Bucs Sitting Pretty At No. 9

April 21st, 2016
GM Jason Licht

GM Jason Licht

Screw the Best Available Mob, Joe peddles in reality.

The Bucs are sitting damn pretty with the No. 9 overall pick because they will not be drafting an offensive lineman, a quarterback or Ezekiel Elliott.

Joe is now inhaling Hooters boneless wings and toasting bar patrons at the thought of more teams trading up to draft players at the positions referenced above.

We already know QBs will be taken by the Rams and Eagles with the Nos. 1 and 2 picks, respectively.

The Chargers at No. 3 need offensive line help desperately to preserve Phillip Rivers’ waning shelf life.

C’mon tackle-hungry Giants at No. 10. Go get Cleveland’s No. 8 pick. Jerry Jones, just go for broke and draft Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4., likely the perfect complement to your win-now offensive line and your eventual new young QB in a few years.

Let’s go Titans, at No. 15, you got all that juice, all those extra draft picks to entice Chip Kelly to move back from No. 7 so you can get an offensive lineman to protect soft, coach-killer Marcus Mariota.

Might the Jets at No. 20 dangle stud Mo Wilkerson before Ozzie Newsome to try and get their quarterback at No. 6?

It’s looking darn good for the Bucs to have an elite defensive talent fall in their lap, or at least close enough where Tampa Bay could trade up.

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75 Responses to “Bucs Sitting Pretty At No. 9”

  1. unbelievable Says:

    Joe and his absolutist views…

    Maybe someone should explain to Joe what “best available” means to those with half a brain.

    No one is suggesting a QB. No one (almost) is suggesting taking Eliott.

  2. 813bucboi Says:

    at #9 draft either bosa, Stanley or vhg….in that order…GO BUCS!!!

  3. Dave Says:

    No trade up!!!
    Damn good de and db talent all over. If anything trade back and get another third

  4. BFFL Says:

    Rt just might be where need and best available intersect. Dotson will not be retained next year so that will open a huge need at rt. this is why good teams stay good..bc they always draft best available as they don’t really have glaring needs. Only a loser would even ponder drafting the 3rd best available at 9.

  5. Love and Warrick Dunn Says:

    It’s going to make for some funny digs at the Joes if Stanley is taken. Much like his views on Jonathan Foosball.

  6. feelthepewterpower Says:

    Chargers probably go Ramsey. They need dB help just as bad. Plus I’m sure some of their lineman will return from injury

  7. Aristotle Says:

    I like drafting Lineman for first round but Stanley doesn’t yell out superstar, nor does he yell pro bowl, I don’t see him worth the pick.

  8. BDorry55 Says:

    Noah! Noah! Noah!

  9. Buc1987 Says:

    LWD…lol thought about that last night actually… 🙂

  10. Mike Johnson Says:

    BPA for the Bucs = take a franchise tackle if available, absolutely. Sure, zero need for QB or RB, but don’t pass up an offensive tackle that could result in an O-line with two of the best, youngest bookends in the NFL, that’d be silly. Would it possibly let an “elite” DE slip through our fingers? Maybe, but in my view, if the tackle grades higher, take him.

  11. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Being Seminole I watched us play Louisville this season and Oregon two seasons ago. Not they saying they won’t be decent NFL players but neither Rankins or Buckner jumped of the screen to me when we face them. But man o man how Ogbah jumps off the screen when you review the film of us against OSU.

  12. Couch Fan Says:

    You would think that a franchise that has waited so long for a franchise QB would be smart enough to get him all the protection they can. Not Joe though. Lol SMH

  13. Jameisbucsfan Says:

    Trade up for Jalen Ramsey!

  14. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    Have we given up on Donavan Smith already? He’s not a franchise tackle?

    We MAY have a franchise guard as well and the remainder are all decent if not good including Pamphile who is competent now as our swing OL to back up the lot.

    I simply do not see investing in another OT early. I want either DL or DB help.

    At the end of the day though all we really want are good players…like the four we got last year. So I’ll trust Licht to find some winners for us.

  15. Supersam Says:

    Hey Joe what makes you think Licht won’t pull the trigger on Tunsil if he’s sitting there at 9 or the kid from Notre Dame for that matter… I’m not sure I understand your thought process. Licht has said countless time he will take best player available regardless of position. There’s even a tiny chance we draft Elliott if he’s sitting there. You gotta plan for the future. Doug Martin is basically on a 2 year contract with us.

