2023 Draft Looking Better
November 26th, 2023
Rookie Bucs defensive back Josh Hayes.
It really is sort of irresponsible to grade or judge a draft class before its rookie season. Generally, after three years of football is a good time to pick it apart.
Bucs rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is going to be a good one. He’s had enough strong games, despite missing time with a calf injury.
Cody Mauch has started every game at right guard and he may have had the best game of his young career last week, and that came against arguably the best front-seven in the NFL.
Joe can only think that rookie outside linebacker YaYa Diaby, the third-round pick, is being punished for some unknown reason. Why else would you not get this guy on the field over glorified lawn chair Joe Tryon-Shoyinka? Diaby is looking for his third straight game with at least a sack and two tackles for loss.
Apparently, that is not good enough for Diaby to see more snaps.
Linebacker SirVocea Dennis? Jury is still out on him. He practiced like gangbusters in training camp but after suffering a hamstring injury in a worthless preseason game, he’s been pretty much MIA.
Trey Palmer (sixth round) has been the team’s No. 3 receiver and has had an impact in some games, but he has a long way to go.
José Ramirez? He’s on the practice squad. So the Bucs thought enough of the seventh-round pick to keep him around.
So yeah, that’s not a bad draft class at all. Wait, Joe’s missing someone?
Defensive back Josh Hayes, Joe found out, is making one helluva name for himself on special teams. Entering the Thanksgiving weekend, Hayes ranked in the NFL in special teams tackles with eight.
Joe heard some time ago from an NFL suit that if you aren’t a starter, you better be able to play special teams or you are an endangered species. Hayes not only can play special teams, he’s doing a solid job there.
So the early results show Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had a strong draft, though maybe it’s not as high quality as his 2020 draft (Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield).
#FreeYaYa
November 26th, 2023 at 12:44 am
He is (so far) the best GM we have ever had.
November 26th, 2023 at 2:07 am
“Wait, Joe’s missing someone, isn’t he?”
Yes – Payne Durham
November 26th, 2023 at 4:20 am
Licht has put a nice 4-6 team on the field.
November 26th, 2023 at 5:43 am
Licht is a bust
November 26th, 2023 at 6:38 am
Jason Licht put together a super bowl winning team for the Buc’s.
He generally picks well in the draft and is overall a very good GM.
Buc’s should definitely keep him!
November 26th, 2023 at 7:01 am
Licht doesn’t coach the team. You could have the best player in the NFL on the team and Bowles would have him in the ‘rotation’.
November 26th, 2023 at 7:43 am
All that tree tackling is paying off.
November 26th, 2023 at 7:45 am
I beg to differ Rich Mckay was the best GM. Licht is riding Bradys coat tails
November 26th, 2023 at 8:27 am
The team was pretty much set for Brady when he was signed. Hmmmm
What does that tell you about Licht? Wait save your answer. Licht is the man!
Don’t be bling to the real problem the last two years. No Arians followed by bad coaching.
#tankandcleanhouse
November 26th, 2023 at 9:04 am
“The team was pretty much set for Brady when he was signed. ”
Yeah, minus some scrubs like Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, and Playoff Lenny.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:16 am
You also left out Izien whose had some splash plays at safety n his rookie year.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:17 am
The way I see it, if you’re riding the coattails of a guy that you were largely responsible for bringing in, that’s not so bad.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:39 am
Yeah, he’s forgettable, even when looking at a list of Bucs draft picks. 🙁
November 26th, 2023 at 10:41 am
Not a draft pick.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:42 am
That he built a team that won a Super Bowl?
November 26th, 2023 at 11:57 am
StickinUp4Centers Says:
“The team was pretty much set for Brady when he was signed. ”
Yeah, minus some scrubs like Gronkowski, Antonio Brown, and Playoff Lenny.
—————————————————————————————
Brady, Gronk, AB, and Playoff Lenny came here because they wanted another ring and they knew that the stage was set here in Tampa to make that happen.
Who built that Super Bowl team?
And who brought them all back the following year to give them a chance to go back-to-back?
I hope that those of you wanting Licht to be fired never come to own an NFL team!
November 26th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
We only have four starters on each side of the ball that wasn’t drafted drafted by Jason. That’s how you build a team.
November 26th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Guessing you are referring to free agents as well?
Do know that on the Super Bowl team, there were only two players on the roster that were holdovers from the Mark Dominik era, Lavonte David and Will Gholston.