey, who was drafted last year, was penciled in to take over for center Ryan Jensen, as it sure seemed like the Bucs were confident Jensen would leave in free agency.
That all changed when Tom Brady unretired.
One reason the Bucs drafted Hainsey is that he can play multiple positions. So Joe isn’t going to rule out that the Bucs may give Hainsey a test drive at guard in training camp. You know, just in case.
April 15th, 2022 at 4:09 am
Tell ya the truth, I figured Hainsey would be our center this year just cuzza money.
I’m very grateful to have that red headed maniac back, but let Hainsey compete at guard.
April 15th, 2022 at 4:19 am
Best available OL, DL or CB at # 27…simple as that
April 15th, 2022 at 4:44 am
Bugs Bunny once said “Carrots wait for no one so I will pick them now.
If we see a steal at receiver or rb or te… Or safety even ,..
Pick:-pick that carrot now.
April 15th, 2022 at 5:00 am
If they can get a stud O lineman, then so be it.
No O line = No Super Bowl (Please see Wirfs loss)
If you want to win in the NFL, then you better control the line of Scrimmage or you will get beat. Again see the Rams loss. The Bucs were dominated at the line of Scrimmage in both of the losses t the Rams. Oh and the Wash game and the 2nd Saint game.
If they only inked Stinnie to a prove it deal, then you know they are not set.
GO BUCS!!!!!.
April 15th, 2022 at 5:28 am
Shhhhh Joe. Don’t tell everyone. I want them all to think we’re going guard. It ups the trade back value when Zion is still there!
April 15th, 2022 at 5:52 am
One yr because he got injured. Drafting a oline makes no sense. Stinnie will have more exp than a rookie. And we are drafting a guard with no nfl exp to start over stinnie or leverette.
April 15th, 2022 at 6:16 am
I could see bucs going guard on day 2. And if johnson there that is tough to pass up but he wont be there.
What we need is just 2 qbs to go in front of us and maybe just maybe that guy we need falls in our lap
I agree with bruce and best available w first pick – guard / dline trenches (so tackle or edge) / corner Pretty simple. With this being a huge receiver draft and almost all teams needing a receiver. We may have that stud come to us. Hopefully the same dumb Teams go quarterback with their pick cause we have two or three in our own division that need one. Heck detroit who always makes dumb decisions may help us out. If detroit/ carolina/ atlanta went qb that would be glorious
April 15th, 2022 at 6:51 am
If you are going OLine, it should be on day 3. DT, DE and TE.
April 15th, 2022 at 7:13 am
Rumor has it that Carl Nicks’ big toe is fully healed and he will be brought in for a tryout.
April 15th, 2022 at 7:30 am
If one of the top guards falls to round three, I think that it will be hard for Licht to pass him up.
April 15th, 2022 at 7:34 am
Hahahaha @ Bucsfan4ever. Quoting Bugs Bunny! Well played.!
April 15th, 2022 at 8:10 am
Even if Gronk plays we still need a tight end either in round 1 or 2. Most likely DT in the first and tight end in the second.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:18 am
We have enough average guards on the team – Stinnie, Leverett, Hainsey and Johnson.
We don’t need another one. If Zion Johnson is available at #27 then perhaps the Bucs pick him because he would come in and probably start for the next ten years.
If we don’t get Zion I would not choose another guard – like I said we have a log game of average guards already.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:26 am
D-line in Round 1. Then if Licht sees a solid Guard in the 2nd round go for it. Otherwise, we need to concentrate on the defense in this year’s draft.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:35 am
Brady must be protected for the master plan to work. OG plug and play 1st pick.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:43 am
JL is never going to spend a first round pick on a guard. His track record and ability to find O lineman in later rounds says so.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:44 am
They have enough players to complete for that final guard spot that I think they are fine with. Most likely will be a db or dl in the first and maybe a trade down in the second for more picks to recover their 5th or 6th round pick.
April 15th, 2022 at 8:52 am
Round and round we go, where it will stop we’ll only know on draft night or the following day, which is what I am hoping for.
April 15th, 2022 at 9:20 am
good point ^^ jaymiss pick 6
April 15th, 2022 at 10:19 am
BPA. Do NOT draft for need!
April 15th, 2022 at 10:30 am
I don’t find guard a dire need, I faith in Stinnie and Hainsey. Although, I do believe there’s more value at #27 picking Zion or Green over any DT not named Wyatt or Davis. First round guards usually start their first year while DTs are generally back ups or rotational players.
April 15th, 2022 at 10:52 am
I used to try to predict picks…researched them all. Tried to be as accurate as possible. One year I actually got 5 right for the Bucs.
But that was a looong time ago and I got lucky once.
Now? I know the areas I’d like to see addressed. That’s about it these days.
So what I would prefer addressed in the first round is one of the lines…and I think it’ll likely be offensive line.
I don’t see secondary addressed until round 3…unless someone great falls to us.
This is probably a good year to make line picks with our first 2 picks.
April 15th, 2022 at 11:03 am
I want two of the first three picks to be Big Uglies.
April 15th, 2022 at 11:27 am
Stinnie, Hainsey, Leverett, maybe Hutcherson and Molchon… They’ve got guys they’ve been working with. I believe they expect a good starter to rise from that competition.
I doubt they’ll see guard as a priority over pretty much anything on defense.
TE is a greater need than guard if we want to draft offense.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Yeah I’d only go online round if you had a real steal. Day 2 I could see and I actually feel we might have less depth at tackle if one of the starters goes down
April 15th, 2022 at 12:04 pm
Olave
April 15th, 2022 at 12:18 pm
Olave?
No.
DEFENSE.
April 15th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Olave = yes.
But I doubt he will be available at pick #27…
April 15th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
I wouldnt mind getting Tyler Linderbaum from Iowa and paying him at G until Jensen retires. Three big arse Big 10 guys on the OL? Yes!
April 15th, 2022 at 1:10 pm
DL in round 1 please….either DT or DE.
CB in the 2nd.
WR in the 3rd. Draft is deep with WRs.
Go Bucs!!!
April 15th, 2022 at 2:50 pm
I’m with ’87 on this one. They have to replace these guys or find their eventual replacement sooner than later.
DL is the choice, IMO.
April 15th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
Let Stinnie, Hainsey, & Leverett compete. The winner will be the starter and the other two will be depth on the interior line. We have more need at almost every other position on the field.
April 16th, 2022 at 1:55 am
skyee moore at 27 a guard later….Daniel Faalele from minn or Parham from Memphis