With The 10th Pick In The 2018 NFL Draft …
November 28th, 2017
Your Buccaneers have a lot to play for, jobs, pride, fans, somehow emerging from the NFC South basement — and a miracle playoff berth if you’re a savage optimist.
But there’s also something else.
Next year.
Lots of fans believe in tanking a season once it’s toast in order to pave the way for a better draft pick. Empty the bench, evaluate, fight hard and lose, they desire.
As draft guru Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com notes, the Bucs would hold the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft if the season ended today.
That’s the fourth best position in the NFC, behind the 49ers, Giants and Bears.
Ahh, draft talk in November. Ugh.
And no, the Bucs have no plans on worrying about next year’s draft. They need/want to eat Ws now.
About that draft, all that’s clear is the Bucs will have no use for a receiver, a tight end, a left tackle or a linebacker in the first round. Every other position is on the table as of today. Yes, on Nov. 28, there’s uncertainty at quarterback because of the looming NFL investigation of the face of the franchise.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Hey Licht, if you’re still the GM by this time, no kickers please.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:06 pm
No need for a LT? Gotta be kidding
November 28th, 2017 at 2:08 pm
Licht’s Out by then…wonder who will be in?
November 28th, 2017 at 2:09 pm
“Trade GMC and ME for draft picks. Trade our 1st round pick to the QB needy teams and MAKE THEM PAY”
Kobe Faker
November 28th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
It better be a DE, DE, or a DE. Then, DB, DE, or DT followed by OL, DE, or DB.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
yeah…RB-OL-DT-DE-CB-SS …and QB maybe and another CB if Grimes is gone…lots of holes….Bucs are a mess 🙁
November 28th, 2017 at 2:13 pm
Get licht out because the bucs need a plan and an identity and licht has started with neither except a Kicker and a TE that is not being used
November 28th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
By time the Bucs rebuild to actually contend, McCoy will be old and Jameis useless…TRADE both, radical but right
November 28th, 2017 at 2:19 pm
I’m just glad we have Winston coming back in all likelyhood. I’d like to see him come back and play with better focus rather then start out every game dry and off target.
Guy needs to learn how to move the ball to start games. He’s got a lot to prove. If he’s going to be our franchise he can’t keep ruining games before halftime
November 28th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
I was just sitting here thinking, what the heck is up with this user-name C eh….?
I got it. Nice play, eh!
November 28th, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Why the picture of Licht? He won’t be making the pick.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
^^^ I just got it too! Haha I was wondering what the heck it meant
November 28th, 2017 at 2:28 pm
LIch will get another shot.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
haha no need for a left tackle? You’re still on that?
November 28th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
Offseason needs in order or priority (Assuming Dirk is still here)…
Players:
DE, DE, OT, RB, CB, DT, OG, DT, CB, S, OT
Coaches:
OC, DC, QB coach, OL coach
November 28th, 2017 at 2:38 pm
Licht has destroyed the OL the DL the secondary, the RBs…..so we have some LBs but thats it….and TEs that we do not use….OJ might be great somweher but this was a bad pick for this team at this time, not blaming OJ but blaming licht for the pick and koetter for not being n same page it seems at all
November 28th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
The draft won’t fix this team. It’s not about personal it’s about mentality. We have a mentality weak team. We don’t have an offense that feeds off of the defense or vice versa………We make a play on defense and good teams feed of of momentum. It takes leaders to make sure that happens.
I thought this team understood that why Licht signed Mankins and we saw it translate to a solid running attack and a transformation on that line.
It looks now that was just a lucky outcome. There is no leadership on the Oline. None on the Dline. And probably none from Dirk since he never has Winston ready at kickoff.
This team just doesn’t understand how to build the mindset of a winning team. It’s not a problem that you can throw a high draft pick at and think it will get fixed. We are a talented and underachieving team and no rookie should figure to change that.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Dusthty-
we had no DL or secondary before licht got here, stop making things up.
The secondary is arguably better now. OL is honestly about the same. DL is probably worse, but honestly it was already pretty terrible under Dummynick once Bennet was let go for no good reason.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
OJ was the pick, he’ll be fine, Bucs really did steal him…on paper, the offense should be much much better…Need a draft full of Defense…
November 28th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
@Jimmy- I was making that same point a few weeks ago:
You need leaders on both lines.
GMC is a very good player, but he’s not a leader. Just not his personality.
And on the OL, we really have no one. Marpet is very good but still too young and now playing a new position, he’s not the guy to be the leader yet. Everyone else on the line is either young or not good.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
Wonder if he will make the pick over beer and wings?
November 28th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
DE, OL, RB
November 28th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Nothing but DEs for the first 3 rounds. One of them has to be a stud.