  16. Miko Says:

    this trade up for Ramsey crap(or anyone else) is pure lunacy. Bucs are building something, no need to panic like the Rams or Eagles…a good player is going to fall in our lap OR trade out of #9….

  17. LordCornelius Says:

    Should be a fun draft in terms of movement

    I’m fine with giving up a 4th to move up a spot or 2 if it’s for Bosa or Ramsey. Anything else isn’t worth it imo.

    Trading back with Chicago or Tennessee are moves I could see. Get an additional 3rd or 2nd. Then take Rankins or Ogbah or VH3

  18. Miko Says:

    GM Gettleman just said he “wants players that are all in”…The Bucs do too, hopefully….NO TO NORMAN!…

  19. Wausa Says:

    Nole on Sat:

    I’m a Seminole too, but I have to strongly disagree with you on Rankins.

    He was a monster against us and he had a sack on one of the few plays he was blocked one on one.

  20. Love and Warrick Dunn Says:

    “StPeteBucsFan Says:
    April 21st, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    Have we given up on Donavan Smith already? He’s not a franchise tackle?”

    Mayock on Smith, before the draft:

    “He was a left tackle at Penn State, but he’s a prototype right tackle.”

    If you can secure your bookend stud tackles for the next decade, to protect your 22 year old franchise QB, why not? Let them compete. Whoever is best at left plays left, the other goes to right.

  21. Buc1987 Says:

    DL or OL.

    Build it.

  22. Couch Fan Says:

    Even if Don turns out to be a stud tackle, so what? We shouldnt draft another excellent tackle simply because we already have one? Pretty sure an offensive line consists of 2 Tackles. Dont understand that rationale. It’s all about #3. Protect him and give him weapons and he will take us where we want to go.

  23. Bucsfanman Says:

    I’m not totally against drafting OL, but I don’t think you should be tinkering (already!) with a proven formula. Leave Smith at LT.
    Frankly I don’t like the idea at #9 of drafting OL.

  24. ruggyup Says:

    Don’t Bosa and Stanley come with baggage? Perceptions of off-field issues? Why mess with the percentages when there will be multiple need filling bodies at #9.

  25. Buc1987 Says:

    If Buckner, Bosa, Ramsey etc have already been gobbled up by 9 then sure grab Stanley or Tunsil if the fall in our laps. Why not?

    If there’s a stud o-lineman at 9. Tunsil or Stanley? (not likely) I’ll be fine with either one Joe.

    The only one I’d trade up for is Jalen of course. Only if the price is right though. Perhaps ask Drew Carey what he thinks.

    Sidebar : I was Bob Barker’s paperboy on Cape Cod. Never met him though.

  26. Posey99 Says:

    BOSA or trade back

  27. Buc1987 Says:

    Build a wall for JW and Dougie for the next 10 years….. Well 5 or less for Doug.

  28. Joseph Mamma Says:

    Coach killer Mariota made sense to your point of view right up until Lovie was fired. Now it makes pretty much no logical sense.

  29. Pickgrin Says:

    “It’s looking darn good for the Bucs to have an elite defensive talent fall in their lap – or at least close enough where Tampa Bay could trade up”

    As far as I can see – Ramsey is the only sure fire lock of an “elite talent” on the defensive side of the ball this year. Bosa, Buckner, Myles Jack, VH3 and every defensive player after them has SOME degree of uncertainty in their game and/or stat sheets and/or background.

    If Ramsey is available beyond the 4th pick, I will be shocked. It takes ALOT to move up from 9 to 4.

    I think this is not a great year or draft to be picking #9 personally. Yes – we should get a good football player at 9 if Licht does his job – but the elite talent you normally associate with top 10 picks is definitely lacking this year IMO.
    Just look at the QBs going 1-2. Neither is nearly as good a prospect as Winston or Mariota was last year.

  30. MadMax Says:

    Think I hear some “Ramsey, Ramsey, Ramsey” in that tone Joe 🙂 LOVE IT!

    Off topic but man, cant believe Prince passed. Purple rain while doves cry all in my mind, but I know he’s saying lets go crazy and party like its 1999. Im just shocked. Such a musical influence on me when I was growing up. What an Icon! RIP Prince and thanks so much for your contributions.

  31. Matthew Says:

    Bucs are sitting pretty at 9; and should go with the BPA. They’ll have even more flexibility if they can nab Norman somehow.

