So What About Safety?
February 14th, 2020
Red flags with free agent safety?
Joe hasn’t had a good rant for a couple of days about the lousy Bucs running backs. Well, that will have to wait until later.
Running back is clearly the weakest link on the Bucs. The next-worst? Safety.
Oh yes, Joe loves Jordan Whitehead. But after that, what do you have? Justin Evans cannot stay healthy (and frankly Joe doubts he ever returns to the Bucs) and Mike Edwards, who will be entering his second season. Edwards, to be polite, had a shaky first season — enough that Joe doesn’t think the Bucs can trust him as a starter.
After Whitehead and Edwards, it’s pretty grim. So while we are all focused on the Big Five free agents (Shaq Barrett, Jameis Winston, Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh and Breshad Perriman), might the Bucs be scoping for a safety in free agency?
The PFF tribe threw out the name of a potential Bucs target, Vikings safety Anthony Harris, a free agent-to-be.
The thing with Harris, the Bucs would be buying high. Harris, in his first five years in the league, all with Minnesota, was a pretty much blah player. He happened to have his best year this past season, which (conveniently?) came in his contract year.
That should spook folks.
Harris started 14 games for the Vikings last season (career-high) and was tied for the NFL lead in picks with six. Previously the most games started for Harris was nine, and most picks was three, both in 2018.
So is the arrow pointing up on Harris, who had his best two seasons the last two years, or is it a red flag he had a career-year in a contract year?
February 14th, 2020 at 9:19 am
Meh….
Karl Joseph could be on the block….
GO BUCS
February 14th, 2020 at 9:20 am
Just curious but isnt it similar to jameis
5 years
Arguable of course if “blah” play before last season (one winning season)
Yet he throws for 5,000 yards and best year for tds in contract year
Yet that doesnt spook you?
February 14th, 2020 at 9:22 am
switch Ryan Smith back to safety lol
February 14th, 2020 at 9:27 am
There are two quality safeties in the draft, Delpit and McKinney. After that it drops off precipitously.
The Bucs could trade down and take one of them in the first round. Gaining an extra second round pick they could go for the RB and QB, if a QB isn’t too much of a stretch.
If Eason, Fromm, and Hurts are gone, they can go offensive tackle and save QB for round three. Gordon and Morgan would be good third rounders.
The rest of the draft should include interior defensive line guy and more O-line.
You never know what IDL or O-line guy will work the best, it is good to have a few.
February 14th, 2020 at 9:29 am
OK…..So……we now have FA suggestions at RB, Oline, Dline & S……and we also are supposed to be paying Jameis a fortune…..keeping Shaq, JPP, Suh, Nassib & Perriman…….and restructuring the Godwin contract.
Pardon the stupid question……where is the money for that?
February 14th, 2020 at 9:45 am
after 5 years they should know what they have. if they’re not interested why the hell should we be.
we do need an upgrade though
buy low, sell high (that phrase is trademarked by Ricky Bobby Inc.)
February 14th, 2020 at 9:50 am
Great rant Joe, you make us proud. Bucs definitely NEED another safety , preferably a veteran starting-caliber one to pair with Whitehead.
Mike Edwards continues to baffle me. I thought that TB et al said that he had a great training camp, and he started him for a few games. He struggled IMO, and eventually played some nickel once Andrew Adams came up to speed & took over at safety (I even thought the Bucs had said that Edwards would now be a nickel). But then he started again in the last few games when Whitehead went down & I thought he did quite well. Still baffled as to what his real position will be.
February 14th, 2020 at 9:50 am
If Evans can’t return S becomes a huge need.
February 14th, 2020 at 9:59 am
Joe, Your going to end up being wrong on Mike Edwards.
Will he become HoneyBadger 2.0??? Maybe not, but he’s going to be a solid starter/contributor in yr2 of Bowles Defense.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:11 am
I disagree about Edwards. Dude struggled early as a rookie DB, like ALL the rook DB’s did, but when he recovered from his injury he was a very credible safety.
IMO, he has a bright future. And if Evans recovers…in doubt based on history, but possible…the Bucs are stacked at DB for a while.
I’m curious about Kendall Beckwith. He was apparently upgraded early this month from IR to “reinstated”. Is this a move to cut him, or is there a chance he might be healthy enough to give it a go?
February 14th, 2020 at 10:13 am
BTW: IMO, the days of a difference between Free and Strong safety are over in sophisticated defenses. Both have to cover, and both now have to play run support. It’s not like a SS is really a fast LB like Lynch anymore, and a Free Safety only covers deep third or half.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:28 am
I understand HaHa Clinton-Dix is going to be on the free agent market. Sign him, if he’s available.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:32 am
Whats the news on Justin Evans?
February 14th, 2020 at 10:32 am
Easiest option without sacrificing draft picks is Tre Boston or Karl Joseph. Neither should be too expensive and should fit in Bowles scheme. Personally I prefer Boston.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:33 am
Forgot about Dixon. Good call John Sinclear
February 14th, 2020 at 10:57 am
Neah.
Tony Jefferson…who is likely to be a cap casualty with the Ravens. If fully healthy, that’s the dude, Tony Jefferson.
February 14th, 2020 at 11:02 am
What news?
