Keeping The Band Together To Be A Step Away
March 22nd, 2025
Cohesion.
One reason most teams only have a Super Bowl window for a few years is, after maybe three-to-five years, they lose key players to free agency.
A perfect example is the San Francisco 49ers. In the last six seasons, San Francisco has been to two Super Bowls and four conference finals. Yet this past offseason, they lost/traded several stars and starters. San Francisco’s Super Bowl window seems slammed shut.
The Bucs? Well, since winning the Super Bowl in the 2020 season, aside from retirement/injuries and mental meltdowns, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has been able to keep his stars.
And in looking back at free agency this month, Dalton Wasserman of the PFF tribe explains it is Licht’s ability (and his staff’s) to keep Bucs’ stars that has kept the team in the mix as one of the NFC’s best.
…This time, they managed to keep wide receiver Chris Godwin, left guard Ben Bredeson and linebacker Lavonte David while also adding pass rusher Haason Reddick. Tampa Bay is only one or two more impactful defensive pieces from being serious NFC contenders.
Joe wonders who Wasserman believes are those key defensive pieces. Jihaad Campbell? Benjamin Morrison? Mike Green?
March 22nd, 2025 at 11:11 am
I’m betting the 49ers bounce back well this year. Their management team is solid. That stated, they didn’t get the job done like the Bucs have. In Licht we trust and I’ll add Bowles to that as well. This coming defense is looking like it’s got the chance to be a true beast. Can’t wait for pick 19 to see what the leadership group is truly thinking.
March 22nd, 2025 at 11:16 am
It would be nice to have a CB that could stay on the field and make a few picks.
Dean ain’t him.
March 22nd, 2025 at 11:25 am
We need another experienced LB and edge in FA. Some guys that that we can try out and maybe stick. Then the draft for A STARTER!
March 22nd, 2025 at 11:27 am
A shut down corner who is not on the shelf for several weeks is a must. If Reddick produces, then the second need will be someone to complement and later replace LVD and DL is also something to fortify. Vea is 30 and Kancey has not managed to start a season opener yet, would it not be nice if he is actually healthy in week 1 but if you are Jason Licht, do you hedge your bet on him???
March 22nd, 2025 at 11:58 am
TBBucFan … The 49ers are toast. Last year’s 6-11 record was no fluke; their offense is middle-of-the-pack (#13) and their defense really sucks (#29). They hae the highest Dead CAP this year of any team (over $77 mil) & they have a number of guys in key positions making big bucks (like 37 year old Trent Williams at OT who was injured half last season). Nah, they’re toast for several years.
The Bucs navigated their ‘rebuilding’ (starting in 2022) very well IMO, largely because we drafted so well, we retained our premier players (like Mike Evans & LVD), AND we picked up one key FA (Baker Mayfield) who’s made a world of difference for our offense. No idea how long our Super Bowl window will be open, but I’d guess 2025 AND 2026 as a minimum.
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:06 pm
I know a little about the journey the Bucs have been on. All the times I felt like throwing the tv out the window and getting hammered over the years, not to say I didn’t get hammered though.It’s been a long and treacherous battle, lot’s of downs, and the downs after winning a Superbowl and getting no recognition. Even now we still get treated like, xxxxxx blah.. Licht has been really good I mean great lol!! Go Bucs!!!!
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Dalton Wasserman did a mock draft on Feb 25th.
Rams receive 2025 first-round pick (No. 19); Buccaneers receive 2025 first-round pick (No. 26), 2025 third-round pick (No. 100)
Then at 26 the Bucs took: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
Tampa Bay gains an extra pick from the Rams and picks up a versatile, high-ceiling player in Williams. While he still needs to develop as a pass-rusher, Williams would help a Buccaneers edge unit that had just one player grade above 60.0 in run defense last season
Then he did a 2nd one on March 17th with Trevor Sikkema.
Bucs trade pick 19 with Chargers at 22 and get back Chargers 4th rounder (125) and 5th round (158).
The Bucs then select at 22… Donovan Ezeiruaku.
So in both mocks, Bucs trading down and getting on DL.
Yesterday NFL Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah had Bucs taking Donovan Ezeiruaku at 19.
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Mock drafts are basically worthless. They just help pass the time until the real thing.