November 28th, 2017 at 2:55 pm
“LOL, Licht beer will making his fantasy draft picks and watching the draft at Abes Place right along with the Buc fans”
“DILLY! DILLY!”
Jason Licht
November 28th, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Gentlemen:
Joe can tell you with absolute certainty unless Donovan Smith suddenly in the next five games turns into something worse than Anthony Collins, the Bucs hierarchy has zero plans to draft a left tackle on the first two days of the draft and maybe none at all.
If you want to continue to beat the drum that Donovan Smith is the worst left tackle in the history of the NFL, feel free to do so but it will be like a dog howling at the moon because no one will be listening.
So like it or hate it, for the foreseeable future, so long as Jason Licht, Dirk Koetter and George Warhop are here in their current positions, Donovan Smith will be your starting left tackle.
Might want to embrace it to keep your blood pressure down.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:03 pm
@unbelievable……I don’t think the coaching does our Oline any favors either. I’ll use Gruden as an example because not only did he fix our goal line offense years ago but he talks about it all the time on MNF.
Offensive lines gain a lot of confidence when they have an ability to gain one yard when needed. It’s a very underrated part of the game but those one yards battles are a barometer at which line is better……your offense or their defense. It goes a long way in the mindset of your offensive line when they know they can beat the other side.
In three years Dirks team has not been able to get that yard and it’s been a problem that has gone unaddressed. It’s demoralizing when you can’t get that yard and it’s a losers mindset. There is no confidence on our Oline and it’s why we can’t move the ball IMO. Our Dline can’t play for one yard either.
Football isn’t about just splash plays. That’s not how you win if you don’t have the ability to beat others teams physically when need be.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:04 pm
LT is not a need?? My god the Joe’s will settle for mediocre to bad at key positions! With that type of mentality we will remain losers!
November 28th, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Anybody with eyes can tell you that our problems are coaching related, simple as that. it don’t matter the rookie we get if coaching wont put him in the place to succeed, (OJ Howard). We still come out flat on offense (with or without Jamies) CB’s play 7 yards off the WR and steady getting toasted, no in game adjustments (go read the article which Julio Jones said we didn’t make any adjustments so they kept the pedal to the medal). Once we fix the coaching issues, we’ll be a beter team
November 28th, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Must get a RB and a DE. Some of the suggested trades above just blow my mind.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:17 pm
we definitely need to think about a LT in the first, especially if the LT is the BPA….kick d.smith inside to guard….that’s how you create depth….right now we have more guards than tackles on our roster(pamp, benenoch,marpet,sweezy)….
we need to draft 2 DE’s, DT, Safety, RB….that’s it…no need for weapons on the offense unless they are in the form of lineman….we need to beef up the trenches….
we also need new coaches that will put players in position to be successful(not doubling Julio) and making sure they continue to progress(unlike dirk, everyone seems to stay the same or regress)…..GO BUCS!!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 3:18 pm
Maybe the thinking of what Licht, Dirk and Warhop see things is part of the problem. Every guy on our OLine is supposted to be a run blocker yet they get pushed around and give up negative yard plays much too often.
I don’t mind D.Smith personally but I don’t like whatever the plan was for the identity of this Oline which seems pretty obvious has been a complete failure.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:19 pm
Kansas95Buc Says:
November 28th, 2017 at 3:15 pm
Anybody with eyes can tell you that our problems are coaching related,. Once we fix the coaching issues, we’ll be a beter team
^^BINGO^^
GO BUCS!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 3:19 pm
Trading McCoy might send a wake up call to the rest…
“If football isn’t that important to you then you aren’t important to this team”…
November 28th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
@Joe
Ok, I can’t speak for anyone else, but from my view point, Donovan Smith is better suited to play left guard. He is a talented athlete, and before getting a bit leaner in this past off season, he was a really good run blocker, and has stayed healthy. But he just does not have the consistent quickness or foot speed to defend against the best Speed rusher’s the NFL has to offer.
A definite argument could be made that Donovan Smith is directly responsible for getting Jameis dinged up this season. Depending on who you talk to, Jameis has either been Injured since the Arizona game, or since week 2 in Minnesota.
All the big Hits I’ve seen Jameis take this season all have one major thing in common. He’s being chased down from his blindside.
I’m not saying axe Donovan Smith, I’m saying put him in a better position to succeed. And show your QB that you are serious about keeping him safe. And their are legitimate options out there that would improve the Left tackle spot.
Nate Solder is a 29 year old UFA, and while he isn’t exactly an All-pro, Solder is consistently above average and one of the better LT’s in the league. Then in the draft their are 2 very talented tackles, Connor Williams from Texas, and Mike McGlinchey from Notre Dame.