February 14th, 2020 at 11:07 am
Save the cash on key defensive UFA signings (those mentioned in your post), and pick a solid safety in Rd 1 of the draft. My preference is Delpit. Kid’s a stud and should adapt quickly to Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme. RB in Rd 2. Use FA to get some O-line help.
February 14th, 2020 at 11:11 am
this safety talk is all just signs that justin evans is a wrap…
wtf happened to that guy?…
it’s rarely detailed and often brushed under the rug…
dude was our 2nd round pick a few years back and it seems like everyone is ok with this debacle…
just like with kendall beckwith…
these stories need to be detailed, updated, explained and what not…
stop turtling around and detail the mayhem
February 14th, 2020 at 11:26 am
joe…
no turtling allowed on joebucsfan.com
🙂
February 14th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
With all the talent available at #14, why would anyone pick a safety. Especially a potential 2nd rounder like Delpit?
Especially since there is an annual spring sale on quality, proven safeties dirt cheap.
February 14th, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Unless Simmons makes it to 10 and we trade up for him (which i would do in a heartbeat….pound for pound best player in the draft and WILL WIN DFROY), then we have Kyle Dugger who maybe makes it to top of 3rd at most.
Simmons is the one i want! Can jump almost 12 feet, 4.3 40 at 235lbs….im telling you, this guy is the main one i want! But he’s going to blow up the combine and will probably go top 5.
Go watch voch lombardi’s take on him, on youtube. Voch got us Vea and White…now we need Simmons. D backs and LB’s set for years!
February 14th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Would love to get Antoine Winfield Jr. as a “later round” safety draft prospect. One of my favorite prospects in this draft.
Either way we definitely need to upgrade the safety position.
The Justin Evans situation really stinks.
February 14th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
I really like Antoine Winfield Jr. as a potential “later round” safety draft prospect. One of my personal favorite (“favorite” does not equate to “best” to qualify) prospects in this whole Draft.
Really stinks regarding Justin Evans and his situation.
Either way we need a safety upgrade and/or addition this offseason.
p.s. don’t forget about S D’Cota Dixon. Not saying he’ll even be on the team, nevermind contribute or start, but he was almost penciled in to be a starter at safety last year to open the season per BA’s words himself. He was also probably my favorite undrafted rookie free agent pickup last year. Great story on that guy as well.
February 14th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Take a flier on Eric Berry among other actions. See if he can still play — work him out first of course. But if his achilles has recovered and he can still play, well he can be had cheap.
February 14th, 2020 at 3:00 pm
No, No , No, god no, nooooooooooooooooo secondary players in the first round, come on mad max. Trenches baby!!!!
Oh and pass on Harris.
February 14th, 2020 at 3:12 pm
I think a safety should be on all our radars. You gotta think that Bowles really wants a big time safety for this defense after what he did with Mathieu/Cards and Adams/Jets.
This defense must have a great scheme setup to put a top safety into great positions for success…….A top tier safety could really take this defense to a whole nother level. Which is really scary to think about based on how we finished last season.
I’m totally on board if they grab a safety they like on pick 13. All this nonsense about positional value and all that is peabrained. If you get a guy in round one that impacts games and is a true difference maker it’s a dang good pick. Don’t matter if it’s a S, RB, TE, G whatever…….the goal is to get a player that can dictate the outcome of games. And no that doesn’t only come from passrusher on defense……Anybody acting like it does is proven wrong 17 Sundays each year😉
February 14th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
I would rather use Jameis’ 30 Million to pick up O Line FAs and resign our D Line.
Use the 1st pick in the draft, move up and get Justin Herbert.
This guy is the real deal.
If we somehow still have our 2nd round pick, there are really good safeties this year, Kyle Dugger, Davis from Cal, etc.
Draft Deejay Dallas in the 4th if still available.
Lots of choices if we don’t bring Jameis back.
February 14th, 2020 at 5:08 pm
You act like im ignoring the 2nd and 3rd rounds alaskan.
February 14th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Just sign Eric Berry and add a real vet with experience, talent and insticts. Yea, I know he missed a year, but he said he’s ready to go.
February 14th, 2020 at 8:03 pm
It is true that Joe drones on and on about some things but when budding stars like Evans go down he doesn’t seem to ask questions to try and find out if his return is even a possibility. Losing a 2nd round safety with star potential is a big deal. When ASJ was flaming out it was not stop posts disparaging the guy. I would prefer a lot of questions/research in regards to high draft picks that could potentially contribute to the teams success.
February 14th, 2020 at 11:53 pm
Among Karl Joseph, Anthony Harris, Justin Simmons and Jimmie Ward who can learn quickly and play the best in Todd Bowles’ Scheme. Maybe we should skip a year of drafting safeties.
February 15th, 2020 at 9:50 am
I agree sign a safety in free agency our secondary can’t be all rookie/second year players needs to be a vet in there somewhere. Would love if we could trade for Adams I would literally freak thing is Jameis at 22-25 a year incentive based and Shaq at 15-16 we still have money to improve and can draft a pass rusher at 14 to go along with Shaq so we not spending 30 million on the OLB position love JPP but guy is injury prone and I’m skeptical of paying 12-13 million a year