Jason Licht: Tykee Smith Moving To Starting Safety Is Very Much On The Table

April 1st, 2025

Eager for more snaps.

Yesterday at the swanky Breakers in Palm Beach, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht held court inside the NFL owners meetings and virtually his entire chat with the pen and mic club was about defense.

There is a certain hole in the secondary. The Bucs released starting safety Jordan Whitehead. Did that mean the Bucs would draft a safety?

Licht, during his entire chat, said in many different ways that drafting for every position on defense is a possibility. Even safety.

However, Licht confessed the Bucs may already have their new starting safety. It’s something Todd Bowles floated at the combine back in February.

The solution at safety to replace Whitehead may be nickel corner Tykee Smith. Licht said that is not a far-fetched idea.

“It’s definitely something Todd has talked about,” Licht said. “You know, you don’t want to load up a rookie with too much, and I think Tykee (entering his second season) having a year under his belt can handle a lot more.

“It just kind of depends on how the construction of the roster continues here after the draft, but it could be a possibility.”

Back in February, Bowles said Smith was lobbying to be on the field more. If he played more safety, the Bucs could either put him there full-time or when Smith is not playing nickel, he could be moved to safety.

Either way, there are all sorts of ways Smith could be used. And Licht likes Smith’s attitude of, “Just put me in the game, coach!”

“He’s definitely wired the right way,” Licht said of Smith. “He wants to play all the time. So do a lot of our young players – and older players.

“But our young players, that’s a quality that we like in them. They want to do whatever they can to get on the field as much as they can.”

The way it sounds like from both Bowles and Licht, unless a quality safety falls in their lap at No. 19, Smith has the upper hand to replace Whitehead in the starting lineup.

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15 Responses to “Jason Licht: Tykee Smith Moving To Starting Safety Is Very Much On The Table”

  1. Truth be Told Says:

    Typo on the article Joe. Whitehead was starting Safety not corner.

    This team is a solid Pass Defense away from being a legit SB team. Go Bucs!

  2. OR Buc Says:

    Jordan whitehead was so nonexistent last year that he might as well be our starting corner.

  3. Derek Says:

    Type in the article Joe.

  4. Brian in St Pete Says:

    My gut instinct says we will draft an outside CB on the first 2 days of the draft and double dip for more of a nickel type to replace Smith if he moves. Either way I suspect that DB will be flooded in the draft.

  5. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    We are in the lying season, so I take everything with a grain of salt.

  6. adam from ny Says:

    if he looks like a safety…then he’s a safety…

    but can he do the safety dance…?

    that’s the real question that must be answered 🙂

  7. garro Says:

    As I recall from two years ago teams attacked our slot corner. Because we were weak there. I am not well versed on corners and safeties. I have read that Smith performed well there. Why on earth would we want to revert to having a problem there? Todd has stated that he wants quite a few of his DBs to be able to play safety. I get it, but come on now… We got zilch from that approach last year. Get a safety who can play safety and leave Smith where he is Todd.

    Go Bucs!

  8. Beeej Says:

    Are we gonna bring Edwards back? He actually seemed effective

  9. Teacherman Says:

    I hope we draft a CB who can play nickle and outside.

    Remember our Super Bowl defense?

    We had Davis, Dean and SMB on the field together.

    That’s what we need.

    I’m okay with Izien as our backup nickle and safety and emergency CB.

  10. Fred McNeil Says:

    Yeah, teacher man. I like Izien. Very solid.

  11. Fred McNeil Says:

    And I’ve always liked Edwards too.

  12. Gipper Says:

    Foolishness. Keep Tykee in the slot/nickel and go get Emmanwori with top pick. This draft is loaded with CB’s and will be able to pick up a couple in rounds 3 and 4. There is not going to be a worthwhile EDGE left at 19. Don’t need anymore projects at EDGE.

  13. 813BUCBOI Says:

    I like edwards too as well as izien…izien has more flexibility, he can play all over imo….edwards is just a safety FS or SS…

    with the way this staff develops players, i’d say trade out of the 1st round, collect picks and draft & develop…

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  14. ballwasher61 Says:

    They talked last year about Smith not playing like a rookie and being very smart and ball aware, he’s earned the right to start. If we want to draft a safety to fit in at nickel that’s fine, there are a few that fit this draft. Also I read a former GM’s take on the depth of DL/Edge in this draft and he talked about taking that spot with first 2 picks if the value is there. I can see the Bucs doing that, it seems like the year they took Vita over James in the draft so it wouldn’t surprise me if they double down this draft if it’s there.

  15. BucDawg Says:

    Get the most athletic hard nosed defender you can that is healthy at every pick.

    First four picks should be defense only. After that just get the best available player. Wouldn’t mind a WR at some point.

 

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