Should Bucs Take A Few Risks?
April 15th, 2025
The best way isn’t always the safe way.
To grab a stud at No. 19, there has to be some luck involved. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. And maybe, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should be exploring the bad?
Perhaps?
The Bucs strive to find quality people. And in the past eight drafts or so, the Bucs have done an excellent job of that. No, Devin White didn’t turn out. That really had nothing to do with being a bad egg in the community. Far from it, in fact.
The way humorist/columnist Mike Tanier sees it, maybe to get a steal in this year’s draft to help get the Bucs to at least the NFC title game, Tanier thinks Licht should perhaps choose to be more reckless, as Tanier typed on his Substack page, Too Deep Zone.
All of the Buccaneers’ recognizable players date back to the Tom Brady era. The closest thing to a new star they have is running back Bucky Irving. The Bucs should take risks on players with yellow flags who could slip to them in any given round – penalty-and-tantrum prone Mizzou receiver Luther Burden, nad-punching Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, one of the many 6-foot-3 cornerbacks with 4.3 speed who spent six years in college for various reasons – in search of superstar upside. Because if Mike Evans, Lavonte David and one or two others get old/injured at the same time, the Buccaneers could quickly slip into Titans-level irrelevance.
Tanier has some solid points, specifically about injuries. The defense, as it is currently constructed, is OK. Maybe good against the run (Joe will spare people’s blood pressure and won’t mention the pass defense).
If Lavonte David, 35, goes down along with Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, things could get ugly. They sure did when the Bucs lost both Evans and Godwin last year.
As far as Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, for a defensive tackle to blast a guy in the sack, Joe considers that a trait, not a demerit. If that’s the only thing bad about him, then Joe wants the guy.
(Everything Joe reads about Turner is that Turner simply has no idea how to rush the passer. THAT is a demerit!).
If Licht didn’t have such a good record of drafting good guys, then Joe would agree with Tanier. It would be nice if Licht found a Pro Bowler in the draft. Not sure he needs to bring in an a-hole.
April 15th, 2025 at 3:58 am
Agree with you big time Joe. I think our big man Suh stepped on a couple of guys?
Jensen was known to um…Shall we say stir the pot?
Go Bucs!
April 15th, 2025 at 5:13 am
Not saying draft a QB but Baker is not mentioned in the “what if (insert player name here) goes down?” Trask will replace him? We will be doomed if that happens.
Draft the E-Man if he is there at #19 or best DT available or trade down for more picks. The draft can’t come fast enough. We shall know soon enough.
April 15th, 2025 at 5:19 am
The first round us not the time to take a risk. Maybe take a risk on day 2. Day 3 is the time to take a risk
April 15th, 2025 at 6:12 am
Agree, Joe.
The Bucs have to be precise on the 19th pick. It’s so important.
April 15th, 2025 at 6:29 am
I think Starks and Emman are gone….so go Harmon
April 15th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Like Lichts choices of good character players….keep it up
April 15th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Hard no on any character issue players. We are the good guys and would like to keep it that way.
April 15th, 2025 at 8:40 am
Shemar Turner? Nah, too small (6’3″ & 290 lbs). Here’s what Walter Football wrote about him for 2024 …
‘Turner had 36 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He has been solid but not dominant. Team sources say that Turner’s instincts are just okay, he doesn’t know how to use his hands, isn’t overly explosive, and needs to get stronger. Other sources say that Turner is too twitched up to get out of the second round.’
We’re talking 1st Rnd pick; go for the beastly DT/NT … Michigan’s Kenneth Grant (6’4″ & 331 lbs), or Texas’ Alfred Collins (6’6″ & 332 lbs) or Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams (6’3″ & 334 lbs). One of those 3 giants will be there at #19. Solidify the center of our DLine and everyone else will benefit.
April 15th, 2025 at 8:44 am
Elijah Roberts later…under the radar (im working Jason, im trying lol)
April 15th, 2025 at 8:46 am
Kenneth Grant DT Michigan, Superstar Potential, get back to collapsing that pocket like when Suh & Vea . His NFL comparisons are Sexy Dexy & Vita Vea. It sure would help out Reddick & Diaby and mask that secondary a little bit .
April 15th, 2025 at 8:46 am
@,Bayoubulletsays this isn’t a powder puff football league
April 15th, 2025 at 8:50 am
As Licht has demonstrated, character and talent are not mutually exclusive. I’m sure Licht and Bowles can find players that mesh well with the culture the Bucs organization has nurtured and someone with potential to be a pro-bowl player. Don’t need another Swaggy Baker or Antonio Brown.
