Expecting Wheeling And Dealing On Draft Weekend
March 19th, 2023
Plenty of chips on the table.
The Bucs have a lot of holes to fill with nine draft picks to play with.
The nine picks are the most the team has had since 2010, per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.
In the past, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has had no inhibitions trading picks or flipping positions in the draft. It would be a surprise if he didn’t.
Initially, Joe figured the Bucs might be able to draft Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in the second round. But if this craziness pans out to be true that Anthony Richardson is a top-10 pick, then there is no way Hooker lasts to the second round. Therefore, the Bucs might need to pounce on Hooker much earlier than expected.
The Bucs need a left tackle, too, with Donovan Smith gone. And unless there is a guy that has blown Licht away, he generally goes second or third round with offensive linemen.
Yes, Licht admitted there is “talk” about moving Tristan Wirfs to left tackle but emphasized that’s “just talk.” So who knows?
A guy Joe has had his eye on if Wirfs does move to left tackle is Tennessee right tackle and Hooker’s teammate Darnell Wright. Last year Wright did not give up a sack in a pass-happy offense. When you are playing Alabama and Georgia and don’t give up a sack, that’s saying something.
Licht’s history says he likes Big Ten tackles (Donovan Smith and Wirfs). So in this line of thinking, maybe Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones?
Drafting Jones would mean flipping Wirfs to left tackle. Jones has only played right tackle and at times he can get tangled up by speed rushers.
From a financial angle, Joe isn’t sure if the Bucs want to tie up two guys with first-round cash at tackle. So that’s another reason Joe is looking at second round for a Bucs tackle, provided NFL suits haven’t lost their minds and pick AR15 in the top-ten.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:17 am
A whole lotta love Joe shows for a quarterback with “meh” numbers in college compared to the two QBs already on our roster who also happens to have a blown up knee. It is senseless.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:20 am
You could say they have a 2nd round tackle in Goedeke. He’s a second round pick Joe he has to play. He wasn’t a very good guard so unless Licht wants a bust on his hands, he has to play RT this year. Not saying the Bucs won’t draft a tackle, just not in rounds 1,2. What I’d like to see them draft instead is a true center to back up, then replace Jensen. If Jensen goes down you’d have to shuffle the whole line moving Hainsey back to center. This would be a good time to draft a center that can learn from Jensen.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:22 am
I wouldn’t be opposed to trading down in the first and picking up an extra 2nd, er3rd……then trading some of our later picks to get into the 3rd, 4th…
If our nine helps us get a 1st, 2 2nds, 3rd, 4th & a 5th….then that would be good.
I like TE, OT, S, Edge, RB & CB with our picks.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:25 am
Numbers you put up in college with a loaded roster doesn’t always translate to the Pros. Trask is a statue in the mold of Brady. That worn in todays NFL. If the Bucs weren’t looking at other options, I would seriously think about the future of the staff.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:42 am
I would like to see the first 6 picks be OLB, Safety, DL, RB, TE, and OL.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:48 am
“Joe isn’t sure if the Bucs want to tie up two guys with first-round cash at tackle”
Tackle is a premium position in the league (both sides) and if you want an OT who is talented enough to start and play well as a rookie – then you had best be taking him in the 1st round. Plus you get that 5th year option which helps save $ if he is what you hoped for.
Its more than ok to pay $3-5M per year to your 1st round OT while he is on his rookie deal. Much better than paying $10-25M for a quality free agent…….
March 19th, 2023 at 8:50 am
Explosive offensive weapons
We ain’t got!
Hence the opposition has a smaller field to defend
March 19th, 2023 at 8:51 am
Let’s hope Jason doesn’t lose his mind and pick AR15 in any round. He needs to rebuild the backbone of this team and that’s in the Trenches. Still need an OT, DL and the Edge that JTS will never be. If it is in the first round so be it. Best available lineman.
