Undrafted Free Agents Are Resisting Bucs
May 1st, 2022
Rejection issues.
The Lost Decade of Bucs football is getting smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
That was on display yesterday when general manager Jason Licht sent his VP of Player Personnel John Spytek to the media hounds to conduct Licht’s annual post-draft news conference.
Spytek referenced that the business of filling the Bucs roster with a pile of undrafted free agents was proving to be a difficult recruiting job. Dudes hungry for long-term employment aren’t fired up to join the loaded Buccaneers.
“It’s a different era for Bucs. I mean, we’re just trying to fill [undrafted] free agency right now and everyone’s like, ‘Yeah, I don’t think so. You got a pretty deep roster,’ Spytek said. “Five years ago, they were lining up to come here. It’s like, ‘I got a chance to make that team.'”
Joe remembers the days of young Adam Humphries and Donteea Dye clinging to roster spots, and the excitement surrounding undrafted signees like tight end Antony Auclair and Bobo Wilson.
That’s when the bar was a lot lower.
Hopefully, the Bucs will find a gem or two this weekend. There’s got to be a least a few intelligent prospects who realize coming to Tampa is a great way to get noticed and well coached.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:41 pm
It is a deep roster but there’s room for edge rushers and LBs. Pretty thin there.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:41 pm
What a great problem to have for our Bucs. I wonder too if UDFA’s will give a thought to the USFL and XFL more now that the NFL isn’t the only game in town (at this moment)?
May 1st, 2022 at 3:47 pm
I’d be curious to see how the undrafyed free agency works? When does it start? And do all these kids jump at the first opportunity? It could be a race to the phones.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:50 pm
Yeah, it’s hard to make this roster compared to other teams – so you’re likely, at best, competing just to make the practice squad. Meanwhile if you go to a dump like Atlanta, you’re likely competing for a slot on the main team.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:52 pm
That’s part of it, the other part of it is that undrafted free agents are hoping for some contractual and financial commitment. The Bucs are pretty tight right now. After you factor in the drafted rookie class plus Gronk, there isn’t a lot of room for promises.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Glass, the QB from Alabama AM threw for 400 yards vs Deon Sanders team, JSU… big guy w big arm… sounds like Doug Williams
May 1st, 2022 at 3:56 pm
The safety from Clemson Nolan Turner has a legit shot at making the roster I think. Special teams player with a couple years starting and two time captain. Ran a low 4.4. He’s a guy that makes a team as a UFA.
May 1st, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Hey SK, it’s already started. That’s the point of this article. We’re not getting enough play with the UDFA’s
May 1st, 2022 at 3:57 pm
They should go after Justyn Ross. A few years ago Justyn Ross looked like a first-round pick, but he was barred from the draft as he was a freshman. After a great frosh campaign, a spinal problem was discovered that required surgery and rehab. He hasn’t had that degree of success since, but some of that may not be his fault.
If he’s available for peanuts, why not?
May 1st, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Miller, Perriman & Darden better have their sh!t together, some of these UDFA WRs look damn good.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:00 pm
When does the USFL season begin?
Oh, wait…
May 1st, 2022 at 4:14 pm
BTW, brought this up yesterday, but one UDFA they brought in that looks interesting to me is, WR Kaylon Geiger.
Small guy, but not as small as he looks on tape, he’s supposed to be 5′ 10″ 180lb, but on tape he looks like he’s 5′ 5″ 130lb, which isn’t an insult, because he’s ridiculously quick and shift.
That would be a guy would might make the team as a dedicated punt and kick returner. Go watch his highlights, the guy is inanely shifty, also has remarkable balance, on a bunch of plays he’s getting sort of wrapped up high, and looks like he’s going down, only to pop back up before he hits the ground, then takes back off again.
Now the level of competition he’s going against looks to be very low, so you have to factor that in, but he looks NFL-level quick to me.
I hate to use this comparison, because it sets the bar too high, but he sort of has a bit of a Devin Hester vibe. Again, it’s low level competition, so maybe it doesn’t translate to the NFL, but his highlight film is fun to watch. I hope the Bucs give him some legit chances to see what he can do in the return game.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Just hearing those names bobo Wilson damn we’ve come a long way It’s been many years since then.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:25 pm
The great philosopher, Yogi Berra once said, “you gotta hit it where they ain’t”
After years, err decades, of utter suckdom; it’s a nice to be considered loaded.
