A Winning Offseason Would Mean…
February 26th, 2022
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
There are more questions involving the Bucs this offseason than there are trying to switch cell phone providers with all their damn paperwork.
The Bucs don’t have a quarterback and four critical starters on offense may not return. That’s not counting the questions of who to sign on defense and for how much.
Tampa Bay won the last two offseasons thanks to AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. That often means disaster in the regular season but the Bucs seasons went out and won a Super Bowl and won a playoff game the following year.
So what would it look like if Licht once again won the offseason in the coming weeks? Jenna Laine of ESPN has some ideas.
Best-case scenario for the team’s offseason: If the Bucs can trade for quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson — or even Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz or Derek Carr — and still manage to re-sign their most important free agents — Godwin, Davis, Jensen, Fournette and Whitehead — it’s a win.
It sure would be a win but would it be unreasonable to expect this?
There are credible reports out there that drama queen choke artist Aaron Rodgers wants $50 million (a year) to stay with the Packers. No thanks.
And last week, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill did a Phoenix sports radio hit where he professed his love for Kyler Murray. So take Murray off the table.
Joe doesn’t think Russell Wilson is a fit with the Bucs and his former teammate, former Bucs corner and assistant coach Richard Sherman, said on his podcast that Wilson is not an effective quarterback when he has to throw 30-or more times a game. So Joe doesn’t expect Wilson in Tampa.
Even though new Raiders coach Josh McDaniels claimed he is looking forward to working with Derek Carr, do you believe him? He’s a shady character to begin with.
And given Carr is in the final year of his contract, Joe is not convinced McDaniels is all-in on Carr. Joe has a suspicion McDaniels wants to draft a quarterback and fully groom him in his offense from Square 1.
February 26th, 2022 at 8:09 am
Well, if McDaniels wants him again, Tebow is available.
February 26th, 2022 at 8:13 am
Always a smart ass in the crowd
February 26th, 2022 at 8:21 am
I would be just fine with Carr
Let’s make this happen
February 26th, 2022 at 8:30 am
I can’t get over the fact that Russell Wilson isn’t a fit but Jimmy I never throw the ball downfield G somehow is. I swear Joe’s QB evaluation skills are some of the worst I’ve ever seen. Johnny Football, Jameis Winston, Jimmy G, etc.
February 26th, 2022 at 8:46 am
Rodgers stated on Pat Mcafee yesterday they he wasn’t forcing a 50m/y contract, he wants to win a SB, that was Green front office setting up deniability for when AR goes to another team. Same way they came forward states they wouldn’t trade when they said verbally to AR they would last preseason.
February 26th, 2022 at 8:47 am
Carr for Brady’s rights
February 26th, 2022 at 8:48 am
Carson Wentz is growing on me more and more. Not saying he is perfect but the colts had very little passing weapons last year and the final game vs the jags shouldn’t be what defined his season. I think Arians and Leftwich could do wonders for him.
February 26th, 2022 at 8:50 am
Already wrote about how Jimmy GQ is a bad fit. As for Russell Wilson, got that intel from Richard Sherman. 🤷♂️
February 26th, 2022 at 8:53 am
I wanted Carr back when we drafted Jameis. I think he is our best option if we can make it happen. Wentz would be a consolation prize. Other options are either too expensive, too much baggage or just not good enough.
February 26th, 2022 at 8:57 am
Gabbert, Trask.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:00 am
Carr is a good player, but is he worth maybe our number one pick this year for perhaps only a one year rental? Then, if he has a good, not great year with us, is it worth it to us to give him a massive contract like Dallas gave to Dak?
