Ex-GM: Bucs Primed For “BPA” Pick
April 24th, 2025
“Bruce, we set the board last week and we’re sticking to it. I’ve just been playing Red Dead Redemption in my office.”
No, this post has nothing to do with former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
After learning his scouting trade with the Falcons (when they were good), followed by the Rams and 49ers, Ram Carthon became the Titans GM and was fired early this year. So he knows current GMs, teams and their tendencies through a different lens than the typical draft pundit.
Now working for CBS, Carthon cranked out a mock draft for what he believes will happen tonight in Round 1.
That led to him to put Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht in the “BPA” club, which isn’t necessarily common in the NFL.
“BPA” stands for best player available.
Carthon’s draft board for says that puts edge rusher Mike Green out of Marshall in Tampa. Green is a productive and polished beast of a rusher who shined at the Senior Bowl. There are rumblings of Green having behavior issues in his past, but reality is unclear. His 17 sacks and three forced fumbles last season, however, are well documented.
Interestingly, Carthon didn’t even talk about Green when breaking down his Bucs pick on CBS Sports HQ.
The ex-GM stayed focused on BPA for the Bucs, which he said could also translate to a cornerback or receiver. Yes, another expert putting a receiver on Tampa Bay.
Carthon said the Bucs’ receivers room is nearing “old” status but he doesn’t not believe their right fit at receiver will still be on the board when Tampa Bay picks at No. 19.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs stick with best player available. When you have a stud front office and no crater of a need, it’s usually foolish to do otherwise.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Mark Dominick is a terrible evaluator, thank you for not giving us any of his input
April 24th, 2025 at 11:57 am
Big DT like Grant or Edge like Green or Pearce in the first. Hopefully not Willams or Golden at WR. Win now with a better defense.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Pass on Pearce and Green. Pearce is a head case.
Atl likes Green.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
TYLER WARREN!!!!
April 24th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Matthew Golden
April 24th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
I just hope the pick matches that description.
If so, I’ll be happy tonight
April 24th, 2025 at 12:19 pm
we will get a WR, hopefully not in round 1 though
April 24th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Green and Pearce Jr are both likely OFF of Jason Licht’s board for 1st round consideration…..
BPA for sure among Edge, DT and CB at #19.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
First, taking Trask with the last pick in the second round was hardly BPA. The next two picks after the Bucs were QB’s. The Bucs seemed to have suspected that was coming and jumped in to grab the QB they wanted.
But, for the sake of argument, assume that Trask was the BPA. He was still the wrong pick when the Bucs were spending future cap space trying to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. Therefore, BPA is not the answer to everything as Trask just was not the player the Bucs needed from that particular moment going forward. Oh for the clairvoyance to have taken versatile OL player Brady Christiensen who was chosen six picks later! What Brady might have accomplished with a little better production!
When you are in a major rebuild and need nearly everything, of course BPA.
When you have a team with top quality starters and depth, of course BPA.
But, when you are trying to climb through a championship window with some real needs, you should plot out the possible paths that fill your needs. Then, you take the best player available who advances you along a path that meets as many of your needs as possible.
After all, a true determination of BPA is usually very debatable throughout most of the draft including with the last pick in the second round. Needs you usually know more about. Sometimes, you just have to hope the starters hang in there and make it through the season. But, when you can, you should be stockpiling quality depth behind quality starters.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
@zman, ok Ezeiruaku would work. So would Stewart at edge but he will probably be gone by 19? The experts are still saying Jihad is going to the Bucs, if so hope he is ready and really able to play.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
It’s a weird draft for the Bucs.
They do have needs. The most glaring to me is at MLB.
Do they try to win now and take an injured MLB in the 1st? He’ll likely miss training camp but would probably be ready to go early in the season.
Do they keep up with the philosophy that’s made them a competitive team? That would be taking an EDGE or an IDL.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
I think there’s a strong chance of a trade down with a team that is looking for a QB. If not BPA at DL, CB or WR
April 24th, 2025 at 12:38 pm
BDPA please!!
April 24th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
I heard a rumor yesterday about the Bucs loving Hairston (CB). Knowing JL, I’m 95% sure his people planted that rumor to create a smokescreen. That could mean they aren’t going CB in round 1.
