NFL Suits Praise Jason Licht
April 7th, 2025
Colleagues approve.
One of Joe’s favorite things is to see other NFL suits and coaches offer their takes on the Bucs. It’s good to get a view of the team from outside sources with direct knowledge of the game.
And so it is that Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with NFL suits to get their feedback on each NFC team.
The suits not only stuck up for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, they thought he was savvy in keeping the NFC South’s king of the hill atop the mountain, and how he goes about doing it given the state of the division.
The Buccaneers won a weak NFC South for a fourth consecutive season and maintained continuity by re-signing Chris Godwin, Lavonte David and Ben Bredeson, among others. They let center Robert Hainsey leave after Graham Barton replaced him in the starting lineup in 2024. And they picked up pass rusher Haason Reddick.
“In a bad division, that is not a bad plan,” one exec said. “New Orleans isn’t getting better. Atlanta is starting a second-year QB. Carolina is frisky, but not there yet. Where is the impetus for change?”
The Bucs defeated Philadelphia and Detroit during the 2024 regular season, then lost at home in the wild-card round to Washington in an upset. They could make the case that they were close.
“People question the Reddick move, but it looks like a great scheme fit for Todd Bowles,” another exec said. “They do a good job identifying rushers, with Calijah Kancey as an example. Keeping Godwin and everyone else, and adding the rusher, was huge for them.”
Joe happens to agree. Let’s think about this for a second: Offense wasn’t a problem for the Bucs. Pass defense was, and has been the past two years. Despite this, the Bucs lost their last two playoff games by one score.
It appears the pass defense, if not fully fixed, should improve this year. ***FINALLY*** someone at One Buc Palace had an epiphany that you simply cannot have a good pass defense without an edge rush. So the Bucs swallowed their medicine, pinched their noses and went out and signed Haason Reddick.
Joe understands it must have been quite painful and strenuous to conclude this at One Buc Palace.
So it is not like the Bucs had to go out and sign five or six high-end free agents. The Bucs only needed to focus on two things: keep the offensive band together and repair the pass defense. It sure seems like the latter will happen.
Finally.
April 7th, 2025 at 4:32 am
I sure hope resigning Godwin was huge. Same thing with Reddick. If those two work out we are already better.
April 7th, 2025 at 5:12 am
Licht knows how….yeah theres some misses sometimes but that comes with the running of the territory.
He listens and considers everything….thats what i love most about him.
April 7th, 2025 at 5:17 am
I’m kinda hoping we take a wr either round 1 or 2. I wouldn’t mind cb in either round 1 or 2. MLB round 3 definitely. Then fill up our backups on safety MLB dline n oline. Would love 2 have a rb as well, let rachaad walk after this season saving 2 or 3 mill in cap. Using this season 2 devolp tucker. Hell licht is so good at picking up under the radar talent or underrated talent that even those picks cud be grabbed in the undrafted pool. Braswell needs a chance 2 develop along with diaby. The reason our young guys don’t develop is because they share playing time with so many other young guys at the same position. I say wr in 1 or 2 is because what’s Godwin like after the injury? Even if he returns 2 form we have a hopeful star at #3 that cud allow Godwin and Evans 2 play in the slot where we know they both can excel. Cb in 1 or 2 because Dean is unreliable. Maybe we unload him 2 a noncontending team. N get a high pick in whatever round 4 (hopeful) or 5 (most likely) but we cud also keep Dean n rotate Dean with the new guy. Keeping Dean fresh. We have 2 at least double dip at MLB give the young guys time 2 learn humble leadership from David before he retires in 1 year or 2 or 3. I’m not sure about the severity of David’s ankle 4 this upcoming season. If licht n bowles have confidence he will be ready week 1 then round 3 is a great round 2 pick 1. Now I haven’t looked at the draft class as closely as some. But jihads shoulder injury is concerning. Taking a dt in round 1 to sit behind kancey and vea wud be a mistake. Rotation I get it but u don’t pick a 1st rounder 2 rotate.
April 7th, 2025 at 6:16 am
Another conclusion reached by the Buc’s; specifically HC Todd Bowles. I’m paraphrasing here. Scoring more points than the other team wins games. Maybe the coach won’t play scared as much? That alone might be cause for an additional win or two.
