Jason Licht Gets An A- For 2024 Rookies
February 19th, 2025
Visionary, says NFL.com.
Boy, now this is a tough grading curve.
The Bucs’ 2024 rookie class was really something else. Only one rookie didn’t produce, and that guy is a backup on one of the best offensive lines in the game. In other words, Elijah Klein is in a logjam.
Gennaro Filice of NFL.com decided to rank the rookie classes of 2024. He gave Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht an A- grade. It was well earned.
Overall, Filice ranked the Bucs rookies as the No. 5 class overall.
The running back position is returning to prominence in the NFL, while nickelback has never been hotter. So, kudos to you, Jason Licht, for uncovering a dynamic talent at each spot in the middle rounds of the ’24 draft. The sixth running back selected in what was widely viewed as an underwhelming prospect crop at the position, Bucky Irving wasn’t just the best rookie RB but one of the most elusive players in the entire league. Next Gen Stats credited him with forcing a missed tackle on 35.8 percent of touches — the top rate in the NFL (min. 100 touches). NGS also had him averaging 5.5 yards per carry on rushes outside the tackles (fifth-best, min. 50 such carries) and 5.3 yards per carry on rushes inside the tackles (second-best). Oh, and he paced all rookie backs in catches (47) and receiving yards (392). Just an all-around baller — like Tykee Smith, who flourished in the nickel role as a savvy defender against the run and pass. With Todd Bowles praising the versatile DB throughout his rookie campaign, the only thing that really held Smith back was a midseason knee injury that cost him four games.
It’s a testament to Irving and Smith’s stellar play that I’m only now getting to Tampa Bay’s first-round pick, Graham Barton, who provided exactly what the Buccaneers desired at the pivot. … In the passing game, Jalen McMillan started slow but finished with a flurry …
Look, even Todd Bowles and Licht were getting production from a seventh-round pick. Tight end Devin Culp showed the NFL isn’t too big for him late in the season when the games really mattered.
Culp averaged nearly 18 yards a catch. That’s pretty freaking good for the 246th pick in the draft.
Filice’s top four teams were Washington (remember: Even when it’s not about the quarterback, it’s about the quarterback), Los Angeles Rams (with their first- and second-round defensive line arsekickers), Los Angeles Chargers (Joe Alt is the next Tristan Wirfs) and Las Vegas.
It’s hard to argue against Washington and the Los Angeles Rams but other than those two, Joe doesn’t see a draft class better than the Bucs’.
February 19th, 2025 at 5:19 am
Two rookies stood out so much that clearly the Bucs are #2.
Jayden Daniels is a QB and obviously and excellent one, a “franchise QB” you can build your offense around.
Bucky Irving (for at least a year, still has to back it up) was a “franchise RB” with rookie numbers that matched the great Barry Sanders.
Given that “franchise QB’s” are more critical and have longer careers Washington has the edge for sure. But Bucky is the next most valuable player. Let’s hope he stays healthy and that Grizz uses him wisely..
I’m not as disturbed at being selected 5th…arguments can be made but an A minus? Bucky alone would have made it an A and you add the other guys and if it’s not an A plus then there isn’t one!!!
February 19th, 2025 at 5:31 am
I can see the Commanders and the Rams.
But, the Chargers and the Raiders??? Seriously?
We beat both of them.
Yes, Joe Alt may be the next Tristan and Brock Bowers had an outstanding season, but beyond those two, did any of the other Chargers’ or Raiders’ rookies generate the kind of attention that Bucky, Jmac and Graham got?
I love the A- grade (but might have boosted it up to an A). It’s also nice to see us get the national attention.
But, our rookie class was better than the Chargers and Raiders.
February 19th, 2025 at 7:19 am
I seriously doubt that Jason gives two flips whether his term paper graded higher than four other students in his English Lit class. Or better said, drafts shouldn’t be graded after one season any more than immediately after the draft. The true test is how many picks get a second contract.
February 19th, 2025 at 7:26 am
So where did the Bucs pick in relation to the other teams that finished ahead of them? The farther down the draft you are the harder to find studs. Seems that alone would boost the Bucs if you are talking about draft ranking. The Bucs were kind of handicapped because always being the last to select in this group of teams.