    And before the anti-Norman mob starts with their propaganda machine let’s dispel the nonsense:

    “He’s 29!” well actually he’s 28.
    “He’s a one hit wonder” well actually he’s put back to back seasons up as the best 1 or two CB’s in the league.
    “He’s a locker room cancer” well actually he’s a beloved teammate who was a huge contributor on a super bowl caliber defense.
    “He tried to injure a franchise QB” well actually the QB started the fight by his own admission because he was mad Norman kept intercepting him and talking smack.
    “He only cares about money” well actually he slept in his car to play at coastal Carolina because he wanted to get better and some day make the NFL.
    “He wants too much money” well actually his demands fit perfectly with that of top guys at his position in the newly raised salary cap.
    “The Panthers didn’t want him” well actually they did, and were willing to pay him 14 million with the franchise tag or 11-12 mil per for a long term deal but due to them being financially strapped with other big deals on the horizon they couldn’t go much higher in their GM (who is a notorious penny pincher) at 12 mil per.

    You are all entitled to your own opinion, you aren’t entitled to your own facts.

  32. salish_seamonster Says:

    Joe keeps dumping on the best available mob… His thinking apparently is too meatheaded to comprehend that drafting doesn’t always occur in order of greatest need to lesser need without regard to value. Joe is willing to surpass greater talent in a myopic need-filling quest. An intelligent drafter, which Jason Licht is, can be strategic, filling needs while maximizing value. This might mean drafting an OT, because it’s arguably a need to an extent, or the available player could be a franchise type guy. You don’t pass that up when the available defenders are not in that same category. Greater needs can still be filled later, and the sweet spot for DE value probably starts later in round 1 this year.

    As Jason Licht says, he wants to draft where need and value intersect. So RB and QB are out, but WR and OL are not out if the value at those positions is that much better than the DE value.

    Dismissing the best available or “value” crowd is just as idiotic as dismissing the “need” crowd.

    I think Rankins is gonna be the sweet spot of value and need if they stay at 9, unless Buckner or Ramsey inexplicably fall.

  33. duthsty rhothdes Says:

    Joe not sure how you can say bucs wont grab OL, stanley is a stud whatif tunsil is there

  34. unbelievable Says:

    DL or OL,whichever is the best prospect.

    It all starts up front, on both sides of the football. Simple as that.

  35. nate123455789 Says:

    Trade down with titans for picks

  36. salish_seamonster Says:

    Supersam Says:
    April 21st, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Licht has said countless time he will take best player available regardless of position. There’s even a tiny chance we draft Elliott if he’s sitting there. You gotta plan for the future. Doug Martin is basically on a 2 year contract with us.

    I don’t think Licht has ever said it quite like that. I think he has said that ideally you’d like to be able to draft the best player and not be driven desperately by need… He did not say that need doesn’t come into play though. No team is without roster needs and the draft is the most important way to address them.

  37. 813bucboi Says:

    @nole…explain your love affair with ogbah…the kid has talent but he’s more of a very late 1st early second round pick….the film I saw of him showed he was inconsistent and sometime never seemed to be into the game…not sure if he has lacks focus or lacks passion for the game….he had a decent game vs. fsu but fsu has oline issues and through out the year it seemed he would take 2 steps forward and 1 step back…I haven’t heard anyone besides you beat the drum for this kid…GO BUCS!!!

  38. MadMax Says:

    @Matthew, could you imagine, sign Norman and draft Ramsey? CB and Safety, backfield fixed. Then D line after that. Yeah, Im dreaming lol.

  39. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Wausa go back and watch the film when we played OSU to start the season in 2014. Then come back an tell me who looks more dominant.

  40. 813bucboi Says:

    @pickgrin…every prospect coming out has a level of uncertainty including ramsey….his ball skills footwork and technique have big question marks…no doubt he has talent, but with him switching to safety from cb and never being a full time starter at that position surely bring some uncertainty…GO BUCS!!!

  41. BucsFan85 Says:

    Pretty sure Licht said the pick you want to make is where the Best Player Available and roster needs intersect.

  42. salish_seamonster Says:

    Some fans fall in love with a few highlights and combine numbers and dismiss reports of inconsistency, or poor work ethic, etc… Thankfully, those people are not the GM. Guys like Ogbah are unknowns to those of us who are average fans. Sounds good on paper, but only the scouts who’ve taken a hard look know whether the guy’s inconsistency is the result of poor mental habits or lack of interest; or, maybe he’s coachable and they feel like they can get him to keep his head in the game. Being adamant about Ogbah at #9 seems like a reach though, for the average fan to say. I’ll feel fine about it if Licht signs off on him though.