Williams is 6’6 315 and has fast feet, strong hands, and a nasty attitude. Compares favorably to Taylor Lewan, and would have been the top rated tackle of the 2017 class had he declared, allowing a total of 4 pass pressure’s the entire 2016 season. Williams is however coming off of an injury plagued 2017 season, but still has tremendous value and upside considering he is a brick wall in pass pro.
McGlinchey on the other hand is 6’7 310, is probably more suited to play RT due to his prowess in the Running game, but is still solid in Pass protection, being a plus athlete with a massive frame and long arms.
Either way, I think being just good enough at LT to get your QB hurt just aint all that good when you really think about it.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Don’t go all Kyle’s mom on us C! I don’t recall McCoy being the issue
November 28th, 2017 at 3:35 pm
@JimmyJack,
I would agree with you that they don’t do themselves any favors.
The interesting thing is that in 2015 when Dirk was OC, he managed to get the o-line to play better. Warhop was already here and our o-line was absolutely terrible the year before.
Perhaps it was a lot of trickery though as we were using a 6th down lineman on many running and passing plays. And there were quite a few plays where Doug was making 2 – 3 cuts behind the line of scrimmage to avoid TFLs and gain yardage, AKA making chicken salad out of chick sh!t
OJ is a pretty good blocker already as rookie, so there’s no doubt in my mind he will help the run game immensely as the years go on. But the o-line itself still isn’t good enough.
Donovan Smith prob is better than a lot of other LTs but he still isn’t consistent, and that leads to too many QB pressures. Him and Dotson also still have drive killing penalties every game. That has to be fixed, either with better coaching or better players or both.
And none of these guys are leaders. You need a leader on the line.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Whoever the Bucs pick in the 2018 draft I have serious doubts it’ll be Jason Licht making the decisions. Under his tenure the Buccaneers have a worse winning percentage than they did under the Mark Dominick years.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:49 pm
Trade 5th 6th and 2 7th to move up in rounds 2-4
Round 1 DE
Round 2 CB
Round 3 DE
Round 4 RB
In FA…..pick up DE, RB, Perhaps a CB if Grimes doesn’t resign
November 28th, 2017 at 3:53 pm
The worst thing you can do in terms of the draft is Win. The best thing you can do in terms of team moral and improvement is Win. I say win and continue to improve, Keep the coaches we have, and add to our weaknesses through the daft and FA. There are a lot of really good rookies starting for teams that were middle round picks is 2016 and 2017. I love the idea of making a QB needy team pay if we don”t win by trading back. Finally some draft analyst are saying it’s going to be a bad year for quality edge rushers.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:54 pm
Unbelievable……So what is the biggest difference between the 2015 offense and the offense from 16-17?
There are a lot of ways to answer that question and all is a matter of opinion. But to me the answer, without a doubt, is game planning……Something that was out of Dirks hands in 2015.
November 28th, 2017 at 3:54 pm
Blake- again 100% correct- The play IMO is a veteran LT and not in the first round this year, next year maybe, though. Move D Smith to Guard, move Marpet back to guard and either Benonach at RT or again- FA. Draft a center in the 4th or 5th or reach in the 3rd if the number one guy is on the board. Rounds 1 & 2 have to be DE, CB or DT in any order. I think we missed on Cook last year, no one knows if he would have gotten injured for us so don’t even try it, turf monster got him. One thing is for sure- he would be averaging 3 yards per carry behind this line and all the Gators would be out in full force, but for the future he was the play. I’m okay with OJ but Brate seems to have worsened since he has gotten here. We need a shifty speed back too in the late rounds if available or FA. We need to bring Cross back into the team and line him up at H back and FB- Auclair has shown nothing all year (when he plays).
November 28th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
It’s against the law in tampa to have a legit defensive end
November 28th, 2017 at 4:08 pm
I think d.smith is a average LT but I think he can be a dominate guard….during the draft the scout suggest his best position would be guard….
I remember back in my playing days, all thru little league and up to my 9th grade year I played WR….as the wrs were doing wr drills the HC at the time notice me and said I had good size and length and wanted to take a look at me at other position to create depth….he knew I had good hands, good speed so he told the wr coach that I would be practicing twice a week with the db’s….I was pissed….my whole life I had been on offense….I hadn’t tackled anyone sense PAL league….
I continued to practice and at the time a soon to be senior got suspended and was kicked off the team….all of a sudden I went from 3rd to 2nd….then that guy couldn’t get it done so I was thrown in the fire….to make a long story short, I turned out to be a better CB than WR that eventually got me a scholarship, which led me to meet my wife and the rest is history…..
I think d.smith would be better at guard and the coaches are doing him a disserves by not getting a look at him at the guard position….GO BUCS!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Licht will be gone. So many missed picks and FA signings. We can get into trades too
November 28th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
I don’t know what the Bucs are going to do this draft but hopefully its something smart. I agree with those who think its a mentality issue though everyone was talking about how improved the team was and now we aren’t.