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:17 pm
49ers will be 6-11 again
The Trey Lance pick and those contracts doomed them
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:19 pm
‘Joe wonders who Wasserman believes are those key defensive pieces. Jihaad Campbell? Benjamin Morrison? Mike Green?’
I think we can survive on the offensive side this year without adding any draft picks. Obviously not so on the defensive side. We NEED a starting MLB. We NEED another starter-quality CB. And I’d contend that we NEED a beastly DT/NT to rotate in with Vea more than we need another Edge at this point.
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:21 pm
Bucs need someone who’s gonna start Day 1 but obviously Campbell’s not that guy. Would be perfectly happy now though with drafting either a starter-quality CB or a beastly DT/NT in Rnd 1-4. Favorites are:
1 – K Grant (Michigan – 6’4″ & 331 lbs) … Rnd 1
2 – A Collins (Texas – 6’6″ & 332 lbs) … Rnd 2
3 – T Williams (Ohio State – 6’3″ & 334 lbs) … Rnd 2
4 – D Walker (Kentucky – 6’7″ & 331 lbs) … Rnd 3 or 4
5 – N Stackhouse (Georgia – 6’4″ & 327 lbs) … Rnd 3 or 4
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Ok Defense Rules. That’s the right size for those wonderful brutes up front. Now we need to know which ones can knock centers and guards back on their heels and into the backfield (hopefully into the QB). And in under 2 seconds. And we’ll take 2 of them. Yes DR, you’ve got the right idea!
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:48 pm
The game is won and lost in the trenches. More beef please.
March 22nd, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Kenton … I wanted all 5. We’ll sort them out in Training Camp. one of them’s gotta be able to pass rush.
March 22nd, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Were close. Real close. Go Bucs!!
March 22nd, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Permanently Moderated Says:
March 22nd, 2025 at 12:15 pm
FALSE.
1. They provide entertainment.
2. The process introduces a lot of player to some of us who really don’t follow the college game.
They’re only as worthless as every other piece of off-season speculation, whether it’s pre-free-agency, or preseason predictions, projections… Wanna talk about worthless? The pre-season prediction machine is just about the dumbest pile of crap I can imagine. It’s not even fun. At least the draft buildup is fun and educational.
March 22nd, 2025 at 1:57 pm
I agree 100% with Wasserman’s assessment!!! One or two key defensive players who can make an impact when needed!
March 22nd, 2025 at 2:23 pm
I want to say DE but IN/A think Braswell will improve. We need inside lb help bad
March 22nd, 2025 at 2:27 pm
A truly monstrous DL is always welcome. TBH.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:07 pm
As Long as Super Todd is in control, the Super Bowl or NFC championship is slammed shut.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:09 pm
I appreciate Wasserman’s comprehension of what the Bucs have and what a few defensive pieces would do to get the Bucs to that in all Super Bowl conversation level every franchise seeks to attain. As for the three prospective first rounders Campbell, Morrison and Green, my analysis says no, no and aw, h*ll no!
Campbell is a great prospect with a low floor but he is having shoulder surgery and plays patty cake too much for a man of his stature and gifts. Plus he is an ILB. Those are not worth a first round pick, no matter how talented.
Benjamin Morrison has years of top notch film but he just had hip surgery. Hips are kinda important for CBs so… NEXT! This CB class is deep.
Green was my first crush of this draft but his T-Rex arms ding him but the killer is he used those violent hands of his off the field. The Bungles don’t mind inflicting guys like him on the women of Cincinnati but Licht and Co. but him on their dirty dozen list for the Glazers and move on to the next prospect.
I’m also getting over my next crush of this draft Nick Emmanwori. He looks lost too often and is wobbly in his redirection abilities due to poor pad level at 6’3”. Malaki Starks, despite his poor combine is the only safety I think could be a plug and dominate piece for the Bucs at that position. He excels playing high, as a nickel and despite his stature can single handedly wreck opponents run and screen games.
Jahdae Barron is the boring, Bowles pick that could be a dominant piece. Like Morrison he has years of top notch film but no injury history. He will thrive from week 1 in Bowles’ zone scheme and has proved he can handle all responsibilities playing inside or outside including stuffing the run.
