Kenyon Green Seems To Have Jason Licht’s Favorite Qualities
April 26th, 2022
Texas A&M LG Kenyon Green.
Get Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht talking offensive linemen and the former Nebraska guard for Tom Osbourne gets a big smile on his face.
Licht will begin talking like a blue collar oil rig worker, not a guy who runs one of the best NFL teams and makes seven figures a year.
You will hear Licht spit out words like gnarly, gritty, nasty, grimy, tough. Licht will admit that’s one of the main reasons he signed center Ryan Jensen before the 2018 season. He loves offensive linemen that will fight and attack like hungry, scared Dobermans.
And that is sort of how an unnamed NFL scout described Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green.
Bob McGinn, a decades-long beat writer for the Packers who now types for something called “Go Long,” has revived his twice-yearly tradition of breaking down the best players at each position before the draft — using the comments of unnamed NFL suits and scouts.
Sometimes his sources prop up the player big time. Others will tear the guy apart. It’s an informative read.
In his breakdown of offensive linemen, McGinn has Green ranked as his No. 1 guard in Thursday’s draft.
1. KENYON GREEN, Texas A&M (6-4, 325, 5.28, 1-2): Third-year junior. “He’s going to be a good, steady pro,” said one scout. “Don’t ever know if he’ll be a Pro Bowler or All-Pro. He’s big, long, tough, smart. He’s got the makeup you look for in an offensive lineman.” Started at RG as a freshman and at LG in ’20. Last season, he made seven starts at LG, two at RG, two at RT and one at LT. “Pretty impressive,” another scout said. “Everything but center. I would try him at left tackle. He doesn’t have a typical left tackle look to his body. Arms were 34 1/8. Nimble, quick. He’s got strike and jolt. They pull him a ton and he’s really good at it. In pass pro he’s got nifty feet and hand-punch coordination. He’s got some technique issues but he’s real talented.” His versatility and body build brought to mind Larry Allen for one scout. “Unbelievable kid,” a third scout said. “Damn good run blocker and a pretty good pass blocker. He’ll be a rookie starter. Physical.” From Humble, Texas. “He pushes people around in the run game,” said a fourth scout. “He’s a better athlete than you want to give him credit for because he’s one of those grimy, gritty guys. At first, you’re thinking, ‘All right, is this just a strong, tough guy?’ But he played left tackle in the SEC and did pretty well. Dan Moore started for the Steelers as a rookie from out of there and (Green) is better than him.”
The more Joe thinks about this, the more it makes sense if the Bucs draft Green.
On paper, Aaron Stinnie looks like the starter. But Stinnie’s one-year, $1.4 million contract spooks Joe. Often, a guy’s contract speaks to what the team thinks of him. This is two straight years Stinnie signed one-year, low-cost deals. The way he played in the playoffs in 2020, you would think Stinnie would have received more lucrative offers. Yet here he still is making backup cash.
The Bucs likely will give Robert Hainsey a shot at left guard. Joe is convinced the Bucs planned to start Hainsey at center this year had Tom Brady and Jensen left. Jensen’s contract is good through 2024, so Joe doesn’t think Hainsey will be playing much center in the near future.
And honest Bucs fans know the biggest hole on the Bucs starting roster (if Ndamukong Suh and Rob Gronkowski return) is at left guard.
April 26th, 2022 at 3:52 am
Smith – Green – Jensen – Mason – Wirfs is a helluva line with Stinnie, Hainsey, Leverett as backups.
April 26th, 2022 at 6:27 am
No guards in round 1 is a mantra for good GMs. Licht has found them everywhere. Why would he change now?
April 26th, 2022 at 6:35 am
If you think a guy will be a beast at his position, fine draft that player. I do not go with the “do not draft a guard with the first pick” thinking. I do not really care, as long as you think the guy you will draft will start for the next 10 years, like Wirfs will be doing. But who knows, what will happen. But again, Brady beat up, equals no Super Bowl, everything is a MOOT POINT after that for this year. If the Bucs thought Stinnie was “all that and a bag of Chips”, it would be different. But if they can land a stud lineman, then do it. Another side to it is if they get a stud lineman, it will help the next QB that starts when Brady actually retires also.
GO BUCS!!!!!!!
April 26th, 2022 at 6:37 am
You have 3 players with the potential to be the starting LG. Why draft another? What happens if one of them beat out your #1 pick in training camp?
