Lamar Jackson And The Bucs
March 8th, 2023
“Ed, we can market Lamar Jackson to the world! Only Gators fans will buy Kyle Trask gear.”
So yesterday when Joe learned that the Crows slapped the nonexclusive franchise tag on star quarterback Lamar Jackson, Joe got a bunch of questions about maybe the Bucs making a run at the former NFL MVP.
Hey, Jackson is 26. If he can stay healthy — he’s missed 10 of his last 22 games — Jackson could be around for the next decade. And, per league rules, under the nonexclusive tag, if Jackson can find another team to make a bid and Baltimore declines to match it, Jackson can be had for two first-round picks.
You have to figure that no later than next year the Bucs will invest to spend a first-round pick on a quarterback. So what’s an additional first-round pick for an established star?
The trick is, how do you squeeze Jackson’s contract under the cap? The Bucs are badly squeezed there. (Yes, Joe understands the slimy Saints found a way to pay Derek Carr. What, does Joe look like, an accountant to you?)
This is what got Joe thinking: Regular listeners to the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” may remember a year or two ago when Ira boldly claimed Team Glazer would not tolerate Kyle Trask pushed on the public as a franchise quarterback.
Why was Ira so sure? Well, few people know the shot-callers at One Buc Palace better than Ira. And Ira reasoned that after Team Glazer lusted for decades for a franchise quarterback, they finally got to taste the fruits of what a star quarterback can do (and revenue streams) the past three years with Tom Brady.
Therefore, Ira explained, Team Glazer wasn’t going to just roll over for any quarterback. They wanted someone with star power. And lo and behold a star quarterback may be available — right when the Bucs are trying to pick a starting QB.
(Face it, Trask is the lone quarterback on the roster and both Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs coach Todd Bowles repeatedly said Trask would “compete” for the job. That means they don’t know who the quarterback is yet. When is the last time you heard of an established starter having to “compete” for his job unless he was over the hill?)
Joe would absolutely love to have a recording device planted in Team Glazer’s office right now.
Teams that reportedly will *not* be pursuing a deal for Lamar Jackson include:
▫️Falcons
▫️Dolphins
▫️Panthers
▫️Commanders
▫️Raiders— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 7, 2023
March 8th, 2023 at 8:05 am
We don’t want him.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:07 am
For the love of God, NO! we don’t need to leverage our distant future for a scrambling QB prone to injuries. We wouldn’t have the money to protect him or give him viable weapons. Bucs fans need to accept the phase we are in and be patient.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:08 am
We would have to give up 2 first round picks, plus like 45 mil a year
March 8th, 2023 at 8:12 am
i would say thumbs down for me on Lamar.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:12 am
An expensive AR15
March 8th, 2023 at 8:12 am
The Ravens built their entire team around Lamar Jackson and his skill set. There is no way he can leave Baltimore and have the same success on a team that needs him to carry them. Maybe the Steelers but Jackson needs an all pro offensive line and a defense that shortens the field.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:14 am
Yes please
March 8th, 2023 at 8:15 am
pass, take our lumps and clear the cap this year, the bucs have some rebuilding to do
March 8th, 2023 at 8:18 am
What a ridiculous proposition……2 first round picks and a boatload of money we don’t have…..absurd.
We’d be better off with Jimmy G or Rodgers…..at least no picks necessary.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Hard pass, we need to rebuild the team and get under the cap at this point.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:20 am
Not a big fan of Lamar and don’t think he’ll ever win a superbowl because of his playstyle. You gotta be able to be healthy to win it all. Also his passing can be subpar.
With that being said I would support a trade for Lamar if the Bucs want to sign him long term. Would make them competitive for the next handful of years and who know, maybe if all the stars aligned they could look like the Eagles this year and actually make some deep runs…
Or just blow it all up suck this year and try to get that franchise guy after the suck
March 8th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Seriously. If you want that type of offense then trade up for Richardson and play him on a rookie contract. Or trade up and get levis and play more of a buffalo style. But if it costs you 2 first round picks then get the guy on a rookie deal. Jackson is best year to year and watch the ravens franchise him again next year.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:22 am
At the very least the Bucs would be instantly entertaining again. Something does tell me once Jackson gets his 2nd contract he’ll be reluctant to play any less than 100% healthy ( see 2020 ). As far as the 2 firsts…would Baltimore settle for formers 1sts Tryon and Hall ( technically not a 1st but still ) ? Of course they wouldn’t. Likely won’t happen but QBs make or break your team and provide a certain “watchability” factor. Not excited to watch Trask myself…
March 8th, 2023 at 8:25 am
“The trick is, how do you squeeze Jackson’s contract under the cap? The Bucs are badly squeezed there. (Yes, Joe understands the slimy Saints found a way to pay Derek Carr. What, does Joe look like, an accountant to you?)”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
This is hilarious!
