“Stellar Work” By Jason Licht
May 1st, 2022
Grades Bucs draft.
Joe understands grading a draft less than 24 hours after the draft is borderline irresponsible. But Joe firmly believes in the simple business model made famous by Sam Giancana when he was asked about the Chicago racket’s brick and mortar operations.
“We give people what they want.”
Our microwave, fast-food, drive-up, Uber Eats, video-on-demand, e-mail society means folks are simply are not going to wait three or four years for analysis. They want it now!
So Joe is here to help. And it seems helmethair Mel Kiper of BSPN really liked the savvy moves made by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
It’s possible Tampa Bay was always going to take Logan Hall in Round 1, which means trading back six spots into the top of Round 2, getting him at No. 33 and adding a fourth- and sixth-round pick is stellar work by general manager Jason Licht. Hall played both as a 3-technique tackle and a defensive end at Houston, and at 6-foot-6 and 283 pounds, that positional flex is intriguing, especially next to Vita Vea. I could see Hall move outside for a few pass-rush snaps per game. He is No. 56 on my Big Board, so this is a little bit of a reach, but I understand why the Bucs did it.
Licht reached again for Luke Goedeke (84), a college tackle who projects to play guard because of his shorter arms. He could fill the Bucs’ hole at left guard. Running back Rachaad White (91) had 15 scores and broke a ton of tackles last season. Tight end Cade Otton (106) isn’t much of a blocker yet, but he’ll help in the passing game (and could be insurance in case Rob Gronkowski retires). Zyon McCollum (157) is a fast corner in a 6-foot-2 frame who picked off 13 passes in his career.
Hall and Goedeke fill holes up front for Tampa Bay, even though they were slight reaches on my board.
Joe has a hunch that in three or four years, we will all be raving about guard Luke Goedeke and cornerback Zyon McCollum.
Goedeke’s makeup just screams “Jason Licht prototype.” Simply put, if Licht drafts a guard on the second day of the draft from a small school, don’t worry.
McCollum? The guy has great athletic traits and he was a man among boys at Division I-AA Sam Houston State. Once he gets used to the speed of the NFL, Joe thinks he will be fine.
Unlike Licht’s first five years with the Bucs, he can breathe easy knowing these guys will get coached up.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:02 am
My hunch is that your hunch is on the mark!
May 1st, 2022 at 10:09 am
I like the draft picks overall, but a question whom is the full time right and left Edge in this defence now? JTS? And Shaq? Pass rush to me is still the weakness on defense, but a draft pick likely would never contribute year 1 anyway.
So they will have to find a vet pass rusher.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:20 am
Mel Kiper continues to amaze me, with his in depth knowledge of every conceivable player!
LOL, he was going on and on about a 5th round draft pick!
May 1st, 2022 at 10:21 am
Seems like Joe was on to something when he said on the podcast that he feels like they signed stinnie to back up money.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:23 am
Every sports network has given the bucs a grade A
May 1st, 2022 at 10:28 am
Mel Kiper is clueless.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:30 am
Well, due to Mel Kiper’s record with players and how well they do in the NFL………..that’s not a good sign.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:34 am
I like the draft picks.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:40 am
I get a lot of it is meant for quick sound bite consumption, but I don’t get Mel’s take on Otton. If he isn’t much of a blocker yet, maybe I get it in an NFL sense, but not compared against other drafted TE prospects. Cade was asked to do a lot of pass blocking responsibilities and assignments that I didn’t even see many of the other prospects attempting. I thought he showed very projectable effort, technique, and ability there. He did block big DEs 1on 1 and pick up edge blitzes. I thought he was good in the run game. My thought was he was reliable but maybe not dynamic as a weapon but day 1 projectable precisely because of his demonstrated quality blocking abilities.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:49 am
In my opinion the Bucs had an A+ draft. All of this has been possible because of Tom Brady who in my opinion is the greatest free agent signing in sports history.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:55 am
I agree with Joe. Guard Luke Goedeke and cornerback Zyon McCollum were my two favorite picks.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:57 am
Red sparrow, the only clueless one is you. You and your alter ego GOB (Ben Green).
May 1st, 2022 at 11:04 am
I really liked the McCollum pick.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:07 am
I don’t see any Pro Bowlers in this draft but 4 long-term contributors.