  43. Pawel Says:

    Just tradw back and back and back and stack up for 2017, 2018, 2019 🙂

  44. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    I feel the same way about lawson and Dodd. We’ve(FSU) faced all these youngmen the only one looked the part was Ogbah. Dude look like a maniac that night in front of the entire country. These folks talking that bozo bosa whatever his name is won’t put his numbers up against Ogbah’s because Ogbah’s career outshines bosa’s. People think this guy about to be the next Watt please you fooling yourselves.

  45. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Where you hear all that from salish??? Let me guess TV. Have ever seen him play dude???

  46. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Again take whoever you feel should be drafted at 9 and lets compare career numbers.. What the hell does reach mean anyway. To me that’s the dumbest term. When cats like J Norman are demanding 16mill for they’re services and were drafted in the 4th rd.

  47. salish_seamonster Says:

    ^^ I read the draft publications and most of the comments on the internet that describe him talk about inconsistency. I’m sure he has games where he dominates. But I also read about the fact that he completely disappears in games. Have you seen all his games?

  48. BigMacAttack Says:

    Joe Knows

  49. R.O. Says:

    Maybe 1 elite defender and thats JR. Bosa and Buckner are not elite. JJ Watt is elite. Not sure why you are preaching.

  50. salish_seamonster Says:

    I don’t see what Josh Norman has to do with the concept of reach.

    Reaching is when you draft for need despite the fact that there are much higher graded players out there. That doesn’t mean a reach can’t work out. Sometimes guys play above their draft grade. Sometimes factors that knock a guy down draft boards end up not being issues once they get in the NFL… but that doesn’t mean you throw out evaluations and player grades. Just as often, probably a lot more often actually, the reasons for grading a player lower are legit. You don’t voluntarily take on more risk to draft a need when you have a better players sitting in front of him. That’s a reach. How hard is this to understand?

  51. martinii Says:

    If you checkout all the mock gurus this morning Hargreaves is a lock. Again like the Glennon trade scenarios that we believe in Tampa and what the rest of the league thinks are very different. I hope we come out with a pass rush preferably a DE but a good DT will work also. But then I live in Tampa and must be nuts.

  52. 813bucboi Says:

    saw his film and as I said very inconsistent…in 2014 he played great against fsu and Kansas but not nearly as dominate against Missouri state, iowa state, Oklahoma, tcu and ksu…..in 2015 he was great against texas, ksu and wva but got dominated by tcu ole miss Oklahoma and didn’t show up vs cent. mich and Kansas…his film suggest exactly what the scouts are concerned about…his inconsistency and lack of effort/focus/passion….his best game against an quality opponent was his jr year vs fsu against the defending national champion in the first game of the season…of course he was going to ball out…he probably had 3months to prepare for Winston and was well rested and fresh….I don’t think he’s worth a #15 pick…looks like a late first(25-31) or early 2nd….so what film have you watched besides the fsu game where he jumps out at you….GO BUCS!!!

  53. Dave Says:

    Offer Norman 14 mil

    Draft a DE or trade back several spots and draft one then and in Rd 3.
    Draft a S and a WR in 2-3

    OL in Rd 4/5

    They have a huge glaring need at DE and every one of you screamed about the pass rush the last 5 years and now all of a sudden you guys want a tackle or BPA !?!?!?!!?!!?!????
    …… In a draft loaded with DE…

    I’m grateful most of you are not anywhere near a GM position.

  54. Fritz59 Says:

    “He was a left tackle at Penn State, but he’s a prototype right tackle.”

    So, yer using the pre-draft words of a talking head to justify moving a player away from a position where we know he was at least moderately successful, to a new position, where he’ll start over, based on the “prototype” for a right Tackle. Just a few key words there…talking head. ..start over. ..prototype. ..successful. You don’t move a successful player unless it’s an emergency need, or you don’t think he’ll get better. And NOT because he’s a ‘prototype’ anything. That idea is bullspit, all a ‘prototype’ is is some coaches opinion about what’s best for that position that went on to become dogma for the talking heads, doesn’t mean squat

  55. unbelievable Says:

    BPA for this team means DL or OL, assuming Ramsey does not fall to us.

    Obviously DE is the biggest need, but OL is extremely important. Securing your o-line for the next 6 – 10 years is a pretty smart move when you just drafted your franchise QB #1.

    Let’s not all pretend we have the best o-line in the league, okay? They played well last year, against a mostly weak schedule, and had an extra down lineman to help on a large portion of plays, meaning 1 less skill position guy on the field as a weapon.

    Dotson and Cherilus are both over 30.

