Dontari Poe, Chris Baker, Falcons & Jason Licht
March 16th, 2017
New Bucs defensive tackle Chris Baker
The Bucs hunted big game in free agency this year, as in a defensive tackle with serious size and salary.
But did they pick the right one?
What a fantastic question to revisit in December.
Manbeast former Arizona beast Calais Campbell? He would have looked great in pewter and red, but now he’ll be earning $15 million per season from Jacksonville.
Dontari Poe, the Chiefs’ tough-guy tackle? He just signed for $8 million, per NFL Network, with the Falcons. It’s a one-year deal that could net him $10 million this year with incentives.
Chris Baker, 6-2, 320 (330?) pounds was the Bucs’ prime target. Baker, who turns 30 in October, will earn $6 million this year from Tampa Bay as part of a three-year, $15.7 million contract.
Poe landing in Atlanta sets up a fantastic comparison between him and Baker, with loads of common opponents to measure against.
Joe liked Poe for the Bucs, as did the Custodian of Canton, Ira Kaufman, Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter.
This should be fun to watch. Joe’s sure hoping general manager Jason Licht comes out smelling like a cold beer on July afternoon.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Poe is the better talent and for the price it makes the Baker choice look worse. I’m sure Baker is perfectly serviceable but Poe is simply a better DT and why not opt for the better player at marginal cost increase?
Poe on our D line looks way better than seeing him on Falcons line.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
Poe’s production has been on the decline since 2014 which is probably why he was only able to get a 1 year deal. I feel like Licht made the right choive in Baker, but we will find out this year I guess.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:08 pm
Poe is beyter talent??? Not hardly GMFB did a side by side of two a day or so ago. Swaggy totally outshine poe the last two season’s.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:08 pm
For those that think poe is better D lineman you need to check the video on NFL.com. Did the Bucs get the biggest bargain in FA ?
March 16th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Baker was signed here for reasons that are different than Poe and Campbell. Swaggy was signed here to get GMC over the 10 sack hump. So honestly you can’t compare his stats to the other 2 . GMC STATS ARE THE 1NES THAT COUNT COMPARED TO POE AND CAMPBELL.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Figures. What’s next, AP to Carolina 🤢 Shhhhhiiiiiiii it
March 16th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
Whatever… anyways,
Loving the Baker highlights! 93 & Swaggy will b a nightmare!
March 16th, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Super Bowl teams make top level moves happy to be 9-7 teams make the middle of the road or CFL moves, see how draft pans out, the OL is still garbage
March 16th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Pretty sure Baker has been graded by many to have been much better than Poe last 2 years… Poe was bad down the stretch last year especially
But hey we’re Bucs fans so we’d rather argue the opposite anyway
March 16th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Not worried. Baker was a solid value signing. He should help us in the run game #BIGLY, and give us better pass rush alongside McCoy.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:21 pm
LOL!!!! Poe is currently not the better talent. You just think so because he WAS the better talent and became a household name in the past. However, baker is one if not the most underrated d tackles in the league right now.
Dallas, you are way off dude.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Baker- 10 sacks and 100 tackles the last two years.
Poe-2.5 sacks and 67 tackles the last two years.
LMAO!!
March 16th, 2017 at 2:24 pm
“Super Bowl teams make top level moves”
lmao… the most stable franchises of the last decade that have been to the most super bowls absolutely do not make “top level” moves in FA every year. Maybe 1 big signing every couple years.
Greenbay/New England/Seattle/Pittsburg are usually some of the quietest teams in FA every year (well except for NE this year – which is why everyone is freaking out because they never do this; and even then they’ve basically let go of a core CB and other players which would get absolutely sh1t on by this fan base)
Keep making up delusional reasons to hate on your own team
March 16th, 2017 at 2:25 pm
OF COURSE WE PICKED THE RIGHT ONE. COMMON, JOE!!!!!
March 16th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
PFF rated Baker at 82.5 in 2016 which is a top 20 ranking.
PFF rated Poe at 55.8 in 2016 – the lowest ranking on KCs entire line
The 3 year average of $5.25M per year the Bucs spent on Baker is among the best if not THE best value in all of Free Agency this year….
March 16th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
And think about it Eric on that same KC line he was playing with Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Who of that caliber was Baker playing with to free him up?
March 16th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
“Eric Says:
March 16th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Baker- 10 sacks and 100 tackles the last two years.
Poe-2.5 sacks and 67 tackles the last two years.
LMAO!!”
Stop with the reality man.