I will say it again. The Saints are able to sign Carr because they have 12-13 contracts to restructure and they don’t have 28 free agents to sign…
You don’t need to be an accountant Joe to understand basic math.
The Bucs need to reduce their cap number by $90M just to have $35M to spend.
I can’t believe we are still talking about Lamar Jackson.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:25 am
Already injury problem child and can’t stay on the field. So add in we will have a suspect O-line to that problem. Better off with Trask.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:26 am
Kind of like buying a Lamborghini when you need a daily driver.
Sure it’s flashy and fast. But awfully expensive for something you can’t rely on to get you to work everyday. That doesn’t even count the two first rounders we would have to give up.
Hard pass!
March 8th, 2023 at 8:31 am
He’s far from an accurate passer and his play style will yield him 3 yrs in the league tops. He ain’t getting any younger and a dominant oline is 100% required for him to succeed. Entertaining yes SB NO! He wants Mahomes & Roger’s money >$50M.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:37 am
“What, does Joe look like, an accountant to you?”
No. More like…a typical former Downstate Illinois guy, that when he is in Chicago, likes to visit Lou Malnati’s for some Deep dish pizza’s and a couple brews. A lot of us don’t look like accountants.
And a hard pass on Lamar…or Jameis.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:39 am
Lamar, Evans, Godwin and White together sound good to me!! Can you imagine….
March 8th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Bad move. Id rather suck with trask than be medocre with Lamar for 3-5 seasons. Make the team great through the draft, get right with
Cap. Be good for long run not
Near term
March 8th, 2023 at 8:43 am
I don’t think the Bucs will entertain that deal at all. First Joe just mentioned that Jackson has missed 10 of the last 22 games with injuries. 2. The Bucs rode that train before giving up 2 first round draft picks for Gruden. It’s was fine at the beginning because the Bucs won a Super Bowl however, the team was set back for years because they didn’t have top tier draft picks. I like Jackson but I not sure he’s the type of QB you take a chance with especially with that type of compensation and his injury record.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Bowles would tie an anvil to Jackson’s back to keep him from running. And he wouldn’t let him throw except on third down, so why pay him?
March 8th, 2023 at 8:44 am
No problem, he gets a million a year for 123 years
March 8th, 2023 at 8:45 am
What’s with all the Lamar hate 😂 I don’t understand y’all act like the man ain’t the mvp and only lost 16 times in his career yes we should go get him and pay that man I wouldn’t mind Trask and drafting a Qb but when Lamar Jackson available you go get him like we got a new offense coordinator white at running back mike Chris and Lamar and you telling me we wouldn’t win games with that D y’all out of y’all mind
March 8th, 2023 at 8:47 am
It’s not the $45 mil a year that should scare you. It’s the guaranteed money that he wants.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:50 am
Let it play out and have some fun with it – you never know if…
March 8th, 2023 at 8:53 am
He also wants a guaranteed contract, Deshaun Watson money plus a whooping on draft picks from the Ravens. All that while he sits on the bench injured. NOPE!
March 8th, 2023 at 8:55 am
Backloaded guaranteed
March 8th, 2023 at 8:56 am
Is that not what everyone say in the NFL, I’m here to compete all i want is a chance to compete what am I missing?
March 8th, 2023 at 9:00 am
Yes please!!!!
March 8th, 2023 at 9:01 am
Here’s how. Signing money guaranteed. The first year he will only count a low amount against the Cap…..the cap ppl. Stop being naive. These guys can manipulate it to do whatever they truly want it to. The problem most of the time is the actual cash not the cap number. Does the owner want to pay him say 50 million on day 1? Make zero mistakes about this. If they want him, it’ll happen
March 8th, 2023 at 9:03 am
Gotta take a bite out of the cap sheet sandwich.
