Draft King
July 14th, 2017
Lauded.
The four-letter has anointed a Bucs shot-caller.
When surveying the NFL landscape trying to rank teams from Nos. 1-32, a variety of NFL analysts working for BSPN tested diagnostics and peered under glasses to see what works and what doesn’t for the Buccaneers. Mike Sando examined the roster and says a major hat tip for the Bucs being a preseason favorite to make a playoff goes to the drafting acumen of AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Drafting Evans, Winston, Ali Marpet, Kwon Alexander and now Howard looks good enough on GM Jason Licht’s résumé to suggest Tampa Bay could outperform its No. 13 ranking in drafting outlook — especially now that there should be zero chance the team will take another kicker early.
Sometimes you learn by putting your hand in a fire too many times. Licht is a bold risk-taker, and he believed grabbing a kicker would help turn the franchise around. Joe has no problem with bold moves so long as they are smart.
If Roberto Aguayo turned (turns?) out to be the next Jan Stenerud, Licht would (will?) look like a genius. Unfortunately, the Bucs could have used another pass rusher more than throwing the dice at a kicker.
Licht has done so well with the draft, Joe believes he’s earned a few mulligans. It wasn’t like he drafted Sabby the Goat in the second round.
July 14th, 2017 at 1:08 pm
Had the Bucks not drafted Aguayo I think they would have nabbed Von Bell … which means they would not have needed to draft Justin Evans and could have packaged the #5 pick to move up in the 2nd round and take Dalvin Cook.
So, instead of having Cook, Bell and Folk … we have McNichols, Evans, Aguayo and Folk.
July 14th, 2017 at 1:22 pm
@NFLNUT top notch speculation there
July 14th, 2017 at 1:51 pm
Maybe the Bucs make the playoffs if they take Sterling Shepard in the 2nd or maybe the Bucs aren’t hoping Jameis improves his accuracy and tunrovers if they drafted Derek Carr like quite a few of us wanted…
That kicker pick will haunt Licht for quite some time.
July 14th, 2017 at 1:57 pm
Derek Carr is garbage compared to Jameis … check the QBR of each QBs first 2 years … Jameis had less help, was a lot younger and yet put up WAY HIGHER QBR in each year!
July 14th, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Nut:
Organization was very high on Yannick Ngakoue. Problem was, after trading up for Aguayo, Bucs didn’t have ammo to go get him.
July 14th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
I agree that the Aguayo pick was, um, “interesting” but speculating who the Bucs “missed out on” is pointless. There were probably a few “can’t miss” prospects in that draft that were duds as well.
Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve…..
Other than Aguayo, he hasn’t done bad.
July 14th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Thanks for the info Joe!
Bucsfanman … I wasn’t just throwing out a name of a better pick than Aguayo which I agree is silly … I just remember everyone talking about the Bucs needing safety help and thinking they were definitely moving up to draft Bell that night …
Regardless, I have also said many times if the team would have simply re-signed McDougald, they could have packaged the 5th (McNichols) and their 2nd to move up slightly and draft Dalvin Cook as well.
So … take your pick:
Cook, Bell and Folk
or
Cook, McDougald and Aguayo/Folk
or
McNichols, Evans and Aguayo/Folk
July 14th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Word is that Licht tried to move up in the 2nd and could not find a trade partner. It would have taken a good bit more than a 5th round pick to get either Budda Baker or Cook though (I’m quite sure one of those 2 players was the target of the trade up attempt – which one would depend on knowing exactly when the trade up was attempted). The 3rd round pick would have likely been the cost – so if a trade up had happened, then we likely wouldn’t have Chris Godwin.
Licht is KILLING IT in the draft despite the ill advised use of 3rd and 4th round picks to draft a kicker last year.
In 5 years Dom drafted exactly 3 good players – GMC, LD54 and Doug Martin – I guess he can also be credited with Stocker, Tandy and Gholston as solid role players who are still helping the team.
