Free Agency Open Thread, Day 3

March 16th, 2018

Joe is virtually speechless because the Bucs have fully ignored their three most critical needs thus far in free agency.

Joe also senses Bucs fans are more emotionally distraught than others realize.

Available defensive ends? Outside of one talented yet injury-prone project, nothing there. Running backs? All but an empty tray. But corners, there are still a few solid veterans available as Joe is typing this here post.

Bang it here with comments all day if you can figure out if you seem to care more about filling craters on the roster than the braintrust at One Buc Palace apparently does (or does not).

70 Responses to “Free Agency Open Thread, Day 3”

  1. richbucsfan Says:

    I think it’s clear that Licht and Koetter are so close to the situation they have lost perspective. We aren’t close so we see the gaping holes. They believe they are close. We know they are not. Reality will bite them come December. Stubbornness, loss of perspective will get you fired from any job. It’s just more obvious in the NFL.

  2. 404Buc Says:

    The Bucs: where kicker is priority over DE, CB, and OL

    SMH

  3. Drew aka q Says:

    They obviously dont care about being fired… maybe its what the glazers want… maybe they wanted gruden and they didnt get him and they had no choice but to roll out one last year with these guys … so they purposely hold back funds so they dont have success… thats the only logical reason i see this being.. and if so its f’d up to put the fans in a suffering situation

  4. I'm tired and 87 is right Says:

    Season ticket holders that have been going for 15 years that sit next to my wife and I, and probably were a big reason we have continued our season passes for years have just canceled their tickets. So now their is not much holding me back from doing the same. I would have to say this has been a frustrating off season due to the complete let down of last season with no accountability. Nothing the Bucs have done so far shows me as a fan they want to be winners. I’m not sure what to think….Unless they already know the season is lost due to a potential suspension of Winston which would probably break the camels back. Go Bucs!!

  5. SteveK Says:

    Drew,

    I’m starting to think along those lines too.

    It also seems like they know Jameis could be facing a suspension and are holding back because in their minds it’s already a lost year.

    Who knows, maybe they have something up their sleeves but doubtful.

  6. feelthepewterpower Says:

    There were no edge rushers worth paying in free agency. The good news is that the draft is deep with dt, corner, and rb help. Oline can usually be found later in the draft, but nelson would be a hard pass if available.

  7. old time buc Says:

    404 Sadly I think you might be right. Well we know for sure we will finish 4th in our southern div with no threat at all to Atl, NO, or Car ( and no that is not how I pick them to finish) Feel like our GM and Owners could not care about this team less. I have lost all semblance of hope for this season again. I think they do not care about winning. Their actions (non) back this up quite convincingly.

  8. Buc4life Says:

    I believe Licht and Koetter know they are done after this year and the Glazers don’t have faith with them spending money in free agency, telling them not to pick up any one. How else can you explain not attempting to pick up anyone. They replaced McDonald and Baker with 2 unknown 3rd string rotation players. I know Baker sucked but McDonald is better than these 2 combined. I hate not renewing my 5 season tickets but could not when it appears that the team isn’t attempting to build a winner. I go to games to cheer for a competitive team and I don’t see this team doing that. How did we have more money than anyone in our division when free agency began and did nothing to improve. Carolina picked up Poe, Torrey Smith and others. The Saints are bring in Suh for a visit and we still have no help for McCoy. SAD!

  9. AKick'nTheBucNuts Says:

    Exactly how many draft picks do the Bucs have?

  10. Bird Says:

    She doesn’t need a life jacket. Holy cow.

  11. Beans Says:

    You would have to think the braintrust has a plan since their jobs and reputations are on the line….who knows.

  12. Evolvingbucfan Says:

    This will definitely be a show us year. So far they haven’t shown us any urgency to fill a desperate need on defense. We need something to be hopeful about and so far they haven’t shown us anything of the sort, I do not want to see this Defense collapse over and over again in the 4th quarter. Not a good way to sell higher priced tickets either, Are they just thinking it was bad luck last year? I sincerely hope they aren’t that stupid and you can’t fill all our needs in the draft unless Licht has a Horse shoe up his @ss.

