Drafting A Quarterback Not Off The Table
April 11th, 2024
Bucs GM Jason Licht has his draft face on.
Of course, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was not going to tip his hand what he may or may not do two weeks from tonight when the 2024 NFL draft kicks off.
Today, Licht met with the local pen and mic club to primarily discuss the draft. Here are a few highlights, in addition to the three posts Joe already put up.
On quarterbacks: “We look at all the quarterbacks,” Licht said. “I will never say we won’t draft a quarterback.” Licht added if that happens, the Bucs may be very happy they did down the road.
It’s not just starters: Licht noted one reason the Bucs were so dominant in 2020 and 2021 is that the Bucs had a deep roster. Backups could step in and the team would get quality snaps. “You can never have enough depth.”
Killing time: The draft doesn’t begin until the night of Thursday, April 25, so what does Licht do during the day of the draft? “Hay is in the barn,” Licht said. All the draft prep that needs to be finished is finished. Licht said if anything, to kill time he might work on his pool or walk the dog (the same dog that crapped on his kitchen floor on Day 1 draft night 2020 when he selected Tristan Wirfs? All the excitement in Licht’s house during that remote draft must have been too much for the pooch). Licht said his usual routine is to go for a long walk to clear his head.
Cornerbacks?: Licht said he is not opposed to taking a cornerback at No. 26.
Needs: Licht said the Bucs have several needs and that is not a bad thing. He also cautioned that all the needs are unlikely to be filled in this year’s draft.
Trenches: For the folks who holler and stomp about the offensive line, Licht stoked your fires. “I like the trenches and we need help in the trenches,” Licht said. Yes, he added, that means both sides of the ball.
Growing: Licht’s first Bucs draft was a decade ago. How has he changed? “I have done a better job of going after the right kind of guy,” Licht said.
Trade up?: Licht said that depending how the draft shakes out, when it reaches maybe No. 20, he will have a good idea at that point if he wants to trade up or not
Targets: Licht noted that there are “five or six” guys the team is focused on who they believe could be on the board at No. 26.
Patience: Licht added that not long ago, teams hoped within two years a drafted player would establish himself. Licht senses there is less patience now, specifically from outside the building.
Moving pieces: On his history of drafting offensive linemen and moving them as rookies to different positions on the line, Licht said it isn’t that simple. “He has to be tough… instinctive… anchor, stoutness. A lot of things that go into it.”
On need vs, talent: Licht said the best-case scenario is best player at a position of need, but that too is too simple. “At the end of the day, you still want to take the best player. … At the end of the day, you hope to pick the best player of need. And we have a lot of need.”
I asked Jason Licht what is the #Bucs biggest need? #buccaneers @realrockriley pic.twitter.com/FZ9LktoVQV
— Tampa Free Press (@tampafreepress) April 11, 2024
April 11th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Well, that was maddeningly unhelpful. Two weeks till Xmas.
April 11th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
smoke and mirrors
April 11th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Best player of need = Bucs won’t be drafting a player (especially early) for positions we have strong starters at already such as QB.
April 11th, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Thank you for the synopsis of what Jason said today.
“Licht noted that there are five or six guys the team is focused on who they believe could be on the board at No. 26.” Ugh, if only we knew who they were! And yes, being impatient for the draft too.
April 11th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
This is like that famous line from the movie “Dumb and Dumber”…
“So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” – “YES!!!!!”
Calm down Lloyd Christmas… lol.
April 11th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
I wonder if they might take a 6th round flyer on Jordan Travis.
And NO, I am not an FSU fan.
April 11th, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Maybe he should let his dog take a dump on the floor every draft day, if it results in a player like Wirfs.
April 11th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
“Needs: Licht said the Bucs have several needs and that is not a bad thing. He also cautioned that all the needs are unlikely to be filled in this year’s draft.”
I love Licht but it absolutely is a bad thing lol. It’s also bad that all needs will not likely be filled in this draft – meaning he sees a talent deficiency we cannot fill in one offseason.
April 11th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
“Maybe he should let his dog take a dump on the floor every draft day, if it results in a player like Wirfs.”
Agree with this 100%
April 11th, 2024 at 3:43 pm
I’ll take a dump in his yard for a guy like wirfs
hope he has a big dog
April 11th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
I was wondering the same SB.
April 11th, 2024 at 4:00 pm
LOL Joe would let the damn thing barf on the floor too if that’s what the result would be! 🙂
April 11th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
“Licht said that depending how the draft shakes out, when it reaches maybe No. 20, he will have a good idea at that point if he wants to trade up or not”
That sounds familiar…. where have I heard or read that recently? LOL
#26 + #89 is roughly the same value as pick #20. That ‘extra’ 3rd rd pick for Davis might start burning a hole in Jason’s pocket if a talent like Latu makes it out of the teens and comes within ‘striking distance’.
Licht may well attempt to trade up if either Verse or Latu makes it past 19. Getting a high end Edge prospect (on a cheap rookie deal for 5 years) at the cost of a #20 draft pick is a major score and would fill a huge need with authority.
Don’t think its worth it to move up for IOL – even though that is our biggest need. Would be amazing to land JPJ or Barton at #26 – but there are a bunch of good OLine players this year that will be available in rds 2 and 3. You don’t move up in the 1st rd for even high end talent at a non premium position. Especially when that position (G/C) is fairly deep behind the legit 1st rd talent.
April 11th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Licht said the Bucs have several needs and that is not a bad thing. He also cautioned that all the needs are unlikely to be filled in this year’s draft.
Psst…don’t waste a pic on a QB you don’t need when you do have needs elsewhere
April 11th, 2024 at 6:28 pm
When you have approximately the 19th rated QB then you certainly have to consider a QB. Isn’t that about the Alex Smith scenario when the Chiefs took Mahomes. 2 years left of contract left.
Smith, who arrived in Kansas City via trade from the 49ers in 2013, compiled a 50–26 record as a starter with the Chiefs, leading the club to four playoff appearances in five seasons.
April 11th, 2024 at 8:25 pm
5-6 picks on his board they would like at pick 26 that could be there. I would say Brock Bowers but… he won’t be there. My list would be (pretending I’m Jason Licht)
1. Jared Verse Edge
2. Laiatu Latu Edge
3. Jackson-Powers Johnson OL
4. Zach Frazier OL
5. Graham Barton OL
6. Kool-Aid CB
April 11th, 2024 at 8:27 pm
Bowle wants a runaround.
April 11th, 2024 at 11:11 pm
We have a runaround like a chicken with his head cut off…
April 11th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
I watched The Kremlin Letter recently, and man does Licht look like Richard Boone
in that movie. It’s uncanny. Not sure if that’s what Licht is going for, but he should own it.
April 12th, 2024 at 2:48 am
Licht needs to do what’s best for the future of the Bucs franchise. I’m not convinced that Mayfield will be in the long term plans.