By contrast, Licht has drafted at least 9 good players (starter level) in his 4 drafts – Evans, Pamphile, Winston, D. Smith, Marpet, Kwon, Hargreaves, Spence and OJ Howard (10 if Aguayo gets his head straight and survives the kicking competition) along with a # of newer developmental hopefuls for eventual starters or solid role players on top of that – Ryan Smith, Benenoch, Bond, Justin Evans, Godwin, Beckwith, McNichols, Stevie T….. Add UDFA found talent like Brate, Humphries, Hey Jude and Javien Elliot to the tally and this GM is literally killing it with young talent acquisitions.
Draft King indeed!
July 14th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
I also thought the move up in the 2nd was for Von Bell when it was happening; or a WR although I wasn’t sure of the value there; or a DT or DE.
Didnt see the kicker coming.
Regardless Light is kicking a4ss in the draft compared to the NFL average and Bucs fans should feel good about him in general
July 14th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
Should have drafted MIXON….Would have solved our RB problems!!!…..for years to come!!
July 14th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
@NFLnut-You seem to forget Jameis in his rookie year had the leagues #2 rusher, Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson(part time) so let’s not act like he was without weapons. Who knows how Carr would’ve played here, he’s the only other young QB I’d take in this league over Jameis though.
It’s kind of a wash when you compare the two QB’s QBR though
Carr
Year 1 76.6
Year 2 91.1
Winston
Year 1 86.1
Year 2 84.2
July 14th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
cant complain about his drafting….he’s done an excellent job….GO BUCS!!!
July 14th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
This was a really good article and some excellent posts. I was feeling quite good. Then I read Bib Hog’s illustrious comment. Maybe I should take a cue from him. I can save this post and keep putting it up over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
And as a tribute to another here’s your daily dose of !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’s.
July 14th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
Phenomenal drafting from Licht — except for AguayNO obviously. This team’s talent level has risen dramatically the last two years. Dom was such a poser.
July 14th, 2017 at 3:22 pm
I will give Licht credit for drafting but come on, 3 top ten pick his first 3 years and OJ Howard falling into your lap in year 4. I think maybe we should judge rounds 2-7.
July 14th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
NFLNut- You have a good point and I think most would agree. I thought re-signing McDougald made sense too but either he or they didn’t think so.
We’ll have to wait and see if McNichols and Evans pan out. Cook and Bell are the better players, at least appear to be anyway. We’ll see.
July 14th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Dewey – Dom wiffed on 3 out of 5 1st round picks. (Freeman, Clayborn and Barron)
Licht has hit on every 1st round pick in 4 years including 3 future superstars (Evans, Winston and OJ Howard)
July 14th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Dewey, go back and read Pickgrins comment. You will notice Lichts draft success extends beyond round one.
July 14th, 2017 at 4:28 pm
And if Dom were here in 2014 I just lnow he would have drafted Manzeel. Setting back the franchise for another decade.
July 14th, 2017 at 5:22 pm
pickgrin you nailed it perfectly with that first post my man.
July 14th, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Jason Licht has done an awesome job drafting, especially in the first 4 rnds. Assuming that OJ will be a starter this year, it looks like Jason has drafted at least 10 starters in his first 4 yrs (2014 – ME13 & Pamphile; 2015 – Jameis, D. Smith, Marpet, Kwon; 2016 – VHIII, Spence & Bond (possibly); 2017 – OJ). Other possible ‘starters’ may be Aquayo, R. Smith, Beckwith & a couple of others might just surprise us. That’s pretty impressive IMO, especially if you include key FA pickups in the conversation as part of his GM duties. Players such as Brate, Humphries, Ayers, Rodgers & a number of others. Pretty significant roster turnaround in less than a handful of years.
July 14th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
DR says:
“Pretty significant roster turnaround in less than a handful of years.”
That is absolutely the bottom line.
When Dom left and Licht showed up at OBP – there were literally like 7 or 8 legit NFL starters on this team out of 22 starting spots – and that included a grossly overpaid CB who did NOT even want to be here.
Now you would have to look pretty hard at the Bucs starting roster to find 4 or 5 spots that truly must be upgraded. (and 2 of those are part time spots at nickle corner and SLB with the likely answers already on the roster – just young and unproven.)
The talent turnaround in just 4 years has been dramatic. And much of the talent on the Bucs roster is young and hasn’t hit or in many cases even come near their ceiling yet.