  13. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Pure genius….that’s what it is…..Licht is deliberately letting teams feast on DEs….that way no team will need Chubb……Genius!!!

  14. denjoe Says:

    Bunch of idiots trying to hump a door knob!

  15. AGBucsfan Says:

    Just a glass half full perspective, maybe signing the 2 run stuffers will force teams into more 3rd and longs, allowing Smitty to get a little more creative getting to the qb. (Not that you can trust anyone to get a sack, or trust Ryan Smith to cover anyone long enough for someone to get a sack) Again, not saying I love the signings (or lack there of) just trying to stay somewhat optimistic.

  16. richbucsfan Says:

    Love your thought Tbbbf ! At least there are those here with a sense of humor. Great thought!

  17. TexasStickCarrier Says:

    Do you think we can trade for Lynch next year to be our GM?

  18. The Buc Realist Says:

    The word on the street is, that the Glazers “realized” how bad the roster was from the talk show dominik/loser lovie,!!!!!! Now that Coach Gruden was off the board the plan is to get two more draft classes in for this coaching staff!!!!!!

    If free-agency has been bad, then trying to find all the answers with it is a mistake!!!!! The draft is the plan and it is a strength of this front office!!!!!

    Joe needs to “realize” that it is not a “win now” year, but a “build now”!!!!!!!

    GO Bucs!!!!!!!!

  19. Bill Says:

    C Jensen
    OG Mewhort
    OG Pugh
    DE Okafor
    CB Gaines
    CB Melvin
    SS Burnett
    DT resign

    Also, who is no. 1 or 2 on the 2019 draft boards?

  20. Ed Says:

    Getting all these run stuffers the Bucs are going to have to switch to a 3/4 defense and use David, Beckwith and Spence as stand up pass rushers, how can they run a 4/3 with no pass rush from their DEs.

    I’d like to see them make some deals draft day for additional picks in rounds 2/3 I wonder if there are any teams that would offer a couple of #2’s for McCoy and we use picks for edge rushers and hybrids and go 3/4 with rotation of young defense. That d-line is too old and if we can get more picks we should go in that direction.

  21. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    nice flotation devices think licht needs those cause bucs sinking, licht is the dummy rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic

  22. SteveK Says:

    Realist,

    Thanks for sharing your insight!

    How about he Buccaneers charge half price tickets since they are building this year and not “all-in” to win?

  23. Clw JB Says:

    Something isn’t right, like normal

    Players openly courting FAfor weeks

    Time comes and we sign no one of substance

    Team leaders don’t know the plan if there is one

    How in the world do they think they can fix all these holes in the draft? They don’t see the holes? The players see them and we see them clearly

    Ignorance is bliss I suppose, until you are unemployed

    They way the top 3 get paid, it’s not like they are going to have to work ever again after they get fired at the end of the season

  24. Off the Cuff Says:

    If you want to be like the Tampa Bay Rays and sacrifice the season before it starts, then the Bucs are doing a wonderful job.

    Don’t raise ticket prices and try to get fans to buy into the foolishness.

    9-7, or 8-8, up from 5-11 isn’t good enough.

    Based on all of the re-signings, we must have a star studded roster.

  25. The Buc Realist Says:

    @stevek

    who do you think is paying for all the stadium improvements!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. The Buc Realist Says:

    @off the cuff

    The plan is not to “scarifice the season”!!!!!!! Its to fill 4-5 holes out of the 7-8 on the roster, and hopefully hide the left over holes and/or develop!!!!!!

    Rather then the all in free-agency to “go all in” only to have the same roster holes in 2019!!!!!!

    don’t confuse building up with tanking!!!!!!

    GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!

  27. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    You all forget….we don’t need a CB…Hey Jude will be back

  28. Reach87 Says:

    You think the staff wants to lose badly and be fired? Rather they are likely utilizing the entire free agency period in conjunction with the draft to smartly address our personnel issues. Some folks want big free agent names to show they care. It appears the staff wants to use everything available to make the team better. OBTW, as of yesterday the Bucs had more FA signings than 27 other teams, so there is action. I’m going to give them time to build the team, rather than lament every day because they didn’t sign the guy whose name I know from TV.