Aggressively transition from old to new. This season AIN’T going anywhere! Don’t even try to fool yourself, trade vets on the roster aggressively for picks and young players, think Tampa Bay Rays…. Get it over with and don’t delude yourselves.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:03 am
I don’t see why everyone is hating the idea of getting rid of 2 first round pics for Jackson. It would be this year’s 19 and a high twenties next year since Jackson makes us contenders again.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:08 am
Maybe a Jackson/Trask qb duo would be ideal for the Bucs!! When LJ gets hurt, Trask can come in a start for 5 or 6 games!! A win win!!
March 8th, 2023 at 9:12 am
NO ! ! ! TEAM GLAZERS..PLEASE DON’T DO THIS.. KYLE TRASK IS A DAMN GOOD QUARTERBACK !..GIVEN A CHANCE HE MIGHT BECOME GREAT !…ANTHONY RICHARDSON WAS 3RD STRING BEHIND AT FLORIDA & RECENTLY SPOKE OF HOW HE ADMIRED HIS PLAY !..IF WE CAN’T DRAFT RICHARDSON, GO WITH KYLE ! GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE, HE’S EARNED IT !..HE WAS 4TH IN THE HEISMAN VOTING IN 2021. ! COME ON ! DON’T SACRIFICE OUR ( THE BUC’S ) FUTURE ON LAMAR JACKSON…PLEASE, FOR MY BUCCANEERS,,DON’T DO IT ! RICHARDSON IS ALREADY JUST AS FAMOUS & IF YOU MUST SELL SPORTS GEAR TRADE CHICAGO & DRAFT ANTHONY RICHARDSON ! MAKE HIM OUR FUTURE ! ! !
March 8th, 2023 at 9:13 am
Of course Willie G, you do make a great point!!
March 8th, 2023 at 9:20 am
I wanted to breath this into existence all year last year. But unfortunately I don’t see a way that this could happen. This team has 26 free agents and as of this writing I believe still 40 million over the cap. No way could they bring in Jackson and build a team hell it’s going to be hard for them to sign a drew locke type with 26 free agents lol
March 8th, 2023 at 9:20 am
Please Lamar isn’t even a top ten quarterback 45 mil a year if he was 100% healthy on a good day he worth is probably 25 mil. The non exclusive tag is based on top 10 quarterback average so even. 32 mil is too much
March 8th, 2023 at 9:21 am
Yes trade picks do what u can to land Lamar!!!
March 8th, 2023 at 9:25 am
Lamar is a top 5 qb until he can’t run anymore, then he’s 30 year old Cam Newton (who incidentally is 33, isn’t playing anymore)
March 8th, 2023 at 9:25 am
HOW long did Brady play again?
March 8th, 2023 at 9:26 am
Hard pass!! The best ability is availability. There is a reason why Baltimore hasn’t signed him to a long-term contract yet.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Look a picture of Moe, Larry and Curly.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:31 am
I wonder if no one is interested what will the Ravens do?
March 8th, 2023 at 9:36 am
This is total BS the league and players association are going to investigate why no one is interested in Lamar Jackson.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:37 am
His stunt-double Tyler Huntley should be included since he’s the one who actually plays.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:45 am
No!
March 8th, 2023 at 9:47 am
Fun Fact: Lamar Jackson established pro is only 1 year and 6 days older than draftee Hendon Hooker.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:47 am
No thank you.
March 8th, 2023 at 9:47 am
Good thing the commenters do not have a say in what the Bucs actually do. Give up the picks? Do anything to get him? WTF are you people drinking!
We just experienced 3 terrific years with a charismatic QB and dominant players. We did it on borrowed time. And some of you want to borrow just a little bit more time at the expense of the next 10+ years!