Mahomes and Josh Allen are superstar qb’s who can take over and win games practically on their own, so they are worth their contracts. Dak and Carr are more game manager types who can occasionally make the spectacular play. Dallas’s idiot gm (awesome businessman) paid Dak like a superstar, so now any good qb is justified in asking for a similar contract. I don’t think that Carr is worth the hassle.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:05 am
Hodad, I would be ok with Gabbert/Trask. I don’t think Gabbert is the answer but could be a bridge if Trask needs more time. This scenario would allow us to rebuild the team around them. Also, looking forward to seeing what we have in Trask. I tend to think he is way better than he is being given credit for.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:16 am
After assessing all potential realistic moves, there’s only one that should be made, and that’s acquiring Deshaun Watson.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:18 am
To take on a huge contract, we would have to step up our game in the draft.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:29 am
Licht could also win the off-season if he were able to:
Resign Godwin, Davis, Cappa & Whitehead to long-term contracts….
Not spend $40 Mil on a QB….
Get comp picks for Gronk, Lenny, Jensen, Suh
Resign JPP on a vet minimum plus $1mil per sack with $500k deducted for offsides penalties
Draft a DT, CB in rounds 1 & 2……draft a TE, RB, WR, in later rounds.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Deshaun Watson folks , it’s done already … worst kept secret so far , Arians pulled the gabbert card as a misdirection, get attention off the leaking Watson deal that’s already in place , tampering
GoBucs!
February 26th, 2022 at 9:55 am
Derek Carr and Kirk Cousins have identical stats- if you want to overpay for mediocrity- they’re your guys.
February 26th, 2022 at 9:56 am
‘Joe has a suspicion McDaniels wants to draft a quarterback and fully groom him in his offense from Square 1.’
Me too, but I don’t think McDaniels will move on from Carr this year (no pressing need to do that). Next year when Carr becomes a FA? Yup, that’s when McDaniels will make his move & replace Carr as starter.
Raiders are actually in pretty decent salary CAP position this year (very close to $20 mil available with 51 players signed, and of their 26 FAs, none make more than $4.5 mil). In that FA group BTW are some names Bucs’ fans are familiar with (GMC, DJax, Peyton Barber, Richie Incognito, and Marcus Mariota).
In any event, can’t see JL trading for Carr this year, but signing him next year when he hits the market is certainly a possibility.
February 26th, 2022 at 10:10 am
lol you threw wentz in there
February 26th, 2022 at 10:16 am
It doesn’t matter whos quarterback next year this team is not going very far in the playoffs, if we even make the playoffs. In 2020, the last half of the season, this team looked great. This year for whatever reason it did not look like the same team. I believe that could have weighed on Bradys mind also. I am not a coach but I believe having new blood on your team instead of signing all your free agents is sometimes better. But we should find out this year I can t see Licht signing a lot of free agents and pushing the money down the road unless its a QB. A couple of years from now we maybe in the same shape as the Saints.
February 26th, 2022 at 10:25 am
DR
I agree on Carr….Raiders will keep him this year….but they won’t get anything for him when he becomes a FA….they really don’t have a QB in 22 if they trade him now.
February 26th, 2022 at 10:35 am
TBBF … Totally agree with not spending big bucks on a QB, and also with re-signing Godwin & Whitehead to long-term contracts, but not sure about some of the others.
Our RB room right now consists of Vaughn & Barner. Yawn, yawn & triple yawn. RoJo’s not the answer (too 1-dimensional & can’t stay out of BA’s doghouse). Lenny & Gio are both quality backs who know our system. The money for the 2 of them together isn’t outrageous (probably $9 mil for both). I’d go for it at that price.
Our TE room is a mess. We’ve got Brate & McElroy; that’s it. Yawn some more (Brate had a terrible year IMO & is at best a mediocre blocker; McElroy’s certainly not the answer). Personally I’d release Brate (saving his $7.3 mil salary but costing us $1.9 mil in Dead CAP), then grab 1-2 FA TEs & draft another.
Our OLine needs leadership on the field. Smith & Marpet aren’t field generals, & Wirfs is still too young it appears. We’ll re-sign either Cappa or Stinnie I’m convinced, but neither of them is a ‘grab the bull by the horns’ type it appears. Field generalship is critical IMO & the only 2 OLinemen who’ve filled that role effectively since 2015 have been Mankins AND Jensen. As long as the latter’s price is reasonable ($10 mil?), I’d re-sign him. If he wants more, plug in Hainsey & hope for the best.
