Bucs Involved In Espionage?
April 9th, 2025
What the cat was for Don Corleone…
It seems to Joe that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is pulling an Al Davis.
Davis, the late mastermind of the Raiders when they stood for a Commitment to Excellence, was as known for his football acumen with back-room shenanigans and spying. Both were next level.
Davis often would interview coaches, suits and yes, even players, not so much because he was interested in them but for the secrets and knowledge he could pry out of them.
Bill Belicheat often used this same method. He would bring in draft prospects not so much because he was interested in them, but to get intel on other players.
This brings Joe to the item published by Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reporting that one of the highest rated receivers in the draft, Texas wide speedster Matthew Golden, came into One Buc Palace yesterday for one of the Bucs’ 30 official visits.
Rarely does Licht draft a guy he brought into the building prior to the draft. For example, Calijah Kancey said he was floored when the Bucs drafted him because they had only minimal contact.
The Bucs are looking for a corner, right? Maybe looking for a safety, too. Well, Golden faced top-shelf corners and safeties last season. So let’s roll up onto the sidewalk and take a look at who Golden played against, yay’ees.
(Bonus points if any of Joe’s readers catch the reference to the previous sentence.)
Last year Texas played Michigan (Will Johnson), Georgia (Malaki Starks), Kentucky (Maxwell Hairston), Oklahoma (Billy Bowman) and Ohio State (Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom).
How much you want to bet Licht and Bucs suits went over game tape of Michigan and Georgia and Kentucky and had Golden break down the strengths and weaknesses of various corners and safeties and how he attacked them?
Golden also faced his teammate, cornerback Jahdae Barron, often in practice.
But to be fair to the Bucs and Licht, the only element it seems the Bucs are missing from their top-end receivers is elite speed. Sure, Trey Palmer has blazing speed but Joe isn’t sure what is going on with Palmer. For whatever reason, it doesn’t appear that Baker Mayfield and Palmer ever developed chemistry on the long ball. The Bucs have tried to use Palmer on deep passes but the timing simply hasn’t been there.
Maybe the Bucs have given up hope that Palmer can be a deep threat and that’s (one reason) why Golden was flown in? Golden did run a 4.29 40-yard dash at the combine.
By comparison, two years ago, Palmer ran a 4.33.
Just for fun, here is what Bob McGinn of Go Long and wrote on Golden, who McGinn believes is the second receiver off the board.
2. MATTHEW GOLDEN, Texas (5-11, 191, 4.32, 1-2):
After two 38-catch seasons at Houston he transferred to Texas and had an exceptional season for a playoff team. “Whenever they needed a play he’s the one that was that guy,” said one scout. “He made the emotional plays for them. He will make a difference as he moves up a level.” Started 33 of 36 games in his career, finishing with 134 receptions for 1,975 (14.7) and 22 TDs. “He ran 4.29,” a second scout said. “He does have some combination skills as far as being able to play outside and in the slot. He’s got some run-after-the-catch ability. Texas just sort of “outpersonneled” people. There was no magic to what they were doing, and he was part of that.” Returned kickoffs all three years, finishing with 28 for a 25.8 average and two TDs, both coming in 2023. “He is a great kid, and he could rise because of who he is,” said a third scout. “There’s not a whole lot of negatives on him other than (size). He’s fast enough to play outside. He doesn’t have runaway, home-run speed as a returner but it’s good enough.” Third-year junior from Houston. “Crafty little guy,” a fourth scout said. “Doesn’t have great hands. Not much magic after the catch. You have to get it to him quick. Just a guy, really. I don’t see him being a starter.”
So yes, Golden provides some intrigue at One Buc Palace.
https://twitter.com/RossTuckerPod/status/1904883535414218867
April 9th, 2025 at 7:13 am
David Lee Roth?
April 9th, 2025 at 7:17 am
“Not often, in recent history, have the Bucs drafted a guy they have brought into the building prior to the draft.”
Let’s see, they had Tykee Smith, Rachaad White, Cade Otton and Logan Hall visiting in recent years…
April 9th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Would not be mad AT ALL, if we pick the GOLDEN BOY at 19.
April 9th, 2025 at 7:32 am
I do not understand timing on a go route or for that matter a post route Joe. I see the long ball as on Baker. He missed many of them last year. I do not undersand why most seemed to be Palmer. He is shorter than Mike but Geez.
Go Bucs!
