The Bucs & Andre Holmes

March 17th, 2017

Five weeks ago, Joe was blowing a trumpet for the Bucs to consider wide receiver Andre Holmes in free agency.

He seemed like a great fit, and now he seems even better.

While nobody at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters is crying about the loss of Russell Shepard to the Panthers in free agency, it’s still a loss. Why? Because he had value and Dirk Koetter wanted him here.

Yes, Shepard is a better receiver than Josh Huff, Freddie Martino, etc., and he was a special teams ace.

Holmes, who remains on the street in free agency, was buried in Oakland’s deep receiving corps behind Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper in the Raiders’ high-octane offense.

Undrafted in 2011, Holmes turns 29 in June, and he’s caught a total of 75 balls for 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns through the past three seasons.

Joe loved three things about Holmes:

  1. He hasn’t missed a game since 2013.
  2. He showed up in the playoffs last year against the Texans: four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
  3. At 6-5, 210 pounds, Holmes is a massive target who represents a deep threat.
  4. He is known for strong special teams play.

After the loss of Shepard, a No. 5 receiver no matter what Carolina paid him, Holmes seems like an upgrade replacement.

But there he is on the street — while the Bucs receiving corps remains thin. Perhaps Holmes has overvalued himself (aka Bradley McDougald syndrome)?

As the clock ticks toward the draft, it seems more and more guaranteed the Bucs will draft a receiver in the first three rounds next month — and that Louis Murphy’s recent actions are telling.

46 Responses to “The Bucs & Andre Holmes”

  1. Jason Says:

    I agree with you, but the Bills made him an offer yesterday: 3 years, $4.5M.
    Dirt cheap for his potential and production. Let’s go get him, and we have a better team, offense, and QB!

  2. Gmarch Says:

    I thought I saw on the news that he already signed with the Bills?
    He didn’t sign yet. –Joe

  3. GhostofTedford Says:

    We can top the bills offer

  4. Fire the glazers Says:

    People forget that when a rival team snags a player who knows your offensive play book and the ins and outs of your special teams… you can find yourself having trouble earning a win against said rival… the Shepard loss is not a loss of talent, more a loss of our playbook against a team who has beaten this Tampa team often since FIG NEWTON was drafted 1st overall in the 2011 draft.

  5. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Give me Zay Jones in R2 and WR is not a problem for years

  6. Joehelldeloxley Says:

    this is exactly what I don’t understand about the Bucs strategy in this FA market !
    there is a lot of good players, not stud players, but better players being an improvment from last year at some position where we are lacking of players or depth and we didn’t sign any of them !
    I’m very surprised.

  7. unbelievable Says:

    Still not sure Louis Murphy having dinner with Mike Evans means he’s back on the team…. but anyways, I would like the signing of Holmes. Solid, solid depth and he could compete for no. 3 spot, although I doubt he would unseat Hump based on the love he gets from JW and the organization.
    Mike Evans? Chris Baker is the key to who he was hanging with, and Baker’s comment.–Joe

  8. BROCKTACULAR Says:

    the thing that PISSES ME OFF is this team seems to be complacent in free agency. One or two ok signings, a few head shakers then NO digging for those proven and obscure gems that a lot of other teams seem to find and sign.

  9. Lord Cornelius Says:

    lol @ the outrage

  10. BuccaneEric75 Says:

    Go get him.

  11. feelthepewterpower Says:

    @Joe, most of his catches came in garbage time as did his td. Game was out of hand when Holmes entered.

    @FireTheGlazers, The rival inside knowledge is overblown as well. Panthers had intel last year with leonard johnson ands still got swept. Most teams know what youre going to run by the fourth week or so that it is a matter of who executes the best on the play.

  12. Defense Rules Says:

    Lord C, Holmes tweeted that reports of him signing were false. Don’t see why everyone’s hot to trot for him though. Quite unimpressive as a WR to this point in his career, last 2 yrs especially (2015 – targeted 33 times, caught 14 (42%) for 201 yds; 2016 -targeted 25 times, caught 14 (56%) for 126 yds). Apparently made his mark on STs, but I’d rather see us draft a speedy WR who can learn from DJax and take his place one day.