February 19th, 2025 at 7:28 am
Edge rusher and QB far more valuable than RB and Center. Bucs had a good center on the roster and wasted a 1st round pick replacing a a quality player. This is Bucs football, folks. They still don’t understand that pressuring that edge rush is the most important position.
February 19th, 2025 at 7:59 am
The rankings should be about how well you addressed your team needs, or at least how much better your team appears to be with the application of both your draft and UDFA class (there’s plenty of strategy in the 6th and 7th rounds about who you think can fall to UDFA status, thereby not spending your set number of picks on them).
If you have a franchise QB before the draft, you’re at a significant disadvantage for achieving an “A” grade.
But hey, it’s too early to judge the class anyway, so as long as you’re in the vicinity, consider it plenty of kudos.
February 19th, 2025 at 8:01 am
BUCKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
February 19th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Agree with dbbcpa…
Commanders 4th
Chargers 5th
Raiders 13th
Rams 19th
Bucs 26th
A bet if Jared Verse was available at the 26th pick, we would have snapped him up. Being seven pics behind the Rams and still ending up in the top five is phenomenal. What’s sad is the first, second, third and 6th through 12th pics were ranked lower than us. I think Licht is the man but we have a heck of a scouting team as well. I love that we highlighted them a little bit in that video last offseason, got to know some of the scouts that find these hidden gems. I think the Bucs stack their draft board very well in the mid to lower rounds. Go Bucs!!
February 19th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Jeff
Did you see the SNL skit “Debbie Downer”. Is that where you find your inspiration to be such a negative tool?
February 19th, 2025 at 9:42 am
No doubt Licht etal are great drafting players. While I’m a Licht fan, I’m not so impressed with his recent FA pickups. On the offensive side, Bredeson and Shepard were solid, but Opeta and Newman didn’t contribute. Defensively, Whitehead was disappointing and Hall barely played. Of course we all remember how terrible Ryan Neal was. Certainly a lack of cap space had Licht bargain shopping, and most of the duds were on the defensive side of the ball ??, so maybe Licht/Bowles need to reconsider how they evaluate defensive FA pickups.
February 19th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Yeah every one of our guys was producing, we should use Culp exclusively in pre season and see what we got as he showed great promise. Our rook class is why our offense was so outstanding.
February 19th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Let’s look at our picks. We didn’t need a QB, so we married a position that could use an upgrade to th BPA and got Graham. I’d say he was pretty good for a rookie. He just needs to cut down on mistakes.
Braswell? I took me a minute to remember his name. Meh.
Smith and Macmillan were very pleasant surprises.
What can I say about Bucky.
Kline didn’t play, but I liked seeing what I saw in Culp. An offseason in the training room and we shall see what he can really be.
February 19th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
I like when graders don’t just give everyone an A+. Nothing is more annoying than the post draft grades where the worst scores are like B, or maybe if they’re really edgy, they got B-. So lame.
As for these grades, looking at the Chargers, it’s a tough one to give to Tampa, but very close. If Alt is as good as advertised, the next Wirfs, then of course they’re ahead since that’s a future HOFer. I’d hold off a bit on that comparison, but if it’s true, then they win the spot. Also they got McHonkey, who was really impressive and is already one of the best WR’s in football. Also Still was a very good corner as a rookie. That’s a very very good class.
For the Raiders it’s about one guy, Bowers, who put up insane stats for a rookie TE. However a lot of those impressive numbers were due to the lack of receiving options in Vegas, the ball was forced to Bowers, which really inflated his stats (sort of like how Otton looked amazing for a few weeks when all the Bucs WRs were injured and there wasn’t anyone else to throw the ball to). I don’t know much about the rest of the Raiders class as they were way too boring to watch, but on paper it doesn’t look better than the Bucs class to me – but again, I watch the Bucs every week so I know how good the rookies were.
February 19th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
stpetebucsfan Says:
February 19th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Jeff
Did you see the SNL skit “Debbie Downer”. Is that where you find your inspiration to be such a negative tool?
———–
I’m shocked you’re familiar with something that occured after the 90s, and of course I mean the 1890s.
February 19th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
I’m shocked as well Rod! LMAO