As fans of this team we choose to make up our own delusional world view of the NFL to support our sad as5 hatred and pessimism. That’s the only way to be a good fan of the Bucs
March 16th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
I was watching good morning football ave they compared the 2 and baker had way better numbers. Poe only had 90 somethimg tackles with 2 sacks and baker had a 100 somethimg with 10.5 sacks.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Exactly Lord Corn, and Eric. To say Poe is the better of the two recently is simply saying so because you recognize his name. Real facts, and stats, show otherwise. We got the right guy.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Lord Cornelius and Eric, stop using reality and facts to back your opinions. It is much easier to just pull ideas out of thin air.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Chris it was more like 66 tackles.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:37 pm
Cold beer on a hot afternoon smells like urine if you give it a little time. So I hope there was a typo somewhere.
Anyway, Baker is better than Poe in a base 4-3 defense, but probably not better than Campbell. So I think it was the best value signing of the three for us.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
DallasBuc wrong again, color me shocked.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:42 pm
GMC will be the DPOY this year… Thanks Baker the DPOY maker!!!
March 16th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Jameis if your listening get yourself an insurance policy for your head, shoulders, knees and toes.
Since nobody else at obp is worried about your wellbeing and health. You gonna have to protect your own future. Makes me wonder if you should have just played baseball instead.
Consider taking a red-shirt year until Licht builds an oline that can protect you against the likes of Addison, short, Poe, Jarrett, Upshaw, fairly and oh lort you in trouble.
March 16th, 2017 at 2:56 pm
well…this isn’t good for joe Hawley….he’ll have his hands full twice a year….GO BUCS!!!!
March 16th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
“Cold beer on a hot afternoon smells like urine if you give it a little time. So I hope there was a typo somewhere.”
Why on earth would you let your cold beer get warm???
March 16th, 2017 at 3:02 pm
licht should’ve signed ron leary and slide marpet to center….
I guess we have to wait and hope he signs mangold, or draft a stud center that can start, make an impact and solidify the oline…..
what use is it to have a lambo if the transition is broke….GO BUCS!!!!
March 16th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
Should the Bucs go after just released Washington Redskins DE Ricky Jean-Francois? He’said 30 and was on contact for $3M a year so the price is reasonable.
March 16th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
Jason is really a great gm man our front office and scouting department are strengths now i think are front office might be like the best it’s ever been no joke
March 16th, 2017 at 3:11 pm
People think Jason is bad at free agency but tbh I think he’s actually good now bc as Nole and other people brought up like swaggy is a huge bargain at a lower salary then most with better production then poe and a lot of other d linemen he’s perfect next to McCoy and he’s undrafted he works his ass off and has a great personality I’ve read him and djax ARE huge for this team just like rob ayers and grimes ARE I can’t wait for this season man we outcheaaaa boy fire those damn cannons
March 16th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
One of the TB pen and mic club members said Poe went “hungry” going against Hawley bc he only had 2 tackles. My question is if 2 tackles is considered “going hungry” what is 0 tackles, 0 assts and 0 sacks considered?
March 16th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
DB55-anorexic.
March 16th, 2017 at 3:28 pm
For pass pro I am much more worried about RT than C.
For run blocking maybe the C but RT still a liability.
I don’t recall tons of sacks up the middle against Winston. In general we were middle of the NFL in terms of total sacks given up (16th). This combined with the fact that we were a top 5 rush team in 2015 should give people at least a little hope. It’s empirical evidence this group of lineman can still get sh1t done at a decent level.
Winston was hit 109 times last year. Matt Ryan was hit 106 times last year; and the Falcons line was one of the better ones last year and never had a starter go down. QB hits can be a little misleading. We weren’t worst in the NFL at this either but were still bad.
What’s odd in all of this is that the best 2 offensive lines in terms of QB hits; both had QBs that went down with injury:
Titans – 51 QB hits total on the year; Mariota goes out in an important week 16 divisional game that they lose while in potential playoff position
Raiders – 41 QB hits total on the year; Carr still broke his finger one week and then his fibula I believe same week as Mariota
March 16th, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Don’t use stats!! Don’t you know how much Joe hates it when people back up their conclusions with those dreadful numbers?
March 16th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
I smell you db55 lol
March 16th, 2017 at 3:38 pm
LC
62 sacks in the last 2 yrs and if I’m not mistaken joe mentioned the most hits on any qb in the league. I for one noticed JW limping for most of the season.
PS. Mariota is a possy, told you guys 2 years ago that he’d never finish a season.
March 16th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
“SCBucsFan Says:
March 16th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Lord Cornelius and Eric, stop using reality and facts to back your opinions. It is much easier to just pull ideas out of thin air.”
LOL.
March 16th, 2017 at 3:52 pm
Hmm let’s see we basically got Gholston and Baker for less than what it would cost us to sign Campbell!? That’s a no brainer Joe cmon man.
March 16th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
thanks GMFB…women lie…men lie…NUMBERS don’t lie.
