Draft OT? Sure, Just Not At No. 32
April 20th, 2021
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
This subject seems to be bubbling to the surface and Joe thinks it is the ultimate in crazytalk.
This subject is that the Bucs should draft an offensive tackle at No. 32. Yes, really. Most people Joe has come across pushing this notion are using the Kansas City Chiefs as an example.
Joe first heard Kay Adams suggest this last week on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” seen weekday mornings. She said if the Bucs meet the same fate as the Chiefs, losing both of their starting tackles, they will wish Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafted a tackle with his first-round pick.
So the Bucs (or any team) should burn a first-round pick on a guy you pray never takes the field? That’s Wild Turkey-drinking wild to Joe.
Now if the Bucs want to draft a guy in the third round or lower as a backup, perhaps some dude that can play both tackle or guard, sure. That’s fine. But burning a first-round pick on a guy for whom you will wear out rosaries in the hope he never gets on the field is next-level bananas.
The Bucs have the best pair of tackles very likely in franchise history in Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs. Smith, who just finished his best season since being drafted in 2015, just extended his contract to carry him through the 2022 season. So at best, this first-round pick of a tackle wouldn’t start (barring injury) until 2023 — provided the Donovan Smith Hate Club finally gets its wish granted.
With the exception of quarterback, offensive tackle and maybe tight end, Joe is confident as hell the No. 32 pick will at least get in a rotation and log snaps this fall.
No way Licht and the Bucs want to pay a rookie first-round draft pick scale wage for the next two seasons and perform nightly dances around the fire so the Great Spirit sees to it the guy never plays outside of special teams or a 30-point blowout.
Remember, the Bucs are Going for Two. They want guys that can make an impact now. A first-round pick of an offensive tackle won’t.
April 20th, 2021 at 5:41 am
Maybe the Durable one gets traded?
Move Wirfs to LT, draft and start a RT.
Any dead $$ there?
I’d hate to lose the sporadic stud at LT…… but it just might happen.
April 20th, 2021 at 5:51 am
Never been a fan of Donovan Smith………………..his knock from college is that he pretty much plays when he wants to and looks lazy at times
……..and he’s done the same thing in the NFL. Unfortunately, when DS does want to play………..he’s pretty reliable; and notice how I said “reliable” not good.
DS doesn’t dominate on the line……..he’s just there unlike the fight you see in Jensen, Cappa, Marpet, and Wirfs……………………………
Now that DS has gotten paid again and he’s won a SB????……………watch DS play like a slob again and his MO will be “Oh well, I got paid…I got my money, I ain’t risking my health for this game”……….
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
JUST YOU WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!
April 20th, 2021 at 6:30 am
Donovan Smith played like a top 10 LT last year. No need to get a replacement. Seriously doubt a rookie will do better than Smith in his rookie year.
April 20th, 2021 at 6:33 am
No rookies on offense. Brady has no time for that. Draft all defense
April 20th, 2021 at 6:47 am
Hmm. Paul Gruber wasnt too bad…
April 20th, 2021 at 6:47 am
this off season is just sooo off kilter and it feels so dang good !
#TrainingCampAroundTheCorner
April 20th, 2021 at 6:55 am
The Bucs would not have extended Smiths contract if they were going to replace him. He’s not an all pro but he’s not bad.
April 20th, 2021 at 6:58 am
A lot of misplaced hate bubbling to the service this morning.
April 20th, 2021 at 7:00 am
Its a good idea rather have a ot then rb in first any day of the week,but left up to joe are qb would be jonny football
April 20th, 2021 at 7:06 am
A lot of rose colored SB glasses too…..
April 20th, 2021 at 7:10 am
Arians mentioned at some point early in the season (mebbe after the Saints debacle?) that Smith had reverted to poor technique, they made a few adjustments, and he was effective the rest of the year. He’s not Trent Williams, but if wager he’s better than most left tackles in the league
April 20th, 2021 at 7:37 am
There is a reason that Brady sought out Donovan Smith right after the final whistle of superbowl and gave him him a hug. Brady My guess is that Brady
was preety happy with how well Smith played.