Examining JL’s previous picks and pre draft activity, I think we can establish the following:
1. He won’t take a player with character concerns (Eliminates Green, Pierce and Nolen).
2. He won’t take older players (eliminates LB Knight and CB Barron).
3. He’ll rarely take the guy that Mock Drafts say he’ll take (smokescreen, could possibly eliminate Campbell).
4. He won’t take the guy that a pre draft rumor indicates he loves (likely won’t take Hairston).
Knowing our front office, I think the pick is probably between Starks (S), Ezeiruaku (EDGE), Schwesinger in a BIG trade down and maybe Campbell (LB).
April 24th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
No reason to go offense rd 1 unless it’s an OL or TE. Even then not huge deal we’re pretty solid from top to bottom with the group we have. Lot of young guys with loads of potential at TE. G would’ve been a need had we not brought Ben back. I mean we’re all set tbh. They’re doing their thing and it’s working.
Donovan Ezek, from BCU is a real possibility. I think CB early a guy like Hairston that’s a real burner with good footwork and technique. That’s a real possibility as well. Yes even at 19.
I still don’t love the idea of Tykee Smith to Safety. I like him a lot inside at slot, he just needs to get healthy. That being said a super freak at safety emmanwarow could be a real possibility. I feel like anyone on defense will thrive under the experience of Todd Bowles. System in TB is set up and designed for success.
Maybe I’m wrong and the ILB from Alabama is the man, Jihaad Campbell. He’s got that shoulder injury however maybe by midseason he’d be 100% ready to start. I think our LB corps is underrated. More worried about ST unit than a starting ILB tbh. As long as someone can cover the field on pass downs and get physical with TEs I’m happy there. Tackle the RB is a huge heal obviously but if a starter can’t do that he shouldn’t be on the team anyways. Losing our ST ace and captain in free agency is gonna hurt us big time.
Getting Sean Tucker KR better blockers he’s going to be dangerous there. He’s already so big fast physical on returns. Shades of Derrick Henry come to mind and to see a guy like that at KR is crazy impressive. 1-2 blocker’s and he’s got himself a TD!
April 24th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Ive got a feeling we’re going to trade back a little and still land a great one. Too much talent in 2-5 to only have four picks there.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Demetrius knight wasn’t even going to be a 1st round pick though nobody was expecting that. I think he’s high on our radar and a late bloomer but he’s not ray Lewis or Derrick brooks. I do like him but he’s more of a mid to late 2nd rounder talent. I’d love to trade & get (2) seconds this year , trade back get him and maybe Amos or Shavon revel plus an OLB or DL. I’m not terribly concerned if OLB isn’t the 19th pick anymore , but this draft should be a defensive priority for sure.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Shhh… Be the hush about it but JJ Pegues is BPA at 19 but noboby knows that but us. He’ll be BPA at 53 too. And then BPA at 84 which is where I would grab him even though he’ll keep sailing under the radar until somewheres around pick 120. I hope Licht doesn’t get cute and try to snag him in the fourth unless he uses 84 on Mukuba. In that case do a cheap trade up to secure Pegues.
April 24th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
WELCOME TO TAMPA BAY, COLSTON LOVELAND (TE).
April 24th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Wait… you’re looking at our edge rush, CB’s and ILB’s and saying you see “no crater of a need?”
Are there plumes of funny smelling smoke coming from JBF World HQ?
April 24th, 2025 at 2:59 pm
I think serviceable LB’s are a dime a dozen, why waste a round 1 pick on one that is a maybe to play? Take Walter Nolan or Kenneth Grant, or trade down.
One mention, sending White and #19 to Cincy for Hendrickson…. I am all in on that.
Always plenty of LB’s are available when teams have to get under salary cap or cutting rosters.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:11 pm
next year the offense will be really good so teams will do what the commanders did in the playoffs did and keep our offense off the field in the 4th qt that’s why we need defensive play makers bc the opponents third down conversions keep them on the field, reddick may help but we need linebacker’s most!!
April 24th, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Joe – you lose credibility reporting anything Dominik says.
April 24th, 2025 at 7:12 pm
DT Nolan, LB Campbell or Donavan in the first please
Hard pass on Stewart, he’s JTS 2.0……………looks like Tarzan plays like Jane, he doesn’t love the game