“It’s Time For You To Take Over, Bro”
March 16th, 2022
Safety Mike Edwards has seven career interceptions. That’s more than break-the-bank Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis has in triple the career snaps, including playoffs.
Heck, Edwards’ hands are so good he even picked off a phony vaccine card.
A great unknown of the past couple of seasons is what versatile Edwards, a third-round pick in 2019, would produce if he got a chance to be a full-time starter. He’s a ballhawk and can cover, and has had his share of great-hustle moments.
Bone-crushing safety Jordan Whitehead is now a member of the New York Jets on a fat contract. Joe is sad about losing the hardest hitting Gravedigger. Whitehead himself took to Twitter to wish his understudy great success in a starring role. (Tweet below:)
It’s a contract year for Edwards, who turns 26 in May.
Stats aren’t everything, but in addition to out-ballhawking Davis, Edwards has more official passes defensed than Whitehead over the past three seasons.
Everyone knows Edwards can play. But can he be consistent and durable as a starter? It looks like the Bucs are going to find out.
I appreciate u brother! Business is shady but it’s time for you to take over bro I can’t wait 🙏🏾 https://t.co/yLVm42RBDe
— jordan whitehead (@jwhite_333) March 15, 2022
March 16th, 2022 at 5:32 am
Dang, I’ll miss him too. Really wanted to keep him. He really grew on me as one of my favorite young defenders. Such is the nfl I suppose. Wish him nothing but the best. Excited to see Edwards play. He’s earned his time.
March 16th, 2022 at 5:43 am
“Everyone knows Edwards can play. But can he be consistent and durable as a starter? It looks like the Bucs are going to find out.”
^^^^^^^^^^
With a decent backup, in case the answer is no.
March 16th, 2022 at 6:08 am
With Edwards it’s about consistency.
March 16th, 2022 at 6:19 am
…the badger on the way.
March 16th, 2022 at 6:43 am
Edwards seems to be most valuable IMO as a Swiss Army knife type of DB. He seems to have done reasonably well in a ‘hybrid’ role over these past years (some Safety; some Nickel; some 5th or 6th wheel DB back there). Todd Bowles seems to really have found ways to use Edwards’ flexibility, and I’m got a hunch that he’d prefer not to have to pigeon-hole him at Safety only. Very valuable DB & I think we’ll see more of that this year. Wouldn’t be surprised though if we draft a Safety AND a CB in the Top-4 Rnds.
March 16th, 2022 at 6:52 am
Has anybody seen N-Dog ? Lol
March 16th, 2022 at 7:16 am
Mike Edwards is going to be an animal! GM start adding to our defense.
March 16th, 2022 at 7:25 am
2 words…..
HONEY BADGER…..
Perfect fit now!
We could use him …
March 16th, 2022 at 7:40 am
New blood, Stafford owns him and Davis for that matter. New blood. Bucs failed miserably passing on Jackson, with the tax benefit maybe just $1MM a year. The secondary needs the reload.
March 16th, 2022 at 7:55 am
Biz is shady? Odd comment…
Did Jordan want to stay?
March 16th, 2022 at 8:00 am
Better hope JTS develops this season. The less pressure on this secondary, the better.
March 16th, 2022 at 8:02 am
Still need a safety that can drop down in the box and defend the run.
March 16th, 2022 at 8:07 am
Lost Whitehead and Cappa and only got a lousy 261 seven round pick. I think Roger Nogoodell gives his picks to all his buddies.
March 16th, 2022 at 8:08 am
When we signed Carlton Davis, that put the skids on a deal with Whitehead……plus we had Edwards to rely on.
I can just about guarantee we will draft a S or a CB or both…..
At this stage I see us drafting a DT, DT, RB, S, TE, CB
Yes….2 DTs
March 16th, 2022 at 8:09 am
@#8 because the Biz IS shady. Contracts are full of legal jargon. There’s a reason the players formed a union and fought for free-agency.
March 16th, 2022 at 8:12 am
Be grateful the Bucs Have Jason Light and his team to keep the Bucs in the hunt
March 16th, 2022 at 8:18 am
Buc50-
Of course we all know that.
Jordan choosing to type it while congratulating Edwards seems odd to me.
Makes me wonder if he preferred to stay, but Bucs must’ve really low-balled him? Don’t know of course.
Going to be another busy day for the Bucs!
March 16th, 2022 at 8:20 am
Looks like this will be a heavy defensive draft. Hopefully Bowles can tighten up his pass defense schemes and get some critical stops for a change against good teams.
