“Mistake” Fixed
March 13th, 2024
Bone-crushing safety Jordan Whitehead is back where he started.
Joe loves when listeners of the Ira Kaufman Podcast get A-list insight, and that happened multiple times this past week.
Sage Ira shared that recently a trusted source told him with authority that the Bucs letting bone-crushing safety Jordan Whitehead walk after the 2021 season in free agency was a stone cold “mistake” by the front office. They know it, Kaufman said, and hey, that happens. You win some, you lose some. And maybe they’ll chase him this winter.
And here we are, Whitehead is back after two seasons with the smothering Jets defense.
Joe can attest to Kaufman having breakfast with Jets head coach defensive guru Robert Saleh in 2022 after the Whitehead signing. Why? Because Joe was at the breakfast in South Florida.
Before mowing down the meal, Saleh explained to Joe that the Jets would give Whitehead fewer responsibilities and expected him to be more prodcutive than he was for the Bucs.
“You know with Jordan, he did a lot of different things in Tampa, played corner, played nickel, played safety, did a lot of different things that shows he has the mental aptitude to be able to handle a big workload. He’s going to play one spot [with the Jets] and do a handful of things. I’m really excited to see where he can go when he’s asked to do the same thing over and over and over again,” Saleh said.
“Everyone’s different philosophically, but honing in on a position where he can put himself on repeat, we always feel like a guy can maximize and really take his game to another level. And with how instinctive he is, when he’s seeing the same things over and over again, it’ll allow him to trigger a lot faster.”
Whitehead was beastly with the Jets’ top-5-ranked defense of the past two seasons and now he’s back at just 27 years old.
In some ways, fans could view that the Bucs just traded cornerback Carlton Davis and two sixth-round picks and for a third-round pick and Whitehead. What the Bucs saved in salary cap room with the Davis trade sort of paid for Whitehead.
Joe likes the smell of that viewpoint.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Im very excited about this signing. Love him as a Buc. BUT, In all fair context, 3 of those 6 picks came opening night this past season when Josh Allen was severely point shaving the game A Rod went down. So essentially 3 interceptions over the course of 33 games. But its still Go Bucs!
March 13th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
I love this off season, Jason Licht is doing a Great job!!!!!!!
March 13th, 2024 at 3:10 pm
If we had Whitehead this past season we could have gone all the way. Licht dropped his cookie on that one. At least they were able to get him back
March 13th, 2024 at 3:17 pm
incredible! i’d like to see where bucs stand in comparison to other teams of retaining drafted players.
it feels like we have a winning player first culture. I think much credit needs to go to licht for drafting well but also being loyal to those who produce.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Love it but we still need an edge rusher
March 13th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
Jordan Whitehead is best a safety….
but he was never a good corner like CD…….I don’t think he’ll fill the void.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
2023 Safety Rankings.
Whitehead was 59th Overall Defense Ranking and 58th in Coverage.
Winfield was 1st Overall and 3rd in Coverage.
Perhaps Whitehead had an Off Year or He will be much better going back to multi tasking.
At the very least he knows what’s expected in a Bowles Defense and should be better day one than anyone drafted where he was in the 4th round.
I suppose it’s better if my Ex comes back to me two years older than coming back to my neighbor.
Saved a much needed draft pick for other needs.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
good player… I think the shoulder was a concern…but if he is still killing it then it’s a non issue.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
winfield & whitehead………………………………..wow!!!
March 13th, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Love this move for increasing flexibility in the draft. Can focus on a BPA strategy with primary needs for starters at EDGE, IOL, and CB, and secondary needs to bolster LB, WR, TE, and RB depth.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:32 pm
I will never forget that playoff game against Green Bay when White put two bone crushing hits on their running backs and knocked the ball out on both of them. He was a huge factor in us winning that game.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Impact player. Clutch player. Big time Super Bowl hero
March 13th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
@TheBucsAnthem:
lay off the crack holmes 🙂
March 13th, 2024 at 3:47 pm
Absolutely great signing!!! Hated losing him. Trade for reddick or sweat then nail the draft again. Jason is killing it!!
