Truly Dollar Store Shopping
April 8th, 2024
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Last July, Bucs general manager Jason Licht made an eye-popping comment about his staff needing to shop all offseason at the “Dollar Store” because the team was tight on salary cap room.
It was an intriguing comment from Licht, who Joe suspects isn’t regularly shopping at the Dollar Store for Fiddle Faddle, birthday cards, stale Twizzlers, batteries, replacement spatulas and more.
The future Ring of Honor GM was referring to scoring quickly productive draft picks like receiver Trey Palmer (sixth round) and edge rusher YaYa Diaby (third round), and getting quality production from inexpensive free agents like Baker Mayfield, defensive tackle Greg Gaines and undrafted free agents like rookie Christian Izien, among others.
As fans know, the NFL is all about trends. Licht and the league, saw what Diaby accomplished in very limited snaps — 7 1/2 sacks and loads of disruption and hustle — from an athletic freak.
NFL types also saw the Rams grab a rookie edge rusher speedster only a few picks before Diaby in Round 3. That guy, Byron Young, truly did work at the Dollar Store as an assistant manager when his small-college program folded. He landed at the University of Tennessee and found 8 sacks and 19 quarterback hits with the Rams last year as a Day 1 starter.
So Joe wonders if Licht and some of his colleagues are thinking they can find fast results from extraordinary athletes with stunning work ethics as second- or third-round edge rushers. Traditionally, more polished college edge rushers as first-round picks are slower to produce.
Joe absolutely could see Licht and his team asking themselves who is the next YaYa Diaby or Young in the 2024 draft class.
For those wondering, Rams third-round pick Kobie Turner led NFL rookies in sacks last year with nine from the nose tackle position.
April 8th, 2024 at 10:31 am
Braswell
April 8th, 2024 at 10:38 am
Austin Booker in the 3rd looks promising.
April 8th, 2024 at 10:44 am
I thinking Licht was talking about Dollar Store free agents and avoiding expensive free agents or trades like Reddick 🙂
April 8th, 2024 at 10:45 am
Unless Jared Verse or Laiatu Latu falls in our laps at pick 26, I am hoping Licht trades down to the upper 2nd round. Maybe we can pick up an additional 3rd and 5th round draft pick.
April 8th, 2024 at 10:50 am
No one is as cheap as hands on Mandarin bobby Kraft.
April 8th, 2024 at 10:56 am
From what I have read here there are almost as many quality centers (JPJ/Barton) as the three Edge players people like Alabama covets. Take one if the three Edge guys are gone. We don’t need to trade down unless ALL premium Edge/centers are gone. We need sure starters at #26. Not more maybes at #36, etc. No more JTS-types.
April 8th, 2024 at 11:19 am
Jonah Elliss is worth a look if the first few Edge rushers are off the board. Strong, decent speed, good production last year.
April 8th, 2024 at 11:23 am
Fiddle Faddle is phenomenal.
April 8th, 2024 at 11:27 am
With Licht’s skill in the latter rounds he should trade his 1st round and 2nd round picks for more 3rd rounders and 4th rounders. That would be ballsy
April 8th, 2024 at 11:29 am
I feel like the fans are more unified than ever on what we want in the draft
Turner
Verse
Latu
JPJ
Barton
We all want one of those guys if it’s possible. If all 5 are gone then trade back. If all 5 are gone with no trade back option then it’s probably going to be a CB or WR.
They could suprise with a DT earlier than expected. It’s not a big need but it’s a premiere position and can still be a pass rushing DT. They have interviewed a few.
April 8th, 2024 at 11:31 am
I’d trade my 1st rd pick for another 2nd and a 3rd rounder.
April 8th, 2024 at 11:36 am
Darius Robinson. Or maybe Chop Robinson? Verse will be gone by 26th pick.
April 8th, 2024 at 11:48 am
Tvondre Sweat might drop into our range, having some popo trouble
April 8th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Lord Cornelius, that’s where I am at. Those 5 gone, explore a trade back and if no good draft a DT or CB who has fallen a bit. WR would still be a reach to me at 26 if the top 4 are gone. Unless we think Worthy is a good pick for the Bucs. Not sure about AD Mitchell but hard pass on Keon Coleman.
April 8th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
Bingo. Licht is not gonna go full retard and trade for some Dallas prima Donna who got smoked by playoff Lenny.
April 8th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Love me some fiddle faddle. Can’t miss with that in hand
April 8th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
I would love to see us get Verse. I really like Latu but I am worried about his neck fusion surgery and the doctor that okayed for him to play football.
The Dollar Store is now the $1.25 store and lost business and are closing stores. They should have stayed with the one dollar!
April 8th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
I enjoy fiddling with a faddle.
April 8th, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Right there with Lord Cornelius. Only consider trading up for one of the top 3 Edge rushers. If all 5 players listed are gone, trade back. Chop is not a 1st rd pick and may be another JTS.
April 8th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Slop won’t be in the NFL in 2016.
April 8th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Would not have this issue if we had not given Gucci money to a dollar store qb.
April 8th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
Licht’s scout team is amazing.
April 8th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
If Latu makes it to #20 – GO GET HIM! Ditto for Verse.
Otherwise – stand pat and hope JPJ or Barton make it to #26 (not likely).
And if all are gone – trade down – unless Wiggins is still on the board in which case you draft CB Wiggins at 26 and be happy about the talent you just got. Dean will be gone after this year so Wiggins in the 1st this year would actually work out really well since most all CBs need at least a year to acclimate to the NFL….
Wiggins and McCollum would likely be the fastest, most athletic pair of starting CBs in the league!
April 8th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Beej… Sweat May drop into our range in the third round at this point…
April 8th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Boss you need to stop eating Quaaludes with Jack Daniels and using your mom’s computer.
April 8th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
Les Snead is similar to Licht (other than F them picks). Well run scout team and talent evaluations. It’s not a coincidence the Lions started getting relevant after hiring Brad Holmes (Assistant GM from LAR). Probably not a coincidence the Rams brought in Mayfield late 22 and the Bucs picked him up in 23. Hmmm…
April 8th, 2024 at 2:40 pm
If you can find pass rushers in the 3rd round, you should be giving your scouts some big bonuses, because those guys aren’t just hard to find, they’re generally expensive. Sort of amazing a 3rd round rookie DT got 9 sacks and I never even heard of them – that’s a fantastic season for any DT regardless of experience.
April 8th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Aaron Donald just retired, let’s see if Kobie Turner gets even close to 9 sacks this season. I highly doubt it
April 8th, 2024 at 10:42 pm
Movie also worked beside Aaron Donald last year too
April 8th, 2024 at 10:48 pm
Rams third-round pick Kobie Turner led NFL rookies in sacks last year with nine from the nose tackle position
Kobie also played next to Aaron Donald no ?