April 20th, 2021 at 7:39 am
pretty happy
April 20th, 2021 at 7:42 am
Totally agree, Joe–no OT, no TE, no QB; Wells did fine. Probably do need an OL who can snap the ball,however–if it’s a guard, Shipley can teach him.
April 20th, 2021 at 7:43 am
DS played well, but I would not bet against anthems comment
April 20th, 2021 at 7:53 am
Lol building the trenches is a good idea.You also said the Bucs blew it when they drafted Devin white. That aged well
April 20th, 2021 at 8:17 am
I agree with Joe here. There is no need to waste a 1st rounder at OT this year. DE/OLB if one is there, I don’t like the DT class this year, so that’s a no from me, RB? One of those will fall to us, WR? Seriously? ILB? Nope. IOL is a maybe depending on who is there, TE? Nope.
April 20th, 2021 at 8:27 am
i wouldnt have a problem with it. what about jensen retiring and we talk about health of o-line. certain people hated the devin white pick and he won a super bowl for us. can never have too many linemen on either side.
April 20th, 2021 at 8:30 am
I agree. In what I read, this draft is deep in WR, CB, and OT. Take those in rounds 2 through 4. Licht has down well there in the past.
Draft Edge with #32, if there is a good one at that moment. EDGE also takes time for development. And we have very little depth in the position. JPP is nearing AARP stage.
In this draft, DT talent is very thin. Maybe stay away from it all together or take one in rounds 5 to 7
April 20th, 2021 at 8:36 am
No First round pick is being pegged as a starter this year!! Best available player ! Offensive tackle or guard/Center should be included
April 20th, 2021 at 8:52 am
Agree! The Bucs need a player that can contribute. Edge rusher seems to be a strong choice. CBs tend to get banged-up during the year…can never have too many good CBs. WR depending on AB. Depth at OL and DL would be great…but first round is questionable.
April 20th, 2021 at 8:52 am
If you want to stay relevant, you should draft lineman from both sides of the ball every single draft.
But it’s not going to happen in the first two rounds on offense. They have a back up OG and OT
April 20th, 2021 at 8:55 am
If there is a guy like Jalen Mayfield, Teven Jenkins or Alijah Vera Tucker who could transition to Guard (and also be a swing backup tackle) and com push Cappa for a starting position. That would possible leave Cappa as the first backup and Stinne behind him. That would be a great scenario. All three of the above draft prospects are thumpers and great athletes who fit what the Bucs do.
Bucs should absolutely look at Quinn Meinerz for C position in the 2nd or third round.
April 20th, 2021 at 8:56 am
Donovan is good enough to win a super bowl with (duh), but I’d be worried about extending him after Brady leaves. Unless a top tackle falls to us (not happening), I agree with ya Joe’s.
April 20th, 2021 at 9:00 am
IOL maybe, kappa is gonna get paid if he plays at the level he was playing before he got hurt jenson contract will be up after next season I dunno if the bucs can keep both
April 20th, 2021 at 9:05 am
No way should we use up our first rounder on the offensive line. I agree with you Joe, maybe 3rd round and beyond. Licht has already proven himself astute at finding quality o-line men in the middle of the draft. Not to mention the coaching staff has proven it can develop players like Stinnie and Wells. DE/OLB, secondary and a playmaker at wr/rb should be our focus in round one. Get the best available if those options. 🤞Etienne
April 20th, 2021 at 9:21 am
DE-CB-OLB @ 32
April 20th, 2021 at 9:31 am
What about a tackle that has the ability to bump inside to guard and compete with Cappa. Look at the old dallas o line, puttsburgh, etc. You win in the trenches. I would prefer a tackle over an RB any day.
April 20th, 2021 at 9:48 am
I’d say work on Center….Landon Dickerson. Start him as a rotational G/C. Its Jensen’s last year of his big contract, and luckily he’s still beasting at his age, but eventually we’ll either replace him or need a lot of money freed up to re-sign him again. nI dont know, thats just where Im at. Then hopefully Rondale Moore is still sitting there at the end of the 2nd.
April 20th, 2021 at 9:48 am
trade down and grab trench play…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 20th, 2021 at 9:51 am
As Bruce Arians said,
He couldnt believe this team didnt have a young OT in training.
