My Motown Miracle
March 29th, 2024
BY IRA KAUFMAN
In a perfect world, Carlton Davis would be credited with one final takeaway for the Buccaneers.
In trading Davis to the Lions two weeks ago, Jason Licht accumulated an extra pick in the third round of next month’s draft. That’s called quality ammo — and Licht needs to be ready and willing to use that draft capital if things fall his way before Tampa Bay’s No. 26 selection in the opening round.
While it’s evident the Bucs have holes to fill at edge rusher and the interior of their offensive line, there’s a chance one of the cleanest prospects in the draft makes it through the first half of the first round.
Some mocks have Georgia tight end Brock Bowers still on the board after pick No. 16 in this quarterback-rich draft. NFL teams looking to build in the trenches will focus on pass rushers and the big bodies that open holes and protect quarterbacks.
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
Bowers is a Top 10 talent, perhaps even Top 5, but every year a few prospects inexplicably slide toward the bottom of the first round. He’s not going to make it to No. 26, but Bowers might still be there for the taking halfway through the opening round.
If that happens, Licht should seriously consider a move up the board, using that extra third-round pick as part of a package to grab one of the best tight end prospects in years.
“He has a combination of size, speed, toughness and competitiveness that’s hard to match,” says Georgia coach Kirby Smart.
Cade Otton played well down the stretch last season, but it’s a stretch to think he’s ever going to be elite. Bowers would represent a significant upgrade, joining Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in a dynamic trio of targets Baker Mayfield could only dream about.
Bowers certainly won’t match Rob Gronkowski as a fierce blocker, but he’s willing and capable. As a target, he excels in an area the Bucs are glaringly weak — yards after the catch.
Bowers averaged 8.5 yards following his receptions, an extraordinarily high number for the position. Rachaad White averaged 9.5 YAC last season, third overall in the league and second among running backs, but the next Buc on the list was Otton at 4.7, ranking 74th.
“Bowers is easy to grade,” says NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah. “When you watch him, he is super easy to grade. He is one of the best 10 players in the draft. He can go get it. The run after the catch stuff is what makes him special.”
The odds are Bowers won’t get past the Jets at No. 10 or Denver at No. 12, but strange things happen when teams are on the clock. The opening round is fluid and Licht has been known to bob and weave with the flow.
Bowers didn’t participate in Georgia’s Pro Day because of a hamstring issue. It shouldn’t matter because his college tape is sensational.
He led the Bulldogs in receiving yards in each of the past three seasons while facing strong SEC competition. He’s the first player to win back-to-back John Mackey Awards as the nation’s premier tight end.
Let’s move on. Here’s another potential scenario Buc fans should be thinking about.
Quarterback?
Unlike several other teams, Tampa Bay is not looking for a starting quarterback. Mayfield earned the job with a solid season that proved to be more productive than the year Tom Brady turned in before retiring.
Michael Penix, Jr.
There’s a decent chance Washington’s Michael Penix, Jr. will still be available at No. 26. He led the Huskies to a 13-0 regular season and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. The pride of Dade City was superb against Bo Nix and Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game and Penix Jr. led the NCAA with 4,903 passing yards.
Although he turns 24 in May, Penix Jr. is considered a raw prospect who likely needs a year or two to be ready for the NFL. But anyone who watched the Huskies knows this southpaw has rare skills when it comes to throwing a deep ball with touch and accuracy.
Could Penix Jr. help the Bucs win games this fall? That’s unlikely, but his upside is tantalizing and there’s nothing wrong in letting him sit and learn behind Mayfield for a few years. That’s the beauty of taking a quarterback with the 26th pick … the organization won’t feel pressure from the fan base to name him the immediate starter.
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
By 2026, the Bucs would have an informed opinion about the pro future of Penix Jr. Should Mayfield falter, the Bucs could have an appealing option under center going forward.
In terms of immediate need, Licht isn’t focused on tight end or quarterback. Todd Bowles is all in on Mayfield at the moment and Otton has hardly been a disappointment. Still, an opportunity to add Penix Jr. to the roster without sacrificing draft assets is enticing.
If the Bucs can walk away with Bowers or Penix Jr. on the evening of April 25 in Detroit, it would be a Motown Miracle.