March 16th, 2022 at 8:23 am
Allbuccedup Says:
Lost Whitehead and Cappa and only got a lousy 261 seven round pick
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Comp picks are a year later, so that 7th Rd pick was for whoever we lost in the 2021 season last year. The Whitehead and Cappa comp picks, and for whoever else we loose, will be in 2023
March 16th, 2022 at 8:28 am
This secondary needs a reload. Definition of insanity keep all these Db’s. They have been horrible the last two seasons and can’t stay healthy. Keep Winfield, trade Davis and Bunting. New blood.
March 16th, 2022 at 8:57 am
You gain a ballhawk, but lose a sure tackler. Bucs just couldn’t afford to pay the safety position.
March 16th, 2022 at 9:04 am
So how much of Whiteheads salary will used to pay New York State and other taxes? I’m thinking he would have gotten a better deal to stay in Tampa.
March 16th, 2022 at 9:15 am
Seems whitehead had issue with somebody in tampa? Coach? Front office?
Cause his last 2 social media posts show not a lot of love for bucs.
Sucks cause his deal was reasonable. 7.5 is not a ton. After a few games last year like eagles and carolina …he looked like best player on field and thought he may be in the 7 figure range
March 16th, 2022 at 9:15 am
The comp pic was for….wait for it…..Joe Haeg.
March 16th, 2022 at 9:32 am
Tampabaybucfan, I agree with you on two DT. The Bucs have to get younger on that line.
March 16th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Nice. Wr Perryman signed.
March 16th, 2022 at 9:57 am
It sucks losing whitehead and I wish him the best, although he went to the Jets!! It shows you the mentality of a player getting a payday compared to a fan who couldn’t fathom going to the Jets or Lions (or for years the Buccaneers).
I do think he’s average in coverage but great at run support and such a hard hitter. Unfortunately, I see him going the way of Bob Sanders. Smaller guy who hits hard and because of it will have a lot of injuries and not last long.
March 16th, 2022 at 10:23 am
TBBF … ‘At this stage I see us drafting a DT, DT, RB, S, TE, CB’.
Agree with that right down the line TBBF. Also agree that when we re-signed Davis for $15 mil that put the brakes on re-signing Whitehead.
Bucs’ strategy for this season seems to be pretty clear: Stack the offense for Tom Brady, score a ton of points each game, and hope that the defense & S/Ts can hang on.
March 16th, 2022 at 10:52 am
Bird Turd, BA probably threw him under the bus after the Rams game, heaven for ID he call out Toilet Bowles.
March 16th, 2022 at 11:12 am
I don’t know what games BuC fans watched. But our Secondary was and is..pretty bad. They are greAT THOUGH REACTING AFTER..THE LONG GAINS AND CATCHES. I’m WONDERING WHEN Licht IS GOING TO STOP HIS ADORATION OF OUR offense AND START PUTTING A DEFENSE TOGETHER? RAMs BEAT US TWICE WITH A MONSTER defense. AND THEY BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME ONE. bUCS BETTER GET A PASS RUSH. OR ITS REPEAT AGAIN AND RINSE..JUST LIKE LAST YEAR.
March 16th, 2022 at 11:18 am
MY KEYBOARD IS STUCK IN CAPS LOCK!!! AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!
March 16th, 2022 at 11:22 am
Depending on what’s available in the draft, and our willingness to invest another premium pick at safety, we could still have a rotation. Seems Bowles’ defense is predicated on stopping the run first, and a box safety is a part of that. We’re gonna get someone to fill that role.
March 16th, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Drafting a safety is easier than drafting a CB. They should grab another one in case Edwards stubs his toe again.
Edwards is so versatile, I hope he can be durable, and we still need another safety in the draft, in case the CB room ends up being a warm body count again and Edwards has to fill in there again.
March 16th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
There are 3 positions absolutely Licht excels at drafting: S, OL, LB.
I can’t wait to see who we get next.
March 16th, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Nassib got waived by raiders..let’s see if he is added as cheap rotating player on the dl
March 16th, 2022 at 3:50 pm
Really wanted to keep Whitehead, but oh well.
I love Edwards, he’s a ballhawk for sure.
My concern is just that neither him nor Winfield are the hard hitters that Whitehead is. We ARE going to miss that…
March 16th, 2022 at 3:51 pm
@SlyPirate-
you forgot wide receiver too…
March 16th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
What fans NO mention of the vax card? The one that is mentioned in every AB post?
March 17th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Edwards is ready for full-time and I believe he has the potential to eat defensive schemes up and spit them out. I don’t know, I could be wrong but the dude strikes me as ready to put it all together and become one of the best S’s in the league.