Jason Licht Predicts Fewer Early Draft Trades In 2025
April 10th, 2025
“Mr. Glazer, I have issues with your Round 3 mock draft — but only the 4.0 edition.”
Don’t expect a free-wheeling, wild west kind of scene on Days 1 and 2 of this year’s draft.
The Bucs’ general manager explained today at One Buc Palace.
Jason Licht was calm, cool and collected during his pre-draft chat with media and noted he’s thought more about trading down in past drafts than he has this season.
But Licht made sure to explain that’s more about the nature of this year’s draft versus his desire to collect quality picks.
“I do think this year is going to be, I could be wrong, you’re going to see maybe a little less people wanting to move up and offering enough to make it worth your while, just because I think the draft is pretty leveled out at a certain point,” Licht said. “So you might be able to get the same player in the second round, the same level player, as you can in the fourth round at certain positions. So I think you’ll maybe see a little bit less [trading].”
Joe’s heard some of that chatter, too, claims that there might only be 20 true first-round talents in this year’s draft and after that, it’s a sea of players at a similar level.
Whether that’s true or not is an entirely different story. The draft wouldn’t be as fun as it is if evaluating players was an exact science.
April 10th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Well that goes my idea that Licht will trade down – or is he laying down a smokescreen?
April 10th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
i’m sure he’d love to but i don’t see what player someone would be dying to trade up for
April 10th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
That’s what it feels like.
I think there are only a handful of elite no brainer defensive prospects and then it drops:
Abdul Carter DE
Travis Hunter CB
Mason Graham DT
That’s it. After that there is way less consensus on various site rankings and I’ve seen the rest of the people mocked all over the place. Different Edge rushers can be #2-7 after Carter depending on who you ask. Crap load of high rated DT’s. Tons of high rated CB’s that are like between mid R1 – mid R2.
April 10th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
And Travis Hunter probably playing WR anyway lol
April 10th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Lord C,
You forgot the next DRoY————> Nick Emmanwori. This guy is the steal of the draft if he falls Bucs way at 19th.
April 10th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I would 100% agree with that evaluation. There are about 20 guys who seem to fit the mold — possessing all the measurables and production. Then you have a group of players with either elite physical traits, like Darien Porter, Fadil Diggs, and Elijah Ayajjarro, or just pure football instincts, such as Jack Sawyer, Johnny Walker, and Jack Kiser.
However, the talent drop-off from the end of the first round all the way to appx. the end of the fourth round feels relatively minimal. So, it’s either an incredibly deep draft — or one of the weakest we’ve seen in years.
April 10th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
I think the only somewhat realistic scenario for Bucs trading down would be any of the top 3 teams TEN, CLE, NYG (and writing this I don’t even know if they own their 2nd rounders) trading back into the 1st to leapfrog Pittsburgh and get a QB is Sanders or Dart happen to be there.
Of course they could trade with the Broncos sandwiched between Bucs and Steelers but the hope there would be Denver loving Omarion Hampton or some other guy they wouldn’t wanna move for.
April 10th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
There’s gonna be a hall of fame among those unknowns in the later rounds gotta find him
April 10th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
My unwarrented thought was that if the Bucs wanted to trade down maybe LA Chargers or Denver Bronco GM or Packer etc trade up to get one of the three of Golden, Burden or Egbuka.
Maybe even Buffalo and the Bucs could pick up their later 3rd rounder to move down those spots.
Because I think there is another drop off after those three receivers.
Maybe the difference between a legit starter and an occasional helper.
April 10th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
I think your best bet to trade down is what geno is saying…
The Chargers might look to trade up ahead of Denver at 20 if someone like Warren, Golden, Ekbuka or rumors are even Tetairoa McMillan fall and are still available. The Chargers have three extra 6th-round picks and could potentially package a 1st, 3rd, and 6th to move up.
From the Buccaneers’ perspective, moving down to pick 22 could make sense. They’d gain a 6th-rounder—which they currently don’t have—plus an additional 3rd. Ultimately, it depends on who’s available at that point and who the Bucs really covet.
If McMillan is there, it’s hard to pass on him emotionally and strategically. He has the size, speed, and physicality to be a Mike Evans clone. Transitioning from Godwin and Evans to a duo of the McMillans could give the Bucs 10 more years of production similar to last season’s offense—and that’s extremely appealing.
At the same time, the defense is seriously lacking in talent. So the big question is: even if McMillan is available, is it worth trading down to address more defensive needs instead?
April 10th, 2025 at 7:01 pm
I’m not really a draftnik because I no longer care about college football for a variety of reasons. YMMV some still LOVE college games.
But Joe has nailed what drives the draft interest.
“The draft wouldn’t be as fun as it is if evaluating players was an exact science.”
AGREED! And so that’s why I come here to read all the conjecture and to get up on college talent.
April 11th, 2025 at 6:41 am
I could see the Chargers trading up for Colston Loveland. Broncos need a TE as well and he played under Harbaugh in Michigan.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind us taking Loveland instead. With Otton we only have one good TE and Loveland could be BPA.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:16 am
“claims that there might only be 20 true first-round talents in this year’s draft”
I really hate to say it but I gotta agree with Jason on this one.
I hope he can find a trade partner if the first round doesnt fall our way. Two or three extra picks would be a clevr move this year.
Go Bucs!
April 11th, 2025 at 11:02 am
I’m ready for the draft to be over. Mocked out, fatigued by all the experts yammering like Jason should give them a call. Give me ferocious, penetrating beef, LB, DB and edge depth and maybe a dude who can play WR and return a punt without reminding us of Darden. Self induced coma until then.