Perhaps it’s just my imagination, running away with me.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:12 pm
I would love to land Brock Bowers but would not trade up for him. Too many needs. As far as Penix, I would pass. We still have Trask on the cheap plus would not a southpaw require a strong right tackle? We gonna pay Wirfs on the left and what, move him back to the other side? Makes no sense to me.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:15 pm
Penixi s a great way to blow a first round pick. You negelcted to mention why He just might fall to the 20s. He has a history of injuries and he doesnt move well. He’s a cinch to be injured again and again.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
No more O.J. Howard picks in 1st rnd please
March 29th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
I’m intrigued w Nix, why are so many people down on him but excited about Penix?
March 29th, 2024 at 1:34 pm
Can’t say I agree with any of this.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Remember when the Bucs drafted OJ Howard, they acted like they won the lottery. Maybe Ira has gone senile, and forgot how that pick worked out.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
He didn’t forget, Tony. Why bother mentioning the obvious. Everyone already knows this. At least ‘everyone’ who would read this article.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Ira, you might want to check if you over medicated today my friend.
March 29th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
Sorry Joe…Peniz will be eligible for social security in 3 years…pass
March 29th, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Penix suffered season-ending injuries in each of his four seasons at Indiana (2018-21) — two torn ACLs and two shoulder issues. Yeah, lets gamble (waste) a first pick on this guy.
March 29th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
I would love for the Bucs to draft an impact tight end. Gronk spoiled us. Regarding Penix, how is he considered raw? He has plenty of starting experience at two school. At Indiana, he started 17 games over three seasons and compiled a 12-5 record. At Washington, he started 28 games and compiled a 25-3 record. Overall, Penix started 45 games. He is not raw. The knock on Penix is his injury history. Nonetheless, we have bigger needs than using a late first round pick on a quarterback.
March 29th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Ira … ‘Perhaps it’s just my imagination, running away with me’.
More than your imagination ran away from you Ira if you’re advocating drafting another TE with our precious Rnd 1 pick. And even worse, advocating drafting Michael Penix … ever. We’ve already got 3 QBs on our roster who are ALL better than he is. No more Big Storm brewery for you Sage.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
The Bucs are not going to draft a QB in the first. I do believe Bowers would be the pick if he is there at 26, but he won’t be. Enough of the fantasy scenarios; they are just about as useful as Jose’s mock draft. Get the best player available and maybe it is that Georgia center or the one from Oregon(?).
DT is never a luxury pick so if the value is there do that. I’ve been on the top shelf CB train for a while but no one else hears that whistle so I guess I’ll just chug along alone.
March 29th, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Much to the chagrin of Sean Sullivan and Ira Kaufman and others, the Bucs shouldn’t take a QB in Rd 1. Penix won’t be there anyway. We have Baker and a young QB in Trask. We need other positions in Rd 1-3 to be complete now more than fantasizing about future oasis imaginations
March 29th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Madness. Both of these Ira. They need pass rush. If they’re moving up for someone it should be Latu or Verse. Full stop.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:15 pm
I’d do the Bowers move. I would not trade up for Penix. I’m just not sold on Penix. His performance against Michigan exposed him. Yeah, he was under seige, but he doesn’t seem like a slam dunk to me, and we need someone who can play for us this year.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Defense Rules Says:
March 29th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Ira … ‘Perhaps it’s just my imagination, running away with me’.
Smokey….Motown…..
I love the thought of a trad up for Bowers…….a generational TE….Not at all OJ Howard…
If you want to sell tickets and jerseys…..Bowers is a candidate like Kelcey, Kittle & Greg Olen….
He would completely change our offense for the better….and we need to invest in our offense this year.
Not another D lineman to make up for Hall and others.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Should have used it for Haason Reddick, since all it costs the Jets was a future 3rd round pick…
March 29th, 2024 at 4:42 pm
Signing a 28-year-old QB to a mega contract then immediately drafting a QB in the first round would be the dumbest move an NFL franchise could make. I promise that’s not going to happen. They could draft a QB in the third or fourth, but even then we still have Trask on his rookie contract and Wolford who knows Liam’s offense. We’d have too many QBs.
I promise we won’t draft a QB before the seventh round, if at all.