Love the fact that many new players on the roster play angry. We have to be more physical to beat the Rams and Saints.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:25 pm
I mean there are plenty of older unsigned fa Like Clowney, Ingram, or Hughes etc that can make a big contribution to the edge. Grab Suh and hell if you can manage a 1 year deal off him to chase a ring maybe try and grab Landry.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:30 pm
We have this 1 year to go all out and get another ring before we cross into the unknown with Trask which I hope performs but who knows. Hopefully he has been learning a lot from Brady and co and continues to do so while putting in the work.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Yeah, I agree on Justyn Ross. He also had a foot injury which probably hindered his 40 time. If he cant heal enough and return to close to his normal self, we lost nothing. If he does, he would def be on the depth chart. Give him a year to rehab and heal….you never know. He was looking like a top 10 draft pick his freshman year.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:37 pm
@ JP
I agree.
If I were a UDFA WR I would look at Miller, Darden, Johnson and Perriman and feel pretty good about my chances.
Not to mention – Godwin won’t be full go until Novenmber.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:37 pm
LOL
November…
May 1st, 2022 at 4:45 pm
I think John Spytek is great, and will be a general manager someday.
Yes, Tampa is a talented team, and will be hard to earn a roster spot on.
I really don’t think Perriman is in trouble, but Miller and Darden may get shown the door. Especially Darden.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:45 pm
Practice squad average pay is 400k
May 1st, 2022 at 4:47 pm
I would sign with the Bucs if I was a UDFA as I know I’d get great coaching, learn from the players, many of whom won a SuperBowl two years ago, and I would do my best to showcase my talents in the preseason games. If I show I belong in the NFL I may not make the final cut on the Bucs roster but could end up on the practice squad or get picked up by another team.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Hmm 400k, dang i didnt know….and that player can be plucked from your team at any time.
May 1st, 2022 at 4:49 pm
The main reason they have over spent on some players and they are not offering that much money. Last year they didn’t go to the superbowl so some players aren’t sure if they are really contentors or not.
May 1st, 2022 at 5:02 pm
How many here remember when Buc fans thought that “Plan B” free agency would save the franchise?
May 1st, 2022 at 5:03 pm
Our roster is pretty thin. Quite anorexic I would say. That’s because Brady got every team mate on avocado smoothies. 🥑🥤😂
It is great to have a team depth chart like we have now. Players with confidence may say, “Yeah. I’ll try out for the Bucs because if I even make just the practice squad that means I’m good enough to almost run with the big dawgs.”
May 1st, 2022 at 5:06 pm
Keep your eyes on Nolan Turner. Good size and speed safety from Clemson. Two time team captain, two time National Champion. Played in 65 games in five years and core special teamer. 6’1 200 lbs 4.45 or so. Tested very well. Could make team as 4th/5th safety and contribute on special teams.
May 1st, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Realistically I’d bet that just about every JBFer could tell you TODAY what the starting 2022 roster will look like. And especially if you assume that Suh & Gronk get re-signed. IOW, any undrafted FA would be competing for a job on the Bucs’ Practice Squad … at best.
Their only real hope to make our roster this year is if someone in their position gets hurt, and they’d get called up only temporarily and probably wouldn’t see any playing time. Benning Potoa`e is a good example from last season: good size DE (6’3″ & 290 lbs) who got called up for ONE game in 2020 & ONE game in 2021. Come to think of it though, 2 games, 26 snaps, is not bad work for $800K.
May 1st, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Ah, the good old days of Plan B. It wasn’t really fair, but you had a consistency to the team and the talent. It made it more personable to me. Just saying.
May 1st, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Remember pre and post June 1 cuts. Plentiful help should come a available. The trade market is another avenue. I have a hunch the bucs will be serious players for dudes that wanna play on a Brady lead team. This is an all in season for the bucs. Superbowl, or bust
May 1st, 2022 at 5:44 pm
we signed 13 how many do you want
May 1st, 2022 at 5:45 pm
Honestly I would prefer guys who think “I don’t care who they have they are gonna want to keep me”
May 1st, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Jordan Young( Old Dominion LB ) is out of Coatesville, Pa. A blue collar steel town. all those kids are tough.
May 1st, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Brandon Says:
May 1st, 2022 at 5:06 pm
Keep your eyes on Nolan Turner. Good size and speed safety from Clemson. Two time team captain, two time National Champion. Played in 65 games in five years and core special teamer. 6’1 200 lbs 4.45 or so. Tested very well. Could make team as 4th/5th safety and contribute on special teams.
^^^^^^^^
After looking into the UDFA group, this seems like the most logical choice to make the team/practice squad. I was hoping the Bucs would sign an ILB with speed, but the guys they signed run in the 4.75 range, which means they’d probably just keep KJ Britt.
May 1st, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Great time to be a Bucs fan and I appreciate where we are despite my incessant b!tching about us not drafting a corner in the first three rounds. I just hope the folks saying I’m wrong are right and I’ll gladly eat crow if that ends up being the case. I just want us to win. 😇
May 1st, 2022 at 7:29 pm
The one we did sign, Dylan Cook, I like a lot as developmental OL. He’s got that nasty streak we need.
