Why The Bucs Didn’t Make A Move At Trade Deadline
November 5th, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
The Bucs, not surprisingly, didn’t go out and get a linebacker or an edge rusher or a cornerback yesterday at the trade deadline.
So why is that? Well, the Bucs covet third-day draft picks like winning Powerball tickets. Never know when the next K.J. Britt or Josh Hayes or Jake Camarda may come in handy.
Todd Bowles explained yesterday that he has confidence his players, those who know the ways of the Bucs, can get the job done.
“It’s a combination [of] the confidence we have in our young guys as well as short-term success for giving up long-term goals as far as giving up something for the future, making it worth our while to bring a guy in for a couple games that won’t be here after the year as well,” Bowles said.
Maybe Joe has a totally different outlook, but you play to win the game (unless you can improve your standing in the draft). Even with Chris Godwin likely out for the year, with a couple of pieces added to the roster, this team could make a deep run in the playoffs.
“This Joe” thinks this Bucs team has a two-year window to accomplish that. This season and next.
Stockpiling third-day draft picks is nice if you are rebuilding. Joe doesn’t think this current Bucs team is a rebuild.
Maybe the powers that be at One Buc Palace have a different view of how strong this team could be. Because on face value, it appears just by their unwillingness to upgrade, the Bucs have thrown in the towel on the 2024 Super Bowl chase.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:44 pm
C’mon that defense is a sieve. Can’t win games if you can’t stop them from scoring. Time for Bowles to sink or swim. Defense is supposed to be his stock -in-trade. He has until the end of the season to prove his worth. Bucs fans are tired of hearing about communication problems in the back end. That dog don’t hunt no more.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:51 pm
It’s clear they are playing the long game at the expense of this season. Quite unfortunate as a fan.
November 5th, 2024 at 11:55 pm
It’s clear that they aren’t making the playoffs this year oh well maybe next year when they get a new head coach #!!
November 6th, 2024 at 12:26 am
Well I guess we should talk draft now. What a waste of a good offense
November 6th, 2024 at 12:31 am
GO GET BELICHICK!
November 6th, 2024 at 1:13 am
They’re stubborn. It’s amazing how they keep thinking Tryon is gonna turn into their Simeon Rice or something. They need to give Ramirez a chance along with Watts when he comes back.
November 6th, 2024 at 1:17 am
Baker and Tristan and Godwin are the core of this team. All under 30. 3-4 year window to build something special here. They should lock Coen up and build some constancy into next season.
November 6th, 2024 at 1:18 am
I think the time for bringing in dudes who could be upgrades for what we have is long passed. Recognizing where we are weak was during the off season. I don’t think Todd has been very good at this as HC.
Finding those players is alot easier to fantasize about than to actually do. For one, quality free agents don’t escape their current team very often. Even then it is a crap shoot. See past quality free agent busts here in Tampa. Tree Hugger comes to mind. Maybe Michael Johnson? Or Rob Johnson? Meshawn Johnson? I can go on…
Go Bucs!
November 6th, 2024 at 1:21 am
@Garro
Maybe they might wanna just stay away from any FA with the last name of Johnson.
November 6th, 2024 at 1:25 am
@Garro
We could’ve used Keyshawn the other day. Meshawn would’ve at least given Baker a WR to throw the ball to. Especially when he’s always asking for the ball. He needs to get back on the field anyway because he’s starting to look like the marshmallow man.
November 6th, 2024 at 2:04 am
BOWELS STINKING UP THE JOINT IS ON THE BACK BURNER RIGHT NOW.
TRUMP WON!
November 6th, 2024 at 2:16 am
Bucs are passive and unrealistic. They desperately need all the help they can get stopping tight ends standing in the middle of the field playing catch and run. They need some upgrades, not trading is a slap to the fans.
November 6th, 2024 at 2:20 am
is what it is, we’ll deal….
BTW, Go T R U M P !
November 6th, 2024 at 3:40 am
Cowardly words from a loser
November 6th, 2024 at 5:52 am
Sadly, we lost the window of opportunity now. Agreed, there is a two year window. However, we could come back this season. Our Bucs are the comeback kids. I am still optimistic. Hoping for the win against the 49ers.
MegaFailure – Belichick is not the answer. Remember his last season once Brady and Gronk came to the Bucs. Plus, he really looks like he is enjoying himself now.
November 6th, 2024 at 5:53 am
It’s Belichick or back to the den of depression for the Bucs… Jason has ties with BB. The cupboards are not bare in Tampa. This job should be a desired gig. Nice weather, good team. No state income. Bill is nothing but accountability and a defensive mastermind. Keep Liam with baker and that offense.
November 6th, 2024 at 5:54 am
Bowles … ‘making it worth our while to bring a guy in for a couple games that won’t be here after the year as well’.
And there-in lies the fallacy. Bucs seem to be convinced that whoever is traded for will only be a 1-year solution at beast. Well, they didn’t believe that when they traded for Simeon Rice, or JPPor when they acquired FAs like Ndamukong Suh or Hardy Nickerson or Brad Johnson.
