Jason Licht Acknowledges Coveting Quenton Nelson
May 3rd, 2018
Perhaps one day, when he’s firing up a cigar after his Buccaneers win the Super Bowl, general manager Jason Licht will take a picture of his 2018 NFL Draft board and post it on Twitter.
Truly, more general managers should do that. What a fun gift it would be for the hardcore fans. And that’s what the game is supposed to be about.
Anyway, fans learned yesterday that Licht’s 2018 board had a couple of smiley faces next to Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson.
Licht was asked about the draft on WDAE-AM 620 and whether Nelson was player he “coveted” with the No. 7 overall pick and what his reaction was when he was plucked off the board at No. 6 by the Colts.
“It was,” Licht said regarding coveting Nelson. “Vita was one of the guys we coveted, too. But it was one of the guys and my immediate reaction was wait for the call from Buffalo.”
The Buffalo trade was the best deal on the table to “add more to our arsenal,” added Licht.
It was the smart trade and a great move.
Imagine if Nelson fell to the Bucs at No. 7 and they drafted him. What would the Bucs have done next? Would they have drafted Jones or gone with a better cornerback with their lone second-round pick, or would they have traded down with it to draft cornerback M.J. Stewart and the next best running back they could find?
Quality bar conversation.
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:39 am
Interesting question indeed. The Colts taking Nelson may have been the best thing to happen to the Bucs since drafting Gerald McCoy!!!!
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:39 am
GMFB teasing J Licht and The Stick Carriers…
Coming up Next!
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:41 am
And here comes the “won the offseason” Line
Yuck
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:42 am
Jagwire‘s do not give fifth year option to Dante Fowler. Jason late are you listening? Fourth round pick to Jacksonville bring him in
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:42 am
Joe pictures a Red Auerbach-like victory cigar being lit…I hope he’s right…I have my doubts. 🙂 It will be interesting to see how much better Nelson is ( if at all ) than Hernandez. I wonder if he would have been the choice over Jones had he lasted a few more picks.
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:42 am
Why is joe talking about drafting a guard #7 overall, I thought he said the O-line was not the problem!!!!!!!!
Mixed signals indeed!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:44 am
What would have happened if the Bucs had drafted Quenton Nelson? JR Sweezy (and his floppy hat) would have been told to hit the road! That’s probably going to happen later anyway. #PaidFloridaVacation
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:48 am
If this D3 lineman turns out to be anything then it was a great stroke of fortune they took Nelson
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:54 am
We still have line issues
Nice to have weapons but it’s better to have a great line
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:58 am
I am glad this draft played out like it did. In my mind, as much as I liked Nelson, he would have been a luxury pick, since we had so many other needs.
Than you so much Buffalo, for all those great draft picks!
May 3rd, 2018 at 9:59 am
C’mon Destinjohnny, with the addition of Jensen and Marpet back to Guard our O-line is not so shabby.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:07 am
It couldn’t have worked out better if you asked me, yes we would have gotten Nelson but missed out on a better trade with Buffalo …more value IMO. I think this d-line will scare some people….in a good way and not a bad way for a change. Our offensive line will be better and can’t wait to see RoJo run, hope they don’t start out soft like they did last year and we didn’t see any real effort till mid season. Good job Licht, you have done great in Fa and the draft, He got you the ingredients to make a great meal its up to Koetter and the chefs to create the master piece.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:08 am
So what’s everyone think about the saints game now? If we had won we would have grabbed Chubb and only had one second rounder so only one of rojo Stewart and Davis. Most likely it would have been Chubb and rojo imo. Oh ya and no cappa.
Give me this scenario all day. I seriously hate the “won a meaningless game” crowd. Never lose for a better draft pick. Unless it was Jameis lol.
We get 16 true games a year. I want as many victory Mondays as possible at all costs. Screw the Cleveland mentality.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:11 am
As dynamic a talent as Nelson is we made the team significantly better by not having him and loading up on Day 1/2 picks.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:13 am
I love Nelson but at the end of the day, we weren’t one player away. And definitely not one OL away. I loved the trade Licht pulled off and the overall draft.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:22 am
greg
I agree…..try to get him with a late round pick…..shane ray could be an option but we he’s a little too injury prone for my liking….fowler would be great tho!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:23 am
Buccernutter there a few on here advocating we lose as much as we can, they are going into next season thinking if we don’t win it all then every win is a mistake
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:24 am
A rare candid reveal….of course a peak at the draft boards would be a dream….however ..I’d suspect a bit of reshuffle before the camera shutter clicked…smoke is the stock in trade of GM’s
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:25 am
We got lucky then… drafting an OG #7 overall just doesn’t work out for anybody.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:26 am
It would’ve gone Nelson and trade down in the 2nd to recoup the 3rd rounder given up for JPP then gone cb RB or RB CB depending how the board fell.
