Report: Ryan Jensen Arrives Tonight

March 14th, 2018

The Ravens shuffled Ryan Jensen from guard to center last year to replace Pro Bowl center and former Buccaneer Jeremy Zuttah.

It worked. And now he flies in to Tampa tonight on what is billed as Stop 1 on his free agent tour, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com.

Jensen is supposed to visit the Colts after that. But if general manager Jason Licht is bringing the guy in, then there’s no reason to let him leave without a contract unless a red flag pops up in the interview process. The 26-year-old with the flowing red locks can play. He battled his way up from Division II football in Colorado to being a Ravens sixth-round pick in 2013.

Licht said two weeks ago that right guard J.R. Sweezy is still hurt. And we all know he came off a disappointing season in 2017, after not practicing or playing at all in 2016, following mysterious back surgery.

It’s time to move on from Sweezy. (Ask yourself what Sweezy’s trade value is. And then answer honestly.)

Jensen seems right in the Licht mold. The GM was an offensive lineman himself at Nebraska and he has a passion for finding small school players (See the bold trade up for Division III Ali Marpet).

The arrival of Jensen would seem to insure that Marpet gets moved back to right guard, where he know doubt will be happier since he was very good there and guards can earn about 20 percent more than centers. Marpet’s contract is up after the 2018 season.

Again, if the Bucs like Jensen, then he has to be locked down tonight. Bring in Marpet, Donovan Smith, Demar Dotson and Jameis Winston to serve up the A-list sales pitch.

Once upon a time, Licht let another good center, a versatile lineman, a guy now with a Super Bowl ring, leave the building in March without a contract. And that backfired.

Joe sure hopes the right call is made tonight.

49 Responses to “Report: Ryan Jensen Arrives Tonight”

  1. AlteredEgo Says:

    Too bad his is not arriving in the day and enjoy this beautiful weather….

  2. Evolvingbucfan Says:

    I wouldn’t mind this guy, we needed a strong back-up /replacement for Hawley, Jensen can play multiple position and is a good insurance peice. Will be very interesting to see how they utilize him.

  3. JonBuc Says:

    But…this flies in the face of The Buccaneer BrownEye Bugel…can’t be true?!

  4. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Get er done

  5. Todd Says:

    no brainier cut JR and move on already Jason

  6. Joeypoppems Says:

    Would be a good signing. Like I said on an earlier post. Ending the Marpet to Center transition after 1 season is the wrong move. It wouldn’t shock me if they tried Jensen at OG, if he is signed of course.

  7. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    I am all for making the OL better but it just proves that these idiots running the bucs have no clue no vision and no plan, all we were told is marpet is the center of the future up until a few weeks ago that was the idea…..glad marpet back to guard, but another wasted move by licht and co

  8. AlteredEgo Says:

    “Once upon a time, Licht let another good center, ” Wow Licth has aged poorly in the last 3 years…in the hot link…

  9. Blake_Bucsfan Says:

    @Evolvingbucfan

    Just need you to know that if we sign this guy it will be as a starter not a back-up.

  10. Tnoles Says:

    Bring him in and lock the friggin door. If he leaves he will never come back. They better not let this guy get out of town period.

  11. Dooshlarue Says:

    Big and ugly…….sign ’em!

  12. 813bucboi Says:

    Jensen would work……

    but does he want to play for a team with a coach and GM on the hot seat or go somewhere that has more stability……

    I think the glazers know Winston will have to sit 6games and they know this staff cant adjust or fight thru adversity……It seems like they are saving cap space and creating depth for the next regime…..

    why else wouldn’t we trade for Quinn or sign Wilkerson….or Malcolm butler….instead they are creating depth with players like beau allen and resigning our own players…..

    this staff has 3 dead men walking….lol….

    no urgency….no excuse

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

  13. AlteredEgo Says:

    Bucs Re-Sign S Tandy

  14. BetterBuccinBelieveIt Says:

    Oh Buc faithful…. 🙂 Buc faithful, what I could write right now (on this article). Instead… I’ll take the high road, and agree with @AlteredEgo that the weather today is fan-freaking-tastic.

    Hopefully Licht keeps the picks for rounds 1-4 intact for 2018-2020, and maybe takes a look at Mr. Vinny Curry from PHI once they do whatever they’ve decided after 4:00 today.

    Go Bucs!

  15. Jason Says:

    Don’t let him leave without a contract. He wants to be here male it happen.

  16. Daniel Says:

    Smith, Nelson, Jensen, Marpet and Dotson would be an incredible OLine.

    Would be a great signing for Licht.

  17. Dave Pear Says:

    Tmax,

    Is this the redhead you were looking for?

  18. OneBucPerson Says:

    Sign him, start him at C, move Ali back to RG, draft either Quenton Nelson or Braden Smith to play at LG and someone like Guice, Penny, or Nick Chubb in the 2nd and enjoy our revived run game.

  19. AlteredEgo Says:

    Daniel Says:
    March 14th, 2018 at 1:05 pm
    Smith, Nelson, Jensen, Marpet and Dotson would be an incredible OLine.

    Would be a great signing for Licht.

    They Bucs are in a corner…swallow their pride and choke on their check book….sign Suh and don’t dick around….that way they could draft OG Nelson if he is there @ 7…

  20. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Give him some of Swaggy’s money…..no one else has gotten it.