  13. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Dude has 28 catches the last 2 years in 32 games and is 29 years old.. His best seasons were the 2 prior years when he had like 500 yards receiving each year. Pretty sure we know what he is at this point in his career which is a OK #3 at best if that.. Hell Louis Murphy is more valuable because of his speed alone.

    We signed some dude named Derel Walker from the CFL who is younger and at least has more upside.. so right now I’d say he’s the primary competition for #4.

    If we draft just 1 WR; then all of a sudden Andre Holmes is possibly the 5th best WR at best; if not 6th best WR. (Mike Evans / Djax / Hump / Rookie / Walker or Holmes)

    If we draft 2 WRs; then this would be a pretty stupid signing; as he’d be competing for 6th or 7th spot on the depth chart.

    And we may get Louis Murphy back..who imo is more valuable than Holmes..

    So basically stop b1tching and wait till after the draft at least. Even then we can sign a guy like this before the season starts

  14. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Defense you beat me to it lol

  15. bucs_365 Says:

    BROCKTACULAR Says:
    March 17th, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    the thing that PISSES ME OFF is this team seems to be complacent in free agency.

    Lighten up Francis.

    They signed the top WR in free agency and one of the top DTs on the first day. they signed a safety a few days later. They’ve resigned a number of their own players too. How is that complacent again? Please explain… You think other teams are doing better in free agency?

    Jeezus, what foeking rock did you crawl out from?

  16. Joeypoppems Says:

    Why are people saying he isn’t worth it because at best he is just a special teammer when this article is about him replacing a special teammer? Isn’t that what we would be signing him to be? Lol

  17. tdtb2015 Says:

    @ bucs_365 hilarious!!!!! LMAO!!!!

    @Joe – This is comedy central today with all the “Daves”

    I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

  18. Fire the glazers Says:

    Feelthatpewterpower… overblown??? Leonard Johnson DID NOT KNOW THE NEW DEFENSE. He was cut before preseason began. Russell Shepard, however, has had 2 FULL years under koetters offense… nuff said. Shepard was bought and so was our playbook.

  19. Erik w/ Clean Athletics 'The Kwon Alexander of Bucs Fans' Says:

    Bucs are #10 in the latest power rankings on nfl.com!!!

    My choices for the draft are:

    Round 1: David Njoku or OJ Howard

    Round 2: Zay Jones

    Round 3: Samaje Perine

  20. JR Says:

    id rather have kamar aiken.

  21. Stpetebucsfan Says:

    BROCKTACULAR

    Here is your consolation. Remember it’s always better to be pissed off than pissed on.

  22. Bucsfanman Says:

    ^^^^Unless you’re dating R. Kelly!!!!

    Just sayin’!

  23. Jeagan1999 Says:

    Isn’t Anquan Bolden still out there?

  24. dmatt Says:

    Round 1: John Ross- University of Washington
    Round 2: Dede Westbrook-University of Oklahoma
    Round 3: Zay Jones-East Carolina

    Weapons for Jameis means just that… “Weapons for Jameis”

  25. c-spann Says:

    Draft KD Cannon in the 4th

  26. unbelievable Says:

    No John Ross, especially in the 1st round.

    Small undersized, and already injured.

    As for Westbrook, he’s already had his fair share of domestic violence / criminal trespassing and other issues. Remember the last guy we grabbed in the 2nd round with a history of issues? And he’s only 175 lbs? Seems pretty small for a guy that is 6′ tall.

  27. theodore Says:

    Meh… DJax won’t mind being the gunner on special teams.

  28. R.O. Says:

    Wake me up when we sign someone. Rather than hypothesizing about who we should sign. Until then I’ll be hibernating unit April 27th.