November 28th, 2017 at 4:52 pm
Got to find a way to draft Bradley Chubb. Pass rush/DE is clearly the weakest link on this team.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:01 pm
As of now there are four teams at 4-7. Three teams at 3-8 and three teams who will be the first three picks in next years draft. This week the Niners play the Bears (3-8) in Chicago. In week 16 the Browns go to Chicago which should make them 5-11. This week the Broncos (3-8) face the Dolphins (4-7). Week 14 the Jets (4-7) face the Broncos. Week 15 the Broncos face the Colts (3-8). Week 17 the Texans (4-7) face the Colts. Week 14 the Niners face the Texans. So if the Bucs lose out they could end up withe 4th pick in the draft. The Browns will draft a QB, Niners draft Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State and Giants a QB. Which opens the door for the Bucs to draft Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C.State. At 6-4, 275, Chubb has a great blend of size and speed, and he’s been dominant this season. There’s some talk that Chubb is viewed as the top defensive prospect in NFL circles. In the second round CB Isaiah Oliver (6-1 195) | Colorado, would be a great fit. In the 3rd round find a RB. Nick Chubb | RB | Georgia or Bryce Love | RB | Stanford, would be worth moving up to draft.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Not biting on the “Kyle’s mom” reference eh?
November 28th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Joe, you are 100% correct, big surprise I know, this Bucs hierarchy will 100% not draft a LT in this draft….but the new Bucs hierarchy probably will, if they want to still have a job in 3 years, I’m not opposed to moving DS to right tackle though
November 28th, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Guard – Quenton Nelson
November 28th, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Stranger things have happen – but I doubt Bradley Chubb fall out of the Top-5.
November 28th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
• Draft (LG) Quenton Nelson
• Sign (RG) Zack Martin
And watch these 3 part the Red Sea..
LG – Quenton Nelson (22) 6-5 335 || Notre Dame
OC – Ali Marpet (24) 6-4 305 || Hobart
RG – Zack Martin (26) 6-4 315 || Notre Dame
November 28th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
You Guys kiddin me?? The Glazers hav already secretly started their search. The whole Cancer will be eliminated. Starting with Mr. Licht!!
November 28th, 2017 at 6:07 pm
MAIN!!!..I hope by the 9th or 10th pick..there is still a good DE available. trade up?… trade down?… Or just..trade a draft pick for a good DE in free agency.?
MAN!!!!!! We need 2..good..DE’s!!!!
November 28th, 2017 at 6:09 pm
At #10 take the best kicker still on the board.
November 28th, 2017 at 6:28 pm
I think connor Williams a a really all possibility
November 28th, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Round 1: Best player available
Round 2: Best player available
Round 3: Best player available.
Ect…ect…
November 28th, 2017 at 7:04 pm
Joe, if Mike McGlinchey were availble you would pass?
November 28th, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Need to make some trades before draft. Definitely tank the season, probably going to lose out anyway. Dotson sucks and need a good replacement. TJ Ward sucks. Conte sucks. GMC sucks. Ayres sucks. Baker really sucks. Sims sucks. Hargreaves is sucking but I think he’s salvageable. Marpet could be an all pro guard right now but is an average center. Jameis has sucked this year and I hope he can get it back. They’ve coached him into something other than
Jameis and it’s not working. It’s really time to clean house again. I wanted to believe in Dirk but he’s the biggest problem of all.
November 28th, 2017 at 8:18 pm
If you haven’t figured out yet that football is won in the trenches then there is no hope. Draft and sign every FA to address the O & D lines this year. It begins and ends there.
November 28th, 2017 at 8:18 pm
Best player available is how we drafted this past year… how did that work out for us ?? Got a TE our coaching staff can’t seem to use properly and #4 wr… i’ll say it again OJ Howard can turn out to be the next Tony Gonzalez don’t mean squat …. till they rebuild Dl and Ol team is going nowhere.
November 28th, 2017 at 9:27 pm
With the 10th pick of the 2018 NFL draft Coach Chucky not surprisingly goes offense with a rb….
November 28th, 2017 at 10:17 pm
It’s actually hard to believe there are that many teams worse than us.., really? Would have thought like 3 or 4 tops
November 28th, 2017 at 11:24 pm
Is Saqoun Barkley going top three? If not, make some serious trades to get to number four while still keeping number ten and get Landry, Chubb, or Key at DE. That would be ridiculously awesome if there was any chance in hell of that happening.
November 29th, 2017 at 9:35 am
I thought we have the 9th pick currently. And the pick has to be either a DE or Quentin Nelson. No debate about it
November 29th, 2017 at 9:59 am
Unbelievable
Agree completely with your draft strategy.
November 29th, 2017 at 1:17 pm
thanks St. Pete!
Seems like a no brainer… lol