  29. aussieBucfan Says:

    I think it’s quite refreshing to sign a 2nd string DT on the first day of the free agency period and pay him a starter’s salary.

    I mean sure we let Akeem Spence go because of his salary demands that are lower than Allen’s and sure Allen has 2 sacks in 4 seasons when Spence had 3 last year.

    I think it’s all about the run stuffing of a career high 29 combined tackles that really gets me fired up yeah yeah yeah I hear you say Spence has done that or higher 3 out of 5 seasons in the league but I ain’t having it!!

  30. Hodad Says:

    If Licht knew how to draft we wouldn’t have a roster full of holes. How some of you think Licht’s best talent is drafting did you forget about the year 2016? That’s when we traded up to draft a friggin kicker! Now we need corners, lineman, and running backs, and what does licht do in free agency? He signs a kicker! The guys a total tool who has no business being one of only 32 G.M.’s in pro football. I doubt if he was even a good scout at this point.

  31. 813bucboi Says:

    @realist…..LOL…..STOP MAKING UP LIES!!!!!!!!!!

    that is not the “word on the street”……

    its obvious the glazers zipped up their wallets since dirk and licht claimed we are very very close……the glazers aren’t spending any more money until this staff proves they are competent coaches!!!!!!!!!

    this staff is a lame duck walking!!!!……the glazers are building depth are the next regime!!!!!!……this staff doesn’t have 2 years to do anything!!!!!!!!….they must get us to the playoffs in 2018 or walk the plank!!!!!!!

    no urgency!!!!!….no excuse!!!!!!

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!

  32. DB55 Says:

    The Buc Realist Says:
    March 16th, 2018 at 7:49 am
    @stevek

    who do you think is paying for all the stadium improvements!!!!!!!!!!!!
    —————————
    Tax payers are paying for the improvements, smh, it can’t be this easy to fool the smartest men in Tampa, can it? That’s baaaaaahd

    http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/tampa-city-council-approves-renovation-deal-for-raymond-james-stadium

  33. NFLNut Says:

    ******************

    Many of you are goofy and freaking out for no reason … the first couple days of free agency is just when teams OVERPAY for guys … the Patriots almost never strike then, and honestly we are having a infinitely better free agency period than the Patriots right now who have lost their best O-Lineman, 2nd best CB, best RB and 2nd best WR … and simply re-signed their 4th best RB. Are Kraft and Bellichick “tanking” free agency or admitting their team sucks? Of course not … they’re being smart and shopping for good value … and Licht is a disciple of Bellichick … RELAX PEOPLE.

    We still have about $28mil to spend on free agents and as I see it, we should be able to sign:

    (1) C: Jensen or Pouncey
    (1) CB: Gaines or Claiborne
    (1) SS: Vaccaro or Boston

    If we do ALL of the above, and we have more than enough remaining cap space to do all of the above, I’m feeling great heading into the draft.

    ******************

  34. tmaxcon Says:

    4-12 with no hope for 2019

  35. DB55 Says:

    Nut I luv you and all but where the comparison to the patriots coming from? I keep hearing media comparing the Bucs free agency to the patriots and I’m like one major problem the Bucs don’t have bill bellichek to coach up scrubs.

    It doesn’t seem like the Bucs have the coaches to coach up 1st and 2nd round picks much less a 5-11 roster with Will Clarke leading the way with 2.5 sacks in the YEAR. WT(A)F?

    But yea RELAX PEOPLE RELAX even if you don’t make the playoffs this year you can always overpay for another 6-10 season in 2019 and again in 2020. It’s all good people ALL GOOD!!!

  36. NFLNut Says:

    *****************

    ^ The Bucs free agency is infinitely BETTER than the Patriots free agency so far this year, and that was my point … Licht learned from Bellichick and both avoid the first couple days of free agency as they despise overpaying guys … they search for good value in the later stages of free agency.

    Most “fans” don’t actually know football, let alone players, they just no “names” and freak out when “names” don’t get signed … it’s all very silly.

    Also, I think the Bucs are wisely “building” for the future … does anyone really think if they just blew their entire wad on Talib, Quinn and Bennett the team automatically has as good a roster top to bottom as the Falcons, let alone Panthers or Saints? No, it wouldn’t and such signings could also mean they lose one of Kwon/Ali/Donovan next year.