Defense is a mess right now, and especially our DLine & OLBs. I think it’ll perform considerably worse than it did last year simply because we can’t plug all the holes this year. Bummer. In any event, we have to address our CB situation (my opinion? replace Davis AND improve our depth), as well as our DLine (I’d re-sign Gholston AND Suh as part-timers, paid accordingly, and draft 1 DT & 1 DE/OLB). Also need to scour the FA inventory & see if we can get some depth there.
February 26th, 2022 at 10:39 am
“Brandon Jeff Says:
Looking forward to seeing what we have in Trask. I tend to think he is way better than he is being given credit for.”
Trask doesn’t have the “look” ESPN and the NFL want, hence the lack of love. That’s why Justin Fields and Trey Lance were hyped into high first round picks, and both suck.
February 26th, 2022 at 10:40 am
Acquire D. Watson, re-sign Godwin, Jensen, Stinnie, Whitehead, Gio. Draft CB, RB, DL
February 26th, 2022 at 10:49 am
Boss Boss , da plane da plane
February 26th, 2022 at 11:32 am
Rather have Darrell Williams FA running back from KC to go with Vaughn.
February 26th, 2022 at 11:43 am
As much as I would like to trade for one of them I don’t know if I’d do it. They’re gonna have to cough up quite a bit for either one of them (Wilson, Watson, Carr, Rodgers) & I’m not sure if I’d want to give up that much of the future of the team. I know it’s not what anybody would probably want but they might just sign somebody like Bridgewater or Newton & then keep them in playoff contention. Especially since they still have a playoff caliber team.
February 26th, 2022 at 11:43 am
Off-season wish list in no particular order:
Carr, Jimmy G, or Wentz @ QB
Let Fournette go…keep Rojo (more explosive and cheaper). Head-case claim is highly overrated. Good football player.
Draft RB James Cook (versatility) and a short yardage back in the middle rounds
Re-sign Cappa and/or Jensen for O-line continuity
Obviously, re-sign Godwin and draft a 3rd receiver (deep threat) perhaps Jameson Williams in Round 2
Re-sign Carlton Davis @ $10-$12 mil range
Re-sign Whitehead
Draft best player available @ D-line or pass rusher with 1st Rd pick.
February 26th, 2022 at 11:44 am
Rodgers always seems to be on & off in the playoffs & he’s in the same situation as Brady. He’s like 36 or so now so you don’t know how much longer he’s gonna play.
February 26th, 2022 at 11:45 am
Buc92’ Says:
February 26th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Oh yeah, where’d you hear that? it’s done? What are your sources?
We’ve been linked to every possible QB trade or free agent, and I’ve heard nothing to indicate Watson is a done deal any more than any of the other guys.
February 26th, 2022 at 11:50 am
Well maybe we can give Johnny Manziel a call & see if he wants another shot at playing again. We wouldn’t have to offer him $$$$. Just have to offer him a couple girls a bottle of alcohol & a bag of marijuana & he’d be all in.
February 26th, 2022 at 11:55 am
I think I’d have more faith in starting one of the cheerleaders right now over Gabbert & Trask.
February 26th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Tony says if we can get that cheerleader to play center Watson would be here in a heartbeat!
February 26th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Joe is right to be suspicious of McDaniels plans for Carr. Ben is told a key reasons he went to Vegas, was because bowl cut wearing, rhinoplasty freak, egomaniac mark Davis is set on trading for Watson. Carr is a fine QB, but Watson has a much bigger ceiling. The plan is to trade for Watson, then separately deal Carr to replenish the lost draft picks. Maybe Houston wants Carr in any trade, but if not, he’d be a vast improvement over what the bucs have.
Obviously that, and resigning those key FAs Joe mentioned would be a resounding success
February 26th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
I could accept Carr. I wanted him when he was in the draft. Hopefully the Raider have not damaged him very much.
I so wish people would stop suggesting Watson. The man will be suspended for a year…when that hammer drops, how would you like to be the GM who made that trade? They only was would possibly accept it is if it was close to free.