Where are all the ‘Bucs should’ve lost the last game on purpose’ guys? Not a peep from them since the draft.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:31 am
If GM’s did that they’d open themselves up to unwarranted criticism regardless of how well their picks might have done. All the after-the-fact- couch GM’s would eviscerate Jason if even one pick performs worse than players selected after him.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:36 am
I like the fact that we picked Vita over James because he fills a bigger need, although I must say James would have been ok to. Getting Vea maybe we can trade or release no sack Gholston & save some money. I think its a little early to cut Sweezy because we are very weak at tackle, where we may need Cappa.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:37 am
stanglass he is here just a little quiet
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:45 am
Colts loved Nelson too!! Buffalo’s GM said the Colts never entertained any of their trade up offers they were set on staying at 6.
May 3rd, 2018 at 10:51 am
Why do we dwell so much on things that didn’t happen? Well I wanted us to draft Derwin James and I also wanted the cutes girl in high school neither one happened lmfao! Someone tell me where I can watch more tape on M.J. Stewart not highlights but game breakdowns. Since that sight draftbreakdown is making people pay now I’m stuck watching YouTube 😂
May 3rd, 2018 at 11:07 am
Nelson & then a punter
May 3rd, 2018 at 11:13 am
Us winning the last game of the season will go down as the REASON this draft became the best of ALL TIME.
Assuming these guys are not a bunch of bumbs…. LMAO
May 3rd, 2018 at 11:13 am
It worked out for the Ravens and Jonathan Ogden.
May 3rd, 2018 at 11:15 am
Will be interesting to see down the road. The Colts had a deal with the bills but passed bc Nelson fell. If they take the deal, we take Nelson.
Nelson + Jones + a 7th > Vea + Jones + mj + Davis ???????
May 3rd, 2018 at 11:31 am
Nelson at 7 and then Jones in the second just like I said back in Feb. and stop mentioning M.J. Stewart you’ll activate my terretts again. 😡🤬🤯
Filth foulth filth fa fo fom
May 3rd, 2018 at 11:33 am
I don’t think our draft could have been scripted any better. Instead of one stud at #7, we got a truckload of talent instead. One man is rarely going to be able to contribute as heavily as getting Vea and the second rounders.
May 3rd, 2018 at 12:06 pm
************
All the Jameis bashers should THANK JAMEIS for throwing that game-winning TD against the Saints in the final game, as had he not done that we probably would have ended up with Quenton Nelson rather than with Viti Vea, MJ Stewart and Carlton Davis.
************
May 3rd, 2018 at 12:37 pm
All the comment section is missing is Realist telling us all he is the smartest guy in the room and of course the only “real” Bucs fan there is.
May 3rd, 2018 at 1:31 pm
We still got Vita (fixing the trenches) plus 2 additional 2nd round picks. I think we did better.
May 3rd, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Nice to see some reasoned responses on here.
The Bucs would have had to draft Nelson if he was there at 7, but fortunately it worked out for the best in my opinion.
Bucs would not have been able to get the two corners in the 2nd if they didn’t trade down and my guess is they both start on opening day.
May 3rd, 2018 at 1:37 pm
glad we don’t have to worry about it. I would rather have Vita Vea.
May 3rd, 2018 at 1:44 pm
nut
you cant say that for sure…..with the #5 pick we could’ve gotten buffalos #1’s and #2’s…..we could’ve gotten a kings ransom for that pick…..we could’ve ended up with vita and d.james in the 1st round along with other….you never know…..
I just laughed at the folks that think that last second win would somehow give us momentum heading into this year….and those same folks call the 9ers 5game win streak to close out the season a fluke or think that it wont carry over…..lol….
time will tell…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 3rd, 2018 at 2:53 pm
StanGlassJaw and other Draft Victors:
I was one of the wise ones who thought the win would be detrimental. Of course I remember final game “wins” that brought the Bucs Broderick Thomas instead of Derick Thomas/ Barry Sanders /Deion Sanders and later Gaines Adams ( R.I.P. ) instead of Joe Thomas or possibly Calvin Johnson. All appeared to work out as Cleveland reached ( around ) for a wafer thin corner with a good staright line 40 time instead of Chubb. Denver couldn’t pass up Chubb or would have traded with Buffalo ( documented ). I’m glad it worked out pending the corners picked in round 2 are at least decent/serviceable.
May 3rd, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Excellent to hear from Licht that a big nasty Olineman was who he was after. As is we got a big nasty Dlineman. This years draft may have been Jason’s finest Round 1 plan since he’s been here.
May 4th, 2018 at 8:16 am
I’ll be smoking a cigar when Licht is fired… and spend all of my money when the Glazers sell the team to compentant winning owners. It’s mighty hard to root for a team where fans don’t like the owners or main front office members. Derwin James was the pick. Then Jessie Bates and since there is no edge rush how about Duke Ejiofor in the later rounds. Drafted a still corner from Chapel shill… booooooooooo