Daydreaming Of Za’Darius Smith
March 21st, 2022
Free agent OLB Za’Darius Smith.
So yesterday when Joe read that handsy Jerry Jones is “interested” in Bucs free agent Jason Pierre-Paul, it got Joe thinking while watching college hoops all day and night long.
(Damn, that was some good basketball.)
What are the Bucs going to do for a pass rush? Yeah, Joe’s got a hangup about rushing the passer. Always have; always will. Joe loves Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett and he is a total beast when there is someone else getting pressure from the opposite side.
Are the Bucs confident Joe Tryon-Shoyinka can take over for JPP?
He showed promise getting after the quarterback but as much as Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles lusts for rush defense, Joe isn’t sure JTS is a full-time player. Yet.
So in looking at Kevin Seifert’s top free agents still looking for work, he has Za’Darius Smith (who before his back surgery was a dynamite player for the Packers, as his 12th best player still available.
Smith has had a weird past 12 months. He tried and failed to get the Packers to extend his contract last spring, then played only 18 snaps during the regular season because of a back injury that ultimately required surgery. The Packers released him this month, he agreed to terms with the Ravens and he then backed out. All of which is to say that Smith is a really good pass-rusher and overall defensive presence, and still can be, but he has a few more questions to answer before he finds his next team.
Smith had agreed to terms with the Crows on a four-year, $35 million pact before he backed out. So he’s not cheap.
But you know what? Other free agents are taking discounts to play with Tom Brady. So who knows? Maybe Smith might take a one-year deal or the Bucs could sign him to a longer pact and backload it (outside of a once-a-century pandemic, when has the salary cap gone down?).
In a perfect world, Joe would bring JPP back on a prove-it deal. Since he’s coming off maybe his worst year and shoulder surgery, Joe believes JPP might be had for cheap.
Joe’s going to guess JPP wants to get paid, regardless of his age, bad 2021 season or surgery, especially if the Cowboys are already kicking his tires.
As far as Smith, Joe’s allowed to dream, right? Didn’t we dream Tom Brady would unretire?
March 21st, 2022 at 4:28 am
I dream of JPP- never bet against that guy
March 21st, 2022 at 4:32 am
My dream is that we find a way to fit both JPP and Smith under our cap.
March 21st, 2022 at 4:47 am
JPP will recover. Just put some JB Weld on it.
March 21st, 2022 at 5:10 am
Maybe add a DE , Joe mentioned last year, Ryan Kerrigan. More of a depth piece, but would provide a rotation with JTS, Nelson & possibly Cam Gill. Definitely a cheaper option.
March 21st, 2022 at 5:15 am
Why doesn’t Gill play more? I’ve seen only good things from him when he’s on the field. Smith is definitely missed up in GB. Local radio was upset they weren’t able to keep him, but he wasn’t healthy last year, so it wasn’t too bad. I’d be good with either him or JPP. They both have that fire.
March 21st, 2022 at 5:16 am
I dream of a DE 1st rd pick. Then a DT in the 2nd rd.
Get younger on the D-Line.
March 21st, 2022 at 6:13 am
Bucs Guy … ‘I dream of a DE 1st rd pick. Then a DT in the 2nd rd’. Get younger on the D-Line’.
BINGO! That’s my dream too, PLUS re-signing Ndamukong Suh, Will Gholston, and JPP (all as part-timers though at lower contracts with incentives). Use Suh & JPP on 1-yr deals to train up their replacements, and bring back Gholston on a 3-yr deal (Big Will’s still got a lot left in the tank).
March 21st, 2022 at 6:15 am
Inside rush needed. Good with jts, nelson and JPP-healthy.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:03 am
Francisco where are you? This is your thread brother!
March 21st, 2022 at 7:03 am
I’d love to get Smith. But an amazing consolation prize would be Calais Campbell.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:11 am
I think JPP more likely. But I’d take Smith in a heartbeat, if his back is fine.
March 21st, 2022 at 7:20 am
Smith turned down $35 mil over 4 years so he could fill our dreams & play for less……keep dreaming….
I really don’t think JPP would want to play for the Cowboys…..hopefully, we can bring him back.
As far as the draft is concerned….we really need to focus on the Dline…..perhaps 2 out of the first 3 picks…..
March 21st, 2022 at 7:58 am
JPP is done. He’s not worth bringing back at any price. He’s not starting anymore, and if you’re a part time player you have to play STs. Yeah I can’t see JPP covering, or blocking for kicks, and punts either. We have to get younger, and better at that position. JPP doesn’t fit that bill. Don’t know why Buc fans want to hold on to their old players who are clearly past their prime.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:03 am
They need a edge rusher in FA. Cant go in with just JTS and shaq
The edge from michigan (i believe) tore his achilles at proday so edge rusher group not strong this year. The good ones going early and tAble scraps after that. Or should I say nothing to get that can play this year (productivity)
Bucs can get their def tackle and corner with first 2 picks though. Got to get younger on dline.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:04 am
I would start dreaming for some O lineman to protect Bradys brittle bones bones
March 21st, 2022 at 8:13 am
4 yrs 35 Million is a good salary for a lineman who can wreck games at times when healthy. We don’t have great pass rushers on the edge that create their own production on a regular basis. They rely on the interior to push the pocket and make the QB move to the left or right. I cannot believe there are still some that want JPP back, the guy has been done for more than a season now. The optimism that he will be healthy for a full season and play like his old self is bizarre.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:15 am
JPP has a lot of motivation to stay in FL. I do believe his son lives in Florida and that was a big reason he wanted to stay in TB
March 21st, 2022 at 8:21 am
In today’s NFL, Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian has stated numerous times that the most important position on a team is the QB.