    Again, fans are fans so I understand their rabid behavior but it’s all very silly … Licht knows more than they do, period … relax.

    And yes, I still want THREE free agents signed from the below list as we easily have the funds to do so:

    (1) Center: Jensen or Pouncey

    (1) CB: Gaines or Claiborne

    (1) SS: Vaccaro or Boston

    *******************

  37. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    Claiborne is off the boards I think..

  38. DB55 Says:

    Maybe you’re right, maybe licht is right, maybe I am silly. Must be cause that’s all I keep hearing

    So then why the 5 win avg for the last 4 years? 22 wins in 4 seasons across 2 HC and almost 3 top ten draft picks (7,1,11)

    Why the worst def in the nfl with legit pro bowlers on every level of the def.

    What’s up with the results if these mf know what they’re doing?

  39. DB55 Says:

    2 more things

    Didn’t licht overpay for Allen and Unrein?

    And who signs an avg kicker on day 2 of FA? Why not sign janokowski?

  40. TOM Says:

    Glazers need to sell the team to someone who cares. Fans need to boycot the games & quit lining the Glazers pockets.

  41. NFLNut Says:

    **************
    DB55,

    Your questions are sort of silly, no? You’re asking why the Bucs didn’t instantly turn into the Pats by hiring Licht?

    Please understand the Bucs went 16-48 in the 4 years before Jameis for a .250 win percentage. Jameis, Kwon, Marpet and Donovan came in and then team went 15-17 in the following 2 years for a .469 win percentage. That is a MASSIVE TURNAROUND.

    That would be like a kid like Dak or Deshaun Watson or any of these other lower picks that get drafted by solid 8-8 type teams, going 30-2 over their first 2 years, literally! Those players would have to literally go 30-2 to increase their team’s win percentage by as much as Jameis increased the Bucs win percentage in his first 2 seasons!

    Now, last year was a disaster, we all agree … however, we all also know the Packers missed the playoffs when Rodgers got hurt … Jameis got hurt in the 3rd game and the season went to pot … it happens.

    Outside of the Aguayo disaster, Jason Licht has one of the best draft resumes of any GM in the entire NFL … if the Glazers fire him I believe he’d be hired within a month or so.

    If you’re looking to point a finger and don’t want to point it at the obvious injuries or the obvious fact we play in a division with 3 amazing teams, rather than in the AFC East with 2 horrendous teams and an above average team, fine … but your finger should be pointing directly at Mike Smith and Dirk Koetter, not Jason Licht imho.

    **************

  42. NFLNut Says:

    As for Allen and Unrein … NO … I do not think Licht overpaid at all for them … $8.5mil total for a starting DT and a rotational DE is not “overpaying”. He also got Grimes back at a decent number (compared to what Malcolm Butler who isn’t as good got at least) and got Mike Evans at a great number (considering what Sammy Watkins got) and got Brate at a steal … Licht knows what he’s doing, period.

  43. NFLNut Says:

    And YES, I also HATED the Catanzaro signing … but … the guy does have a monster leg, so who knows, it might work out …I just don’t personally believe any kicker should be paid more than $1.5-2.0mil per … unless they’re a true weapon like Justin Tucker …

  44. DB55 Says:

    Fair enough. I still think it’s bs though and they better make the playoff.

    And yes I thought it was super cool of Miko to sign that contract. I could have sworn the grimes family was going to Cali.

  45. NFLNut Says:

    “super cool of Miko to sign that contract” …. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, that brightened my day!

  46. LargoBuc Says:

    Realist holy spit bro. Lovie been gone for two years. Dom for four. When the he’ll are you going to stop making excuses and start holding the current regime accountable?

  47. NFLNut Says:

    ********************

    We’ve got $28mil left … if Licht signed Matthieu ($10m), Jensen ($10m) and Gaines ($7.25mil) would Bucs fans be stoked?

    How about, Pouncey ($7m) + Tre Boston ($4.75m) + Gaines ($7.25m) + re-signing Pamphile ($3.5m), Evan Smith ($3m) and Charles Simms ($1.5m) with $1mil left over for UDFA’s?

