Will Jason Licht’s Streak Hit Six Years?
April 18th, 2025
“Bake, another one is on the way.”
So what about trends through 11 years of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht tackling the NFL Draft?
One is Licht’s streak of five consecutive seasons drafting an offensive lineman — six O-linemen in those five years.
Licht took a break from the offensive trenches in 2019 after drafting six O-linemen through through the previous five drafts (2014-2018).
Yeah, Licht enjoys building an O-line.
He’s damn good at it, and it’s hard to believe the Bucs won’t draft another offensive lineman next week.
That brings Joe to University of Pittsburgh captain Branson Taylor. Joe’s watched some film and Taylor feels like a Licht kind of guy — big, physical tackle (6-6, 321 pounds) who played both sides of the line and appears primed to move inside.
Taylor is a fifth-year senior who was a stud basketball player in high school. He’s projected by many to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick. He’s coming off a torn meniscus midway through last season, but at the Pitt Pro Day a few weeks ago, Branson said he’s now 100 percent healthy.
Taylor has the size to play tackle in the NFL, so he could be an unusually versatile prospect.
There are other late-round names Joe could see Licht sniffing hard, as well, such as Eli Cox, the Kentucky center. He’s projected as a sixth- or seventh-round pick.
Not only has Cox started at center, he’s started at guard. But he also was a Wildcats captain in Liam Coen’s offense, a system the Bucs are trying to keep intact. The former Bucs offensive coordinator called plays at Kentucky in 2023.
Thanks to The Sickness, Cox spent six years at Kentucky (four different playcallers and offensive line coaches) and made 47 starts. He’s 6-4, 306 and is known as a mature dude. The guy got his bachelor’s degree in 2022 and has been on the SEC leadership council.
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April 18th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Not before the 5th this year Jason….please
Let’s do ILB, CB , S & Edge first
April 18th, 2025 at 10:38 pm
No Dean news?
April 18th, 2025 at 10:39 pm
5th round is a good place to look. Any earlier might be a little crazy.
April 18th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
How about let the GM do the drafting… that’s what he gets paid for.
April 18th, 2025 at 11:42 pm
No. Parker Brailsford from Alabama, Logan Jones from Iowa then the inimitable Willie Lamkin, master of natural leverage all are superior picks relative to Eli Cox despite his hybrid scheme familiarity. I love my Pitt guys but since Licht has picked OL in so many past years I’m not feeling Taylor unless he comes in as a UDFA, There are too many late defensive talents available to burn a pick on back-up OL.
April 19th, 2025 at 12:13 am
@Hopeain1Hand
Lampkin gets called for a decent amount of holding penalties. Especially when he was at Coastal Carolina. I think I’d pass.
April 19th, 2025 at 12:28 am
I can’t see an OL pick, not even a depth guy.
I’m not enthralled with Trey Palmer and Kameron Johnson as they’re too inconsistent. If the Bucs don’t see much upside with these guys, I could see Licht targeting a WR or two in the very late rounds and/or UDFA.
April 19th, 2025 at 12:54 am
DB, ILB, D-Line, WR
Would not be surprised if they pick up a CB and Safety.
I always say you draft an O & D linemen but with only six pics this year and needs all over the D, It might be tough.
April 19th, 2025 at 12:59 am
JimBobBuc Says:
April 19th, 2025 at 12:28 am
The late round and UDFA guys have no chance on this roster. Why bother? If they’re going to upgrade the WR situation, they need to do it before day 3.
April 19th, 2025 at 12:59 am
Grab a DE/DT to push Hall.
Grab a DT/NT to rotate with Vea.
Grab an undersized but fast DT to rotate with Kancey.
Grab 3 corners.
And 1 WR.
Draft big, strong and tough men for the trenches.
And grab 3 fast and ferocious corners.
Time to add some doggs to the cornerback room!
April 19th, 2025 at 1:55 am
@Filthy – I disagree. While we do have WRs 1 – 3 set right now, there’s no reason a 5th – 7th rounder couldn’t end up being better than Palmer, or Shepard, or Johnson…
April 19th, 2025 at 2:06 am
Wow Joe I am impressed sir!
Both do sound like Jason kind of guys. Lets get them both!
Go Bucs!
April 19th, 2025 at 2:33 am
I thought the streak was going to be JL drafting 1st round beef. OL/DL/OLB if including Hall, quite a ways back.
Let’s continue that steak but not by taking the OL.
April 19th, 2025 at 7:49 am
I’m sure Coen also knows a thing, or two about the guy, and they draft ahead of us in every round. J ville needs more O line help than us.
April 19th, 2025 at 8:38 am
They bring in these UDFA’s cause there can be missed talent there. Izien was one of those. Some guys shine more at the pro level than college. Mostly those smaller school guys that colleges whiffed on as well or injured players who turn out to be non injury prone as they grow into their bodies.
April 19th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Love the Eli Cox angle. Thanks for the reminder. Safe picks hard to find.
April 19th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Love the fact that it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. If Jason drafts an OL guy, I’ll toast to him and have beers. If he doesn’t, I’ll toast to him and have beers.
April 19th, 2025 at 11:07 am
ballwasher61, not many guys shine more at the pro level than college. And injury prone guys tend to be more likely to be reinjured than guys who are are not injury prone. It’s just how it is. But that doesn’t mean an injury prone guy is gonna get injured again or that the most durable guy isn’t gonna be injured. I’d not want too many injury prone players and we’re dancing on a fine line with that right now. Let’s draft a whole bunch of durable guys (unless they’re a steal) because I’ve never seen a guy make a big play on crutches.
April 19th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Tony- I couldn’t agree more. I’d be disappointed if the Bucs picked any of the guys I listed (I think Brailsford is returning to Alabama for 2025 actually.) I gave Cox a thorough watch and he has no NFL future. I doubt any of the guys I named do but the ones I named could end up as liability-level back-ups. They all played in hybrid schemes but none have the ability to create push in the run game and none of them have anything resembling recovery skills. I was all over centers early in my process but there is nothing worth drafting at the position. Bredeson is adequate as a backup center but I’m hoping the Bucs might pick up more veteran depth at the position after teams cut down to 53.
April 19th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
This would be an even better listen if there were less comments on women. It can sound a little creepy.. Please stay on football.
?? Confident the only comments have been about public figures and they’re certainly not in every episode or more than one-liner-type comments.–Joe
April 19th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
I wish J.L. was drafting for the Patriots. They need 5 o-linemen.