Nate Tice On Bucs Needs
April 6th, 2023
What should he do?
If Nate Tice could pull the strings for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht on the first night of the draft — three weeks from tonight, three weeks! — Tice knows what he would do.
Tice, a draft guru, NFL columnist for The Athletic and podcast personality for The Ringer, hopped on Mina Kimes’ podcast recently and played along with Kimes studying team needs for every NFL club.
Tice said right away the Bucs need a pass rusher. No ifs, ands or buts.
“I had edge,” Tice said of the Bucs’ greatest need. “Shaq Barrett is getting older. Linebacker, at first you wouldn’t think that is a need but then Lavonte David is going to be like 33 and Devin White is going into his last year of his rookie contract.
“I had tackle and a quarterback of the future [for the next needs], so I am right there with you.”
Tice admitted the Bucs are an odd tweene — likely a team that needs to push the reset button but a roster with enough good players to maybe make the playoffs.
“They are a weird team,” Tice said. “I really like Cade Otton as a blocker but it’s like Cade Otton shouldn’t be getting more than 25 or 30 targets a season. So tight end is a pretty good need.”
That’s the first time Joe had heard anyone say Otton is a good blocker. (Perhaps he read Jason Licht on Otton here exclusively last week?) In Joe’s eyes, he’s just OK. Maybe not even average. But he showed flashes he could be a dangerous target down the seam.
But yeah, Tice is right. There aren’t too many teams that you could say need a rebuild and can make the playoffs.
April 6th, 2023 at 3:52 am
We will know more about Otton after this season. Drafting edge first round is worrisome to me just because we haven’t hit on an edge rusher yet in the draft. I would rather them take one of the top oline men or trade back to get more picks.
April 6th, 2023 at 4:06 am
Maybe he meant Ko Kieft? Otton, most definitely should get more than 30 targets a season.
April 6th, 2023 at 4:09 am
He obviously hasn’t watched the Bucs much if he thinks Otton is a blocking Tight End…That said, Otton and Kieft are both decent players. Maybe a Day 3 TE.
April 6th, 2023 at 4:49 am
Most glaring needs
DE OT S TE RB
or
OT DE S RB TE
April 6th, 2023 at 5:44 am
This doesn’t look like the season for the Bucs to be drafting a QB early. We’ve got too many high priority needs right now, not enough money to fill them in free agency, and not enough high draft picks to fill them all in 1 year via the draft. Bucs really need to focus on rebuilding this TEAM first, preferably from the trenches out.
I agree with Rand on the top 3 priorities being Tackle, Edge & Safety (or CB). TE is a definite need, as is RB, as is ILB, as is DT, as is depth in virtually every position group. Should be an interesting draft.
April 6th, 2023 at 5:53 am
We actually do need another starting caliber TE to pair with Otton, hopefully one who’s a beastly blocker but can also be a pass catcher. Kieft is good for #3.
April 6th, 2023 at 5:53 am
No question that description fits Ko Keif the best and he has no idea what Otten’s skillset is. If he can catch 42 passes in his rookie season then tight end
depth is all we need.
April 6th, 2023 at 6:15 am
Otton is a good blocker? What?!? What film did he watch? He’s got good hands.
April 6th, 2023 at 6:16 am
Sasquash Ko Kief is a beastly blocker
April 6th, 2023 at 6:44 am
Agree with edge rusher in the first round PROVIDED that the Bucs get Donovan Smith back on the cheap. Otherwise go LT with that first pick.
April 6th, 2023 at 6:57 am
Otton to me seems like a solid #2 TE. We could still use a top level TE, but early Picks in draft will be Oline or Dline.
April 6th, 2023 at 7:15 am
Man you guys just keep drdging up these people. Nate who???
April 6th, 2023 at 7:17 am
Mina who??? 🙂
April 6th, 2023 at 7:21 am
I dont see a sure fire edge rush DE falling to us. I see alot of undersized projects …. but I think we already have too many projects. JTE and D White you listening?
April 6th, 2023 at 7:27 am
Rand Says:
April 6th, 2023 at 4:49 am
Most glaring needs
DE OT S TE RB
i
or
OT DE S RB TE
I’m with Rabd all the way!!!
April 6th, 2023 at 7:29 am
Edge trench. Trench edge. Tredge, Ench.
April 6th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Why do we have do many holes on this team? Bad scouting/drafting.
April 6th, 2023 at 7:37 am
Allbuccedup Says:
April 6th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Why do we have do many holes on this team? Bad scouting/drafting.
^^^^^^
Players leaving, retiring, some don’t live up to their draft billing. The Bucs have far less holes than before Licht got to Tampa.
April 6th, 2023 at 7:40 am
Lets face it, the Bucs do not have really anything impactful on the Edge.
Shaq is going to be getting back from injury and JTS has not shown much.
Nelson is a very good rotational guy.
First two picks should be pass rushers!
April 6th, 2023 at 7:41 am
#CollapseforCaleb so we can have a redo of Jameis Winston!