Eagles were able to perform last year because their QB was on a rookie contract. Watch how dominant they are when they have to pay him. we need a game manager while the right pieces are added. Starts with the loss of many FAs. We draft, we build, we perform. We might not be championship contenders for a few years, but we WILL NOT win a championship with a decimated roster and a fragile scrambling QB.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:05 am
Due to last year, I am already sick of hiring players who have an injury history, period.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:07 am
Lamar played himself being his own agent…and he’s trash yeah he can run but whenever he’s forced to beat teams with his arms he cant…I don’t want me13 or godwin to suffer from the te loving runner. Big no. They want him to see what the league thinks since he’s over valuing himself.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:16 am
It’s amazing how many dolts there are in this town when it comes to sports takes
March 8th, 2023 at 10:17 am
2 ones! No way!!
March 8th, 2023 at 10:18 am
He’s angling for a fully guaranteed contract with a +$50 million annual salary. No thanks.
Look at what Daniel Jones just got. $40 million a year. This is not the time for this team to get themselves into the high dollar QB market. Let the dust settle on these ridiculous contracts and wait for sanity to return. The Brown’s flipped the market upside down with their asinine Watson deal.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:20 am
THE Chicago Billy???
We have a celebrity in the house!
March 8th, 2023 at 10:29 am
Joe wrote:
“When is the last time you heard of an established starter having to “compete” for his job unless he was over the hill?”
When was the last time anybody called Kyle Trask an established starter in the NFL?
Talk about an irrelevant point.
The Bucs have watched Kyle Trask for the last two years, they have at least some idea of how he might do as a starter, but of course nobody knows until a starter starts starting, and has been playing lots of games in the NFL.
If the Bucs commit to starting Trask, by the end of the 2023 regular season they will have a much better grasp on how he’s likely to do long term in the job. Though even the greatest quarterbacks usually don’t start their careers by winning MVP of the league and a Super Bowl championship. Developing a quarterback takes time. After all, the Bucs gave Jameis Winston five full seasons to prove that he was a bad quarterback.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:32 am
The Bucs will do whatever they do. It seems rather unlikely that the Bucs can afford Lamar Jackson, and besides, what good is a highly paid quarterback sitting on the bench due to injury? Everybody should know by now that “running quarterbacks” expose themselves to much more injury than do those who are disciplined to stay in the pocket and throw the ball, or else hand it off to a running back whom the team can afford to lose, unlike the team’s starting quarterback.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:34 am
I’ve been saying for a year now that the Bucs should look to sign Lamar Jackson. The NFL is better suited to QBs who play like Lamar Jackson than QBs who are pure pocket passers. Jackson has never had top receivers to throw to and Tampa has two.
If the Bucs are serious about winning in 2023 then you do what you can to get a top QB. If the Bucs decide to take their salary cap lumps this year then none of this matters.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:36 am
Sell the team and take your 2 Lombardi rental trophies with you.
&
Why is not JAMES WILDER in the RoH ?
March 8th, 2023 at 10:41 am
I’m a hard no on Jackson. Apparently Jackson wants a Deshaun Watson type of fully guaranteed contract. I understand that quarterback salaries are through the roof now, but at some point sanity has to prevail. If Jackson played a style of football that protected his body, then maybe he is worth the risk. As Joe noted, Jackson has already missed 10 out of 22 games. Dudes getting older, not younger. Jackson’s 26 years are like dog years with his style of play. Let’s pass on the Lamar Jackson talk and focus on building a team that can win consistently for a change.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:50 am
Too much to give up – in picks and money – for a glorified running back.who missesway too many games
March 8th, 2023 at 10:54 am
God NO! Run as far away from Lamar Jackson as possible! The Ravens put the non exclusive tag on him for a reason. They are hoping someone takes the bait and they can part ways with him and still get decent compensation for him. He’s asking for a fully guaranteed contract because he knows as does everyone else that he can’t stay healthy with his style of play. Only a desperate GM will be stupid enough to even consider it.
March 8th, 2023 at 11:00 am
Take him who cares about the 2 firsts; Licht is horrible at drafting later in round 1
March 8th, 2023 at 11:01 am
LJ is a headache for owners, coaches and locker rooms….
Tampa should avoid him EVEN if he agreed to move to the rb position!
March 8th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Ahh…How Much for Derek Henry again?