No team will give them more than a 5th rounder…if that…because of his legal troubles.
I would accept AR as well…but…he would be a short term solution, and an expensive one as far as salary.
Here’s the thing…we’re going to see some surprise QBs hit the market anyway.
I know we all want answers now…but…patience, people. Mistakes come from jumping the gun. Let the market play out and see what we get.
If we do not get a worthwhile veteran, we can go with Trask. If he turns out to be lousy, we get first pick next year.
There are plenty of ways for things to play out. Heck, Licht could trade up for the #1 pick even.
February 26th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Ben green Says:
“Carr is a fine QB, but Watson has a much bigger ceiling.”
The guy is dirt. He doesn’t have a higher ceiling because he will not be in the NFL in a few years. You think he’ll stop misbehaving after being punished for what he’s already done?
And if you think he will not be punished, then you don’t know the NFL and their need for good public relations.
That kid will be lucky if he isn’t banned from the NFL at this point.
People piled on Winston…well Watson did it to 22 women. Get real.
February 26th, 2022 at 1:05 pm
I find it interesting that folks think Watson is going to skate. Even if he evades criminal prosecution, you can bet there will be a slew of civil suits. The guy is radioactive and whoever ends up with him will see a hefty NFL suspension placed on him and rightfully so. Not one pick or money for him. No picks traded unless for more picks.
February 26th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Wilson would be a great QB with Bucs Oline-Seahags line sucked canal water. Trask will lead us to playoffs-I guarantee it , but with Russ you are right back in the Superbowl.
February 26th, 2022 at 1:42 pm
Buccaneer Bonsai, those are bold accusations towards a man who hasn’t even been criminally charged. His legal matters are civil. He won’t be charged criminally, and even if he is, it’s incredibly difficult to prove. Does Ben think he did these things, sure probably. But in the NFL, talent trumps trouble. If Mike Vick can get a second chance, after essentially torturing man’s best friend, then Watson surely will. Adrian Peterson Tyreek hill, they both were accused of assault and battery against children, yet they still found employment in the league. Ben thinks it’s you who doesn’t understand how this league really works. Will he be suspended, probably. It could be as little as six games, and as much as 12, maybe a season. That still makes him a 28 year old uber talented QB, and those guys (short of an Aaron Hernandez like murder rampage) will always find employment in the NFL
February 26th, 2022 at 2:00 pm
If y’all want scrubbed opinions, fine live in fantasy land
February 26th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Tyreek hill Adrian Peterson Mike Vick. They all found employment after being accused of horrible things. That’s the real NFL, talent always trumps trouble. Unless you murder folks like Aaron Hernandez.
February 26th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Gonna be rough 2022 season gonna have to take their lumps and try and see what they can do in 2023 with better options and more cap to work with. Anyone else besides Wilson or Rodgers is not worth the trade Watson even if he gets past 22 allegations without any criminal charges the NFL will suspend him once it all gets figured out might not even make the playoffs this year most likely not anyway.
February 26th, 2022 at 2:21 pm
First step is to clear cap space. Restructure/trade/cut.
Second step is to work out a deal with Tom Brady that would lower his cap hit this year.
Third step is sign our cheaper depth players – Bernard, Stinnie, Wells, Gholston, Minter, Adams.
Fourth step – sign the mid-level FAs – Gabbert (or other QB), Fournette, Cappa, JPP (maybe)
Then with the money we have left we focus on the big boys – Jenson, Whitehead, Davis and Godwin.
We won’t be able to keep all four. My guess is we will lose at least one or two of these players.
February 26th, 2022 at 2:24 pm
Last step is to draft well. We will probably need 2 or 3 starters from this draft. Fill the holes in the roster left by free agency. We don’t have a 6th round pick this year.
WR, CB, RB, OL, DL, TE and maybe punter are all areas of need.
February 26th, 2022 at 2:26 pm
Joe- Hypothetically speaking would the Bucs have to give the Colts any compensation for Andrew Luck, it BA and Licht were low-key trying to talk Luck into coming back?