This team is built to last and with Jameis Winston at QB – there’s no reason the Buccaneers should not be among the elite teams year in and year out for at least the next 7-10 years.
#dynastyinthemaking
We have the talent – we have the coaching – we have the QB. But its all on paper until we at the very least win that 1st playoff game in a decade and a half.
I choose to believe that we are in for 1 very exciting upcoming season and that there will be many more to come as the years role forward. Its a good time to be a Buccaneers fan. FINALLY! We long suffering Bucs fans are so due….
July 14th, 2017 at 6:38 pm
Again. I love the position drafted. But the player
July 14th, 2017 at 7:17 pm
Yeah, you guys are right, Licht has done well, but someone has to play “that guy” to mix things up in here. Slow time, thankfully Joe tries to keep it fresh.
July 14th, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Pickgrin … “And much of the talent on the Bucs roster is young and hasn’t hit or in many cases even come near their ceiling yet.” That to me Pickgrin is the true bottom line. We’ve got a BUNCH of young talent AND we’ve got the coaching staff that can make that talent great & creat a winning T-E-A-M. As I look around the NFL I see several teams that are in similar positions: Titans for instance are another. Right now teams like the Bucs & Titans have great potential. Turning that potential into winning records, to include playoff wins & Super Bowl victories, is the challenge. The NFL old guard is hanging on … but it will change.
July 14th, 2017 at 7:34 pm
This is assuming Aguayo doesn’t make the team and go on to have a successful career. Remember, kicking is very volatile short-term but stabilizes long-term. Aguayo could have a very successful season this year and then we’re talking about a solid pick again…..
July 14th, 2017 at 8:05 pm
Give him a b minus
July 14th, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Stud … you quoted Jameis’ and Carr’s Passer Rating … go check their QBR … it’s different, is the only stat that take EVERYTHING into account … and JAMEIS BLOWS CARR OUT OF THE WATER!
Also, Carr is 3 years older than Jameis… by the time Jameis is Carr’s age he will likely have at least 11,000 more career passing yards and at east 80 more career passing TD’s … Carr is nothing compared to Jameis imho.
July 14th, 2017 at 10:16 pm
You Dalvin Cook people are going to lose your ‘should have’ fire is Cook busts.
July 14th, 2017 at 11:20 pm
^ I led the McNichols band wagon on day 3 of the draft and am thrilled we got him …. but Dalvin has greatness in him imho.
As for him busting … it’s very possible playing in Minnesota as they have a HORRIBLE run-blocking line, a QB who can’t do anything but dink and dunk and not even one receiver that strikes fear into defenses … Cook could have rough sledding ahead of him … yet if you flip him to the Bucs I think he could tear it up … so … we’ll see what happens.
July 15th, 2017 at 4:04 am
Pick.. 1000% agree with you. When you assess the trades that happened in front of the Bucs, it would have likely required the 3rd to get Cook. For the Mixon, excuse me MIXON, lover on the board, to move up to get him it would likely taken the 2 and the 4th.
The only way to get either player without sacrificing the back end of a deep draft would be to pass on Howard. I have fantasized about a trade out scenario so that the Bucs could either have taken 2 of three players, Cook, Baker or McDowell instead of Howard. That is intriguing but when you look at what Howard does to the offense, he’s a nightmare matchup.
When people start saying, I would’ve passed on Howard, I will entertain arguments about Cook and Mixon. When you analyze the trades on draft day, they just weren’t there.
I will give you the only other argument… If Glennon could’ve been traded in 2016 for a 2017 third, as was widely reported, then Licht could’ve had the firepower to trade up for Baker, Cook, Mixon or McDowell.
July 15th, 2017 at 10:54 am
I cant believe we have idiot fans crying about not having carr when you have winston. Some in this fan base are pathetic.
July 15th, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Follow the Licht!!
Too many other factors out of the teams control to play the what if games now. All you can and should judge is his tangible draft choices and strategies and so far the guy is a solid B+. Which if some of you haven’t noticed is on par with the tops of the league!
The foundation has been set and will be maintained for this organization to compete now and well into the future.
Speak softly Jason!!
July 16th, 2017 at 9:15 pm
A good passing attack improves the run game and visa versa. With all the new weapons I am completely stoked