“I Don’t Think It’s Very Often That A General Manager Has The First Pick And The 32nd Pick”
March 14th, 2021
So many things about the last Buccaneers season popped eyeballs from St. Pete Beach to Sebring.
The stunning layers to the dream year — the wackiest season in NFL history — are almost endless.
Super Bowl general manager Jason Licht seems to appreciate the uniqueness of it all. Licht referenced his winding road to the top of the league — and joked about it — during his latest appearance on Slice, a video production funded by the Buccaneers.
“I don’t think it’s very often that a general manager has the first pick and the 32nd pick,” Licht said. “You know, I guess that shows progress.”
Licht went on to say that his unfamiliar draft position is exciting and fans should not underestimate its value. And he emphasized the Bucs have needs and could have more after free agency shakes out.
“I’m still excited about the draft. I’m still excited about picking No. 32. You know, we’ve picked some pretty good second-rounders in the past, especially last year with Antoine [Winfield, Jr.]. So that’s the type of player you can hit on if you do it right, if the right player falls to you.
“In terms of our needs, even Super Bowl champions still have needs. It’s not that you don’t have needs; maybe your needs become a little bit less paramount. But it’s all also going to depend on free agency here. Hopefully we can get all of our guys back. You know, picking the best available player is a good position to be in because those are the type of picks that usually have a higher-percent chance of making it and making an impact down the road. It may be two years down the road, but you’ll think, ‘Glad we picked that guy.’ You may not need him right now, but at some point you will. So that’s one of the exciting things about picking there at No. 32.”
It really is wild to consider a GM having the first pick in the draft and then winning the Super Bowl without that first pick on the roster.
Has that ever happened?
As for the draft, of course the 2021 draft is critical. The Bucs have kicked so much salary cap cash down the road to re-sign their own free agents, so they need this 2021 draft to deliver if they want a successful club after the Tom Brady window closes.
Enjoy the latest Ira Kaufman Podcast! Presented by Bill Currie Ford.
March 14th, 2021 at 9:41 am
Bill Polian picked Peyton Manning, and won a SB w him?
March 14th, 2021 at 9:42 am
Sorry, missed the “without the first pick” on the roster.
Good point. Shows we were a franchise QB1 away!
March 14th, 2021 at 9:43 am
Touchdown to Turnover margin from the QB position made this team into champions.
That, and leadership from the GOAT.
March 14th, 2021 at 9:47 am
there goes jameis magooing again…
if we keep this defense together, he just might be wearing that expression a whole lot more n the near future…
#BreesMightNotWantNone #HanginUpThemCleats
March 14th, 2021 at 9:50 am
since they pay jameis basically nothing to play in new orleans, doesn’t that sorta make sean payton uncle scoogemiester ?
March 14th, 2021 at 10:03 am
Wow, look at all that potential.
You can see it in his eyes!
Cough……Bullsh!t……cough
March 14th, 2021 at 10:12 am
I’ll take a few lean years coming down the road when we get to three Super Bowls with Brady.
March 14th, 2021 at 10:16 am
Adam…that is an ancient photo. Franky, I think this article is more about introspection on Lichts part of how far we have come from his first couple years, and how the draft represents that. As far as allowing the number one pick to walk away, I think Joe was not subtracting anything from that, but looking at it from a different prism. An interesting one…but regarding Jameis…I’m over him. I think Licht basically is as well.
March 14th, 2021 at 10:20 am
How many overall #1’s has this team HAD in the last 45-odd years? Nearly all of them were busts.
March 14th, 2021 at 10:21 am
Even funnier is sabotaging your bitter opponent by that former first pick playing there as starting QB next season.
March 14th, 2021 at 10:30 am
Finally got to see a picture of Oneilyall.
March 14th, 2021 at 10:32 am
The odds of all this working out & being on top of the mountain have to be slim to none & slim left town
March 14th, 2021 at 10:41 am
“….after the Tom Brady window closes.” Exactly! Plan B. We better damn well get a capable QB that can be groomed by Brady and the Bucs’ top-notch coaching staff. There’s got to be a sleeper in the draft with a lot of upside. Find him!
March 14th, 2021 at 10:45 am
Beej,
Lee Roy Selmon
Ricky Bell
Bo Jackson
Vinny Testaverde
JayMiss Winsnone
Only one of those names really stands out as a bust.
One didn’t play for us but definitely wasn’t a bust.
March 14th, 2021 at 10:46 am
Evans and David are the only two players left from 2015.
March 14th, 2021 at 11:14 am
1sparkybuc nfl rosters change constantly especially when switching coaches. It’s crazy how some here wanted a certain player to be invincible and survive every regime. Five years is a luxury for an nfl QB with 1 team it doesn’t happen often teams move on quickly.
March 14th, 2021 at 11:37 am
Not true. Cam Brate, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, and William Gholston were on the 2015 team.
I think Jason Licht is lucky to be in the position that he is in. Very few general managers survive a #1 overall draft BUST! Also, can we all stop with this foolishness with people suggesting that Jay-Miss needed one more year for the defense to come together? He was a bust and the primary reason this team lost most games.
March 14th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Folks potential is absolutely WORTHLESS. you can’t make a car payment with it or make a mortgage pmt with it. JW could have all the potential in the world but it’s what you do with that potential. JW never got the concepte of a round peg can’t fit in a square hole = 30 ints. I’ve been a career fan of Tom Brady. Want to piss him off? tell him he can’t do something. He fought from the #6 QB to winning a bowl game as a starter and being the #1 QB at Mi. They joked about him in the combine. What did he do? Won a SB in his 1st start against the best show on turf. Moral of the story? Leave a legacy by using your potential
March 14th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Joe, if we do sign al our critical free agents, it looks like Licht’s approach to the draft will be to focus on the best player available and not for position or need. That must be a very liberating position to be in for a general manager. Going forward, it may be a fun exercise to speculate on some potential players who may be a available in the second round. I will add that I think Licht will trade out of the first round and pick up another second rounder. He likes the second round, as he has made clear. Finally, if we don’t have any major holes to fill, and we have two second round picks, I could see Licht drafting a quarterback (such as Trask), if the opportunity is there. After all, Licht did tip his hand when he mentioned picking a guy who you may not need right now, but you’ll be glad you did when the time comes.
