Paying The Price For Myles Garrett
March 9th, 2025
Taking the plunge.
UPDATED: Well, someone who has a work office at One Buc Palace would bite the bullet to get a premier edge rusher.
UPDATE: Myles Garrett has a giant new Browns contract.
Over at Buccaneers.com, senior writer/editor Scott Smith was posed with a question from a fan. If he had the power, would he make a trade for help in the secondary, an “elite” edge rusher or beef for the defensive line?
Smith answered he’d go get an edge rusher.
Now Smith was quick to point out he is not speaking on behalf of the Bucs, AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht or Todd Bowles. And Smith does not claim he has any inside knowledge of how the Bucs’ braintrust will work on adding to the roster.
Besides, Smith pointed out, there is this little thing called “tampering” he doesn’t want to be involved with.
Still, Smith typed, he would pay a large ransom if the Bucs could grab edge rusher Myles Garrett. In fact, Smith said he’d cough up two first-round picks for Garrett because he believes Garrett has at least five more seasons of gas in the tank.
But Smith also made a very interesting observation about edge rushers and defensive backs.
Even if we’re not talking about any specific players here, I would still pick “elite pass rusher” as my first choice from the options that presented. Next would be cornerback, because I’ve long held that’s a position at which a team could reasonably add depth to in any given season, no matter who is on your depth chart. As we saw last season, cornerback depth is critical and hard to cultivate and maintain.
This sounds like the Father Dungy method. And it’s a smart method.
Father Dungy used to preach to his parish that a team must draft a defensive back every year because a team cannot have too many.
And that’s just what the Bucs did. Each year Father Dungy was with the Bucs, Richie McKay drafted a defensive back, usually a cornerback.
Smith is right about depth is in the secondary, even more so when one of your starting corners has a torrid affair with the hot tub.
Still, Joe found it intriguing that even a guy working at One Buc Palace (not in football operations) can see the Bucs need a quality edge rusher.
March 9th, 2025 at 12:05 am
They know what they need.
Garrett is not happening.
March 9th, 2025 at 12:15 am
Reading Scott’s article, it magnifies the shame of an inept pass defense, especially when the offense is generational and legendary. Especially when the head coach is a defensive guru. Especially when the defensive guru reports to the head coach who is also himself. Foxes who guard henhouses usually don’t have hens to guard very long. They’ve digested them and shown the world what their scheme produces post-digestion.
March 9th, 2025 at 12:52 am
It was easy for Dungy to say he valued CBs and Edge when he already had Hardy Nickerson and Derrick Brooks manning the LB position.
Licht has drafted at least 1 DB in every draft for the last 10 years, and we’re still paper thin at the position.
I think any secondary would look better if their coach didn’t demand they play 12 yards off the WR and then immediately backpedal another 10 yards on every play.
March 9th, 2025 at 1:43 am
Wow Joe, Scott Smith?!
This dude who is working for the Glazerss unofficial Top Secret PR department. The same dude who has never had an utterance that did not have the official stamp of approval? BTW the Bucs PR department is a joke.
A BSPN “expert” would be more believeable. I have nothing against the guy. Most everyone has to work somewhere. However, on sports journalist stuff he carries no weight at all. I Use the Bucs NFL site only for pics of the ugly new Swashbuckler Uniforms, the official roster and who is on the practice squad. Even that info is fudged as in Vea’s lbs.
Sorry Joe but dang!
Go Bucs!
March 9th, 2025 at 1:58 am
If we are gonna bet the farm on the elder statesmen of edge rushers out there I prefer Hendrickson. 5 years left in the tank? Nope. BTW I hope we have not given up totally on our man Shaq.
Go Bucs!
March 9th, 2025 at 3:23 am
No question Hendrickson is a bad man rushing QBs. Garret is too. Elite pash rushers don’t come cheep, but a great QB never completed a pass lying on his back and that pretty much is the point here. To win championships in today’s nfl, you gotta have pressure on the qb. Both those men do that.
March 9th, 2025 at 4:13 am
Can you imagine Garrett replaces Hall at DE and Mack replacing JTS?
Can you imagine a 5 man line with
Yaya, Kancey, Vea, Garrett, and Mack?
That’s unstoppable.