February 26th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Brady retired from the bucs, not the NFL. Have fun y’all. You’ll be back to being the yucks in no time. This is Ben’s last post on this site. Ben can’t continue to be censored for innocuous comments. Y’all got y’all’s wish, Ben is out. Love to you all
February 26th, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out. ✋🏻👏🏻
February 26th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
go get watson, trade bradys rights to san fran for draft capital
February 26th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
ben dover… dont let the door hit you
February 26th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
Russell Wilson is a great quarterback, around whom you tailor an offense to his strengths. That’s how it works. You do not, on the other hand, force a QB to throw 40 passes and long passes, just because that’s what you want. Unless you’re not a smart coach.
As for McDaniels and Derek Carr. Why question McD’s interest in him. It’s no different than Bucs’ public expressions of confidence in Trask. Doesn’t mean it’s true, but doesn’t mean it isn’t. Time will tell. McD was a fan of Tim Tebow, too. And Jimmy G. And Matt Cassel.
February 26th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
I feel like we should hang onto all our picks & trade down some. Especially if we’re gonna have to start addressing more needs now.
February 26th, 2022 at 6:24 pm
Jenna Laine must be high on meth to group Carr and Wentz with Rodgers, Wilson and Murray. Wow, completely clueless commentary.
If you can get Rodgers or Wilson or Murray, you win the offseason for sure.
If you get stuck with Wentz or Carr, you’re going 9-8 and losing in the first round and looking for another QB next year.
February 26th, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Really thinking we should hang onto all our draft picks instead trade down a couple of times & get more picks instead. Especially if we’re gonna have to address more needs now. Draft at least one maybe two CBs, one DT, probably another DE, another S, another WR, depending on a TE, at least one more OL & depending on a RB. There’s at least nine right there & they don’t even have nine picks.
February 26th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
A winning offseason is realizing if you can’t get Rodgers, Wilson, Watson or much less likely, Murray, and you’re unwilling to sign Winston who would be free in terms of picks and not much in salary, if you’re not getting one of those guys, a winning offseason is accepting that this will be a lost season, and using it to clean up the cap and get a ton of comp picks next year, along with getting a really high draft pick as a result of going 3-14 with Trask starting.
People will throw a fit, but that was the deal with signing Brady, and making a run in 2021 – when Brady retried, you were most likely going to have to pay a price. I say just go ahead and get it over with, use 2022 as a clean up year, get those all those comp picks, and be ready to get a real veteran QB in 2023 and you’re in great shape.
Worse case is kicking the ball down the road on the cap while starting someone like Gabbert, going 6-11, and still having cap issues next offseason and not getting all those comp picks, and still not knowing what you have in Trask.
February 26th, 2022 at 7:24 pm
We need to clean up the cap problem.
Brady is gone. The window has shut.
Use this draft to help make our team younger, stronger for the future and fix the cap issues.
This draft is deep in OLINE, DE/OLB, WR and CB.
Those are all positions of need for the Bucs.
Next year, after we have fixed our cap issues, then go after a QB if Trask isn’t the answer. We will get many draft picks for next year’s draft if players decide to leave in free agency this year.
One of the benefits of having a rookie contract QB is that you can build your team into a contender. That’s what we did with Jameis. Even though Jameis was a failure, one good thing that came from him Jameis was that he did allow the Bucs on his 1st round rookie contract to build up a team that was so talented that TB12 could come in and in his first year win a Super Bowl.
February 26th, 2022 at 10:40 pm
“Joe doesn’t think Russell Wilson is a fit with the Bucs…. Richard Sherman, said Wilson is not an effective quarterback when he has to throw 30-or more times a game”
That’s hilarious.
Russell Wilson would play well in any system because he’s one of the best QBs in the game.
If Wilson came to the Bucs, we would be instant SB contenders with anything resembling last year’s roster….
Wilson has one of the best long balls in the league and has NEVER had an OLine anywhere close to as good as the Bucs had the last 2 years. He would be a PERFECT fit in Tampa Bay – unfortunately the Bucs cannot afford Wilson. The high price to acquire him and then having to pay him $40M per year or whatever would kill any chance of being able to keep talent around him….