    IMO fans would be ecstatic with the first option, while the 2nd option might be more doable and might help the team more … but both are nice and better than inaction, so GET TO WORK LICHT!

    **********************

  48. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    “…the Bucs have fully ignored their three most critical needs thus far in free agency” – J0E

    Seems almost unfathomable, eh?

    Unless they have other plans in place.

  49. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    My updated wishlist:

    • QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (RE-SIGNED)

    • TE Cameron Brate (RFA) (RE-SIGNED)

    • CB Brent Grimes (RE-SIGNED)

    • WR Adam Humphries (2nd Round Tendered)

    – RB Jerick McKinnon (SIGNED W/49ERS)
    – G Senio Kelemete (SIGNED BY TEXANS)
    – K Cody Parkey (SIGNED W/BEARS)

    • RB LeGarrette Blount

    • RB Orleans Darkwa

    • DT Ndamukong Suh

    • OLB/DE Junior Galette

    • CB Ross Cockrell

    • DB Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu

    • DB Tre Boston

  50. Evolvingbucfan Says:

    I’ll believe it when i see it, and haven’t seen much.

  51. DontBucNH8 Says:

    Good God!!

  52. Pickgrin Says:

    We’ve got less than $28M left by my count NFLNut.

    Closer to $20M than 30 after you subtract $8.6M for rookie contracts.

    And you can’t spend to the cap limit on the 3rd day of free agency for God’s sake. Need to save at least $12-$15M beyond this week for the 2nd and 3rd waves of FA and need to have at least $5-8M in cap space headed into the season in case you have to make an emergency signing in-season.

  53. NFLNut Says:

    ^ Over the cap has us at approx. $28mil after rookie salaries accounted for … we have enough to sign a starting C, starting SS and #2 CB …

  54. Cobraboy Says:

    I could deal with Koetter staying on. I didn’t like it, but accept it.

    But when Smith was retained and the D-staff was largely kept (except for one) I have lost significant interest in the Bucs.

    Combined with the general state of the PC NFL including the kneelers, I have lost even more interest in the NFL, and doubt at this time I’ll renew my Game Pass.

    “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”

    The most pressing “critical need” the Bucs have not addressed is consumer/fan apathy.

  55. MadMax Says:

    Whats a “free agency”….that stuffs no longer free taking residence up in my head….FA and the Bucs are to NOT be allowed in the same sentence after this post ROFL.

  56. MadMax Says:

    Know what though, im starting to get it a little. We’ve been burned by FA’s in the past so the approach this time was no approach. I get it.

  57. Jjones Says:

    How are our players not freaking out right now? Shouldn’t we hear some disdain from the inside or are they happy with all this BS! I’m just at a complete lose here because our insiders don’t know anything either besides our signings from within. Why are we not outside One Buc picketing calling for heads!!!!! Are we really about to become Cleveland here! I want some MUTHERFU@#!&$ answers from our coach, GM or Glaziers and I want then now bunch of Fuc$ tards!!! Give us something worthy of a true discussion because I’m OVER THIS BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  58. NFLNut Says:

    ^ Take a deep breath …

  59. 813bucboi Says:

    AND THE WINNER IS………LARGOBUC!!!!!!!!!!!

    LargoBuc Says:
    March 16th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
    Realist holy spit bro. Lovie been gone for two years. Dom for four. When the he’ll are you going to stop making excuses and start holding the current regime accountable?

    and when the season begins lovie will be gone for 3 years now…..dom even longer!!!!!………@realist wants to give this staff a 2 year pass every time they sh!t the bed……aint happening!!!!!!!!……

    realist refuses to hold this team accountable….instead he finds every excuse in the book to defend this staff…..no playoffs….no job….

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!

  60. Mike Johnson Says:

    Shoutout to the beautiful lady waving in the pic posted above. I say..yeah, yeah, YEAh..Whoa…Rolling Stones….Brown Sugar!!!

  61. Pickgrin Says:

    NFLNut –

    OTC is not correct – they even list Andrew Wylie as a dead cap # for the Bucs and he plays or played for the Colts I believe – was never even on the Bucs team. OTC also has Joe Hawley’s #s in there which are obviously not the case.