    Give him some of Martin’s money if you prefer…..but give him some money and take him to Mons Venus…..

  21. tmaxcon Says:

    Dave Pear

    harsh man!!!!

    Nah, I was hunting a under 30 red headed preachers daughter stripper with NO morals and a trust fund.

  22. Dave Pear Says:

    🙂

  23. BetterBuccinBelieveIt Says:

    @tmax…

    Well, when you put it like that, who isn’t??! 🙂

    Go Bucs!

  24. SrqBucsFan Says:

    I don’t think it’s a bad idea to move Market back to his natural RG position. Last year Market and Jensen graded out similar with Market taking the slight edge. But, at guard Market is head and shoulders better than Jensen.

    So the question is would you rather mildly upgrade two position or let one portion stay similar while massively upgrading a position. Plus moving Market back to RG allows him to help the two weaker links on either side of him being Jensen and Dotson.

  25. AlteredEgo Says:

    Marpet would probably become a very good center….if the Bucs had the luxury of being able to move him there……roster has more holes than a screen door…

  26. Evolvingbucfan Says:

    Blake_Bucsfan – starter, back up, insurance peice can play multiple positions, what ever. like i said will be interesting how they will utilize him, nobody said Marpet is moving back to guard…..yet

  27. SrqBucsFan Says:

    I know its MarP*et. Sorry the phone auto corrected that.

  28. AKick'nTheBucNuts Says:

    Unless Licht has forgot to use a FA pen, sign him and move AM back to RG.

  29. Jman Says:

    Which buc QB would he be blocking for in 2019?

  30. ARGH_M8E Says:

    Go get the Honey badger!!!

  31. Destinjohnny Says:

    4-12

  32. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Red headef Joe Dirt”

    Kobe Faker

  33. LargoBuc Says:

    Do not let him leave without a shiny new contract!

  34. jerseybuc Says:

    They will lock this down tonight hopefully…This sets up up our O line nicely if we can close the deal.

  35. Pickgrin Says:

    Sign Jensen – cut Sweezy

  36. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    813

    “but does he want to play for a team with a coach and GM on the hot seat or go somewhere that has more stability……”

    At least half the coaches in this league are on the hot seat. It’s a what have you done for me lately kinda league.

    I think once you get past the intangibles…what kind of marketplace…nice place to live? It gets down to opportunity! The opportunity to make money. Show me the money. The opportunity to play! Does the new guy see a way to really contribute and be part of the Buc’s success. And the opportunity to win. Can Jameis and the rest of Joe’s sales force do a good number on Jensen’s head?

    This deal does seem to be the proverbial win win. Frees us up to go ballls to the wall for the DL in the draft….if that means spending some picks to move up…so be it if it’s the right DL. Imagine getting Chubb and Vea in the same draft. Two lynchpins to grow and if Spence ever regains his health…we finally have the core of a DL…AT LONG LAST. I know my plan sounds desperate but desperate times demand some desperate solutions..and…NO EXCUSES.

  37. adambomb418 Says:

    Accept the mistake of moving Marpet to center and move on. Don’t let him leave without a contract!

  38. Bird Says:

    Dude is outdoorsman

    Tampa has some amazing fishing and not far from hunting.

    And no income tax

  39. Tval Says:

    Yep.. Start at c and move ali back to his natural mauler mold

  40. Tval Says:

    Thatd be my pitch, bird. 🙂 get this man a guide

  41. darin Says:

    Sign him! Need a center almost as bad as a DE. Get a guard too to replace sweezy. Sign jensen and sitton. Draft all D and a RB

  42. NFLNut Says:

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

    THIS would be a GREAT signing imho and I’m thrilled his FIRST meeting is with us!

    Also, if he’s choosing between us and the Colts, we should win … better team, better weather, no taxes, etc …

    SIGN HIM and our O-Line is vastly improved … sign him AND draft Quenton Nelson and we may just have the best O-Line in the entire NFL … seriously.

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

  43. SOEbuc Says:

    Hopefully he brings his family with him at sunset on what was a beautiful day today. Lock him up J-Bone!!

  44. 813bucboi Says:

    stpete

    what teams have coaches on the hot seat?

    no urgency……no excuse

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

  45. SOEbuc Says:

    West coast of Florida compared to Indianapolis. Come on Mrs. Jensen. Make Ryan switch it up and come to Tampa. You don’t want to switch from one cold city with a high murder rate to another.

  46. Atomic Twinke Says:

    Jensen will take all his visits before he signs. His agent is Mike McCartney and that’s how Mike’s clients do things. He’d look great in Pewter for sure!

  47. SOEbuc Says:

    Smith, Nelson, Jensen, Marpet, Dotson.

    Now that’s what I call FIXING THE TRENCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET ‘ER DONE!!!!!!!!!!

    RB Mark Walton (Miami) in Round 4. Lightning speed and can blast defenders. Those gaping holes those guys could make and he will be gone. Would’ve likely gone higher in the draft but had a bad injury last year.

  48. SOEbuc Says:

    ^^Bucs are meeting with Walton as we speak.^^

  49. Brian Says:

    Glad we signed Alex Mack a couple years ago when he became available! Oh wait…