Keeping The Bucs’ Draft Simple
April 26th, 2023
“Hey, Rondé, I’m going can’t-miss this year.”
A Florida man who used to work with Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht and was a visitor to Bucs training camp last season is confident the Tampa Bay GM will keep things simple in Round 1 of the draft tomorrow night.
The guy Joe is referencing is Charlie Weis, disliked by so many Gators fans but respected by so many across the NFL. Weis was Tom Brady’s initial playcaller and helped get Vinny Testeverde (Jets) and Matt Cassel (Chiefs) to the Pro Bowl. Yeah, the man knows a few things about offense.
Weis bellows on SiriusXM NFL Radio these days, usually from his Florida home, and he travels to the NFL Scouting Combine and various NFL events.
Today, Weis participated in two mock drafts on the air. First, he said he believes the Bucs will grab University of Georgia left tackle Broderick Jones at No. 19 overall. In the second mock, Weis didn’t make the Bucs’ selection, but he blessed the eventual pick there of Gators offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence.
Torrence is the 6-5, 330 pound senior right guard prospect who is considered a plug-and-play mauler. He’s known for a being overweight and a little slow, but also for being a throwback beast of a guard with a great feel for the game and enough strength to be a monster at the next level.
Joe sees Weis reading the cards in front Licht. The Bucs have a serious need for offensive line help and either one of those players could fit .. and Licht was a college offensive lineman.
(Brief pause. Enjoy the draft at Big Storm Brewery in Ybor City on Thursday night. Always great energy when fans are gathered for the drama with top-notch food and Florida’s best craft beer. Details on the home page.)
If the Bucs draft Torrence, then Tristan Wirfs likely moves to left tackle with newcomer veteran Matt Feiler competing at right tackle (he started there with the Steelers), among others.
Joe easily could see Licht investing heavily in rebuilding the line and keeping the first-round simple. Poor Licht lost three starters in the past two offseasons and Ryan Jensen is 32 with injury issues.
Great fun ahead at the brand new Big Storm taproom in the heart of Ybor City!
Upstairs (2nd level) in Centro Ybor with public parking all around. It’s big, bold and beautiful.
…Courtesy of Florida’s Elite Restoration, you can win $500 in our “Pick The Pick” contest, which was a huge hit at the 2021 NFL Draft party, plus another $500 in an additional contest. Hang with great Bucs fans, Ira Kaufman and Florida’s best craft beer, cocktails and excellent food.
April 26th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Let’s get on the clock….we have about 40 pick possibilities…..confusing….maybe we should trade down and narrow the list some.
April 26th, 2023 at 4:53 pm
We could trade back a little and take him later.
April 26th, 2023 at 4:53 pm
I see a run on T from 9-17. I’m fearful the top 5 Ts may all be gone. If only 1 is left, take him at #19 (Harrison?). If more than one is left consider trading down or go Edge/DE. I don’t see taking a G at #19 given all of the competition expected at G for two positions.
The only other option I see at #19 is slot CB/S. There will be a run on TEs in the 20s and early 2nd round, but I don’t see the Bucs picking a TE in the 1st round.
April 26th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
I’d be totally cool with drafting Torrence. Best guard in the draft, near as I can tell.
April 26th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Why draft a LT #1 when Wirfs wants that spot and he’s practicing at it?….
ok, i wont call it what it is lol….
Darnell Wright is the pick!
April 26th, 2023 at 5:09 pm
whatever.. im usually so excited about the draft in February and March.. now its just annoying, lets do this!..haha
We better draft a tackle and edge rusher with the first 3 picks period.
April 26th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
Best available offensive lineman if their are 2 or 3 choices then trade down. But not to far down.
April 26th, 2023 at 5:13 pm
Beef, and then more Beef. Draft all Beef available. Prime Beef.
April 26th, 2023 at 5:13 pm
Bucs Guy – no reason to fear anything including a run on tackles. Jason Light will select the best available player at a position of need. That is his standard.
If all the good tackles are taken by the middle of Round 1, he’ll take someone else, such as a good guard, or DE or ILB, or running back – all positions of need. Light may trade up or down a few spots to get who he needs most, as he did when he drafted Wirfs, who ranks up there with Evans as the two best all time draft picks by Licht. And day two will also provide opportunities to plug in new starters.
Don’t worry … be happy! It’s draft week!
April 26th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
HOW MANY GUARDS DO WE NEED… BIJAN,DE OR LT
April 26th, 2023 at 5:16 pm
Draft big raging Bulls, Beefalo, and even Buffalo. No steers.
April 26th, 2023 at 5:36 pm
A solid O-Line, good running game, and stiff defense made Kerry Collins & Trent Dilfer into playoff quarterbacks. Draft the linemen and the rest will work itself out. We can all talk about the ‘modern game’ but look at how much success the Ravens and Titans have had lately with strong running attacks and a good D. This game is still won in the trenches. Yes, a great QB trumps all but there are only so many of those and our rental just expired. So build a competitive team that can be good year in and out, and not wait on the QB Fairy to bless us again. Trench monsters, baby, trench monsters!
April 26th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Haven’t heard much at all from #45 lately. Have you?
April 26th, 2023 at 6:29 pm
I count 5 guards already, Hainsey, Stinnie, Leveritt, Goedeke and the FA ex Chargers guard the Bucs just signed. That should be enough. We need OT starter + OT swing tackle from this draft.
April 26th, 2023 at 6:30 pm
Matt Feiler is the other guards name
April 26th, 2023 at 6:51 pm
There are 4 OT’s with 1st round grades.
If they are gone and we don’t go up to get one, then the pick should be D Line or trade back to pick up a pick or two.
Agree with above, Big boy’s on both lines.
1 day to go!!!!!
April 26th, 2023 at 6:55 pm
good rather do this then a QB we need to prepare for being the worst team so Caleb williams 2024 and a new coach
April 26th, 2023 at 7:12 pm
Good Picks at 19 …
OTs (Jones, Paris, Skoronski, Wright)
Bijan
Van Ness
Kancey
Nolan Smith
Good Pick but Should Trade Down
Torrence
Anton Harrison
April 26th, 2023 at 8:13 pm
LT and C are the toughest positions to fill on the line. If I were Licht and all the premium tackles are gone I would select an experienced C first before I would a G
April 26th, 2023 at 8:45 pm
Joe, why don’t you do at least One mock?
Also, let us commenters do one and you peruse them??
just a thought to juice things up here.
April 26th, 2023 at 10:03 pm
I like Torrance and I’m a Nole. Torrance 1 and Gibbs 2.
Gibbs is a player and would bring us tremendous speed and creativity.