March 16th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Lord C, people keep talking about how good our OLine was in 2015 … and it was … but our 2016 OLine had some significant changes. Our 2015 starting lineup was mostly D. Smith (16 games), Mankins (15), Hawley (14.5), Marpet (12) & Cherilus (13). Dotson only started 3 games, Pamphile only started 1 game & Evan Smith got 5.5 games. Last yr Dotson & Pamphile started most of the games along with D. Smith, Marpet & Hawley. I’d say that Hawley & Dots struggled last yr, for various reasons. Have to respectfully disagree when someone says that “this group of lineman can still get sh1t done at a decent level.” The Center & RT positions need upgrading if we’re going to have a decent run game and give Jameis sufficient pass protection to set up plays deep.
March 16th, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Falcons DL isnt as deep as ours first off, second ATL doesn’t have a Gerald McCoy to line Poe up next to, third nor will Poe be rotating with a player like Clinton Mac and last but not least its really hard to look bad when your not the team that blew a 4 score lead on the biggest stage in sports. So F*ck ATL, they shamed themselves and the division, I hope we sweep them this season.
March 16th, 2017 at 5:33 pm
There’s a reason KC walked away from Poe completely…he’ll probably be decent for the Fold-cons…but not a difference maker.
March 16th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
The last two season Swaggy has out performed Poe considerably.
GMFB made sure to point that one out.
March 16th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
I’ll admit… I was sleeping on Baker. All of the checking up on him tells me this was an incredible signing. He could fall flat but all of the indications are that he could be the cog that really sets this d line apart.
March 16th, 2017 at 7:16 pm
I’m happy with the Baker signing though I wish Poe would have signed with an AFC team instead of the Falcons … what really burns me is that a LOADED team like the Raiders also was able to add Cordarrele Patterson AND Jared Cook … and now the scuttlebutt is they might sign Adrian Peterson … how much hep does Derek Carr need?
March 16th, 2017 at 8:01 pm
@NFLnut JUST WIN BABY!!! AL Davis is somewhere in that sweatsuit gettin lit, Ive always viewed the Raiders as our sister team and I cant lie Ive loved what theyve done turning that team around since drafting Carr a few seasons ago, except Crabtree lol.
March 16th, 2017 at 8:03 pm
Honestly, I’ve always liked the Raiders too and I’m actually a big fan of Carr … it just bugs me that anyone thinks he’s a better QB than Jameis, lol … if he can come back healthy though the Raiders looked prime to be the Pats biggest competition in the AFC this year.
March 16th, 2017 at 8:13 pm
If poe was so good he would have been signed the first day or two and would have got a mult-year deal with tons of guaranteed money!
March 16th, 2017 at 8:40 pm
Mike Smiths best D had two dominant tackles – Stroud / Henderson- gotta believe he wanted Baker and I completely agree – Poe didn’t perform as a top pick and Baker scratched his way up – good signing
We can draft any position we want to in Rd 1 a great place to be finally!!!
March 16th, 2017 at 8:41 pm
I’m not sure I understand what the fuss is about with Dontari Poe, he ran a fast 40 at the combine for a big guy and the media made a big deal of it. Then he had a pretty good year a couple seasons ago, and now he seems to be, well…..average at best.
Chris Baker is not only a much better player, but a much better value. Just wait until he gets to play more one gap in this defense.
March 16th, 2017 at 8:48 pm
Can Poe lay a hit like the one Baker did on Eli Manning…good lord. The guy has a little Ayers in him, too. The type of physical leadership that perhaps Poe doesn’t bring…
March 16th, 2017 at 9:31 pm
My concern is Joe Hawley at center against Poe and Grady Jackson
March 16th, 2017 at 10:19 pm
It’s kind of annoying to see Falcons copying us.
March 16th, 2017 at 10:30 pm
Oh, I’ve been reading from Chiefs fans about Poe, that he can’t stop the run and has back problems. His direction been going down. So I do believe Baker is the better signing.
March 16th, 2017 at 11:01 pm
For that price we should’ve had both. Hate that he went to ATL.
March 16th, 2017 at 11:18 pm
I was high on poe based off of his early work. I didnt realize he has been completely nutralized the past 2 seasons. For whatever reason (more double teams or injuries or whatever, i honestly dont know) his production has nose dived. That is why the chiefs let him walk and why the falcons signed him to a 1 yr deal. Poe’s reputarion for being a beast was based off his play from 4 years ago. A lot has changed for him since then. In conparison, Baker has been playing well for the past 2 years straight and looks to be a much more motivated indivdual. He is the type of player you want on the d line. He has fire and grit. He’s a mean SOB when he wants to be. I am honestly very happy with having baker instead of poe. Early on i let reputation blind the truth. Like the pro bowl i voted for the familiar name instead of the one truly deserving. Im sorry for that Mr. Baker. Im more than happy to have you as a buccaneer.
March 16th, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Swaggy!