March 19th, 2023 at 8:53 am
I hope they trade back at least once. Just because we pick a first round player it doesn’t mean they’ll work out JTS
March 19th, 2023 at 8:59 am
Richardson will likely be a top 6 pick. Due to Hooker’s age and injury most mocks have him going late second to early third round. Regardless I don’t see the Bucs taking him and giving up on the second round QB they already have on the roster. As a fan I would love us to take Bijon in the first and Hooker in the second. From a practical standpoint I think trading back in the first and taking the guard out of UF followed by a tackle and a safety in the second would be the wise choice.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Last year NFL offensive lineman in 1st round
Ikem Ekwonu 6th overall — 13 penalties, 6 sacks
Evan Neal 7th overall — 7 penalties, 7 sacks
Charles Cross 9th overall — 7 penalties, 7 sacks
Kenyon Green 15th overall — 12 penalties, 4 sacks
Zion Johnson 17th overall — 7 penalties, 7 sacks
Trevor Penning 19th overall — 2 penalties (Only 124 snaps)
Tyler Smith 24th overall — 13 penalties, 6 sacks
Tyler Linderbaum 25th overall — 6 penalties, 3 sacks
Cole Strange 29th overall — 6 penalties, 5 sacks
So, anyone suggesting that Goedeke is a bust based upon his first season only, especially seeing the difference of Cappa between the 1st and 2nd season, really does not understand that many guys who become solid in the NFL, take a season at least.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:14 am
I will have to wait and see with this years draft but, I like what Licht is with these free agent signings All these guys are between 26 and 27 accept David and I think 1 more.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:18 am
Broderick Jones LT Georgia is a dominant force that Bucs could move up and take, Jones would start and excel 1st year. Emmanuel Forbes CB Mississippi State is a ball hawking cover corner that scores alot of TD’s and has excellent length and speed , if Bucs stay put , Forbes should be the pick-depth at CB is essential.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:20 am
@pigskin. Recent history does not really support your statement “…if you want an OT who is talented enough to start and play well as a rookie then you had best be taking him in the 1st round.”
The year that we took Wirfs other OTs taken in the 1st round:
Andrew Thomas was the first tackle off the board and allowed 3 penalties and 10 sacks that year.
Jedrick Willis was the 2nd tackle and allowed 11 penalties and 4 sacks.
Mekhi Becton had no snaps due to an injury.
Austin Jackson was not injured but never cracked the starting lineup just getting special team snaps.
Isiah Wilson was so bad he was out of the league with never getting a starting snap in the league.
In 2019, Jonah Williams was the Alabama tackle a lot of Bucs fans wanted us to take. He has been bad as well even though he was the 11th overall pick that year.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:27 am
Well beSIDES them
March 19th, 2023 at 9:30 am
I was watching Baker Mayfield this morning. Tampa Bakers numbers are better than Drew Brees’ first 5 Years in San Diego. We need to load up with speedy specials teams players and defense. I believe Licht will have his one best drafts since joining Tampa Bay.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:34 am
We have the first overall pick as Tampa Bay’s new QB, Tampa Baker, this guy will be an upgrade from Tom Brady. Watch the dammm film and stop talking about drafting a QB.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:35 am
From the Brady bunch to hookers. Don’t get swooned by the hype on this QB class…don’t waste a 1 on any of them…OTs..Edge’s..safety’s….TE…and a nice rookie QB camp arm or maybe A Purdy…lol…
March 19th, 2023 at 9:55 am
Joe if you want a hooker so bad, just go get one.
March 19th, 2023 at 9:56 am
I see them drafting OL, DL, safety on the first 4 rounds.
Also getting a fast WR
March 19th, 2023 at 10:02 am
@geno 711
You nailed it bro.
Goedeke could bounce back and be a solid RG. He doesn’t have the hips of the length to be a RT but he could become a good RG.
Goedeke has the mentality. That’s important. He’s tough as nails like Cappa. But he was slow like Cappa. But Cappa keep improving. I think Goedeke will be good by year 4. Average until then.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:14 am
It amazes me that even with his track record on Oline picks & FAs fans still are skeptical of Licht….
I surely believe he can find an eventual starter in the 2nd or 3rd round.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:18 am
I like the thought of Dawand Jones, if a fat guy can survive in the Florida heat! Hahaha!
SB-LV: There’s a good chance that Mike Evans and Chris Godwin will be BETTER weapons this year, Evans because Mayfield will “throw it up to him”. Why wouldn’t you do that with a 6’-5” WR when most DB’s are about 6’ even? Godwin will be more healthy and shouldn’t take such a beating playing outside. He was asked to block like a TE without being the size of a TE.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:19 am
In the span of 3 drafts he picked Davis, Dean, Winfield, SMB, Whitehead and Edwards, I’ll trust his judgement any day
March 19th, 2023 at 10:19 am
I believe the way the offseason is going the draft is screaming for us to take the the top S from Alabama if he falls! If he doesn’t fall then go with the TE from Georgia. That’s right the TE from bulldogs! Then draft Jammie Robinson S out of fsu in later rounds
March 19th, 2023 at 10:33 am
Like the Bucs need another young qb to take up space for years and waste another draft pick…
Build the trenches and fill positions with depth…
They want to run, run, run… get a beast at RB!