March 14th, 2021 at 12:07 pm
Vince Lombardi did it with 1959 Draft and 1966/1967 Super Bowls. Pick was Kyle Rote. Of course there weren’t 32 picks in the first round then.
Tex Schramm of the Cowboys picked Ed Jones in the 1974 Draft and won 2 Super Bowls.
The 1970s Steelers got Terry Bradshaw with the first pick and won 4 super bowls. Didn’t have a names GM, but it was a combo of Noll and Rooney.
Bill Polian with Peyton Manning in the 1998 Draft, then Super Bowl in 2007.
Dick Vermeil HC/GM picked Orlando pace in 1997 draft, won 1999 Super Bowl.
Jerry Jones picked Troy AIkman in 1989, and then Russell Maryland in 1991, and won 1992, 1993, and 1995 Super Bowls.
And then Licht Picked Winston in 2015 Draft and won 2021 Super Bowl, joining the small list of highly impactful GMs.
March 14th, 2021 at 12:36 pm
now is the time for BPA unless it is kicker/punter
March 14th, 2021 at 12:37 pm
It really is wild to consider a GM having the first pick in the draft and then winning the Super Bowl without that first pick on the roster.
……………………..
We won the SB BECAUSE we no longer had that first pick on our roster
March 14th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
We need a solid 3 or 4 depth pieces and ST players out of this draft…..Depending on FA exits, we don’t need starters. That could change shortly.
I can think of potential being good in one instance…….Potential winner in a dead-heat race….and you bet to win & place.
March 14th, 2021 at 1:06 pm
The 49’s back in the 80’s many times were picking from the Cat birds seat at 30th (only 30 teams then) as a World Champion and they would do well year after year. So it is our turn now for J Licht and Company to pull rabbits out of the hat late in rounds along with the manoeuvring that good GMs do. Trader Vick (J Licht) is ready to go lol GO BUCS!!!!
March 14th, 2021 at 2:05 pm
Actually, Jameis accurately predicted that the Bucs were going to the Super Bowl on the night he was drafted! How many remember?
March 14th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
I actually have to give it up to JW….he was very instrumental in our draft spots after he started losing games for us. Without him and his corny eating W’s, we wouldnt have landed some of the guys on our team….so, well done 1.1 mill JW, well done 😉
March 14th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Well we essentially have the first pick. Of the second round.
March 14th, 2021 at 2:59 pm
Jimmy Johnson selected Troy Aikman first overall in 1989 then won the Super Bowl in the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
March 14th, 2021 at 3:10 pm
They’ll be looking for freak athletes in this draft. They’ll be looking for physical freaks that they can develop. They will now be drafting for the post Brady/ Shaq/ David/ JPP era.
March 14th, 2021 at 3:22 pm
Bucs4821
In the 1992 Draft Dallas picked 17th
In the 1993 Draft Dallas traded the 29th pick (last pick) to the Packers
They also traded their 1994 28th pick to SF.
Now, it’s possible that Licht will trade the 32nd pick
But, unless there is some other circumstance…..Licht may be the only one to have a 1 & 32nd..
T
March 14th, 2021 at 5:41 pm
We aren’t in a position to draft “BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE” at 32…
Our secondary is VERY WEAK whether people realize it or not.
We have to find a way to bring in a solid corner to start. Probably not going to happen at 32 as drafting corners is always risky. We probably need to put together a trade or hope we land someone solid in FA somehow.
March 14th, 2021 at 5:58 pm
Trade our 32nd and 4th and 5th to the Saints for Zaven Collins! They need the picks now since Brees officially announced his retirement.
March 14th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
MadMax
I doubt the Saints would deal with us.
And hell, for a little more draft capital I might move up and take Mac Jones.
March 14th, 2021 at 7:14 pm
We must keep the #32.
1-we have a good player in general historically
2-We have this player for 5 years on his rook contractand not 4. (huge difference in cost)
3-We have some real needs: BradyBucs is pointing one: A 5 stars Corner!
And we will need someone who will quit. Who? What position? We don’t know it yet.
But if Shaq quit, for an exemple, even if I hope not, then, a edge will be a good choice in the 1 round. And we can find a really good edge in the draft at #32. If Shu quit, then,… You got the picture,…
GO BUCS!
March 14th, 2021 at 7:25 pm
@Doosh, I def wouldnt mind Mac Jones but he’s probably gone by the 15th. I think we can worry about sitting a QB behind TB12 next year though.
March 14th, 2021 at 7:35 pm
totally flubbed up at picking #1 over all and wasted years so I really hope they are much better at picking 32nd…
March 14th, 2021 at 11:15 pm
I do not fault Licht for taking Jamies #1 overall. When a team finishes with the worst record and they do not have a QB, you draft the best QB available. It just sucked that Jaymiss and Mariota were the top 2 qb’s in the draft that year. Licht has more than redeemed himself over the years. The one that still haunts me is Aguyo or however the hell his name is spelled. I also feel like Licht lucked into the Tom Brady signing, but he has managed the roster very well. I am a little worried about cap space a few years from now, but Licht has gained my trust.
March 15th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Worst to first. Wowee. Hope he doesn’t get stage fright. Talent evaluation remains thru entire draft. Find the studs like you did with current roster.. unless it was sheer luck.