April 6th, 2023 at 8:20 am
I BELIEVE AS A TE BLOCKER ,HE MEANT KO KIEFT ALSO, BUT HE & CADE OTTEN SHOULD GET MORE CATCHES THIS YEAR ..SURE WISH WE HAD A HEALTHY KYLE PITTS IN THE MIX )WE DEFINITELY NEED AN EDGE RUSHER ( LEE ROY SELMON, WE NEED YOU & DEACON JONES IN YOUR PRIME’S !..) LINEBACKER NEEDS SOME YOUNG BLOOD TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE SHAQ BARRETT & LAVANTE DAVID TOO..BRIAN BRANCH AT S.SAFETY/NICKEL CORNER..SO & SO VAN NESS & AT EDGE..A BIG UNDERATED O.LINEMAN WHO CAN PLAY ANY POSITION NEEDED ON THE LINE, QUARTERBACK IN LATERROUNDS “HOOKER OR STETSON BENNETT ?” ( CHAMPION PEDEGREE ).JOEY PORTER JR AT CORNER (ZION McCULLEM NEEDS TO STEP UP HIS GAME)..GO BUC’S! ! ! I CAN’T WAIT TILL THE DRAFT !
April 6th, 2023 at 8:21 am
I BELIEVE AS A TE BLOCKER ,HE MEANT KO KIEFT ALSO, BUT HE & CADE OTTEN SHOULD GET MORE CATCHES THIS YEAR ..SURE WISH WE HAD A HEALTHY KYLE PITTS IN THE MIX )WE DEFINITELY NEED AN EDGE RUSHER ( LEE ROY SELMON, WE NEED YOU & DEACON JONES IN YOUR PRIME’S !..) LINEBACKER NEEDS SOME YOUNG BLOOD TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE SHAQ BARRETT & LAVANTE DAVID TOO..BRIAN BRANCH AT S.SAFETY/NICKEL CORNER..SO & SO VAN NESS & AT EDGE..A BIG UNDERATED O.LINEMAN WHO CAN PLAY ANY POSITION NEEDED ON THE LINE, QUARTERBACK IN LATERROUNDS “HOOKER OR STETSON BENNETT ?” ( CHAMPION PEDEGREE ).JOEY PORTER JR AT CORNER (ZION McCULLEM NEEDS TO STEP UP HIS GAME)..GO BUC’S! ! ! I CAN’T WAIT TILL THE DRAFT ! THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW POST !
April 6th, 2023 at 9:01 am
Who the heck is nate tice?
April 6th, 2023 at 9:10 am
If you don’t know (even though Joe cited his credentials), Google is your friend.
April 6th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Never heard of Nate Tice
April 6th, 2023 at 9:48 am
Grandson of Mike Tice.
😉
April 6th, 2023 at 10:24 am
Rand and TBBucsfan get it.
1. Bucs need more day 2 picks so trade back a few positions and get an extra 3rd rd pick. Trade Devin White for a 2nd and 4th.
2. DE or T with your first two picks.
3. Then LB to replace White with your other 2nd rounder.
4. S and TE in the 3rd.
5. RB in the 4th. Trade up from 5th to 4th for a CB.
Licht needs to be aggressive on day 2. This is a deep draft for T, TE, CB and RB. There are 10 year starters available on day 2.
I like Cade Otton, but he’s a #2 TE. Need to get a #1.
April 6th, 2023 at 10:32 am
I hope all of the top QBs, including Hooker, are gone by 19. That way the Bucs don’t get any crazy ideas. Focus on the rest of the team. QB can then be the focus next year if neither Baker or Kyle work out. Does anyone really believe we will be picking later than 19th next year?
April 6th, 2023 at 12:01 pm
DrunkinYbor Says:
April 6th, 2023 at 6:16 am
I realize that, but he’s not a real threat in the passing game. I mean, he’ll catch a few, but they need another guy who can get down the field a bit, which isn’t really Kieft’s strength. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Ko Kieft fan… But he’s a #3 TE.
April 6th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Otton is a good blocker? Huh?
I think Otton had a nice rookie year, but blocking is not his strong suit. This guy totally has it backwards. Otton should be first and foremost a receiving TE, and leave it to Ko to do the blocking.
Maybe he got the names backwards? Or maybe he watched 20 seconds of highlights on Twitter then opined about team needs…
April 6th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Good enough to make the playoffs or …… Meh……
How many years did they do the Bandaid crap with Gruden and Bruce Allen after winning the Super Bowl. . Year after year of retreads and the team just spinning their wheels.
Build the team again. Back to the basics -TRENCHES- Oline- (Dlline/ LB)-front 7), then DB’s
April 6th, 2023 at 1:10 pm
By the time e draft, the top 2 edge rushers are gonna be gone as well as the top 3 O linemen. So I say trade back and get an extra pick. Guys, this team has an awful lot of holes to fill. You can get an O lineman, a DE and a CB with your 1st 3 picks easily.
April 6th, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Light’em up, Licht!
April 6th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Wish Joe would give grades to the guys that he randomly quotes. Like A, B, C, D or F for their past success in prognostication.
Because he is Mike Tice’s son and now writes for the Athletic he is clearly a little qualified. So probably not an F. But the fact that he has never locally followed any Tampa Bay sports makes him clearly worse than an A when evaluating the needs of the Bucs.
Probably less than a B since The Athletic actually have no current writers that follow the Bucs, so his sources are probably crap for Tampa Bay sports.