March 9th, 2025 at 5:11 am
From your lips to God’s ears !!!
March 9th, 2025 at 5:13 am
Thanks for the article, Joe. Interesting and on point about an “Elite pass rusher.” And then a cornerback. I still think that another team will get Garrett, possibly Dallas.
Coach Dungy was smart and strategic. Hoping to see an elite edge rusher come our way.
March 9th, 2025 at 6:57 am
I agree with Scott Smith…
…but he’s an idiot.
Saying he doesn’t want to be considered ‘tampering’ will not hold sway with the keague. He is an employee of the Bucs organization. That, by rules, makes it tampering. Even taking that risk is stupid. He should not have bamed a player..
March 9th, 2025 at 7:07 am
garro Says:
March 9th, 2025 at 1:43 am
Wow Joe, Scott Smith?!
This dude who is working for the Glazerss unofficial Top Secret PR department. The same dude who has never had an utterance that did not have the official stamp of approval? BTW the Bucs PR department is a joke.”
A very trollish comment.
First, what was there to believe or not believe? Nothing. Your comment addresses a non-existent issue.
Second, Scott Smith and the PR staff have been great over the years. I wonder ..have you EVER kept a job as long as he has been with the organization?
Or are you just in the mood to troll?
March 9th, 2025 at 7:18 am
Maybe the Joe’s should do a mailbag 1 week before the draft and then answer 10 questions the day before the draft.
March 9th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Is Dean gone yet?
March 9th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I’m torn as to whether he gets cut or traded for 3rd day pick. I’m gonna go with cut
March 9th, 2025 at 7:29 am
Well, we can dream. The Matthew Judon signing will be announced at 12:01 pm tomorrow. Right out of the famous “bargain bin “.
March 9th, 2025 at 7:36 am
“Even more so when one of your starting corners has a torrid affair with the hot tub.” Hahahaha!!! Good one Joe!
March 9th, 2025 at 7:42 am
Well, we can all dream. Matthew Judon signing announcement at 12:01 pm tomorrow.
March 9th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Bengals want a first round pick or day 2 package for Hendrickson. So trade then our 2026 2nd round pick and Dean to start see what happens.
March 9th, 2025 at 8:01 am
The Bucs need to consider that, the top edge guys are in the AFC. If they are to be traded, there’s a good chance their teams don’t want to trade them within conference. That means they will be looking to trade to an NFC contender. If we don’t make an effort to get one of these edge guys, they are likely going to Washington or Detroit. When that happens it will make that team better and we are likely to have to play one of those teams in the playoffs. It’s us or them.
March 9th, 2025 at 8:04 am
No interest in betting the farm on Garrett. We have too many other holes.
March 9th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Garro, that article by Smith is interesting to me for exactly the same reason you disregard it. I agree with you that Smith is a fluff writer for the Bucs. Having said that, it may be a sign the Licht is actually considering making a move. If he let it be known that he was not going to take a big swing for the fences then he would stay quiet on the subject. I think that is precisely why Joe found it interesting too.
March 9th, 2025 at 8:51 am
The blind can see we need an edge Rush
March 9th, 2025 at 9:17 am
THIS:
“I think any secondary would look better if their coach didn’t demand they play 12 yards off the WR and then immediately backpedal another 10 yards on every play.”
-Hearty Nickerson for the win.
The wrong coordinator left!
March 9th, 2025 at 10:28 am
“Smith typed, he would pay a large ransom if the Bucs could grab edge rusher Myles Garrett. In fact, Smith said he’d cough up two first-round picks for Garrett because he believes Garrett has at least five more seasons of gas in the tank.”
Well, then Smith is the idiot kid from school.
March 9th, 2025 at 10:29 am
I don’t believe Garrett is happening either….too costly. But I think Hendrickson could be had for a 2nd or possibly a 3rd plus something else. Although we need corners, I would try and package #35 and a pick. It would free up cap space and move on from him. For me it’s not really about his injuries, but style of play.
March 9th, 2025 at 10:40 am
Dont do this. Myles and Baker dob,t get along. Go after the Bengals guy or a Bosa. If neither work draft sawyer who should still be on the board.
March 9th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Darius Slay just got released by Philadelphia. He’s 36 but has a reputation for taking care of himself. Worth a shot?