February 26th, 2022 at 11:22 pm
If they bring back Godwin, Fournette, and do reasonable with the O line, and most the defense, particularly the pass rush, they can win with an above average quarterback. A game manager.
As for Rodgers… Let’s stop talking about him on the Buccaneers. It’s not going to happen and it never should. Can’t stand the guy. He’s an arrogant primadonna. He is the opposite of Brady. He’s not a leader that people rally around.
On top of that, he’s saying he wants 50 million a year!!! So much for the good of the team to try to win. Love Russell Wilson but his salary is over 40 million a year. These quarterbacks need to realize they need help surrounding them if they want to win and cannot demand to be 25% + of the salary cap. That’s just insanely ridiculous. If that’s what they want, that tells me they don’t care about winning, they just want a paycheck, so no thank you
Let him go to Detroit
February 26th, 2022 at 11:55 pm
My thoughts of off-season strategy:
1. Re-sign Gabbert to be the backup and mentor to Kyle Trask as we prepare Trask to be our future QB1. Even though there will be growing pains, if Trask turns out to be the real deal this would be the best outcome by far for the Bucs. This option allows us to use ALL of our remaining salary cap to re-sign many of our soon-to-be free agents along with keeping ALL of our draft picks to fill out a strong roster. (If we trade for any of the big fish it will be a losing off-season because we will lose ALL of our high draft picks for years to come and we would lose ALL of our available cap space needed to sign any of our free agents).
2.Prioritize long-term deals with Godwin, Davis, Whitehead & Cappa in that order if feasible under the cap.
3.Bring Gholston back on 1or 2 yr team friendly deal
4.Let JPP walk and move Tryon into starting role
5.If Suh walks or retires target B.J. Hill in free agency
6.Let Jensen walk (cost & age) and move Hainsey into starting role
7.Re-sign Stinnie as either a depth piece or as a starter if Cappa walks.
8.Try to re-sign Fournette to a reasonable 2 yr deal otherwise let him walk along with RoJo. Lots of inexpensive free agent RB options to pair up with Vaughn in RB by committee. Re-sign Bernard as a low cost third down back.
9.Replace Succup (cost, age, lack of range) with Jose Borregales who is on our practice squad and is a very good young kicker.
10. Target TE Mo-Ali Cox in Free agency as TE1. He has good ability as a blocker and receiver. (Brate stays TE2).
11.Draft WR3 in first round. This offense requires a really good WR3 and we don’t have one on the roster. Drafting one will cost much less than free agency.
12.Draft DT, CB, & TE depth in rounds 2-4. Round 5 best available at OL, RB, or OLB. Round 7 good special teams guy.
I’m sure there are many opposing opinions to this but this is how I would attack the off-season. Be kind as you dissect this 😂
February 27th, 2022 at 12:53 am
BUCman Says:
February 26th, 2022 at 11:55 pm
My thoughts of off-season strategy:
1. Re-sign Gabbert
———
LOL!
February 27th, 2022 at 1:38 am
Everyone speculating. Team already has said Teddy Gabbert and Trask in competition. Next topic.
February 27th, 2022 at 7:56 am
Munch, you can LOL but Gabbert is a lock to be on this roster. Who better to have as your BACKUP than a guy who’s been here 3 years and knows the system inside and out. Brady even gives him credit for helping him adapt when he arrived. Do you think Arians is going to have a new starter and a new backup in which neither no the system. Now I’m LOL.
February 27th, 2022 at 9:37 am
@ BUCman
I agree – draft a WR3 in round round.
Probably CB in round two.
D-line in round 3.
TE in round 4.
February 27th, 2022 at 10:39 am
1. Go all-in on trading for D. Watson. Re-sign Gabbert to be QB2
2. Re-sign Godwin, Jensen, Stinnie, Whitehead, Gio, Suh (if he’s willing to give a discount)
3. Draft CB (2nd rd), DL (3rd rd), RB (4th rd)