DLune, TE, CB or S on day 1 and 2.
April 26th, 2022 at 7:19 am
No one they have is a complete stud, if the Bucs can get one, then you do it. If they do not think they can draft a lineman that can be a 10 year answer like Wirfs, then go D Line. I really believe they will take the Best O line or D lineman when they pick.
GO BUCS!!!!
April 26th, 2022 at 7:31 am
More worried about corner depth than offensive line
It’s time to give Dean and SMB some real competition – give them a legitimate competition in a contract year for both and at least one of them will play a lot better for at least this year. It’s just the way it works.
Cole Strange should be available in the 3rd round and reminds me of Cappa. Hainsey and Stinnie can hold down the fort while he develops for most if not all of this season.
April 26th, 2022 at 7:52 am
If there are no worthy wide receivers, corners, or edge rushers when we pick I’m fine grabbing this dude. I just wish that the damn draft would get here already. I can’t even enjoy nfl network since all of the draft jabbering has made me nauseous at this point.
April 26th, 2022 at 7:55 am
“Dear Baby Gezus, let Zion Johnson fall to the Bucs. Let Green’s stock rise to make that happen. Amen.”
April 26th, 2022 at 8:02 am
We could certainly do worse……an instant starter…..I think our pick could be any of these at 27.
DT, CB, OG, ILB, OLB, S, WR,
I’m of a mind that Licht can find an Olineman later in the draft & that the best CB would be the best pick.
April 26th, 2022 at 8:16 am
We have to get some type of weapon with that first pick rather it’s on defense or offense! Can’t afford to throw away another valuable draft pick. I think licht and crew will surprise us and go WR first round unless Wyatt and j Davis is there
April 26th, 2022 at 9:10 am
“…honest Bucs fans know the biggest hole on the Bucs starting roster (if Ndamukong Suh and Rob Gronkowski return) is at left guard.”.
It is a fair argument, but to me CB depth was a bigger issue last year. Between Stinnie and Hainsley or a 2/3rd RD guard, I want more depth at CB. THAT IS MY PICK AT 27 – CB, PLEASE
An Edge rusher would be nice, but realistically, how much would they contribute this year? That position takes time to learn.
April 26th, 2022 at 9:21 am
All for it, an OL stud at #27.
Or DL stud.
Either/Or.
April 26th, 2022 at 10:30 am
Impact player like Micah Parsons was last year for Dallas
April 26th, 2022 at 10:37 am
Love the idea of making the OL better and deeper. Average skill guys look great when the holes are there and the QB is given time to throw.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:09 am
The Bucs love pulling their guards so if he’s “really good at it,” I’m in but I would prefer a defensive player.
April 26th, 2022 at 11:39 am
We have 4 of 5 on the OL who are high quality to elite. An average starter at LG from the competition in camp is going to be fine.
OL is not a need when we have an aging D line, 2/3 of which are on 1 year deals, and no depth beyond Nacho. And none of our D-line are known for their pass rush.
If our O-line wasn’t already the strength of the team, I’d say yeah, let’s go out and draft a starting LG. I just don’t see it as a desperate situation right now.
If we’re talking about improving the team more, young D linemen with pass rush skills would be the greatest impact. If I thought the guys working for that job were scrubs, I’d feel otherwise.
I wouldn’t complain if the drafted Kenyon Green. I trust the front office, and who doesn’t want a pile-driving O-line. But I will be asking questions about the plans for D-line.
April 26th, 2022 at 8:00 pm
The Bucs o line is decent but the 2 Rams games, week 3 and the Playoff game the O line got beat, the Saints game, the O line got beat, the Washington game, the O line got beat.
The O line was not great at all in those losses, and that was with Ali Marpet.
Yes they are good, but if you want to win a Super Bowl, then stopping the Rams pass Rush comes to mind immediately.
Does anyone remember the Saint beatdown put on the Bucs? The Saints D line dominated that game.
Both Rams games the O line of the Bucs was dominated by the Rams, and all these losses were with Ali Marpet.
Just go back and watch the games again. For all to see. Nothing elite about the O line in these losses. They are good, but cannot get around the fact they got dominated by the Rams, Saints once and Washington. If they want to win a Super Bowl, then they need the O line to get better now.
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 26th, 2022 at 9:07 pm
Taking a guard in the 1st round isn’t a Licht quality.