But I wouldnt do it in the first round- unless a phenom drops to us.
Id go Pass rusher. You can NEVER have too many of those.
Then either OT or DT.
Then center, safety, and return specialist.
Last 2 for special team. We will miss Ryan Smith. We ‘ll miss his talent on special teams
April 20th, 2021 at 9:51 am
Thinking like a fan. That’s not how gm’s think. You can’t draft just for 2021 Licht has to think future, who he may or may not be able to resign. With one of the highest paid o lines I can easily see them drafting someone replacement. There is no rookie logging major reps in the regular season save an injury so it doesn’t matter what position they draft and o line would be a smart bet for the future even though I hope it’s not the pick. You simply can’t get this pick wrong because the position doesn’t matter. First pick in the draft is riding the bench either way if it’s offense or defense hell it’s so irrelevant if a quarterback falls you can take em it really doesn’t matter
April 20th, 2021 at 10:15 am
Pewter Power:
Couple of points:
Well, the Bucs are “all in” for “Going for Two.” And “all in” means from the Glazers on down to the towel boys. Full and complete focus on 2021 from the entire building of One Buc Palace. The future is now.
The Bucs are in a position that comes around once a lifetime. Promise you Licht will catch much more heat from the Glazers for *not* drafting for 2021 as opposed to worrying about, say, 2025 when the entire roster and coaching staff (and maybe front office) will be different.
You may need to rewatch the Bucs’ 2020 season. The Bucs had critical if not superior play from two rookies who started every game they were active for. Without those two rookies, Joe thinks it is fair to say the Bucs don’t make it past New Orleans much less win a Super Bowl. Shoot, without those rookies, Bucs may not have made the wild card.
April 20th, 2021 at 10:28 am
Don’t get the move Wirfs to LT group. It’s done, Smith got extended, Wirfs will be a pro bowl RT next year. Our OT’s are set for the next two season’s, no need to waste a first round pick on one. The D line rotates, the O line does not. It would be much smarter to draft D line. At least that player will contribute right away, not two years from now.
April 20th, 2021 at 11:08 am
Anthem, your about a thousand miles off. Makes sense Robert would agree with you.
April 20th, 2021 at 11:33 am
OL and DL are how you build a winning franchise for the long haul
Build from the inside out
April 20th, 2021 at 11:53 am
@ uh Joe
That was last years rookies and they were needed damn we had no good free safety and no right tackle worth starting on the right side of the line. Bucs clearly went into that draft with needs.
Wanna tell me what needs the Bucs have this year not last year? What position is a rookie coming and stealing a job don’t worry we’ll all wait, just don’t say something ridiculous like kick returner!!!
April 20th, 2021 at 11:58 am
Seems your original comment was a blanket statement.
April 20th, 2021 at 12:17 pm
If they draft an OL it will be a C/G.
April 20th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Yep. Paul Gruber.
April 20th, 2021 at 5:57 pm
“The Bucs have the best pair of tackles very likely in franchise history in Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs.”
That made me stop and think. It’s great that you would even say that. Yes, we are just fine.
Regarding OL I think there a a number of people who think Landon Dickerson would be a good target and smart pick at 32.
April 20th, 2021 at 6:28 pm
Suh is 34, JPP is 32/33, who we have behind them?
April 20th, 2021 at 7:57 pm
aside from high quality qb back up the bucs are loaded on offense. Early round pics all defense line and line backer. Late round pics for ol , kick returner, kick off burner.
April 20th, 2021 at 10:50 pm
Ask Chase Young how good D Smith is!
April 20th, 2021 at 11:17 pm
You saw what happened to KC last year right?? The Bucs having a Tackle injury is one of the biggest obstacles to repeating IMO. I’m happy for them to take one at 32, particularly if he has better hands than Joe Haeg.
April 23rd, 2021 at 12:15 pm
The Chiefs missed their starts OTs so much in the Super Bowl that the cut them right after the season started. Sure, draft a developmental OT in round 2-4 that has the ability to fill in this season if needed… and make sure there is a solid vet backup,.. But both of our OTs are under contract now for a long time… it would be stupid to waste a high pick for a guy that will hopefully never play in the event that two players who have rarely been hurt get hurt.