Jason Licht “Quietly Effective”
May 2nd, 2024
Strikes again.
So in the waning days following the 2024 NFL draft, Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com decided to do a “debrief” of each team’s draft.
No, this isn’t another draft grade.
Rosenthal seems to be impressed by how Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has worked the Bucs draft since he took it over in 2014. And why not, Licht built a Super Bowl winner.
Rosenthal believes Licht was at it again last weekend, claiming Licht’s first four picks could easily make an impact this season.
Bucs GM Jason Licht has been one of the more quietly effective drafters in football for a long time. Center Graham Barton (No. 26 overall; he can play other positions), edge Chris Braswell (No. 57), wideout Jalen McMillan (No. 92) and running back Bucky Irving (No. 125) all have a chance to make an immediate impact. This team has successfully avoided cratering following Tom Brady’s departure, a nifty trick, considering Brady’s contract and the older roster with which Tampa won the title in 2020.
Rosenthal is right: The Bucs easily could have imploded after Tom Brady left. But it seems Licht found the perfect quarterback not only to rally his teammates to press forward, but damn if the Bucs nearly made it to the NFC South title game.
Of course, Bucs coach Todd Bowles had something to do with this. But Bowles doesn’t pick the players other than giving Licht a wish list.
Without a star quarterback, the Bucs, and Licht particularly, have done well.
Ira Kaufman Reviews The Bucs’ Draft, Talks Realities, Needs And Nonsense, Building Around Baker Mayfield (?), Names An Unlikely Potential Best Pick, And More
May 2nd, 2024 at 4:23 am
Joe … ‘Of course, Bucs coach Todd Bowles had something to do with this. But Bowles doesn’t pick the players other than giving Licht a wish list.’
Wow! You actually acknowledge Joe that ‘Bucs coach Todd Bowles had SOMETHING to do with this’. You mean ‘something’ like put together & manage the coaching staff that DEVELOPS these picks that JL gets so much credit for? Or ‘something’ like put together & direct the game plans that put these picks in the best position to showcase their skills & win games? THAT Todd Bowles?
Seems like since taking over as HC 2 years ago that Todd Bowles has been run through the gauntlet here in Tampa Bay by the media and fans. But at the same time, Jason Licht has been constantly applauded for his drafting acumen, and that seems bass ackwards. Guess I’m old school who believes what Thomas Edison said … “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration”. Todd Bowles should be getting a lot more credit than he gets IMO for actually overseeing this near-overnight transition from one of the oldest teams in the NFL to one of the youngest.
May 2nd, 2024 at 5:26 am
Well said, Joe!
Jason has had a couple of hiccups along the way, but the majority of the time he has it right along with the coach input. Getting Baker after Brady was a smart move too.
Agree with Defense Rules about Todd too. His wish list input has a lot to do with the picks, as well as the other coaches before him. It would be fun to see that wish list at some point.
May 2nd, 2024 at 5:42 am
While Jason gets a lot of credit for working the draft. Spytek and the scouting department have been responsible for finding the players to return the team defense
back into the successful unit that it was in the previous super bowl year. Improving the secondary should help Bowles to field a more unpredictable
defense which is his specialty , IMO. Bowles has had to deal with holes created by loss of proven players and players that had weaknesses in their game that could be exposed by our opponents.
May 2nd, 2024 at 5:44 am
What is the NFC South Title Game?
May 2nd, 2024 at 5:47 am
I didn’t k own the nfc south had a title game ? Is that before or after the NFL title game joe ? The Joe’s must be in cap hell & can not afford an editor. J/k Joe’s I really appreciate the both of you , saying up late or after a few bromosas to get these out . I for one am logging in several times a day . Keep up the good work fellas
May 2nd, 2024 at 6:15 am
“Uh oh, looks like (Jason) learned how to playyyyy!”
May 2nd, 2024 at 7:04 am
Jason Light and Todd Bowles along with the rest of the organization seem to live a win as a team, learn from others, teach others, continually improve culture. It is no accident this draft fits Todd Bowles game plan. I’m sure Baker loves it too. I’m also sure this draft had valued input from the whole team. No doubt the entire organization feels like this was their draft even though Jason made the official calls. This is a special organization. Jason and many others deserve credit. Todd is clearly flying under the radar. Jason and other buc followers know Todd is one of the best Coaches in the NFL and works hard on improvement every day. Let’s enjoy the ride.
May 2nd, 2024 at 7:52 am
I like it. Every successful business collaborates like Licht, Bowles et al.
May 2nd, 2024 at 8:22 am
@Leighroy:
I almost always enjoy reading your comments. Very smart, articulate and knowledgeable regarding all things Bucs. But this comment and the “yelling on the bus” comment are very snarky. Not like Leighroy at all. Are you the real Leighroy or a counterfeited version thereof?
