Slim Pickings
March 16th, 2018
The list of best available free agents is unnerving.
If the Bucs were hoping to find an edge rusher, a cornerback or a running back in free agency, the buffet is damn near dry.
Here is a list of available free agents in three critical Bucs areas of need, and it makes Joe want to start his weekly Friday beer-pounding already. James Brady of SB Nation has the gory roll call.
Running backs: LeGarrette Blount, DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore, Orleans Darkwa, Alfred Morris, Jeremy Hill, Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, Alfred Blue, Thomas Rawls.
Edge pass rushers: Adrian Clayborn, Alex Okafor, Junior Galette, Kony Ealy, Tank Carradine, Pernell McPhee, Elvis Dumervil, Ahmad Brooks, James Harrison.
Cornerbacks: E.J. Gaines, Rashaan Melvin, Justin Bethel, Tramon Williams, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Marcus Cooper.
That’s a pretty gnarly list but at least two qualified cornerbacks are still on the market.
Do the Bucs really believe Ryan Smith is a better option than Gaines, who started for a playoff team, and Melvin?
March 16th, 2018 at 5:07 am
joe, read my comments under ira’s budget spending write up…
#ImAnAbstractThinker
March 16th, 2018 at 5:08 am
my bad…ira’s write up is called “discount shopping”
March 16th, 2018 at 5:10 am
we always have a slogan for the bucs…
“its a bucs life”…
Seize the day”…
this year it should be “big trouble in little tampa (china)”
March 16th, 2018 at 5:11 am
4-12
March 16th, 2018 at 5:18 am
Isn’t Amukamara available too Joe? He’s not great but hot damn if he wouldn’t be the no1 CB on this team (including the guy getting AARP bennies)
March 16th, 2018 at 5:28 am
I hate this team. I hate this team.
Coaches suck owners suck and most of the players suck.
Thank god for the bolts
March 16th, 2018 at 5:31 am
Actually i think licht won FA via his board that was accidentally leaked on twitter:
BUCS 2018 FREE AGENT WISH LIST:
1) Kicker – need glazers to forget aguayo
2) Tom Osbournesque 1980s DT
3) TE- can never have enough TE
4) LB – see 3
5) Extra Point return player
6) CFL – no one sees me grabbing these eskimos
March 16th, 2018 at 5:36 am
Maybe we are blinded by this:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000921513/article/bucky-brooks-mock-draft-20-steelers-among-5-clubs-to-pick-qb
March 16th, 2018 at 5:37 am
give aldon smith a shot if he’s clean…the former 49er de
March 16th, 2018 at 5:48 am
The other position is Guard. Correct me if I am wrong but going into the draft the starting O line is:
LT: Smith
LG: Benenoch
C: Marpet
RG: Sweezy
RT: Dotson
Quickly looking at the reserves, Liedtke (1game 0 starts), Price (1 game, 0 start), Seaton (0 games), Wester (the cagey vet with 11 games, 0 starts but a TD) and Young (0 games)
This is a borderline travesty. A guard needed to be secured in FA even if overpaying was necessary. The lack of depth for this O line is staggering.
March 16th, 2018 at 5:50 am
I still think E.J. Gaines signs here
March 16th, 2018 at 6:09 am
I think Licht should sign Lagarette Blount or Thomas Rawls.those are 2 guys that even at their age can still carry the road.
March 16th, 2018 at 6:12 am
Aldon Smith is suspended…indefinitely
March 16th, 2018 at 6:25 am
Rawls has injury history. Blount is still the tip toe burgular who played behind a really good oline in philly. You want young backs with upside.
March 16th, 2018 at 6:57 am
Aldon smith had another incident
He will be banned for life
March 16th, 2018 at 7:25 am
feelthepewterpower Says:
“Blount is still the tip toe burgular who played behind a really good oline in philly.”
Total lie. He’s a short yardage back. Hard hitting. Was never a ‘tip toe’ guy. Never.
March 16th, 2018 at 7:32 am
The race for 2-14 has begun!! 😊
March 16th, 2018 at 7:39 am
Well at least we’ll have a top 5 draft pick next year
March 16th, 2018 at 7:39 am
No “dinner bell” in the building at One Buc, just a nasty “reject” buzzer….
March 16th, 2018 at 7:56 am
Still plenty of talent and plenty of money left.
March 16th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Maddognavy, maybe thats been our plan all along. Another top pick and we can resign Winston cheap. Then turn around and draft Nick Bosa #1 overall. 2019 will be remembered as the year that we drafted our next “10 sack guy”.
March 16th, 2018 at 9:04 am
Didn’t we have Rashaan Melvin in camp a few years ago?
March 16th, 2018 at 9:11 am
No kidding.
March 16th, 2018 at 9:14 am
Yes, Rashaan Melvin was with the Bucs. Undrafted rookie signed by Dominik. Of course, he couldn’t play for Lovie. 🙁
March 16th, 2018 at 9:17 am
That list doesn’t really look much different than the list players who have signed big contracts save the QB’s. Too much hand-wringing over average, less than or washed up talent. Licht has learned a few things. Find good teammates who can play in rotation with good work ethic. He has signed too many lazy guys in the past.
March 16th, 2018 at 10:13 am
Ther way the Cleveland Browns are attacking their roster? Thye are trying to ensure the bucs swamp places with them! So far we have signed a lot of backups And Swez is still collecting Buc paychecks courtesy of his dad…GM Licht. The reason the pickings are slim is because the good apples have been picked! We are gonna relie on a draft class of rookies to pull this team together? Good luck. All of yas are gonna be calling for the heads of Buc staff come December. I can’t wait.
March 16th, 2018 at 10:44 am
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Forget RB, it’s not a need … there are better ones in the draft than left in free agency and guys like Adrian Peterson will probably still be unsigned even after the draft if we “need” to add another one then.
Personally, I think we should sign at least (3) more free agents, namely:
(1) Center: Ryan Jensen or Mike Pouncey
(1) CB: EJ Gaines or Morris Claiborne
(1) SS: Sonny Vaccaro or Tre Boston or Eric Reid
If we sign (3) such players, I’m thrilled with the roster going into the draft.
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March 16th, 2018 at 11:34 am
I believe there is a young DE Aaron Lynch available. I might be wrong.
March 16th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Aaron Lynch signed with Bears … Alex Okafor signed with Saints … Kony Ealy and Sheldon Richardson both remain unsigned which is a little strange
March 16th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
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We’ve got $28mil left … if Licht signed Matthieu ($10m), Jensen ($10m) and Gaines ($7.25mil) would Bucs fans be stoked?
How about, Pouncey ($7m) + Tre Boston ($4.75m) + Gaines ($7.25m) + re-signing Pamphile ($3.5m), Evan Smith ($3m) and Charles Simms ($1.5m) with $1mil left over for UDFA’s?
IMO fans would be ecstatic with the first option, while the 2nd option might be more doable and might help the team more … but both are nice and better than inaction, so GET TO WORK LICHT!
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March 16th, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Siege a Section!!
Not going to a Rays or Bucs game this season. But I, at least, understand what the Rays are doing because they have many prospects at AA and AAA.
March 16th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Vinny Curry was cut by PHI. E.J. Gaines, Rashaan Melvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are the only three CB’s I would sign. Preferably Melvin or Rodgers-Cromartie because of their size. The Bucs just need a starting CB from FA and they will be fine. They can draft a guard and running back in April.