April 7th, 2025 at 6:16 am
When Licht misses, its a pretty bad miss, I think Brady saved Lichts career in a good way, TB helped Licht sign the guys that powered the SB, then the cap crunch that followed forced Licht to really concentrate on the draft due to cap restraints, last few years his drafts have been rock solid, before TB, not that great
April 7th, 2025 at 7:10 am
I love that Licht knows OL and can find gems even at smaller schools or D2. It truly sets the foundation for success!
April 7th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Bottom line….everyone cant get paid the big $$…its finding the guys who understand that part of team effort also. The cap is there that nobody can control…so be a team player and work with us. A Superbowl is coming, trust me. And trust the process…money is money, nice to have but who cares once youve made enough. Look at what Evans and others have been doing in giving it away….understand that comes from a higher power.
April 7th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Trade for Trey and we win the Super Bowl. Heck we could rush with 4 if we had Hendrickson, Reddick, Vita, and Kancey.
April 7th, 2025 at 7:45 am
I think Bucs front office and coaches were well aware that we needed a pass rusher. Needing one and affording one are two different things. The hope that last year would be JTS year to show something faded fast. Braswell needed time. Diaby was doing it solo and focused on by opposing lines. The cap was increased, previously too much dead money on the Buc’s ledger. Hello Reddick. Add an edge in the draft and we’ll be okay.
April 7th, 2025 at 9:09 am
What is concerning is the fact that the ability to rush the passer also depends on the secondary holding coverage for at least 2 or 3 seconds. If you watched the playoff game closely, Washington had a 15-play drive and an 11-play drive. The ball was out of the QBs hands very quickly which made any type of pass rush impossible.
April 7th, 2025 at 9:22 am
First Last Says:
April 7th, 2025 at 7:41 am
Trade for Trey and we win the Super Bowl. Heck we could rush with 4 if we had Hendrickson, Reddick, Vita, and Kancey.
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Absolutely correct. Whether Bucs get Hendrickson or not, T Bowles needs to move to a 4-3 defense. There is no substitute for putting max pressure on a QB. If anyone doubts this, watch Kirk Cousins stand untouched in the pocket vs Bucs last year and throw for 9 TD’s.
April 7th, 2025 at 10:00 am
To say we have to move to a 4-3 defense is silly. We have a hybrid defense like all NFL teams these years.
Most teams will describe their teams as having a “base” of either 3-4 or 4-3, but all defenses are multiple looks.
Every team switches up their configuration often. The Bucs defensive lineman have plenty of plays where they are attacking a single gap (4-3). Lots of base 4-3 teams have plays designed where their defensive lineman are anchoring like the basics of a 3-4 philosophy.
If the defense has success on 1st down — most coaches bring in an extra corner for 2nd and 3rd down. Now meaning neither the 3-4 coach nor the 4-3 coach has that standard defense any longer.
Belichick what won 6 of the last 25 Super Bowls with a 3-4.
Pittsburgh has success with Tomlin and running the 3-4 defense.
We won a Super Bowl not too long ago with one.
But they were all hybrid.
While you had the Eagles last running a 4-3 who did not give up many points.
Look at the other end —- Dallas, San Fran, Atlanta and the points they gave up in our conference. My gosh — Dallas had Parsons.
Bowles has to continue to adapt. The more teams have film of his defense — the more they can exploit his tendencies. I would love for him to get a DC who shares some of his thoughts and calls a lot of the plays — then like BA … Bowles comes up with a red pen for certain plays and play calls.
Lots of ways to win. Starting with a 3-4 base is certainly one of them.
April 7th, 2025 at 10:09 am
One suit: “In a bad division, that is not a bad plan,” one exec said. “New Orleans isn’t getting better. Atlanta is starting a second-year QB. Carolina is frisky, but not there yet. Where is the impetus for change?”
The Bucs are barely winning a bad division and don’t have the cap to make big FA moves. Many suits and fans want big FA signings but that’s not his style.
The article only talks about FA signings, not Licht’s best strength, picks in the draft. With this draft being heavy in defensive picks, Bowles will be hugely involved, especially evaluating round 1-3 players. All three picks need to play a lot this season and play very well – or else the Glazers may run out of patience.