April 9th, 2025 at 7:41 am
If there is pressure in the QB’s face, then the pass is thrown to a spot and distance the receiver should be in based on practice time. Is Palmer not gett ing to that spot?
April 9th, 2025 at 7:42 am
Next weeks article: “Licht waterboarding WR prospects with Gatorade just to find out which cornerbacks can cover.”
April 9th, 2025 at 7:42 am
LB3 @19
April 9th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Fascinating article, Joe. Well done.
April 9th, 2025 at 7:59 am
Spy vs Spy
April 9th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Pretty sure every front office gathers intel on opponents or teammates from guys they bring in. I don’t think Licht is on the cutting edge here. It’s interesting to speculate what, if any, other players they may be scouting this way. When they bring in some late round undersized CB, what is the real agenda?
April 9th, 2025 at 8:05 am
We have not seen great deep passing out of Mayfield and we’ve rarely seen good deep passing. Jose you documented many, many times last year how short the passing game was last season. Perhaps everyone in the building, Mayfield included, knew that the deep pass was a weakness.
I personally love the bomb. I would use it several times a game. I want the DBs thinking every time “is this the play where they are going over my head?”. If they are worried about that, then they are less likely to be able to peak in the backfield and see what is going on there.
April 9th, 2025 at 8:11 am
Ahhhhhh Joe’s talking about a Yankee Rose, and she looks wild, wild, wild, WILD!!
April 9th, 2025 at 8:37 am
“When they bring in some late round undersized CB, what is the real agenda?”
They do that to increase their chances of signing him in undrafted free agency. A player that has some familiarity with the bucs is more likely to choose us.
April 9th, 2025 at 8:56 am
Are you referencing the Lenny Bruce of our era—the late, great Bill Hicks? Or perhaps the wild genius himself, Chris Farley?
April 9th, 2025 at 9:00 am
We’ve lost three giants in the past 20 years—Bernie Mac’s fire, Greg Giraldo’s wit, and Patrice O’Neal’s fearless truth.
April 9th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Tim and Lt. Dan nailed it.
🙂
April 9th, 2025 at 9:08 am
I was fortunate enough to be in the room for Carlin’s final Vegas performance—an experience I’ll never forget.
April 9th, 2025 at 9:08 am
I’m taking about that Yankee Rose
April 9th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Lt Dan – Hat Tip
April 9th, 2025 at 9:13 am
Thank you!
April 9th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Mahalo LUVMYBUCS.
April 9th, 2025 at 10:21 am
Lt. Dan – You’re welcome, Bredren,
April 9th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
He runs a 4.29, and some genius says he doesn’t have runaway speed?!?!?! LOL!!!!!
April 9th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Let’s just pray the beer gut with a pulse doesn’t draft a kicker round 1.
April 9th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
I doubt very seriously Jason and coach would bring players in for a visit ONLY to gain Intel on other players. Would be indicative of a lack of character on his part. I’m sure they look for Intel during the process but I’d be very disappointed if we were conning these young men by expressing interest when there really wasn’t any.
April 9th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Aqualung… Jeremiah and Matt Harmon were talking WRs… they said that speed doesn’t really show up on film. Straight line go balls more so obviously but they lamented his lack of YAC and just kinda bunched him with 3-4 other guys saying this draft lacks #1s but there is a group of #2 or #3 NFL WRs perhaps.
April 9th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Trivia: Lenny Bruce’s picture was among the many on the Beatle’s album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
April 9th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
Doesn’t sound like a No. 1 pick to me.
April 9th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
If we spend our top picks on offense again then we are cooked for the season
April 9th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
anybody notice Jeff and bucdawg never post on the same thred. Are they one in the same.
April 9th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
No, BucDawg stands alone in his genius.
April 9th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Standing in a soiled Depends.😁
April 10th, 2025 at 12:04 am
@BucDawg – You’re a genius in your own mind. But to the rest of us you know nothing. Jason picking a kicker in the 1st round ? Really? Last time I checked, he’s had the best drafting skills in the NFL for the last 5 years at least. It’s real easy to pick in the top 10. But to nail picks in the late 1st round and all the way down to the 5th round is real genius. You think you could do better ? Or name 3 GMs who have done better over the past 5 years? You would have better luck picking up a turd by it’s clean end ! Bandwagon fan .. Go Bucs
April 10th, 2025 at 9:30 am
Insightful and well crafted article. Someone earned a coconut doughnut.