“Because That Controls It All”
April 14th, 2024
Buccaneers co-owner Joel Glazer having a pregame chat with GM Jason Licht.
It intrigues Joe that a wise man who spent the better part of nearly two decades around Team Glazer was talking about NFL owners having significant input into the NFL Draft.
Joe is referencing Buccaneers legend Derrick Brooks, the Hall of Fame linebacker.
Some of his chatter on the Brooks and Beckles podcast last week focused on NFL teams’ processes when it comes to evaluating college players.
It seems it’s a subject he’s dived into with those in charge of NFL teams. Brooks said he’s had deep discussions recently “walking through this confidentially with a couple of dear friends that I know that are in decision positions.”
Brooks highly values personal interactions over data and setting team processes that are customized by position.
“As I told them, AI can’t help you figure that out. It’s a see, feel, touch honest conversation about the process,” Brooks said. ” … Not just players, think about coaches, too. As I’m talking to, you know, my colleagues. Because there’s been misses with coaches, whether head coach, coordinators.”
Brooks talked about establishing a core process for evaluating every prospect or potential coach regardless of position, and then having very different standards and mechanisms for grading by position before looking at team needs.
Ok, that sounds nice and intelligent. But then Joe’s ears perked up.
Brooks said the X factor when looking at how NFL teams make draft decisions and team-build is the encompassing influence of ownership.
“Don’t exclude the guy that’s signing everybody’s checks, or the woman, the owner, and what they see because that controls it all — and what their relationship is to the decision-makers,” Brooks said.
So Brooks, the 14-year Buccaneer who chooses words extremely carefully and is not known for hyperbole, is out there talking about how controlling ownership voices are in March and April.
Yeah, Brooks is close to 49ers GM John Lynch and he works in Tampa with former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. He also has ties in the Falcons organization, among others. But Joe can’t shake that Brooks says ownership perception “controls it all” following decades around the Bucs that included a pipeline to key figures in the organization.
Interesting.
No, Joe doesn’t think Team Glazer is manipulating the Bucs’ draft board. But whether Team Glazer sees the Bucs now as having a Super Bowl-caliber roster is a massive factor in this entire offseason, Joe believes.
It sure smells like the team is looking at more of a two-year plan to hoist the Lombardi trophy, which would affect next week’s draft. But nobody in power would ever come out and say that.
April 14th, 2024 at 9:25 pm
No news broken here.
April 14th, 2024 at 10:32 pm
Yeah they didn’t go all in during free agency. They are not acting like they are really in gotta do it now mode. There is not a whole lot that can be done to really fix all of their needs, so I think bpa and hope for a diamond in the rough. Not to say that the Superbowl isn’t always The Goal!! Money money money and Draft Position.. Go JL. Go!!!
April 14th, 2024 at 11:22 pm
“As I told them, AI can’t help you figure that out.”
Sorry, not true. AI can already do that, and it’s only going to get better.
I know there will be a lot of people who want to kick the future down the road, but it’s going to catch up with all of us. Those who are willing to adapt will be the last to be replaced.
April 14th, 2024 at 11:54 pm
A two-year plan should be something we all celebrate. Fill all the holes this year (Center, LG, MLB, OLB), get cap, and grab play makers next year. Do that and the Bucs have a 2-3 year window.
April 15th, 2024 at 2:19 am
@Rod Munch,
AI cannot replace personal interaction which is what Brooks was talking about. He’s right. AI is logical and follows patterns. But, how many college athletes don’t pan out in the NFL? Too many to count. What is AI going to do to dissect the busts from Mr. Irrelevant starting in a Super Bowl?
Don’t let the AI hype fool you, at this point AI is the shiny new tool that will supplement what we do, but it is no where near ready to replace important positions. It will only replace mundane repetitive tasks, at this point. Where it goes, we will see.
But, just like the combine, crunching numbers doesn’t tell the full story.
April 15th, 2024 at 3:52 am
Joe, what do you smell? What makes you think we have a 2-year window? What intel do you have?
April 15th, 2024 at 4:06 am
Ok I’ll answer, we have Mike on a two year contract, obviously. We have Baker on a two year contract, ostensibly. And we have all but Vita Vea, Jamel Dean & Chase McLaughlin locked up for longer than 2026, but for our rookie class from last draft. As impactful as our rookies and second year players were last year I would imagine the emphasis on success in this years draft would be paramount to our future Super Bowl success.
April 15th, 2024 at 6:06 am
The Bucs have less than a million dollars in salary cap space and they still have to clear cap space for drafted players. They went all end as to what they could afford under the cap.
April 15th, 2024 at 7:08 am
Well if you want to win now, draft some offense. Get a receiver with the first pick, IOL next two picks. Then get a RB. Score more points, win more games.
April 15th, 2024 at 8:12 am
Hodad Says:
April 15th, 2024 at 7:08 am
Well if you want to win now, draft some offense. Get a receiver with the first pick, IOL next two picks. Then get a RB. Score more points, win more games.
Someone gets it !!!!!!!!!
April 15th, 2024 at 9:05 am
“It sure smells like the team is looking at more of a two-year plan to hoist the Lombardi trophy, which would affect next week’s draft”
I got that feeling when I read the quote about Jason Licht saying we have a bunch of needs and can’t fill them all in one draft.
When he was talking draft during SB window it was more about depth than filling needs.
I could see us going all offense if the draft falls a certain way (like a C and an OG in the top 4 rounds plus a RB & WR. Just basically committing to fixing the run game). Then next year going all defense and spending on a premier pass rusher in FA if needed.
Plus like it’s been said – rookie DE’s rarely are big impact guys year 1. Yaya was unique in that regard. Typically takes 2 years so I still pray we draft one early.
April 15th, 2024 at 9:01 pm
We have good owners. You can tell because there isn’t a trail if tears