March 29th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
To all those talking about OJ Howard. OJ Howard was a freak athlete who relied on his physical gifts over technique. He was considered a project at the next level hence why he fell. We was by far the most gifted TE in that draft but that wasn’t saying much. Brock Browers is a wide receiver in a TE body. In fact, he lined up out wide or in the slot 1,033 snaps compared to 876 snaps at TE. So we are drafting a WR that can block
March 29th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Penix. Buyer beware. Age and injuries. Anywhere above round 3 is a reach. Ask the Lions how they feel about wasting a 3rd on Hendon Hooker who will be 30 by the time his rookie deal is done.
March 29th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Bowers is a top 5 talent & a top 10 pick in this draft. Coen will run more 11 personnel so it’s very doubtful the Bucs will try to land him.
You want a TE, grab Sinnott in the 4th as he’s an upgrade over Otten in the blocking dept. Good all around TE and versatile prospect.
Penix? He’s one of the more pro ready QBs in this draft but with the injuries, being a lefty and not mobile enough behind this oline, sorry, pass.
He can make the throws, drop them on a dime with a nice touch, but he’ll be more prone to INTs in the pros.
WR, iOL or Edge in the 1st.
Ira, if you keep writing articles like this, they may think you’re going senile or something! 🙂
Seriously tho, we need your HOF vote for LVD & Simeon
^^mtnbucman^^
Since ’76
March 29th, 2024 at 5:20 pm
@^^mtn^^
I assume we would use Bowers more as a WR than a TE like he was used in college.
March 29th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Hey kaimaru,
Were you the one asking me about pooter report? Were you the one keeping up with 4B?
Someone asked me about Pedro & I posted a video, vote for Pedro, Pedro for Peresident
As far as Bowers, you mean like they used Brate or as an actual WR?
His routes need work. Do you think he’ll play closer to 230lbs or 245?
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 29th, 2024 at 5:57 pm
Bowers lined up out wide or in the slot 1,033 snaps compared to 876 snaps at in-line TE. That’s a lot of snaps. Bowers was up to 243 at the combine, so I am thinking that 245 would probably be ideal for him. He’s also needs work on blocking, but he’s nowhere as bad at technique as OJ Howard was coming out.
I asked you about IABL actually. I am on pooter but I rarely post, their forum sucks.
March 29th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Booger Says:
March 29th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
He didn’t forget, Tony. Why bother mentioning the obvious. Everyone already knows this. At least ‘everyone’ who would read this article.
Nonsense and if thats the case theres things in every sports news story that diehard fans know so they shoud stop writing articles.
March 29th, 2024 at 6:13 pm
No doubt he’s a great prospect who Bucs could easily flex out.
If it were me, I’m looking at a better value in WR Johnny Wilson 6’7″ 230. He can line up anywhere, too & is a much better blocker than Bowers.
Not a ME replacement, but gives you that huge catch radius.
Granted, nowhere near the talent, but they may be able to pick him up in the 3rd or possibly 4th
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 29th, 2024 at 6:14 pm
No more Ira podcasts?
March 29th, 2024 at 6:17 pm
^^mtn^^ Says:
March 29th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Ira, if you keep writing articles like this, they may think you’re going senile or something! 🙂
—
Ah ageism. The one still respected prejudice and acceted bigotry. I’ve read dumb takes from plenty of people here but if Ira has a bad take its senility. So I guess this is where all the old geysers hang out including you. 🙂
March 29th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Not associated with IABL
March 29th, 2024 at 6:35 pm
Jason knows and Jason will do the right thing.
Shangrus in round 7.
March 29th, 2024 at 7:12 pm
Link?
March 29th, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Both of those picks are too much a luxury to consider seriously. If we had Jensen at C and a 10 sack guy on the edge already, we could draft any position we wanted but we don’t have those things.
If we didn’t resign Baker I would be pounding the table so hard for Penix. Injury history sucks but he has played a lot and apparently throws the best ball in this class. I can see Penix being a stud. Also to the above poster who said he can’t move, I think he just put up some of the best QB testing in the class. Blows a huge hole in that.
If I am the Vikings, I am keeping my 2 first rounders and drafting Penix with one of them instead of moving up. Penix 11 and the best OL on the board at 23 (not sure if their OL situation) but with Aaron Jones, Jefferson and Addison … immediately as explosive of an offense as you were before with Cousins if not better.
