“Juices Flowing” In The Buccaneers’ Front Office
February 28th, 2023
“Back off and watch us work, Glazer!”
Imagine trying to craft a stellar football team when you’re $50 million over the salary cap and have several solid free agents you’d like to re-sign.
Oh, and you’re down a a starting quarterback and your leading rusher was just cut, a guy who caught 73 passes.
Throw in that your top pass rusher will count $21 million against the cap this season and he has no timetable yet for a return from an Achilles tear.
That’s the daunting task facing the Bucs’ front office. General manager Jason Licht said today his staff is fired up to crush this offseason on all fronts.
“The challenge is out there for us, and I’ve talked to all of my staff that this is actually going to be a fun challenge,” Licht told Joe and other media types in private sidebar chat at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Right now we can do some bargain shopping. We really gotta nail the draft and try to find starters in different areas of the draft, which we think we can. But this is the kind of stuff that gets the juices flowing of my staff right now. It’s the fun time.”
What a difference from two years ago when the Bucs’ offseason plan was to re-sign everyone (by pushing salary cap pain down the road) and then draft project-type players.
Now the Bucs need home runs in the draft, and successful Shaq Barrett-type deals in free agency like they did when they signed him to a cheap one-year contract in 2019, if they hope to compete for a Super Bowl.
Joe is fired up to see what Licht’s team can do.
February 28th, 2023 at 5:31 pm
I agree, actually! Brady was a fun era. But lots of good storylines right now.
February 28th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Looks like LT DSmith is getting cut too….
February 28th, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Simple … get rid of the old pros and bite the bullet.
February 28th, 2023 at 5:37 pm
I was gonna say Khalil Mack was available… They just traded him
February 28th, 2023 at 5:37 pm
The key this year is to get younger and faster, fix the OLine and Dline, unload excess salary, and find a QB that can actually win games. Big challenge.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
The task to keep the team competitive in 023 should be tuff but not impossible. The Bucs will still have a very good core of players with Evans, Godwin, RB White, Jensen, the RT this years TE. The defense has at least 5 to 6 great players. That seem to be equal or a bit more than several team that were in the playoffs this past season
February 28th, 2023 at 6:14 pm
HC Grover … ‘Simple, get rid of the old pros and bite the bullet’.
Did you ever see a college team play an NFL team? Me neither. There are reasons why vets get 2nd & 3rd contracts instead of teams annually restocking with nothing but youngsters. Proven performance is one of them, and leadership is another. Players like LVD on defense & Jensen on offense have a LOT to teach these younger players, much of which can only be learned in the heat of battle … on the field under the bright lights.
I’d contend HC that losing veterans like Suh & JPP was detrimental to the development of both JTS & Hall. Coaches can teach them a lot, but when the bullets start flying, the coaches are on the sideline.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:14 pm
Joe:
Corrections:
1. $50 million OVER
2. Lenny hasn’t been cut… It’s just been reported that he will be. There’s a difference, especially in the NFL offseason speculation industrial complex.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:17 pm
I agree with Jason. While many fans see doom and gloom, I see this as the base floor for building the roster back in a different form with young players who are hungry and eager to make an impression. It’s actually an exciting time.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:19 pm
Jason Licht … “The challenge is out there for us, and I’ve talked to all of my staff that this is actually going to be a fun challenge,” Licht told Joe and other media types’.
Was that statement by JL followed by nervous laughter by any chance Joe? Kinda wondering also if the Glazers, with mega-millions on the line, are viewing this as a ‘fun challenge’.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:25 pm
It IS a fun challenge. If you’re a GM, this is your bread and butter. And if you’re a lover of the draft and team building as a fan, it’s also exciting, especially with a new OC, expected new players and new approach. It’s actually more interesting than throwing money at aging veterans trying to buy a championship.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:33 pm
I think the Bucs will be competitive this up coming season. As I’ve just mentioned, the Bucs have a number of very good players on both sides of the ball and from what I am hearing none of those players I mention earlier in this article are on the chopping block. I am aware that some things could change but still, I think we’re gonna be competitive. Just plug in some decent QB play weather it’s Trask or whoever. Hell Gruden won the Super Bowl with Brad Johnson at QB
February 28th, 2023 at 6:35 pm
CAN CAM GILL PLEASE SHOW UP?
Dude looked like Shaq v2 two years ago but disappeared last year.
February 28th, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Sasquach correction, Lenny has been cut.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:11 pm
SlyPirate Says:
February 28th, 2023 at 6:35 pm
He disappeared on IR for the entire year. Duh.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:14 pm
Mike C Says:
February 28th, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Incorrect
Bucs PLAN to release Lenny. There’s a difference. It won’t happen for at least a few weeks. It hasn’t happened yet.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:18 pm
@ DR
“fun challenge”
LOL!
It appears the Bucs GM is going with the “gotta make cuts” strategy…
Fournette and Smith are gone and it probably won’t be long before Brate and Succop are cut.
February 28th, 2023 at 7:52 pm
Hey Defense Rules..You asked the question “Did you ever see a college team play an NFL team? Fun fact. This is going to show my age but yes it has happened. 1970 Kansas City Chiefs played the college allstars in Chicago. It was a blowout as I can remember.
February 28th, 2023 at 8:00 pm
I would say sure but look at the past 3 drafts since the superbowl
February 28th, 2023 at 8:29 pm
I might have a glimmer of hope about the Bucs winning some games if I didn’t keep seeing the perennial loser’s face pictured on these articles.
Toad Blowes will notch his fifth losing season in a row as head coich and probably get to do a sixth. That makes me vomit and consume sedatives.
Loser Bowels.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:00 pm
Oh, and you’re down a a starting quarterback and your leading rusher was just cut, a guy who caught 73 passes.
————-
While Fournette has turned into a good pass catching RB, White is a very natural pass catcher and there will not be any issues with him having a ton of receptions. If White is the full time featured back, I won’t be shocked if he ends up around 100 catches. The only issue with White was his early season issues with fumbling, but he seemed to turn that around by later in the year.
February 28th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
Rod Munch Says:
February 28th, 2023 at 10:00 pm
Seems out new RBs coach is an expert at eliminating fumbling. Dallas RBs lost zero fumbles last year.