March 19th, 2023 at 10:37 am
gm is making moves like a top flight dude without a doubt…
scraping sh!t together like a true master…
10 wins prolly gets the division, and we just might be in play for it this year…
licht is making a boatload of good moves, in the wake of losing some players, but there’s nothing you can do about the loses and defectors…part of the biz
March 19th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Been counting on it, in the right scenario with multiple trades I wouldn’t put it past Licht to try and double dip in the 3rd or 4th round this year. Our batch of draft is bottom heavy as it stands and again, who needs six day-3 picks?
March 19th, 2023 at 10:42 am
yeah if you grab a top fight left or right tackle and he pans out, and i mean pans out this year, like wirfs did, then you’ve got your 2 book ends with jensen in the middle…
and a host of guys you can pencil in or rotate at the guard spots until a couple solidify the spots…
the line isn’t as bad off as i’ve been hearing people say…
and no you don’t spend a bunch of money on a cincy lineman (LT)…that crew of guys seems ready to end burrow’s career at any given moment…so forget that entire cincy group…granted they’re a little better than 2-3 years back, but still very iffy as a unit – even with cappa…but they are coming around…slowly
March 19th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Licht has shown zero ability so far to properly evaluate/draft QBs. We need linemen and safety, both positions he’s been excellent at drafting. Stick with what we are good at, roll the dice in rds 4-7 on another young QB, RBs, special teams guys. Too many times Licht gets creative in his picks and we waste premium picks on guys that flame out. The pick of a kicker might literally be the 2nd dumbest in franchise history behind drafting Bo Jackson #1 after he told them he would not play for them.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:45 am
Same as quarterbacks, if there is a run on tackles then maybe you take one if not wait to the second round.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:47 am
Which Joe is obsessed with Hendon Hooker? He have no idea if he can play quarterback in the NFL because he isn’t making reads in that clown show Vols offense. He’s Colt Brennan with a busted knee.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:47 am
i see gm dumping at least half of our 5th to 7th rounders with other pics or playesr to jump up a bit into earlier spots…
no need for 6 picks in the 5th thru 7th…(i think we have 6 picks as of now, i could be wrong)
we really need at least 4 quality picks in this draft that come to fruition…ok 3 to 4…even 3 would be good…very important draft
March 19th, 2023 at 10:51 am
I still think Bucs go edge rusher with Lukas Van Ness.
March 19th, 2023 at 10:52 am
forget a late round drafting of a crap qb…don’t waste a pick like that…there will never be another 6th round brady in our lifetimes…
next year is the qb draft…
this year, late in the season, is the year you decide if you’re pulling the trigger on a qb next year…
right now you have 2 “what if” guys on your roster in baker and trask…either one could boom or bust…time will tell
March 19th, 2023 at 11:07 am
adam from ny the Bucs organization has never been able to draft a quarterback and develop him. Either from lack of good coaching or lack of patience your guess is as good as mine and I have been following them since ’76.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Joe has been very clear Air Raid QBs often struggle in the NFL. Just like spread-offense QBs. Sadly, few if any colleges run a Pro Style offense.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Jameis was drafted #1 in 2015 by a meh team. Baker was drafted #1 in 2018 by another meh team. Brady was drafted #199 in 2000 by a pretty decent team.
Drafting a QB real high guarantees nothing. Surrounding a young QB with a quality TEAM gives them an opportunity to DEVELOP without being expected to be the team’s savior. Let’s rebuild our TEAM first this year, then re-look at our QB needs in 2024. That’s supposedly a better QB class anyways.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Allbuccedup Says:
March 19th, 2023 at 11:07 am
adam from ny the Bucs organization has never been able to draft a quarterback and develop him. Either from lack of good coaching or lack of patience your guess is as good as mine and I have been following them since ’76.