Good draft
May 1st, 2022 at 11:07 am
As for our pass rush I think it’s partly time for JTS and Nelson to be counted on as contributors. Secondly, I think if we can keep the secondary healthy I think the defense blitzes in more creative ways. I feel like our blazer package is what truly suffered through the injuries last year.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:11 am
No QB! REALLY. Bucs had the perfect opportunity to groom a young QB under Brady for 3 years and they totally ignored it. No foresight whatsoever.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:20 am
Scott Holmes, they ARE grooming a young QB as successor…his name is KYLE TRASK!!! Amazing that people forget this…
May 1st, 2022 at 11:25 am
Like you said Joe it’s too early to tell.
The problem I have with this draft , and every Jason Licht draft is the reaching to get players! He seemingly trades away picks to move up and get guys he likely would have got if he stayed put. He does this every year!
Now in all fairness we will NEVER know if thats true. I am just going off the multiple draft pick ranking sites. I can’t read the minds of the other 31 teams. All I know is we are without a 4th next year…again.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:32 am
I was feeling OK about this draft, up until Kiper paised it. Now I’m panicking.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:36 am
When Licht passed on a pick at #27, I speculated he might pick up a small-school o-lineman in the next couple of rounds. I was being a bit sarcastic, but damn if he didn’t. He’s 2 for 2 so far with Cappa and Marpet. Can he pull off the hat trick?
May 1st, 2022 at 11:42 am
I like it that Licht usually gets extra picks….I don’t like it because he tosses them away like Halloween candy……using the 1st pick of the 6th to move up 3 slots for Goedecke is an example.
Last year….extra picks for Darden.
Now….what I really, really liked was using what will be a very late 4th round pick next year for an early 5th round this year for a 3rd round CB…..Zyon
Now that, my friends, was masterful.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:51 am
Did anyone else notice that Mel Kiper was shaking during the draft ?
I did a search, and several Fans up in Chicago noticed the same thing.
Gosh, I sure hope he does not have Parkinsons, but it was clear to me something is wrong.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:56 am
TBBF. I agree. Moving up was a good move given the circumstances . But it could have all been avoided had he picked Zyon at the 27th pick in Round 4 when he was available. He could have likely got the punter in the 6th. And if not, get another one to save $2 million.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:58 am
I don’t get the people mad about the trades they want who they want not who you want so they are going to get who they want. Their board is only full of so many players and only they know who they are so I’m sure despite what fans think they got pretty much everyone they really wanted on their board hence the trade ups for the players they did it for. It was a good draft considering they think the roster before the draft was pretty much set with the off-season signings and they filled the needs they felt they needed too it was a good draft overall not really exciting but it was good.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:59 am
Goedecke is going to be a monster. He doesn’t have to start, he can spell some vets in games we get way ahead in and Brady is taking a breather, and grow into the position.
Zyon is going to be a solution should Jamaal Dean fail to stay healthy for a full season. It’s all on him now and if Dean falters, he is gone.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:05 pm
I like the confidence Licht has in his picks. He seemed to know who would still be on the board when the draft started.
Some very good picks for the holes that needed filled, except for the punter.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Let us hope its only due to months of mock drafts… gosh
What makes me still shake is our k-o returns of Mr. Darden. Maybe Miller is an option, or apply for an 8th draft round? Thoughts anyone…?
May 1st, 2022 at 12:09 pm
Don’t understand why the Bucs think Godecke is better than Faalele?
May 1st, 2022 at 12:14 pm
I am convinced that the Bucs focus on the character of players…..when they say we “reached” for a player…….that has got to be a consideration.
Also…..we seem to fall in love with Senior Bowl players…..do it every year.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:17 pm
Good enough is what I say. We need a top 10 Points Against defense. Now on to the Super Bowl.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Hall, Godecke, White, Camara & McCollum………5 of our top 6 players…..Senior Bowl participants.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:23 pm
Granted…there were 106 invited to the Senior Bowl…..but still…many players drafted were not there.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Kipper says Cade Otton isn’t much of a blocker? Everyone else saying he’s a great blocker? Which is it?