March 13th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
securing the back end because not so sure the front end is going to get the patchwork that’s needed…
#EdgeIssues
this could signal that no free agent edge guy of note is going to be brought in
#WeNeedOne
plus one in the draft
March 13th, 2024 at 3:53 pm
Love it! Now sign an edge rusher and center.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:55 pm
So happy he is back. Never should have left. Mistake fixed. Welcome back Jordan.
March 13th, 2024 at 3:57 pm
J White should’ve been on the field against the Rams in that blown defensive call, thanks Bowels, that cost is the game
March 13th, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Love Whitehead but let’s not start acting like he’s great in coverage.
He is a spark, plug and run stuffer who flies to the ball, but he is average in coverage
That said he’s better than anyone else they’ve had back there alongside wouldn’t feel in the last two years, so I am glad he is back
Dean, Zion, Whitehead, Winfield-
They have some serious speed back there
March 13th, 2024 at 4:04 pm
Still tons better than Neal
March 13th, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Three layers, three Panthers
Kancey-Dennis-Whitehead
Any Pitt U free agents left? Maybe they’d give a discount for an opportunity to get more of the band together? 🤔
March 13th, 2024 at 4:16 pm
Just wondering why i It so much fussing about an edge rusher. I am pretty damn sure Licht and the Bucs have a plan. They’ve done it before like with JPP. Even without an edge rusher the Bucs defense wasn’t bad. I am more concerned about keeping Mayfield healthy, need OL
March 13th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
I see a lot of loyalty from the bucs . They have had it for a while & I love it . Why let guys like Evans or Godwin or bake & David go ? We could be a whole lot worse off & I feel these players see how the bucs are not a laughing stock of a club . Haven’t been in a long time & our GM & team have done an outstanding job showing respect to these guys and bringing in draft picks and quality FA’S TO MIX IN WELL..GO BUCS
March 13th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
👍💪👏
March 13th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
This can’t be anything but GOOD!
March 13th, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Agree with Mark
1 – DE/OLB
2 – IOL
3 – IOL or power RB
3 – CB
4 – TE
6 – LB
7 -WR
Still hoping for a G/C or EDGE in FA. Trading back a few places in the 1st or 2nd rd for an extra 3rd or 4th pick is an also an option.
While I hate trading future draft picks, the Bucs may need to consider trading its 2025 4th rd pick (probably late) for a high 2024 5th rd pick if the LB they want is available.
March 13th, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Sounds good to me.
March 13th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
Whitehead is gonna light up somebody this year, and that’s awesome. Winfield is great, mind you, GREAT, but paired with a heavy hitter like Whitehead, teams gonna fear our safeties.
Good. Bring back some hitting to the safety position, and specifically, to OUR safety position.
Lots of WR’s ’round the league gonna be afraid to run 9’s against this team next year.
Good.
March 13th, 2024 at 6:08 pm
OK, ‘Correcting a Mistake’.
Let’s explore this aspect of Joe’s post, shall we?
Are there any other mistakes Bowles or Licht or the Glazers would like to fix?[you know, like making Licht move up in the 2nd round to pick Aguayo? 😉 ]
You’ll figure out who/ what the mistake was if you keep reading.
One more thing. Before you dismiss this as a conspiracy theory (yes I’m referring to you Tony marks), after McCoy was released, who did the Bucs sign and what # did he wear? (actually, they both wore that #, but bear with me)
Not saying this will happen, but when you see them cutting/ trading starters to clear cap space, you wonder what they are planning to fill that particular void.
Most probably, they they would like to:
A) find a FA
or
B) use someone they still have under contact
or
C) use a draft pick
to fill that void. Right?
What about a trade? Player for player, draft pick(s), or a combination?
Who could possibly fill Shaq’s spot, say, when he was at his peak?
Answer:
They may be considering a deal for Josh Allen.
Just sayin’
What kind of trade would you propose?
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
March 13th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Wait. Joe you might be on to something. Bone crushers has a nice ring to it…
Better than the grave diggers.
March 13th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Bone Crushers has kind of a nice ring to it…
March 13th, 2024 at 6:15 pm
Now Edge. Please! 🙏
March 13th, 2024 at 6:37 pm
While I absolutely love Whitehead returning – I love the value, the pickup … the question is, why is he returning?