Bucs were missing key pieces to the puzzle and so they traded for them or brought them in as free agents. Every successful NFL does that because it’s virtually impossible to build 100% through the draft. With 53 guys on the roster, and assuming 7 picks per round, EVERY draft pick would have to be high quality AND stick for a full 7.5 years. Good luck with that. Free agency & trades are essential to building a winning team.
November 6th, 2024 at 6:04 am
Joe … ‘on face value, it appears just by the unwillingness to improve, the Bucs have thrown in the towel on the 2024 season’.
Interesting bottom line Joe, in that we’re only halfway through the season, with the (presumably) easier half ahead of us. If this Bucs team can play a team like the now 8-0 Chiefs down to the wire, why don’t we at least have a CHANCE to win out against lesser teams & finish as high as 12-5?
Also interesting that the trade deadline passes, and this article about that makes ZERO mention of GM Jason Licht, the front office guy responsible for making trades and stocking the cupboard. Bowles is just being the good employee, and has covered for JL from Day 1. Just like he did when JL signed Randy Gregory as the replacement for Shaq, and Gregory never showed up. Bowles stayed relatively silent during that entire disaster, like the good employee is apparently supposed to.
November 6th, 2024 at 6:40 am
You just have to look at history to understand the Organization is standing pat on trades. When this team is Super Bowl ready we go out and pick up the missing pieces. When it is obvious this isn’t a SB team and barely a playoff team they keep their draft stock in place and go with what they have. Also the fact (which is in a previous post) is that very very few of these trades this year are working out. The Bucs went out and got Whitehead back which I thought was smart, but that hasn’t worked out either.
November 6th, 2024 at 6:47 am
What are you willing to give up? And what do you think you can get for it? Perhaps the price was too high?
November 6th, 2024 at 8:40 am
I think the window is more than two years. Actually would say that this year the window was really only half open as we had to pay off the Brady loan and lean on draft picks pretty heavily. They gave guys like JTS and YaYa the chance to get the bag. They’ve fallen short. So now Licht, with a replenished cash stash, can make some moves and finish rebuilding the defense. We’ve had some very significant injuries this season as well (Godwin, Dennis, Dean and Hall)
The good news is we do have some great, young talent that should only get better and Mayfield seems like he’s here to stay. Gotta find a way to replace Evans and David soon, but I do believe the future is bright.
November 6th, 2024 at 8:45 am
Why should we..we have a 500 Coach who does not use his players correctly or knows how to go take a game win when he has the chance. His blunders just keep building up
November 6th, 2024 at 8:53 am
thrown in the towel is right.
We can’t stop Atlanta or any real QB. We’re sub .500. It’s toast.
November 6th, 2024 at 9:40 am
This man is blind in one eye for cataracts in the other and he must have two right halves of a brain because his cognitive reasoning is nonexistent when it comes to evaluating football talent. We are mired in less than mediocrity as long as he is our coach. It’s a shame because Baker finally looks like he’s shedding his good year bad next year stigma and really leading the team in a good direction even with his to 2 targets gone but all for naught because of Bowels
November 6th, 2024 at 9:55 am
Overall, we have one of the youngest teams in the league, and are hanging with the big dogs, even with significant injuries. JL and TB are probably thinking next season is when our window opens, and they may not be wrong.
November 6th, 2024 at 10:18 am
Our ridiculous fans want us to give away 3rd day draft picks like they’re candy on Halloween. Bucky Irving, Jordan Whitehead, Cade Otton, Tanard Jackson, Mike Williams, and Kwon Alexander were all 4th round picks. Zyon was a 5th. These picks are super valuable. You don’t just give these picks away.
November 6th, 2024 at 11:54 am
The Bucs two year window that “this Joe” is referring to is a window to be an 8-9 team at best. The time to rebuild is now and it starts with a change in head coach.
November 6th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Lets go B r a n d o n…..we got JPP with a 3rd….guess you forgot about that!
November 6th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Never know when the next K.J. Britt or Josh Hayes or Jake Camarda may come in handy. Those guys suck!!
November 6th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
Why ? Do you really want to know ? Well, it’s something that the Bucs do. But look at the other teams, why is a question that only JL can give that. Maybe it’s that they got all hurt up and now, let’s throw the season or something.
November 6th, 2024 at 6:10 pm
I agree 100% in going out and getting receiving help for this season and it is unfortunate that the Bucs did nothing. Mike Williams would have been a poor man’s replacement for Evans just like Thielen would have been a major upgrade to what we have, replacing Godwin.
Unfortunately, as much as I believe the Bucs’ biggest need is at middle linebacker, I don’t think anyone they would have brought in would ever be able to work out in the Bowles “scheme” (the kindest word I have for a defense that every opposing offense has figured out by now).
The league has caught up to Bowles’ defense and whole new concept is needed. I know the players would be upset if Todd was shown the door because they really like him, but I’m sure most would rather win than play for a “buddy”.
My fear is not for this year but for next year. Someone is going to offer Coen a head coaching job during the offseason. The Bucs should be one of those teams, giving Bowles the boot. They are already several better DCs looking for a job right now.