May 1st, 2022 at 12:32 pm
Kiper saying Cade Otton isn’t much of a blocker? Everyone else saying he’s a great blocker? Which is it?
May 1st, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Drafted three 23yo players – Goedeke, White, Otton
May 1st, 2022 at 12:35 pm
i enjoy all of this, but its the equivalent of handing out grades before the course starts. i want grades from 4 years ago, that is the real test. A total expectation analysis right now is what i look forward to, not just draft.
as far as reaches, tampa under brady can play the game more patiently, just taking who they want, controlling their money, rather than precisely maximizing all the slots. even mel, the master of the reach arguments, has moved on.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:42 pm
I know it’s fun to speculate but no one really knows how we did. We’ll know in 3 years. Hopefully we did well.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:53 pm
The draft didn’t fall the Bucs way. They sat back and it cost them. Zion and Kenyon went early. Jets jumped in front of the Bucs to take the falling Jermaine Johnson. Then ARZ took Trey McBride in front of them in the second.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:54 pm
These draft experts crack me up. While I do like what the bucs did, nobody really knows.
May 1st, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Drafts really should be rated 4 years after the fact. Given that:
2018 Tampa Bay Buccaneer Draft
Round 1, Pick 12 – Vita Vea.
Round 2, Pick 38 – Ronald Jones II.
Round 2, Pick 53 – M.J. Stewart.
Round 2, Pick 63 – Carlton Davis.
Round 3, Pick 94 – Alex Cappa.
Round 4, Pick 117 – Jordan Whitehead.
Round 4, Pick 144 – Justin Watson.
Really solid work on this one for JL
For all of the critics… if it makes you feel better, look at the San Francisco 49ers Draft from 1979 when Bill Walsh took over through 1989 when he stepped down.
While obviously you have Montana and Rice in that era, not every draft pick hit and two or three of his drafts outright stunk. This guy was an innovator and terrific judge of talent, and he missed on a bunch. Point being, this is a REALLY inexact science.
May 1st, 2022 at 1:29 pm
Joe, you posted
At 6’2″, 200lbs., and running a 4.33, shouldn’t it be the NFL that gets used to McCollum’s speed? 😉
May 1st, 2022 at 1:41 pm
UDFA kaylon geiger of TexasTech looks like a better Jaylon Darden..
May 1st, 2022 at 1:58 pm
I like Hall the best. I just think he fits what Todd Bowles likes for this defense. His ability to make plays from the B gap space might be the best of anyone not named Hutchinson from this draft. Great natural strength as well.
May 1st, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Say Chris apple, My wife noticed Mel Kiper shaking also. She is a nurse and says it could be a variety of things. But it did not look good. Hope the best for him. As for our draft,< I give it a B- or solid C+
May 1st, 2022 at 3:14 pm
we have a qb learning behind Brady? what team do you follow? this is a strange site! if you didn’t know it you would think its a division rival siye
May 1st, 2022 at 3:21 pm
He gave the Bucs a B- for our draft in 2016. This is quite possibly the worst draft in Bucs history. VHIII, Noah Spence, Aguayo, Ryan Smith, Dan Vitale, etc. Only one of these guys stuck around for a while and he sucked everywhere except special teams. These grades are so dumb.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:29 pm
Scott Holmes Says:
May 1st, 2022 at 11:11 am
No QB! REALLY. Bucs had the perfect opportunity to groom a young QB under Brady for 3 years and they totally ignored it. No foresight whatsoever.
………………
Are you being facetious or are you smoking crack. I can’t tell.
They did exactly That last yr.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:56 pm
The spin cycle is on. this team has not improved since last year and that’s the point. This draft did absolutely nothing to help us win now. The other NFC teams made moves like there was an urgency to win a SB. GB has a monster defense and we play them this year. Of course, the Rams still own us, and now the Saints have a great chance Matthieu. Instead of going all out, we’re clutching our purses. Brady is on the last year of his rookie deal. We needed to empty the chamber. The win now windows are very smaller. If they add Honey Badger to an already stout D, i might explode! Even the Eagles are making big moves in the weak NFC. And we’re sitting on our hands. Our defense still needs help. And, I will continue to sound the alarm on Godwin’s availability. If he’s not ready by Christmas, we need a capable WR3. This is a receiver driven offense the WR3 position is important
May 1st, 2022 at 5:13 pm
In Licht we trust. McCollum is the most intriguing prospect we drafted because of his size and speed. I like that he has fluid hips and thus does not get turned the wrong way. He’s better than that stumble-bum Ronde. To be fair, Ronde was only a stumble-bum in his rookie season and turned out to be our best defensive back ever. Like Barber, McCollum is versatile enough to play corner and 5¢. Not saying he will or will not start this year but he will contribute.
