“Time To Chill”
April 10th, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
The NFL draft used to be a jittery time for Jason Licht. Not anymore.
There were several years when it seemed like Licht had more holes to fill than a pro golfer. The Bucs were a needy team during Licht’s first six seasons as general manager.
Needy franchises tend to approach the draft with a desperate agenda — and that leads to a cluster of mistakes.
Bucs GM Jason Licht
Thanks to some very impactful draft classes, these Bucs aren’t needy.
While it’s a stretch to suggest the Bucs are loaded, everyone invited to Tampa Bay’s situation room on the evening of April 24 will know this is the best roster in the NFC South.
By far.
It all starts under center, where Baker Mayfield is a confident and driven leader just entering his prime. The Bucs won’t be drafting a quarterback … and you surely can’t make the same guarantee about New Orleans.
Derek Carr’s long streak of durability crumbled in 2024 as he missed seven games due to an oblique injury, a concussion and a fractured hand. Carr is 34 and the depth chart behind him reads Spencer Rattler and Jake Hoerner, who have combined for all of five TD passes at the pro level.
Panthers coach Dave Canales made a smart move benching Bryce Young for Andy Dalton early in the season. Young was struggling, losing his confidence and generating doubts from his teammates. Although Young threw seven TD passes and zero interceptions in the final three games, he remains a work in progress and he certainly doesn’t have Mayfield’s weapons.
The Falcons say they are all-in on Michael Penix, but didn’t Raheem Morris say the same thing about Kirk Cousins last spring?
Penix has only three NFL starts and his completion rate (58 percent) is a bit concerning.
Coming off a 10-7 season, the Bucs are young and talented, a winning exacta. The addition of Haason Reddick in free agency lowers the urgency to add an edge rusher with a premium pick.
Still, you can never have too many quarterback hunters on your roster. Another inside linebacker would be nice and Todd Bowles surely wouldn’t mind a talented cornerback to compete for a starting job opposite Zyon McCollum.
Sounds like champagne problems.
The Bucs could line up with the same exact roster they have now and win the division for the fifth consecutive season. Licht shouldn’t be stressed out during the draft because this team doesn’t need to hit a home run in Round 1.
Not many other clubs in this league can say the same.
It shouldn’t shock anyone if the Bucs trade back in the opening round, perhaps even out of the opening round. Licht has shown he can find great value on Day 2 and Day 3, so stockpiling picks could be the way to go if Tampa Bay’s brain trust isn’t overwhelmed by the prospects still on the board at No. 19.
Bowles craves more defensive talent, and who can blame him? Last year’s flurry of injuries revealed some depth issues and there’s no certainty Reddick can recapture his previous form after a washout season with the Jets. He’s a key figure heading into 2025, along with Antoine Winfield Jr.
Licht and his staff have earned the confidence of the Glazers. Recent drafts have been exemplary and there’s no reason to reach or make a risky move.
Let the Falcons, Saints and Panthers deal with flopsweat for three days.
For the Bucs, it’s time to chill. Play it cool, don’t panic and trust your gut. Work the board, taking advantage of the reckless and the desperate.
They’re out there … play ’em.
Ira Kaufman Talks About What Todd Bowles Is Thinking, The Parcells Effect At One Buc, Cornerback In Round 2, Ronde Barber Calling Out The Defense, Fans’ Shifting Opinions & More
April 10th, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Sage … ‘For the Bucs, it’s time to chill.’
Nah, sorry Ira, now’s the time to attack and bury the Saints, Falcons & Panthers for years to come. This is the draft that can set us up for a potential dynasty in the NFC South. We’ve already built a highly competitive offense; this is the year to do the same with our defense.
April 10th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Ahh, we’ll lose some games this year. But not many.
April 10th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
I like the last paragraph…
” For the Bucs, it’s time to chill. Play it cool, don’t panic and trust your gut. Work the board, taking advantage of the reckless and the desperate.
They’re out there … play ’em.”
Ira is just stating the the Bucs can go full BPA… but with a bit of a defensive bent IMO. Play those desparate suckers, Mr Licht!
April 10th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Just keep stock piling playmakers & we are good to go . If they take the WR from ohio state , I’m good with it . If they take that DT from Michigan , I’m good with it . Keep grabbing guys that can play and have a desire to get better & do their jobs ..go bucs
April 10th, 2025 at 11:44 pm
The 29th ranked pass defense in the league with a coach who openly said he had to drop lineman because the corners can’t run the scheme and the lineman can’t pressure the quarterback anyway is time to chill? One proven veteran on the roster at linebacker that almost retired? An offense that features as its strength 2 aging, oft injured wideouts and nobody at TE? That is Miller time? Mayfield is a top tier Qb in the NFC and fans expect you to dominate with a top tier QB. We field another defense that can’t stop long drives by average qbs on a weekly basis and the Licht sainthood campaign is going to end very quickly. No pressure.
April 11th, 2025 at 12:01 am
My 1st round pick that would benifit the team the most would be DT Kennth Grant or Harmon, hed be a defacto co starter cause Vea plays half the snaps
April 11th, 2025 at 3:27 am
I’ll remind Ira we got swept by the Falcons last year. No time to “chill”.
April 11th, 2025 at 3:27 am
‘Play it cool, don’t panic and trust your gut. Work the board, taking advantage of the reckless…’
Totally agree, Ira. The Bucs don’t need splashy or need to win the draft report card at the end of this month. Would love to see a starting CB, and depth/future on the D line, LB, backfield, and WR.
Going to be fun.
April 11th, 2025 at 4:56 am
Fully agree, Ira.
Things are up in the air at this time and every other team will be all in on their guy, until they aren’t by mid-season. No reason to worry about the Bucs. They got this.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:03 am
Nailed ti Mr Ira! As usual. Trading back is a totally agreeable solution this year me thinks. More picks in the NFL lottery is a good thing!
Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2025 at 7:27 am
Kenton you must have forgotten who the head coach is. I love this team truly but what makes you think anything will change from what you saw the last 3 years? His defensive ways don’t work in today’s NFL.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:58 am
I dunno.
With one of the worst pass D’s in a passing league, I hope there us an extreme sense of urgency at One Buc Palace.
April 11th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Honestly, man…that pass defense has just got to stiffen up.
April 11th, 2025 at 10:55 am
We desperately need a couple of ILBs and a corner.
April 11th, 2025 at 11:12 am
Champagne problems. Best player available in the first then BPA on defense in subsequent rounds. Maybe throw in a speedy WR along the way.
Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2025 at 11:59 am
The pass defense has been in decline every year starting in 2022. Improving it is the overwhelming need, so much so even Ray Charles can see it.
Educated fans know this is less to do with the players, but better players can’t hurt and we hope to watch another grand slam draft for Jason.
Fix the pass defense.
April 11th, 2025 at 12:28 pm
Rounds 1-2: 2 IDL.
Rounds 3-4: 2 outside CB
Round 5: WR
Round 6-7: ILB, OG
April 11th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
We can draft for 2026 and beyond. Get successors to Evans and Vea for example. And someone to replace Reddick after this year.
April 12th, 2025 at 6:01 am
@Teacherman We don’t have a sixth round pick