Ezeiruaku was my first favorite for the Bucs from this draft after digging in on these guys but now that I’ve properly scrutinized the top ten or so edgers I am squarely settled on Landon Jackson as the guy I want the Bucs to draft at 19 and expect to be 2025 DROY regardless of who drafts him. That 6’6”/265 Uncle Fester-looking goon from Arkansas who could only succeed as a 4-3 DE, this guy must be kidding, addicted to hot-takes or just dumb you think? Please watch this man’s film and highlights. He never disappears. Never finds himself on the ground. He does get contained but punishes those who manage to contain him. He is very, almost exclusively linear in his highlights which is leading to him being overlooked as a gangly dude with a boss bullrush and nothing else. He has a plus spin move and the best ghost move in this draft but he rarely needs to use them because he wins cleanly with his bull rush and a lightning quick hand counter so often. He has extensive film at EVERY position in the front seven at Arkansas from 0tech to left and right inside and outside linebacker which speaks to both his physical and mental football talents. This kid can (mostly) stay with a TE down the seam (4.6 40, elite short area times) or jump in a phone booth with a C or OG and pancake them so hard the back of their head bounces hard off the turf in a third and long NASCAR nickel package. He is the hardest hittting and most versatile defender in this draft. He is deceptively fluid with fast feet whose heels never touch the ground until the whistle. If you take Jackson’s B1 sensor gizmo metrics/analytic data and look for comparisons you get Dallas Turner and Jared Verse (2024’s picks 17 and 19.) Neither of those guys use their fast feet and lower body explosiveness to deliver near as much force in contact as Jackson does. He is the guy. Chuckle if you must. Max Crosby has been reaching out to him on Twitter to train but Landon hasn’t got back to him yet because he is committed to his program of NFL prep but he says he’ll find a way to get at least a couple of workouts in with him soon. The Bucs missed out on Verse but Jackson can bring all the havoc he does and maybe more in Bowles hands.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Draft the best player available that isn’t a QB, RB, or punter/kicker. Licht has drafted twice as many kickers and punters than any other active GM combined, so don’t put it past him to trade away a 2nd or 3rd rounder to move and snag that place kicking Specialist in the 2nd round.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:12 pm
PFF did an extensive evaluation of player positions vs draft spot vs future wins.
QB brought the most extra wins.
On defense, it was DB’s, Linebackers, then Edge and DL.
DB is the highest value, but the Bucs don’t need a DB starter. Between Izien and Smith, the Bucs should have S and Nickel CB covered for starters. What they need are some much better backups who are potential starters. The Bucs have shown that they can find those guys in the third and fourth rounds and develop them.
The value of Edge, DE and DL falls behind the value of Linebackers. And, again, the Bucs have the starters for this year. The second round is full of Edge, DE and DL players. How teams will value picks is a mystery as any chart or not chart may match what teams do. I would explore how high I could move up in the late first or early second rounds spending the fifth and seventh round picks. I would love to see the Bucs roll the dice on DT Tyleik Williams – 6’3″, 334# (down from 360# to become more explosive), 4.68 forty with a 10 yard split of 1.62. Like Vea early in his career, he needs to be on a snap count to keep him fresh. But, each time the other team gets the ball, put Williams, Vea, Kancey, Reddick and Diaby in and have them go hell for leather to try to get a three and out. For that to work, you have to have DB’s and ILB’s who can take away the quick hitting passes and screens. If you don’t get the three and out, see what that rotation can do for you with a four man rush.
First round should be Campbell if he is available. The NFL average recovery time for non quarterbacks for his surgery is 20 weeks meaning that he should be full contact in preseason. Plus, he brings value as an Edge rusher with two strip sack TDs scored last year. And, he can run better with receivers in man coverage than Knight. Knight should be Plan B in the second round or early third.
If Campbell is unavailable, then S Emmanwori probably brings the most value given that Winfield may have durability issues. That would keep Izien as the primary rotation and second string DB which is nice depth to have although at least one more DB is needed in the third or fourth round.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:24 pm
I would definitely trade down to pick up an extra 3rd.
And trade back again to pick up another 3rd.
That would be sick!
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:31 pm
Words cannot describe how fortunate the franchise is to go from Brady and the Super Bowl era , stepping into the cap abyss and catching Baker Mayfield on the way down.