Because you need a really good tackling safety who can take good lines and isn’t completely lose on the field when you’re going to run a zone 95% of the time.
March 13th, 2024 at 6:48 pm
Morale will not improve until Whitehead lays down the first WR crossing his zone coverage. Glad he is back in the fold! Mark Plant City.
March 13th, 2024 at 6:56 pm
The safety position is shored up!!! Welcome back JW ! Welcome back!
March 13th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Rod Munch asks a good question; why did the Jets let him go? Glad he is back but normally good players who are not breaking the bank do not get the chance to test FA waters.
March 13th, 2024 at 7:09 pm
I dont think thats how fans should see the two INDEPENDENT deals. That’s an odd spin. Odd justification. Traded a player and signed a free agent – probably how fans should see this one.
March 13th, 2024 at 7:22 pm
Fort Myers Dave… the Jets spent a huge amount of money bring In Aaron Rogers and the other additions last year. They probably didn’t have the money.
March 13th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
“FortMyersDave Says:
March 13th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Rod Munch asks a good question; why did the Jets let him go? Glad he is back but normally good players who are not breaking the bank do not get the chance to test FA waters.”
Just look at the contract the Jets gave him and look at the market floor for S this off season.
Then, consider his durability. Yes, he’s tough, but think he played less than 12 games last season.
^^mtnbucman^^
Since ’76
March 13th, 2024 at 7:54 pm
PASS RUSHER ASAP.
March 13th, 2024 at 8:27 pm
Love the Bucs’ off-season so far. We can be a force to deal with in the next playoffs.
Go Bucs!
March 13th, 2024 at 9:19 pm
JW can lay the wood, Welcome back.
March 13th, 2024 at 10:00 pm
This here is billy boy and I approve of what the bucs are doing! Now we just need to fix the oline and run game oh and pass rush!
March 13th, 2024 at 10:00 pm
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (3 years, $25.5 million)
March 13th, 2024 at 10:19 pm
FortMyersDave Says:
March 13th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Rod Munch asks a good question; why did the Jets let him go?
—–
Now to be sure, I wasn’t saying this isn’t a good signing – or asking why the Jets didn’t resign him – I’m saying Whitehead is a very good tackling safety, but not necessarily a great coverage safety – and that lines up with the idea that Todd is going to be running his garbage loose zone as his primary offense and dropping man to man.
Also it was a shot at Neal, who I didn’t like last year when everyone else where was saying how the Bucs just got a pro-bowler for nothing – as if a team doesn’t bring back a 25-year old on a super cheap deal. Whitehead is not that, at all, we’ve seen him and he’s really good – but he’s not great in coverage – which again isn’t an issue if you’re playing mostly zone.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:32 pm
Glad the Bucs front office corrected their mistake. SS was a rock solid position on the Bucs defense until the past two seasons. Whitehead will make the secondary better.
March 14th, 2024 at 12:50 am
What Saleh said is everything about Bowles. He’s such a “genius” that he over complicates everything, so his guys don’t know whether to crap or wind their watches. Saleh believes in simplicity.
Bloweszo should take a lesson. But he won’t.
March 14th, 2024 at 2:27 am
Whitehead has that ‘john lynch’ style of tackling that is most admirable. Unless of coarse, you are a brother in law that plays in the nfl.
March 14th, 2024 at 11:27 am
Yeah man!! Great news!
March 14th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Oh God David is back I thought we had only 9 haters on this site back to 10 WTF
March 14th, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Absolute beast I hated watching him in a jets uni glad he is back I can unretire my pewter Whitehead jersey and start wearing it to the games again!!!!
March 15th, 2024 at 5:14 am
@mtn JW played all 17 games the last 2 seasons for the jets what are you talking about only played 12?! He’s no Davis or Dean he’s been durable which isn’t surprising with the way he takes care of his body. The jets just couldn’t afford him and they had a younger guy who could take his spot for cheaper, it happens all the time just because a team let’s a guy go to FA doesn’t always mean they didn’t like them or they were bad, tough decisions have to be made sometimes