Bucs Still Somewhat Cornered
April 23rd, 2013
Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik often talks about constant planning for future seasons, and since it’s now crystal clear the Bucs are banking on a big year for Eric Wright, Joe sees this combination as almost forcing the Bucs to draft a cornerback on Friday, if not moving up to the first round on Thursday.
Wright is a free agent after this season, thanks to his restructured post-Adderrall deal. If Wright performs like the Bucs hope, he’ll be a 28-year-old cornerback waiting on a massive payday come winter.
Would the Bucs really want to tie up, say, $22 million a year on two cornerbacks?
Joe seriously doubts that would happen. That’s why Joe figures the Bucs want to draft and develop Wright’s replacement in 2013. Let the best available cornerback come in now and learn from Revis and plus Wright to a lesser extent.
Yeah, Dominik said yesterday that the Bucs signing Darrelle Revis means they’re no longer held “as hostage to a cornerback” in the draft, but Joe’s not buying it, not without Ronde Barber in the house. The Bucs still need quality depth at the position.
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Signing a cornerback in the first round next year is also an option
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:15 pm
CB is very deep this year. I don’t see any reason why they would trade up into the 1st rd to pick one up. I would draft BPA b/w TE,DT,DE,CB,OLB in the 2nd rd and then take a CB in the 3rd round if needed.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:15 pm
According to Roy Cummings on TBO.com, his sources inside of One – Buc are teling him that the Bucs really like Wright in the slot and want to get another starter on the outside.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Some tremendous foresight here. Well done Joe.
This is actually quite concerning. If Wright does have the year he is expected to he will definitely be seeking elite (not Revis) type money. If Ronde miraculously returns for yet another season this year then we will be losing a large part of our defensive backfield. I have hopes for Leonard Johnson but not number two CB hopes. At his best he might make a very effective nickel back or a serviceable to below average number two. We really should get one before the fifth round.
With the leadership available on this team I am starting to like the sound of Honey Badger as a low risk/high reward player. So long as we take one additional CB in the draft.
I wouldn’t mind seeing us take a DT in the second, CB in the third, CB in the fourth. Not necessarily in that order though.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:19 pm
It’s a serious “all-in” for Dominik because he’s counting on 5 things happening PERFECTLY to have the best possible season:
1) Claiborne has to return to form and stay uninjured all season.
2) Bowers has to suit up and essentially overachieve (7-10 sacks) while staying uninjured all season.
3) Eric Wright has to play the way he was signed to play while NOT getting injured (his Achilles was the problem last year)
4) Revis has to be at least 80% of the OLD Revis and not get re-injured.
5) Goldston has to be as good as advertised.
If ANY of the above doesn’t happen, it’s back to 7-9 because right now, there is no room for error.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:25 pm
@Adam
I don’t think a single one of those things can tank the Bucs season in it of itself. Maybe some combination of the two but not a single one. I would even argue that a combination of your 1 and 3 or your 2 and 3 would not tank the season to 7-9.
I am not sure why Bowers has to “overachieve”. The guy has massive talent. A projected top five pick doesn’t just lose all the talent that got him 16 sacks in college. He just needs to “achieve”.
Oh yes, and for the love of GOD, his name is GOLDSON.
DASHON GOLDSON.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Tyrann Mathieu or David Amerson ?
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Adam Says:
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:19 pm
It’s a serious “all-in” for Dominik because he’s counting on 5 things happening PERFECTLY to have the best possible season:
1) Claiborne has to return to form and stay uninjured all season. -(Clayborn will be back game 1)
2) Bowers has to suit up and essentially overachieve (7-10 sacks) while staying uninjured all season. -(He was the best DE, top overall prospect, and leading sacker in the nation, we just need to keep him healthy 7-10 is the floor on Bowers sack total, if healthy.)
3) Eric Wright has to play the way he was signed to play while NOT getting injured (his Achilles was the problem last year)- (Injuries happen, better to put it all on the line then to sit back counting your cards and asking “what if…?”)
4) Revis has to be at least 80% of the OLD Revis and not get re-injured. – (Yeah, that is the plan, and hopefully he is 100%)
5) Goldston has to be as good as advertised. (Goldson is as good as advertised, just sit back and watch).
We are a much better team in a much better place than a year ago today. Time to see if Freeman can lead us to the post season this year.
If ANY of the above doesn’t happen, it’s back to 7-9 because right now, there is no room for error.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:28 pm
And it is Adrian CLAYBORN. I am not usually a grammar nazi but key player names should be spelled correctly. (Like when people spell Ronde as “Rhonde” fifteen years later.)
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:35 pm
I is sure Rhonde will be backs and Claireborn and Bower will be find. Goldston is a beast too.
Sorry Westcostbuk, had to do it! LOL
Seriously, I think Ronde comes back for a final year. Regardless, the Bucs will draft a CB within their first 2 picks and probably move up into the first if somebody drops late into round 1.
I fully expect a CB and DL to be the Bucs first two picks in the draft.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@bucfanjeff
Haha, nice, I don’t usually call people out for grammar or punctuation but names of key players is a stickler for me. If you really don’t know how to spell a name then it takes two seconds to punch it into Google. I can understand misspelling a backups name or something (I have done it myself) but there should be some effort to know the players on your favorite team.
I agree with the rest of your post. Some combo of CB and DT with our first two picks.
April 23rd, 2013 at 1:58 pm
@Matt,
The reason we would trade back into the first round is so that we would be able to have them signed to a 5 year contract vs a 4 year.
Now, whether that player we select is a CB or DL, is a whole nother subject.
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Johnson and gaither could pan out in time, Ronde was horrible his first few years, he was always getting beat. How many #1 pick corners have dominated the league.
Good thing we went from nothing to somethin after getting revis. OUR secondary looks pretty dam good
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:17 pm
WOW! Worried about Wright performing so well that we can’t afford to keep him. Give me that problem…..please!!!
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Now it makes sense why they are getting sapp to announce the 2nd and third day picks but not the 1st. This deal was always gonna happen!
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:25 pm
@Mavsmoney
The commissioner always announces all of the first round picks.
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:52 pm
DT
Let me say it again.
DT
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Adam,
The Bucs were 7 and 10 last year with Claiborne out injured, with Bowers only playing half the season and as backup at that, Wright playing the way he did (poorly), and Goldson and Revis not even on the team. Add to that two starting pro bowl guards out for most of last season and this team is seriously better now than last year.
No one can say what will happen with injuries in any year, or how other teams will improve, but it would seem 10 and 7 more likely, and if Freeman gets it together, 12 and 4 is possible.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:54 pm
10+7=17 games. I’m just saying…
April 23rd, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Bring in the honey bager!!