    We don’t know the injury situation with Joe Hawley.

    Anyone who thinks our o-line is champion quality and doesn’t need improvement has their head stuck in the sand.

    The fact is this draft has many DEs, but very few (if any) that are sure-fire 1st round talent. That is why you would consider waiting til the 2nd if the BPA at #9 happens to be a DT or OT.

  56. 813bucboi Says:

    @nole…I want bosa at #9(or Hargreaves:))…bosa has more tackles, tackles for loss and sacks….but I wouldn’t mind your boy in the second….

    e.ogbah career stats- 133-tackles..37-tfl..sacks-25…passes defended-9..force fumble-5..fumble recovery-2

    j.bosa career stats- 148 tackles..51-tfl..sacks-26…passes defended-6..force fumble-5..fumble recovery-2

    and bosa played very consistent all year even though he was being double and triple teamed…last year scout evaluated tackles in the big 10 by how well they did against bosa….doubt that happened to your boy….GO BUCS!!!!

  57. Buc1987 Says:

    Max…okay now I’m crushed. I don’t know why it’s bothering me so much.

    I don’t know Prince was a big part of my childhood….that might be it..

    Thanks for the bad news. I had no idea.

    Got the Prince cranking through the house as I type.

  58. Kevin Says:

    If you draft stricktly based on need your an idiot…..dont assume they wont go oline at no 9.

  59. JAB83 Says:

    Sign Norman… Trade MG8 for Mo Wilkerson and swap 1rst round picks!!!!

    BOOM GOES THE DYNOMITE!!!!

    Super Bpwl 2016 is ours!!!!

  60. salish_seamonster Says:

    There will be b!tching and moaning on JBF if they go with Stanley or Tunsil. Guaranteed.

  61. JAB83 Says:

    Oh and draft BPA on offense!!!

  62. JAB83 Says:

    And of a stid DE falls to #20 Draft him and take BPA on O the rest of the way!!! Kinda like hoping Jason L could pull of a reverse grand slam!!!!

  63. JAB83 Says:

    *STUD DE

  64. Buc1987 Says:

    salish_seamonster…not from me though. I’m fine if they go o-line.

    Protect the Messiah!

  65. Power Vapor Says:

    Don’t sign Norman. Take Conklin. We will be happy with this pick for year

  66. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    So basically you saying Ogbah accomplished the same thing bosa did while half a$$in it. Fascinating. And lets keep the level of competion out of it. Who dose Ohio st.???

  67. SB with Jameis Says:

    What up Nole!?!? Are you working tonight or do you get to watch the Lightning?

  68. Pirate n packerland Says:

    Game 5! Send the Red wings back to Detroit….again! Go Bolts!!!!!

  69. SB with Jameis Says:

    Amen Pirate! Amen.

  70. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    Yo whus good SB. Iwrap up at 9 tonight ima give you acall.

  71. finishers Says:

    Draft Rankins and Ogbah!

  72. SB with Jameis Says:

    Cool bro. Do that.

  73. MadMax Says:

    Sorry 87, just one of those times where I’ll remember where and what I was doing when I heard about it and the shock of it.

    And while Im not crazy about going O line with #9, I wouldnt be totally against it. But we do have more pressing needs. But K&L will do what they do. And if theres a chance for Ramsey, I hope they pounce on it.

  74. FuNkYxMuNkEy Says:

    Joe

    it is naive to me to say we won’t be drafting a tackle at #9. If Stanley or Tunsil fall to us. It would be hard to pass up getting a star LT. IF they are gone as well as Ramsey, Jack, and VH3. I would not be totally against taking Conklin at #9. He would solidify our RT spot for the next decade.

    Normally I would never draft a RT at #9. When you put it into context having drafted Jameis last year. We have to protect and keep him upright. Conklin would give us a top notch line across the board. We would be set at every position. Something only a few teams can say.

    I do think the trades have really helped us out. We should end up with a great player. Unless they screw it up and take someone like Bosa or Buckner. Which I don’t think will happen. At least I pray it won’t.

  75. Capt. Tim Says:

    Lol
    Donovan Smith had a great year at LT.
    To all of you whinning for a RT at 9
    You do not draft Right Tackles that high. Period
    Dotson was a Free Agent
    Expect Pamphile to be your right Tackle this year
    Cherilus will back up Smith, Dotson will back up Pamphile

    What is in extreme shortage in this draft, is edge rushers.
    It will be up to Licht to land one.
    If all else fails- another great DT is the answer.
    That can produce QB pressure also- and this draft is deep in DTs