It’s recovering from a Super Bowl run and victory is a mine field of cap space burned tuning up for the run and players wanting to cash in for being a Super Bowl starter and the big headedness of some players.
JL has managed with having Baker to avoid a big fall and has positioned the roster to still be a post season contender in recent years. The roster is ripe with a great draft to set up for another serious run .
I still think the team is missing a explosive WR .
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Couch Fan Says:
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Give it a rest.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Would rather have Ezeiruaku at Edge. Don’t need a guy in the first round that is going to be out most of the season. No to Campbell.
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Big Red Says:
March 22nd, 2025 at 3:12 pm
dumb diddee dumb diddee dumb
Also, I believe he’s drafted 2 kickers and 1 punter. If you add up the P/K picks by all the GMs, I’m sure it’s far greater than 3.
Also, Gay was a good pick. Getting rid of him may have been stupid.
The FSU kicker was obviously an idiotic pick.
Camarda was a good pick until the dude went all Kreist Krazy.
March 22nd, 2025 at 4:01 pm
toopanca Says:
“The value of Edge, DE and DL falls behind the value of Linebackers.”
Yea right…. Tell that to the pay scale….
If this were true – then there wouldn’t be a half dozen or more DE/Edge players selected in the 1st round every single year compared to an average of maybe 1 or 2 Inside LBers and some years none drafted in the 1st round.
March 22nd, 2025 at 4:30 pm
HopeIn1Hand, just watched film on Landon Jackson. I’m from Eastern Oklahoma HopeIn1Hand and plenty of cousins named Jackson and here you describe him as an “Uncle Fester-looking goon”. Sounds like you’re not “woke”. Hmm, wonder if he’s from Western Arkansas?
March 22nd, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Kenton Smith- You are close he is from Texarkana, TX which is west of western Arkansas right? I was simply affecting a shallow analysis reminiscent of those who are sleeping on him with the goon line before displacing it with my own. When explaining why he did not enter the draft in 2024 he proudly answered “I decided I wanted to stay a “hog” for another year.” I respect his loyalty. If his, my or anyone else’s words offend anyone that’s their deal. I’m thrilled you watched his film. I’m sure you saw how mechanical he looks in coverage but if Bowles is going to have Reddick keep his ears pinned back, Jackson can spell Reddick this season and step into his spot in 2026 after Reddick goes on to sign for big money elsewhere. This team has too many players with 20+ million dollar contracts to be able to sign Godeke and McCollum and have anything left to play with in FA.
March 22nd, 2025 at 6:24 pm
We need an offense that scores more than 20 points in a playoff game
March 22nd, 2025 at 6:50 pm
Can never go wrong spending premium picks on lineman IMO (offensive or defensive). Never.
But the middle of the fields needs help too. ILB, S, CB even…
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:12 pm
Alanbucsfan Says:
March 22nd, 2025 at 6:24 pm
Great analysis… especially considering offense isn’t the problem with this team.
Duh.
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Keeping the band together doesn’t work with a medicore coach sorry all you Bowles supporters
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:24 pm
FilthyAnimal
No team in the playoffs last year won a playoff game scoring only 20 points
Defense is prioritized for this year’s draft and FA, but the offense was disappointing at end of last year.
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Just draft Corners and Safeties on defense for the most part. They’re the only position Bowles can actually maximize on defense when he isn’t running for his life from the forward pass.
We’ll never know if our pass rushers can actually rush the passer until he has so much player depth in the defensive back field that there isn’t room for him to jam a DT into pass coverage.
March 22nd, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Alanbucsfan Says:
March 22nd, 2025 at 7:24 pm
It’s one game where they didn’t put up enough points. It was a bad game. What did we have, like the 3rd rated offense in the league? Get a little perspective. Offense is not a problem as long as Grizz can have smooth transition picking up from Coen.
March 22nd, 2025 at 9:57 pm
I would look at best available players and look to pick up (in no particular order)
1. CB (two CBs if the Bucs add an extra pick for Dean)
2. S
3. ILB
4. EDGE
5. DT
6. OT
Don’t need QB, RB, TE, OG, PK, P
Might add OC, WR, Returner, Special Teamers as UDFA
March 23rd, 2025 at 10:07 am
We have a glaring problem with teams killing us over the middle, so u draft until that is sured up, with whoever they deem to be that guy