May 1st, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Deven Thompkins is going to make the squad. bye-bye Darden
May 1st, 2022 at 7:38 pm
Rudy Rudy Rudy RUDY RUDY RUDY!!!!
May 1st, 2022 at 7:40 pm
WR Kaylon Geiger
WR Jerreth Sterns
CB Kyler McMichael
OL Dylan Cook
LB Olankunie Fatukasi
S Nolan Turner
May 1st, 2022 at 7:42 pm
Bring in ILB ,interior DL and WR!🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
May 1st, 2022 at 7:50 pm
There are always hidden gems in FA. Think Cyril Grayson.
May 1st, 2022 at 7:50 pm
Aqeel Glass hopefully will get a shot, Alabama A &M QB threw for 3500 & 3600 yards 30+ TDs his sophomore and seniors years, Covid junior season was 1500 yards. Kid is also 6’5” 215, looks like a Josh Allen type. Doug Williams stated, TB is a great place for him with Bowles, Brady and the coaching staff. I think he should be able to compete with our back-ups
May 1st, 2022 at 7:54 pm
I’m intrigued by the tape of Sterns. Darden-like, yes, from a small school. Hope he competes his tail off and earns a spot this year. Kid had stats like Olave.
May 1st, 2022 at 7:54 pm
KR, PR……LB…..DT, DE…….That’s just about it…..hard to make a team when everyone on it is either a freshly drafted rookie or has a ring.
May 1st, 2022 at 7:56 pm
@ DR
Very true. Who in their right mind would complain about making almost a mil for just hanging out at One Buc…
And yes – we pretty much have our 54 man roster set if we sign Gronk and Suh.
Let’s hope the injury bug doesn’t hit us that bad in 2022…
May 1st, 2022 at 8:19 pm
Practice squad do not make $400,000 a year. For under 2 years accrued playing time they make $9200/wk for the 17 or 18 week season. Over 2 years they make $14,000/wk. Those numbers are roughly $160,000-$250,000 per year.
The numbers aren’t negotiable. A player under contract whos put on the practice squad makes practice squad money until he’s called up. If activated he gets a pro-rated portion of his salary while activated.
May 1st, 2022 at 8:22 pm
The LT, Dylan Allen has size. Maybe a shot at PS. The receivers are all tiny. The one is 5’7 180 but caught 150 balls last season. Turner is former NFL FB Kevin Turner’s son. (RIP)
May 1st, 2022 at 8:39 pm
Resistance is futile
May 1st, 2022 at 8:58 pm
The defense runs zone coverage about 63%, and blitzes about 40% if that doesn’t become game specific, with much more man/ coverage combos, the DBS don’t matter.
May 1st, 2022 at 9:10 pm
D-Rok,
Kaylon Geiger is more like Darden than Sterns. Geiger is shifty n can possibly replace Darden.
May 1st, 2022 at 9:41 pm
The WR from WKU looks reminds me of Steve Smith.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:15 pm
I still hope they can pull an impact udfa. The best teams always find a guy.
May 1st, 2022 at 10:34 pm
@Power of Pewter: I think the PS minimum is around $14k a week. Plus, a team can up the PS rate if they want on individual players. I recall Griffin made $1million on the PS the last couple of seasons…
May 1st, 2022 at 10:40 pm
bobo was the worst…liverwurst 🙂
May 1st, 2022 at 10:46 pm
yeah i said it yesterday….scotty, tyler and darden are in deep doo…
it’s really all brady’s call on these back end receiver spots…
whomever he loves or vibes with, will be there…
most likely your initial 5 are:
evans
godwin
gage
perriman
grayson
granted godwin might be pup for half the season…
leaving essentially 3 spots:
scotty
tyler
darden
so those last 3 can easily be swapped put with anyone brady loves or has an on field type connection with
May 1st, 2022 at 10:55 pm
Can’t spell Bucs UDFA without Cam Brate.
May 1st, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Next year our Bucs will have UDFA lining up once again for a shot. 2022 is truly IT. LFG 2022!!
May 2nd, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Just saw on NFL Network that a UDFA just got signed with a $20k sign on and 300k season and was a record amount. Can’t see how a practice squad guy can make more than that??
May 2nd, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Did any UDFAs signed after last year’s draft make the team?
May 2nd, 2022 at 7:02 pm
Rookie minicamp is coming up as well…that’s probably why. They won’t get signed by other teams because they won’t be playing in games yet.
May 2nd, 2022 at 7:54 pm
NOT WITH HOW MANY GAMES THERE ARE NOW, DEPTH IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL!! LFGO UNFINISHED BUISSNESS!! SIGN SOME EDGE RUSHERS, SIGN FLOWERS , HIGHTOWER!!