March 29th, 2024 at 7:46 pm
YOU ARE SO RIGHT IRA, I CAN IMAGINE BOTH OF THEM RUNNING AROUND RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM 🏟️ MAKING CRAZY PLAYS
March 29th, 2024 at 7:48 pm
Perhaps it’s just my imagination, running away with me.
– More like Ball of Confusion… Bucs need to draft OLine and LB/ Pass rusher with early picks
March 29th, 2024 at 9:11 pm
PICK: 26 RND: 1 (TB)
Graham BARTON
C Duke
PICK: 57 RND: 2 (TB)
Kris JENKINS
DL-EDGE Michigan
PICK: 89 RND: 3 (TB)
Cade STOVER
TE Ohio State
PICK: 92 RND: 3 (TB)
Mike SAINRISTIL
CB Michigan
PICK: 125 RND: 4 (TB)
Johnny WILSON
WR Florida State
PICK: 220 RND: 6 (TB)
Kendall MILTON
RB Georgia
PICK: 246 RND: 7 (TB)
Nathan THOMAS
OT Louisiana
March 29th, 2024 at 9:52 pm
OJ Howard crashed when his Achilles ruptured.
March 29th, 2024 at 11:05 pm
Ira – 2 words to trading up in the 1st rd for a TE or drafting a QB at #26 – ‘HELL NO!’
Or maybe 7 words – ‘Are You Out of Your frickin mind?’
Did you learn nothing from the OJ Howard fiasco?
Howard was top 10 on everyone’s board and top 5 on a bunch of people’s boards. And OJ was also talked about as one of the surest bets with the highest floor in the whole draft…
Oh – btw – A QB drafted at the end of the 1st round has about or less than a 20% chance of becoming a legit “franchise QB”.
For every Lamar Jackson there’s a Kenny Pickett, Mac Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Paxton Lynch and Johnny Manziel.
Dude – we just paid Baker Mayfield $100M ($60M + incentives at minimum). We HAVE our QB. If Baker fails – THEN you worry about drafting a QB….
And our interior offensive line was like a trio of matadors most of last year. But I guess they made up for it by being LAST in the league at run blocking…. SMH
Mauch will be fine – but if the Bucs don’t spend a premium pick (or 2!) this year on IOL – then this offense will stay mired in mediocrity and continue to hover around 21 points per game – despite having some of the best receiving weapons in the whole league….
Ditto for the other side of the line. Diaby will be fine – but if Licht doesn’t use either a 1st or 2nd rd pick on an edge rusher – then we are likely to continue seeing a 4 man pass rush that consistently doesn’t get enough pressure….
Bucs have 4 picks in the top 100 – and 2 if not the top 3 ALL need to be used on bolstering the trenches!
March 30th, 2024 at 1:05 am
Too many bromosas at Big Storm for Ira!. Since Gronk retired, other than KC no one uses TE anymore.
We need WR or beef. Either at Edge DE or IOL, then ILB plus more Beef,
Too many holes to burn a pick to trade up.. Go back to the trenches.
March 30th, 2024 at 2:44 am
Saskbucs Says:
March 29th, 2024 at 7:21 pm
Also to the above poster who said he can’t move, I think he just put up some of the best QB testing in the class. Blows a huge hole in that.
—
blows squat. testing of actual games played is the only stat necessary. People are right about him having a gorgeopus deep ball. Its awesome!. SO why is he considered likely to fall in the draft then?
Obviously because the professionals in this league know a health risk when they see it . IF you get a super bowl ring for yoru Qb having the nicest long balls without needing to stay in the games healthy then I’d draft him in an instant.
problem is – you don’t get rings for that.
March 30th, 2024 at 3:40 am
Not sure he even got going enough to have a crash
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 30th, 2024 at 10:16 am
Lots of people calling out this article due to immediate need, but, we’re most likely not near Superbowl contention quite yet and Bowers may be a top 3 player at TE if he pans out, OJ Howard’s problem was competitiveness
March 30th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Ha, lost my marbles a long time ago Tony M.
As far as old farts, takes one to know one.
Heeeeey, wait a minute ……… bigot is a bit strong bro 🙂
^^mtn^^
Since ’76