May 1st, 2022 at 5:19 pm
I think it was a great draft.
Filled a lot of holes, with really solid picks.
A little disappointed with The Logan Hill pick. Hes gonna be Will Gholston
Part 2. Thats not a bad thing at all- Gholston has been a great player for us.
Just thought we could get someone more impactful.
I think all of the picks will fill a need.
They’ll be able to step in, and with some coaching- become productive players for us
Well done Jason Licht!
May 1st, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Yup, Licht loves himself some senior bowl players!
I was hoping we would come away with at least 1 player that would have an immediate impact, but oh well. (And maybe one of them will, who knows?)
May 1st, 2022 at 6:34 pm
it was a good draft plain and simple
May 1st, 2022 at 6:34 pm
@Bucfan13: have you heard the term “salary cap?”
Just sayin’…
May 1st, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Don’t understand why they didn’t pick Luke’s teammate who got picked later in the draft but what do I know I am not a scout. Hopefully he will be fine. It baffles me about a punter in round 4 just to save 2 mil.
May 1st, 2022 at 7:27 pm
Whatever you think of Mel, he does tons of homework and obviously loves his craft, seems as though he gives it 110% every year. He helped create the interest in the draft many years ago. A plus for football junkies.
May 1st, 2022 at 8:10 pm
You just never know but I think Logan Hall, the O lineman, Zyon, and the RB are all going to turn into very good draft picks. The tight end looks good on paper but I’m not sure.
I think every one of them might have a little bit of playing time and impact this year except maybe the O lineman
May 1st, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Licht can’t draft a RB to save his life. Charles Sims, Rojo, Vaughn… Rachaad White was the #13 RB for Walter Football and he took him in the 3rd round. They passed on James Cook in the second who instantly would’ve made this offense more scary. Watch what he does in Buffalo.
May 1st, 2022 at 8:46 pm
And Jeremy McNichols of course. Legend.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:20 pm
not too sexy, but a good draft…
this draft sorta had to settle in on you, and marinate a little…
i’m liking it…
obviously having no first rounder is like deflating or eliminates hype…
but it also eliminates a first rounders salary as well…
the draft seems to be like a solid B…
#LFG
May 1st, 2022 at 11:22 pm
can somebody please give mel kiper an army haircut already…
they should hold him down and buzz cut him right there on live tv next year at the draft…
sapp can roll in with the clippers and do the job…it would be epic…
May 2nd, 2022 at 12:52 am
Draft bs. Nobody knows who will be a bust or a HOFer.
May 2nd, 2022 at 1:14 am
Sitting on our hands?
We went out in free agency and addressed our needs. We got one of the best WR off of a division rival team. We stole one of the better guards in the league from the belicheats. We drafted exactly what we needed to fill the holes on our roster and we have a super bowl contender of a squad. What more could you ask for? I swear some fans are just delirious. After the lost decade I understand but this team is poised for the Lombardi.
May 2nd, 2022 at 10:01 am
@Cobraboy Yup. I have heard of the salary cap. It is my bane in Madden NFL. I could not imagine having to manage the real life salary cap, but Jason seems to be excelling their too.
McCollum is a very nice pick and he will contribute this year. How fast he contributes depends on if he is all raw talent or has technique.
We will also see if the secondary from last year improves. Was last year the bad year based on the number of Band-Aids and amount of glue to needed because of injuries. Or is our secondary completely overrated and the 2020 season was outlier year especially the Super Bowl.
Logan Hall will be a contributor and I think a bit better pass rusher that Will. Would be nice if we were to resign Suh and he’d have a year to learn from him.
May 2nd, 2022 at 12:25 pm
Anyone know if USFL players can walk on the NFL this fall, at least for special teams? I’m digging these games – some talent out there in the spring.