    Spotrac seems to be more accurate. Rather use that to try and run #s off of.

    Neither Spotrac or OTC is counting Will Clarke’s $790k this year.

    And neither is showing you a real “you have this much left” #.

    All that said – here’s the math:

    With $15,195,668 rolled over from 2017 – The Bucs Cap # for 2018 is $192,395,668.

    Current contracts in place (including Will Clarke’s $790k) add up to $161,367,677

    Dead cap $ = $951,165 (mostly for Aguayo and McNichols)

    Rookie Draft pool is estimated at $8,673,596

    Its simple math from there.

    $161,367,677 (current contracts) + $951,165 (dead cap) + $8,673,596 (Rookie Pool) = $170,992,438 in total commitments as of right now.

    $192,395,668 (cap #) minus $170,992,438 (total commitments) equals $21,403,242.

    $21.4M is our current amount available to spend up to the 192M cap #

  62. Rod Munch Says:

    $161m is not correct either as that accounts for every person on the roster getting at least the NFL min – and those guys at the bottom of the roster won’t make the team – that’s why they give you the top 51 number as that’s the min you can have – so you need to add about $5.5m to that cap space number.

  63. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    NFLNut Says
    “Over the cap has us at approx. $28mil after rookie salaries accounted for … we have enough to sign a starting C, starting SS and #2 CB …”

    We don’t actually need a starting Center.
    We have Marpet, who is fine there. We have Sweezy, who improved vastly in the second half of the year.

    We don’t actually need a starting Safety.
    We have Conte this year. We have Justin Evans. Both are good enough. Having Conte gives us a year to address his spot, and Evans was a rookie. Surely you are not already saying he is a bust?

    Heck, may not actually need a starting CB.
    We have Grimes for the year. Ryan Smith started off rough, but improved at the end of the year before his injury. And it is far too early to give up on Hargreaves.

    We need a Guard. We need a RB. We need one good DT. We need two good DEs (or a healthy Spence and one DE).

  64. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    If Joe Hawley is not signed elsewhere, he’ll be back at less than the $2.5m he would have gotten if the had not cut him. Frankly, I think he was worth the money, because when healthy he is a great center, and he has been healthy for a year now.

    Per Roto:
    “Jason Licht said he wants to re-sign free agent C Joe Hawley”

  65. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I realize some would prefer Marpet move back to guard…but there is no way the Bucs will move him back. He is playing at the position he was drafted to play. Regardless, finding a good guard in free agency is easier than finding a good center, as the Bucs have learned over the last 20 years.

    So even suggesting we need a center at this point is moot. (no offense)

  66. Pickgrin Says:

    Munch – what about spots 52 and 53? What about the 10 practice squad guys – 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 of which will be brought onto the 53 at full min salary at some point during the coming year?

    The “total contracts” #s is closer to reality than the “top 51” # – call it somewhere in between if you want but its closer to the higher #. Especially when you start considering the extra $ they will be dangling in a few cases to try and lure what they consider to be the better UDFA players picking teams to go to camp with just after the draft.

  67. John meeks Says:

    Nflnut =fool!!you are the one who doesn’t know football!comparing the bucs with new england!they have the best coach of all time ,we don’t.thats a huge difference.you are ignorant but very funny as well!!

  68. Mike Evans GOAT Says:

    Ryan Jensen is now following JW3 and Donavan Smith. He is following ZERO Colts. He’s prolly coming here to be our C

  69. Doctor Stroud Says:

    The Bucs are saving their money for re-signing Winston and Alexander. The arms race continues in the NFC South but the front office is still adopting Spandau Ballet-lovin’ Mark Dominick’s model for building a mediocre franchise. The cap is more important than winning.

  70. ATrain Says:

    I’m very happy there are a few fans who believe the Bucs are smarter than all the other teams in the NFL EVEN THE SB champs. Who all wasted money in this FA

    Thank God we got a Kicker for 4million

    So Smart

    Atleast we know these fans will be smart enough to spend money on this Smart Team

    hahhahaha

    I almost made it though without laughing