Likes “Freaks List” defenders.

So Joe is looking for tells in Jason Licht’s drafts. Here’s one a lot of folks overlook.

The Bucs’ AC/DC-loving general manager likes to draft players from non-Power 5 schools in Round 2. In his 11 seasons running the Bucs’ draft, he has picked six players in the second round from non-Power 5 schools.

Just this decade alone, Licht has chosen Luke Goedeke, Logan Hall and Cody Mauch, the last one selected in 2023. So, Licht is due for a small school pick on Friday night in the second round.

Another tell is Licht likes offensive linemen from the upper Midwest, especially from small schools. He also likes “freaks” in his front-seven defenders.

Each summer, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic publishes his “Freaks” list, players who are sick athletes in college. Last year, Licht selected Chris Braswell, who was on Feldman’s 2023 Freaks list.

Licht has picked “Freaks” including Calijah Kancey, YaYa Diaby and Hall. So let’s look at some “Freaks” from Feldman’s 2024 list that play defensive line or linebacker.

3. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan.
6. Davin Vann, DT, North Carolina State.
10. Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon.
16. Thor Griffith, DT, Louisville.
17. James Pearce, DE, Tennessee.
21. Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas.
27. Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame.
30. Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State.
33. Eugene Asante, LB, Auburn.
51. Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland.
53. Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo.
56. Mike Green, DE, Marshall.
60. Adin Huntington, DE, Tulane.
63. Jailin Walker, LB, Indiana.
67. David Walker, DE, Central Arkansas.
72. Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota.
79. Barryn Sorrell, DE, Texas.
94. Ty French, DE, West Virginia.

Abdul Carter (No. 12) is also on this Freaks list but there is no chance he falls to the Bucs at No. 19 short of video leaked on social media Thursday afternoon of him using a bong mask.

So if Licht holds true to his past, there is a good chance one of the guys on this aforementioned list — and maybe two — will be on the Bucs’ roster by Saturday night.

It’s The Annual Mock Draft Episode! A Full First-Round Mock & Plenty Of Bucs News, Notes & Nuggets.