May 2nd, 2024 at 8:48 am
NFC South title game > NFC Championship game
We won the South (3x).
May 2nd, 2024 at 9:12 am
IMO, the perception of Jason Licht being a good GM is 1000% tied to sheer dumb luck… & TB12 wanting to make a statement loud & clear to Belicheat after Beantown Bill didn’t want to pay the man his worth or put real quality offensive pieces around him (late in Tommy’s career).
The battle between Bill’s Ego vs TB12’s Ego, led to Jason getting a career saving gift from the football gods!
Had TB12 not said: “FU Bill!!! I will go to Tampa & show you what I still have left in the tank”…& then succeeded in getting another ring with a franchise that hadn’t done much of nothing in years…Jason would likely be on the street instead of calling the shots from One Bucs Place.
TB12 proved his point…Bill’s post-TB12 teams tanked mightily & he is nowhere to be found on a NFL sideline or front office now…While Licht is still living off the gift that landed in his lap at a very precarious time in his career.
May 2nd, 2024 at 9:20 am
DR
AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 2nd, 2024 at 9:43 am
@Lt. Dan
I got you an ice cream…
May 2nd, 2024 at 9:56 am
Licht and Bowles have worked together well. Licht and Spytek do a great job in their evaluations and find players to fit the team.
The Bucs do have a window for the next couple years so we need players that can contribute now. LVD, Evans, and Godwin will be gone within two years or so. I like that Licht did NOT pick any small school OT’s to move inside, as that would take years to be effective.
May 2nd, 2024 at 10:45 am
catcard202 Says:
May 2nd, 2024 at 9:12 am
IMO, the perception of Jason Licht being a good GM is 1000% tied to sheer dumb luck… & TB12 wanting to make a statement loud & clear to Belicheat after Beantown Bill didn’t want to pay the man his worth or put real quality offensive pieces around him (late in Tommy’s career).
The battle between Bill’s Ego vs TB12’s Ego, led to Jason getting a career saving gift from the football gods!
Had TB12 not said: “FU Bill!!! I will go to Tampa & show you what I still have left in the tank”…& then succeeded in getting another ring with a franchise that hadn’t done much of nothing in years…Jason would likely be on the street instead of calling the shots from One Bucs Place.
TB12 proved his point…Bill’s post-TB12 teams tanked mightily & he is nowhere to be found on a NFL sideline or front office now…While Licht is still living off the gift that landed in his lap at a very precarious time in his career.
^^^^^^^^^
Did Jason Licht have anything to do with Tom Brady wanting to come Tampa Bay? If your answer is yes, your comment is gibberish. If your answer is no, you probably either don’t know much about football, or your hatred of Licht has blinded you to the facts.
May 2nd, 2024 at 11:57 am
Listening to Spytek’s press conference, who might be the smartest man on the Bucs staff, he mentioned how Humble Jason Licht is. He could easily pound the table as a lot of GMs do, but he trusts his staff. They wrote over 1400 reports on over 1300 players and STUCK to their board. It seems Spytek said he thinks the Bucs have the most cohesive staff in the NFL. Spytek has been with the team for 9 years and said he still feels new.
It says all you need to know about what Licht has built and is building.
I personally, think we have the best GM in the business.
May 2nd, 2024 at 12:02 pm
FYI, there was an article on ESPN about the success of draft day trades and it had this blurb: “The Bucs generated the most cumulative AV while trading up, with 68 AV across 11 deals. Again, though, those deals were split between GMs Mark Dominik and Jason Licht. The latter made most of those trades and landed players such as guards Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa and linebacker Kwon Alexander, but he also moved up for kicker Roberto Aguayo.”
May 2nd, 2024 at 1:01 pm
Live and Learn
He has.
May 2nd, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Like everyone here I would love to see another SB in ’24. Not sure the Bucs are quite ready…depth and other issues perhaps…but overall the Bucs seem set to compete at a high level.
I would love the pleasure of removing any bragging rights for the Saints.
The Bucs are currently tied with the Panthers with three consecutive titles the Saints have 4. Catch them this season and pass them next. Crappy division or not if the Bucs end up winning five titles in a row that’s IMPRESSIVE. Got to win the 4th to set up next year.
May 2nd, 2024 at 11:46 pm
And with some input from us fans who’ve been here a while…your’s truly…and LUV, a few others and the Joe’s….
When you have a lot of great minds collaborating together, over time, great things are going to happen. Im just glad Mr. Licht has the mindset to allow a lot of input and then go from there.
But no lie, this just might turn out to be his best draft ever! We got at least 5 sure starters! As long as injury bugs stay away, we’re def going over that 7.5 win total.