March 8th, 2023 at 11:42 am
Lamar is the answer. Bowles wants ball control. Evans and Godwin are known to run block, and Lamar has likely never thrown to a better pair of receivers. This kid has carried a Baltimore team on his back for years, and he is DAWG. Easily the best QB in the division. Not over the age of 30. MVP not named Brady, Rodgers, or Mahommes, and you can get him for 2 first rounders? I think its a total loser mentality to blow this teams assets up, get little value for it, then start back at zero in a year or two. No. 1 pick is not guaranteed, and we arent likely to magically figure it out anyways. Stars are aligning. Big name. Will get the Glazers more televised games, and if they decide to sell team in the near future, he is a good selling point. Stars are aligning. Say no to Glennon 2.0 ! Stars are aligning.
March 8th, 2023 at 11:44 am
We have no money for Jackson and what kind of quarterback he’s going to be at 31 or 32 years old remember Cam Newton who is out of the NFL at the age of 32 . I like Lamar Jackson but I know he ain’t going to last pass 31 years old because defensive player will be faster than him or just as fast as he is wich means they will be able to run with him.
March 8th, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Please find a way to make it happen. The excitement alone would be worth it
March 8th, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Sundays this year will be The Bowles Comedy Hour.
March 8th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
Bullsh!t Industrial Complex in overdrive. Made up nonsense. Chum for m0r0ns.
March 8th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
And look who it caught! Something else for sasquatch to b!tch about.
March 8th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
DBS Says:
March 8th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
It’s chum for people who buy into it, m0r0n. Thanks for playing.
March 8th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
I don’t understand the hate on Lamar Jackson just blows my mind on what I am reading on here lol . This man is a mvp he has the fifth most wins in the nfl in the last five years with no number one receiver. If you paired him with Mike & Chris and this young backfield we have with the option of him escaping pressure and making a plays . That team easily win the division & make the playoffs to compete for a championship.
March 8th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
Sorry m0r0n. It got YOU to read it!
March 8th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
SB, there you go again with your rental comment and you’re inane suggestion that they sell the team. And of course you offer no alternatives as usual. First, we own those trophies obviously. What exactly is a rental super bowl trophy? Did the Rams rent their recent one because they won it in the first year after picking up free agent Matt Stafford? Does the quarterback have to be homegrown and on his second contract for it not to be a rental? You have to go back to pre-free agency days to get those kinds of situations now. Silly talk.
March 8th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
@DBS,
I’m curious whenever I see these story titles to see if there’s any substance. It’s true, they get my clicks. Guilty. That doesn’t mean I engage in perpetuating nonsense.
They get a lot of extra clicks because they do occasionally drop worthwhile supported information here, which keeps engagement up and gets clicks on the chum. The chum isn’t obvious until you read the article critically. Guess I should skip all the articles that mention big-name QBs in the title — that’s almost guaranteed to be purely speculative, unsubstantiated horsesh!t.
March 8th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
get the kid an agent and get him on the team
winner and leader
March 8th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
^ this is who the chum is for.
March 8th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
Matt Corral has a skill set of running and passing that fits the Bucs needs perfectly. In addition, he has Tom Brady leadership skills!
March 8th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Matt Corral, a QB on the Panthers roster, has a skill set of passing and running that fits the Bucs needs perfectly. His leadership skills are OUTSTANDING!
March 8th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
I prefer to make a go at Rodgers
March 8th, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Taken the Ravens to the playoffs 4 out of 5 years but has only one playoff win.
March 8th, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Buc king Says:
March 8th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
Yeah. Not happening.
After dumping Brate, Lenny, and Donnie we are 40ish million over the cap. What is Rodgers getting paid? Add that to 40 mill and that’s how much cap we’d have to clear to make it happen, and then we’d have to clear more to sign anyone else.
So, explain how signing Rodgers or any other big $ QB is feasible or sensible.
March 8th, 2023 at 4:29 pm
Wouldn’t we have to surrender 2 first rounders? No way. Also, smaller running QB with a knee injury? Pass. Remember RG3
March 8th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Roger’s played like crap last season.
March 8th, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Yes. This would be the move a smart ownership group would follow. Do it.
March 8th, 2023 at 11:52 pm
he wants a fully guaranteed contract
uh no…no no no
March 9th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Foolishness for a team thats going nowhere with the current coach and roster to make them worse against the salary cap for a player that probably won’t make it through the season without getting hurt next year’s pick will be top 5 so just be patient and wait and save the money