  29. Pickgrin Says:

    Was Holmes cut or is he a free agent whose contract with the Raiders ended? If its the later – then I bet we won’t pursue him because I think Licht is trying to limit the # of outside FAs he signs in order to get a comp pick for Glennon.

  30. Not there yet Says:

    Nope I just think everyone that knotted football more than news simply don’t agree with the bad assessment you just gave off this old arse receiver that at age 29 has barely cracked yards. Crabtree and Cooper have been together a very short time ago he’s done nothing else in his entire career no thanks but good Try

  31. Trubucfan22 Says:

    This guys has proved nothing in the NFL. He never missed a game because he is rarely even playing in the game. Can’t get hurt if you don’t get to play.

    In 6 years he averages 11 catches per season. I see he has good size, but clearly there is something very important this guy is missing. It’s great he has hung around for 6 years, but he has done virtually nothing during those years. Sure bring him as camp meat and see if he can impress the coaches or bond with Winston. But in no way should anyone say we should or need to sign this guy, he is nothing in the NFL.

  32. FuNkYxMuNkEy Says:

    I agree with you Joe. He would be a solid addition. Big body and good on special teams.

  33. FuNkYxMuNkEy Says:

    Depth is always a good thing

  34. Pit Says:

    He won’t come for the same reason RS left.

  35. Gencoimports Says:

    Nope.

    I would only sign him if he is still available after the draft and the Bucs don’t draft a WR, god forbid.

  36. Billy Buc N Brazil Says:

    First, I am thrilled we signed DJ. Although I would gave preferred Pryor! Actually both for the cash Pryor signed on for. C.Baker could be a steal and if am to be overwhelmingly optimistic Wilcox may be a starter. On the other hand free agency gas been complacent in reality. I get it save cash be as frugal as possible, do not overspend, but you can not convince me that:C Patterson
    5 mil, D.Poe 8 mil, T Pryor 6 mil, M Claiborne 5 mil, Connor Barein 6.5mil, MAdams 2yr. 4.2 mil. Would not have been an extreme upgrade all around the board depth included. I mean seriously I hope J.L ultimately has something up his sleeve pertaining to a blockbuster trade before the draft. Otherwise, with this type of cap and wiggle room I would certainly consider this offseason lackluster. If we do not see anything trumping DJ this year expect next year to be hot and heavy and Jason L and company will be all in!!! Go Bucs!!

  37. Buc1987 Says:

    Do the stanky leg, do the stanky leg
    Do the stanky leg, do the stanky leg

  38. bucsalltheway Says:

    why does everyone assume the player we draft will be a wr….we need a replacement for old daryl smith did you all forget that…

  39. MadMax Says:

    Im def on board with this Joe!

  40. Trubucfan22 Says:

    Because we dont need to spend a 1st round pick for a sam linebacker. But im sure you knew that. Linebacker depth is a pretty big need. I would love to target a LB in the second to fourth round. First round seems too soon for a rotational/back up linebacker.

  41. Dan Solaz Says:

    Would rather have one of as many as 10 rookies at wr than Holmes, and im counting wr’s that would be 3rd round or later…

  42. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    Shep is not a better receiver than Huff just because of a bad year

  43. Dave Says:

    A stretch. He hasn’t missed a game because he doesn’t play.

    We got ME, DJax, Humphries, apparently Murphy and Robinson.
    I’d be all for this guy, but don’t hype him like he has shown anything better than a 4th strong guy.

    They still need a WR drafted in the top 3 rounds.

  44. TampaBay AllDay Says:

    Josh Huff career stats: 51 catches 523yds 4tds 2 KR tds
    Russell Shepard career stats: 30 catches 432yds 3 tds
    @joe I disagree

  45. Charles Stevens Says:

    Defense wins championships! Nuff said!

  46. JameisDungy Says:

    Bucs were barely getting by on offense the 2nd half of the season.

    Its time to go ALL IN on offense. So I fully support drafting 3 offensive players with the first three picks.

    Its takes one turned ankle by Djax for the offense to be **** again.

    Need more.