April 15th, 2025 at 9:40 am
Ira had a nice article last week. “Time to Chill” I think the title was.
The Bucs roster is solid, as is. They could win the division right now. They ‘are drafting for depth and eventual starters. They don’t need to take risks.
April 15th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Tanier is hilarious, but not serious. Football is a team sport. The game is won with a quarterback and in the trenches. We have a top 5 offensive line, but he can’t name one player.
April 15th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Thor Griffith- 6’2″, 320 lbs, 45 reps at 225, runs a 4.9 40-yard dash. He has excellent leverage, quick get-off, and a high football IQ.
I’m sorry, but if you’re passing on him—you’re making a mistake. He’s practically the same size and has similar physical gifts as some of the top picks mentioned here, yet he could be available in the 5th to 7th rounds, or possibly go undrafted.
Drafting a 330-pound lineman just because they’re *big* makes no sense. You still need power, some speed, and to be in good physical shape—something Vea has struggled with his entire career.
The only reason I ever miss on sleepers is when they end up lacking intelligence or instincts—something you can’t always see on tape. That takes personal interaction.
Thor went to Harvard. He literally checks *ALL* the boxes.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:11 am
If I’m going to gamble I want it to be on a player who might fall two rounds below his draft value because of perceived injury history. Perfect example is a safety from Penn State who barely played last year but the year before was excellent with zero missed tackles. I am hearing that Winston Jr could have likely been a late first round pick had he played last year but instead will likely go in the third or fourth round.
If we can walk away with a top corner back defensive lineman and inside linebacker as our top three picks and then grab Winston Jr in the 4th even if we need to trade up to do so we will have completely hit a home run in this draft and filled every position of need.
I would love to see us either get Jahdee Barron for Will Johnson in round 1. Alternatively Trey Amos in round 2. At inside linebacker I would love to see us get either Demetrius Knight in round two or alternatively Chris Paul in round three or four.
One of the outstanding defensive tackles in round 1 (or Ezeriauku )if we go corner round 2 and then go inside linebacker and safety for rounds 3 and 4 depending on who’s available in each of those rounds.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:13 am
I would be good with Thor Griffith in the 5th if we go edge round one, Trey Amos round 2 then go Chris Paul and Winston Jr as my 3rd and 4th round picks ideally.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:26 am
That journalist is a moron. He doesn’t understand fhe dynasty we are building.
We are the new Patriots. Except we have a joyful style of hard work.
I would love two 6-3 corners though.
I dream of a day when we a stable of 6 badass corners at all times!
April 15th, 2025 at 10:30 am
CB 1: Zion
CB 2: Dean
CB 3: Bryce Hall
CB 4: 3rd round pick
CB 5: 4th round pick
CB 6: Funkmaster Flex
CB 7: Hayes
CB 8: The free agent we brought in
CB 9: 7th round pick
Let these 9 guys fight for roster spots.
April 15th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Since Tanier is a humorist, I will conclude that his take was written as a spoof.
April 15th, 2025 at 11:40 am
We lost Godwin, and still won. One guy we can’t replace besides our QB is Vita Vea. Big plays are more likely to happen when Vea is getting a break. I would not be opposed to drafting a NT. Instead of the opposing O line breathing a sigh of relief whenever Vea goes out, it would be nice instead if they say, oh sh#t, here comes the younger one.
April 15th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
What DR and Hodad said. Their thinking is very clear.
April 15th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Buc Fan in Phoenix Says:
April 15th, 2025 at 5:13 am
Not saying draft a QB but Baker is not mentioned in the “what if (insert player name here) goes down?” Trask will replace him? We will be doomed if that happens.
Draft the E-Man if he is there at #19 or best DT available or trade down for more picks. The draft can’t come fast enough. We shall know soon enough.
BF in P… No one knows what that will bring, but being the only QB in Buc’s history to get a second contract says the coaching staff and front office of the Bucs think Trask’s up to the challenge. There are 3 possible outcomes if the situation rears it’s head. He balls out, He is just OK or he stinks up the field. No one knows for sure. It also is not how you evaluate a players ability. One game, where he finally gets more than one posession.
Besides, Bakers’ like the knight from Monty Python’s “Holy Grail.” If he lost a limb he’d demand it was only a flesh wound and be in the following play.
April 15th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Joes says, “…for a defensive tackle to blast a guy in the sack, Joe considers that a trait, not a demerit.” and I LMAO, mostly because I thought the same thing when I read it!
April 15th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
I can see taking some risks on depth or project players that are hurt – but NOT with the first 3 picks.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but it seems Licht has recently drafted better on the offensive side of the ball. Or is it that Bowles has too much influence on the defensive picks?