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i totally agree, we have zero luck with drafting qb’s…and any of them that had success, had it after there time as a buc…i’m hoping the glazers have realized this and just bring in solid veteran qb’s that hit the open market in the future – these plans of developing one it tampa have been pretty horrific on the whole – spanning time, all the way back into the early to mid 80’s – from doug williams to steve young, and so on…
it’s like it’s not in the cards for the bucs to develop a franchise qb somehow…oh well…
we just sort of wasted a 5 year window with jameis…but with brady’s arrival, it has been brushed under the rug somewhat easily, as success with tb12 has a way of doing that…
quite honestly, i’m ok with us never drafting a qb again lol 🙂
March 19th, 2023 at 11:39 am
DE, OT, and D-Back. Let the rest fall where they may.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:53 am
I see a lot of defensive signings which we need but hardly any offensive signings. I don’t really see how the offensive will be any better in the direction we are going. Someone in one of your articles said Brady got rid of the ball too fast sometimes throwing into the ground. But maybe he had to from lack of pass protection. The knock on Mayfield is he holds the ball to long. I guess we will see, Licht says the o-line was a work in progress but he also said the same thing last summer when we lost Jensen and Stinnie now we have lost Smith and Mason( for good) sounds familiar.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:57 am
I like hooker, just not in the 1st or 2nd.
March 19th, 2023 at 11:59 am
Sounds like Hooker couldn’t make it through 10 games with that guy playing tackle, lol.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Would be great if the Bucs could trade to the back of the first round and grab Hooker.
March 19th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Hooker? Has Joe given up on Mayfield already?!! I haven’t. I want to see how he does with non-diva receivers and (hopefully) good offensive coaching first.
March 19th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Nice posts Gino 7-Eleven. Thank you for the information on the penalties and sacks for the tackles taken early in the draft.
I agree with a lot of the folks here who say the bucks need to trade back to get additional picks.
Then I think the focus needs to be on defensive end with the first pick, offensive tackle with the second pick, safety with the third pick, then depth that linebacker, cornerback, and maybe even use a late pick on (date I say it?) a kicker.
Hope the box bring back Ghoulston,Nassib
March 19th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Allbucced, I was noticing that, too. Todd is still obsessed with the defense, I guess. I can hardly wait until Time tells us everything. 😀
March 19th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Is it legal for Hooker to wear 69 as a QB? Would be the top selling jersey or all time.
March 19th, 2023 at 5:25 pm
DR . It’s always the quarterback fault when they get drafted to the bucs!! Next year if they draft a quarterback it will be his fault if he don’t develop. The first thing they’re going to do is make him throw the ball 45 times a game and if he has a bad game it will be because he’s not good enough. And Baker Mayfield played with a good running game and receivers and the browns had a good defense to . Now I thought Baker Mayfield last year with the Browns was bad because he played injured the whole season and I gave him a pass for that season. But when he went to the Panthers and Rams and played bad I was done with Baker Mayfield. Now if he ends up the starter this year which I think he will be gifted the starting job I’m going to root for him and hope he plays well. But I’m going to call it like I see it for Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask if they suck they suck move on next year from both of them.
March 20th, 2023 at 8:58 am
Don’t need to draft another quarterback to sit behind Mayfield and Trask for two years and then be forced to play HIM in two years “just to see what we got”.
Don’t move Wirfs to left tackle and then draft another right tackle. Idiotic. Draft a left tackle.
Or…. draft a left-handed quarterback!
March 20th, 2023 at 10:25 am
Joe, unless we get a stud LT, QB, or DT/CB at the #19 pick we should trade down. What do you think of the Ryan Hayes, Jaylen Duncan, Matthew Bergeron, and Anton Harrison? I would draft two of them and move one of them inside to LG. Keep Wirfs at RT. Hainsey can battle for the LG sport and Goedeke is the RG.
March 20th, 2023 at 11:32 am
WORST RUSHING ATTACK IN NFL HISTORY
Having the worst rushing attack in NFL history is a major blemish on Licht’s resume. He knows it. He traded LG and cut our LT. He’s drafting both positions early in this draft; moreover, Licht likes to draft multiple players of the same positions.
March 21st, 2023 at 7:00 pm
HAINSEY OR GODEIKE COULD PLAY RIGHT TACKLE IF WE SWITCH WIRFS OVER TO LEFT..WE NEED TO SIGN FREE AGENT AUSTIN ECKLER TO HELP OUR RUNNING ATTACK ,GIVE CHARGERS PICK 19 FOR HIM…