After that, Polian said that the second most important position on a team is a dual need, requiring a blind side offensive tackle and a edge pass rush on defense.
Right now the Bucs have Shaq, who is awesome, and Nelson. Nelson was steadier than JTS. To many questions about JTS.
As the great Christopher Walken demanded of Will Ferrell to give us more cowbell, I agree with Joe that the Bucs need more pass rush. Just like you can never have to much cowbell, you can also never have to much pass rush.
In today’s NFL, even with one of the most dominant defensive players of all time in Aaron Donald coupled with a HOF pass rusher in Von Miller who still has gas in his tank, coupled with 1st Team All Pro in Jalen Ramsey, you can’t stop the great players because the rules favor offense.
Even with Donald, Miller, and Floyd sacking TB12 3 times and hitting him 6 times, Jalen Ramsey got lit up by TB12 and Mike Evans in the 2021 playoff game, giving up 109 yards and 1 TD per PFF and PFR.
Even with Donald, Miller, and Floyd sacking Joe Burrow 7 times and hitting him 11 times, Jalen Ramsey got lit up by Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins with Joe Burrow throwing to them, giving up 160 yards and 1 TD per PFF and PFR.
Great defenses in today’s NFL will give up scores and yards to great QB’s and receivers, but you still need them to win.
If Burrow and TB12 aren’t getting pressured, sacked and hit numerous times by Donald, Miller and Company, TB12 and Joe Burrow would make 1st Team All Pro Jalen Ramsey look even worse by throwing to future HOF ME13 and rookie sensation Jamar Chase.
The Bucs need more pass rush.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:28 am
Didn’t the Bucs just fairly recently go through a situation with a Big Ugly with a bad back?
March 21st, 2022 at 8:28 am
Za’Darius Smith probably backed out of the Ravens deal once he saw what Von Miller received. I think he wants more money which will make it a challenge for the Bucs, even with creative accounting and restructures. The Ravens supposedly offered something like 4 years for $35 million, but who knows how much of that was actually guaranteed.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:31 am
Me too! Or any good pass rusher.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:34 am
Every position cannot have a Top 10 player. Tryon was drafted to take this role. If he’s serious about his craft, then he will come in a lot stronger, a lot more bulk. Men put on a lot of muscle in early 20s.
Go with what ya got. Unless the kid is pulling a Tyler Johnson.
March 21st, 2022 at 8:34 am
In a perfect world JTS replaces JPP and Nelson turns in a 10 sack season
March 21st, 2022 at 8:53 am
The world ain’t perfect
March 21st, 2022 at 8:54 am
WE NEED JPP..HE MADE PRO BOWL JUST 2 YEARS AGO,(WHEN HIS SHOULDER WAS FINE ) NADAMOKUNG SUH HAS AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OF GOOD FOOTBALL IN HIM. ( I THINK HIS RECENT MARRIAGE REVITALIZED HIM A BIT ) HE’S A GREAT RUN STUFFER ALONG SIDE VITA VEA..WE DO NEED TO DRAFT YOUTH AT BOTH POSITIONS TO MOLD INTO REPLACING THESE TWO FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS..KYLE TRASK NEEDS TO BE TOM BRADY’S BACKUP,WHERE HE CAN LISTEN,WATCH & LEARN FROM THE G.O.A.T. & BYRON LEFTWICH & PLAY MOPUP DUTY AT THE ENDS OF GAMES WE’VE WON ALREADY..BLAINE GABBERT & HIS CONTRACT NEEDS TO GO..TRADE HIM FOR “WILL GRIER ” ( CURRENTLY THE 3RD STRING IN DALLAS..IF WE DO TRADE JPP, MAKE WILL GRIER PART OF THE DEAL..ALONG WITH A 2ND OR 3RD RD DRAFT PICK IN 2022..
March 21st, 2022 at 9:35 am
I can see the comparison on the photos of J.R. Sweezy. “Owners to JL, ” why are we paying premium for this guy to hang out in floppy hat patrol game after game after game. Back injuries are NFL in the National Football League.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:39 am
No to smith. He bailed on a contract when he saw other pass rushers making more money. He wants every dime he can, he will not sign a team friendly deal.
March 21st, 2022 at 9:43 am
I suspect JPP thinks he’s still worth $ 13 M per–I prefer ZaDarius Smith. The cap can be managed–look at how on Miller’s contract there’s only a $5 M cap hit this year, on a supposed $120 M contract.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:24 am
Gil Brandt pretty much said the same thing. The three most important players he said are:
1) QB
2) Pass rusher
3) Left tackle.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:30 am
No to JPP. Love what he has done for us, but we need to get younger. Can’t keep bringing back retreads and old heads. Smith is looking for big money and we don’t have that.
March 21st, 2022 at 10:40 am
DE coming off a back injury? Hard pass
March 21st, 2022 at 10:43 am
Lorenzo Carter as an under the radar move, much like the Shaq Barrett move a few years ago. Carter has had no less then 4 sacks every year he has played (minus one injury year), freak athlete, and has experience playing in coverage as on OLB which is needed in Bowles D. Seems like a great fit as a rotation piece with JTS and SB.
Also wouldn’t mind Kwon back as a rotation piece with LD and DW.
March 21st, 2022 at 11:17 am
It would be great to have him but I not sure they can afford him. He cost at least a Gholston and a Gronk.
I hope the Bucs are checking out Matthew Ioannidis. He’s done really well when given a chance. Like Shaq he’s was just stuck behind some really good DTs in Washington. Quick moves inside to get that zero gap pressure we need. Can play all over the DL. Price should be right. What’s not to like?
Hat tip to PR on the Matt L. heads up.