Jason Licht: Draft Strategy Will Not Change
April 4th, 2023
“Jason, those players won’t do me a lick of good if I’m not here.”
There was a weekend discussion on NFL Network about how head coach Todd Bowles plans to approach his first Bucs season in the post-Tom Brady era.
Some of that discussion moved to the front office view. Sara Walsh, who has been embedded as a Bucs reporter for much of the past couple of years for NFL Network (she can thank Brady for that) said she spoke last week to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht about his approach to this month’s draft.
Walsh said she asked Licht since the Bucs need rookies who can get on the field because the Bucs can’t afford to shop for players, is is feeling undo pressure to ace this month’s draft.
Licht apparently told Walsh that while her premise is tempting, he’s not changing the way he tackles the draft.
“He said their draft strategy isn’t going to change really with the position that they are in,” Walsh said. “What he means by that is he said they are in the business of developing players.
“When they look at these players they may take, they are not going to take someone based on the fact they can put him on the field immediately. That’s not how they are going to look at it.
“They are going to look at what this guy’s upside is potentially could be and they are not going to get drawn into the fact of the situation what they are looking at right now for the Buccaneers.”
Licht will play longball, Walsh continued.
“I think they are realistic,” Walsh said. “I think they will be patient and do the right thing as opposed to jumping on guys because they think, ‘Hey, we can plug him in and make a run.'”
Well, Joe believes Licht has the kind of job security where he can be more worried about, say, 2025 than 2023. He’s earned it.
Does Bowles have that same luxury? Can he afford to hang back and wait for guys to develop? If Bowles has another losing record this season, that would make five straight losing seasons for Bowles as an NFL head coach dating back to his tenure with the Jets.
How much time might winning a terrible division last year buy Bowles?
April 4th, 2023 at 6:33 am
By all accounts Bowles is a nice, fair and very smart man. But head coach material. His record speaks for itself.
April 4th, 2023 at 6:33 am
Hopefully the 2nd round draft strategy will change
April 4th, 2023 at 6:51 am
If Bowles is canned and Licht does get a pass,. Then Licht will be working with his 5th head Coach in 10 years.
April 4th, 2023 at 6:57 am
Yeah right-Why would you want to draft a player that is ready to start on Oline for next 5 years on Day One as opposed to drafting therir way and developing a talent.
Just like in camera film – development is a failure some of the time where drafting a best in the country SEC LT like Broderick Jones out of Georgia is as freaking a guaranteed home run as you can get. Licht has one year and Bowles has one year-that’s it. Get it right JL-your job depends on it.
April 4th, 2023 at 6:57 am
Still waiting on that DeSean Jackson story you guys said you would shed light on once he is out of the league… he hasn’t officially retired but we know he is not getting another shot so let’s hear it! 😂
April 4th, 2023 at 7:01 am
I agree w Lt Dan. Bowles is an outstanding human being with a great family.
But as a HC in today’s NFL he’s a disaster.
6-11 at best this year.
April 4th, 2023 at 7:07 am
Developing players is a great strategy…..if they develop……we are waiting on JTS & Hall……
It’s worked well in later rounds…..Nelson, SMB, Dean, Davis…..Hainsey….perhaps Goedeke….Otten may also prove to be a great pick.
I do believe we need a plug & play OT & a S…….
April 4th, 2023 at 7:10 am
The only thing Bowles has developed is his retirement fund
April 4th, 2023 at 8:02 am
This is why we lost out the last two years
April 4th, 2023 at 8:10 am
Bowles doesn’t win this year and he’s done. The excuse in NY was he never had an established QB, yet he inherits Brady and still manages to have a losing season. If they fired him after one yr, it would be a terrible look for the organization. We give all sorts of credibility to Arians, well….Arians felt very confident that he was handing over a contender to his good buddy Bowles. He felt confident Leftwich was fully capable of being an OC. What does Bowles do in the weakest division in the league?….Produces another mediocre season and absolutely gets dismantled at home by the Cowboys. He is what his record reflects….not a good HC.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:10 am
Licht does the draft, and Bowles does the player development. They are not taking a short term view to building the franchise, and no, Bowles will not be fired at the end of the 2023 season just because this was a rebuild year. He might be fired for other reasons, such as a complete meltdown, but that seems unlikely.
Fans and media writers all demand instant winning and “what have you done for me today” (not “lately”). Thank god the fans and media don’t manage the Bucs.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:58 am
No more projects!!!! Just get a guy with some real tape.
April 4th, 2023 at 9:17 am
SB~LV – Who hits more in the second round than Jason Licht in the NFL right now? Most NFL teams are lucky their 1st rounder works out. Licht seems to hit multiple starters and contributors year after year. Whoever you think is better than JL right now dig up their history and do a double-take because Jason is KILLING IT year after year.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:06 am
Licht is the man.
Bowels is not.
April 4th, 2023 at 10:52 am
I really don’t think the Bucs will have a chance to let any Safety, O line or D line player they draft sit a year and develop. They are going to need to play them at some point in the year with injuries to older players. Also, if the Bucs draft an LT, does anyone think he won’t play right away?
April 4th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Licht needs to go back to the draft strategy he had back in 2020. Draft guys that actually can compete for a starting spot. The last two drafts have been depth guys/special teamers. Nothing wrong with that but it is time to pivot back to difference makers on the field.
April 4th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
They know a few of places need starters. Especially safety. I don’t doubt they want to stick to their philosophy, but reality is we need a couple of plug-and-play right out of the box.
April 4th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
SB~LV Says:
April 4th, 2023 at 6:33 am
Hopefully the 2nd round draft strategy will change
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He’s hit on nearly 50% on his 2nd round draft picks. That’s definitely above average.
April 4th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
JL is the worst GM in the league. He has so many misses at bat, he should get demoted to whiffle ball. I mean, he has a long history of misses. Trading up to draft a kicker in the second round? That could have been a starter somewhere. But no, he just is not that good. maybe one day the Joe-Joes will see that and stop prasing him.
April 4th, 2023 at 8:21 pm
Jumbo smoking that crack pipe again
April 4th, 2023 at 8:41 pm
We get one player every third draft
Wonder if this is the draft ?