Christmas In April
February 19th, 2019
Can Santa come early?
In Joe’s eyes, if the Bucs don’t come out of the No. 5 pick with a pass-rushing specialist, it will be a waste of a golden opportunity.
In today’s NFL only one position is more important than quarterback. And that’s a guy on the other side of the ball who can get the quarterback on the ground. Without a pass rush, not even Bill Belicheat can scheme a way to hide a bad cornerback. With a pass rush, you might be able to hide one.
The Bucs already have their quarterback so Joe is pining that with the No. 5 pick in the draft, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht selects Kentucky manbeast Josh Allen.
Joe isn’t the only one who thinks Allen would be a godsend for the Bucs. Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report thinks this would be the ultimate dream selection for Tampa Bay. All it would take, Davenport believes, is for one team to trade up for a quarterback.
If that’s the case, Kentucky edge-rusher Josh Allen [will ensure] Christmas will come early for new Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
Bowles’ arrival in Tampa means a seismic shift—after three decades of four-man fronts, the Bucs will feature more 3-4 looks in the base defense. That means pass-rushers with the speed to play standing up and can also get after it with a hand in the dirt on passing downs are key.
Allen, a wildly athletic 6’6″, 260-pounder, is just such a player.
The only way Joe would want the Bucs not to draft Allen is if the Chiefs get dumb and expose Dee Ford on the free agent market. Then, with the money originally slotted for Gerald McCoy, you sign Ford and then draft this Quinnen Williams out of Alabama at defensive tackle.
With Ford, Vita Vea, Williams and Jason Pierre-Paul, now you are cooking with gas.
February 19th, 2019 at 12:31 am
As OT will soon be the position of biggest need for the Bucs, with our reliable loaf of a turnstile and an old declining underachiever, would not mind Bucs taking a stab at Jawaan Taylor, Andre Dillard, Cody Ford, or Jonah Williams
February 19th, 2019 at 1:06 am
This Quinnen Williams or that Quinnen Williams?
February 19th, 2019 at 1:39 am
Sad part about this draft is I can see at minimum 7 positions that could use a this top 5 pick and it would make complete sense. There the trenches on both sides of the lone are equally important plus they also need a decent corner on the outside that compares in size to Carlton Davis. I could see going middle linebacker and even though it would be dumb trading down and going running back first. There’s talent but just not positions where it’ll make a major difference in the win loss column and every year we’re looking for rookies to come save this roster
February 19th, 2019 at 1:50 am
Joe is pining for players who won’t be on the board again I see….
February 19th, 2019 at 2:36 am
We can certainly hope one of the few good pass rushers drop to us at five. It is not completely crazy to think that is a possibility. Either Bosa, Allen, or Ferrell could be there. Bosa and Allen are no brainer picks and most likely will be off the board…but you never know.
February 19th, 2019 at 2:53 am
Montez Sweat Could be there when we pick and he is no chopped liver.
February 19th, 2019 at 5:10 am
Dee Ford is not leaving the Chiefs, let alone coming to Tampa.
As for Josh Allen, 6’5″ 260 with quick-twitch-and-bend-athleticism and an already polished arsenal of pass rush moves is the equation for an All-Pro pass rushing talent in the NFL. This dude is freakier – burst wise – than Bosa, but not quite as punishing at the point of attack. The Bucs need to stop getting edged out by draft position on these blue-chip, super rare prospects.
In my opinion, they need to find a way into the top 3 picks to guarantee themselves either Allen, Bosa, or Q.Williams. You cannot risk it, time to go for the gusto and nab a complete game wrecker. It’s not impossible. You could package Desean Jackson and Donovan Smith to either San Fran or NYJ in a deal with the Bucs 5th overall, and a 3rd this year or a 2nd next year. By pure draft pick value, it should be enough to sneak into the top 3. You’d be ridding yourselves of weak mentalities, huge contracts and offering them to teams with holes at those spots with loads of cap space. They’re both divas and can (should) be replaced.
Ed Oliver or Jonah Williams are not the answer, they are undersized and will not net a big enough return on a 5th overall pick. Also, you can’t go offensive line, linebacker, running back or corner if you stay put either, as you’d be reaching hard. The only other answer is trade back and grab a Devin White, Greedy, Jawaan Taylor, Oliver, Clelin Ferrell, Greg Little, etc.
Trade up or trade back. Fix the trenches and get rid of the divas. Go get yourself a game changer for once, Jason Licht.
February 19th, 2019 at 5:19 am
Left tackle
February 19th, 2019 at 6:44 am
Great, Gaines Adams 2.0…
Trade back and take an offensive lineman, or Devin Bush…
February 19th, 2019 at 7:35 am
PriMech
That’s the best thing I’ve ever read on this site
February 19th, 2019 at 7:40 am
Not totally following the logic Joe. Since FA comes first, sounds like you’d rather pay big bucks for 28-year-old OLB Dee Ford if he hits FA than wait to draft 22-year-old DE/OLB Josh Allen (surely BOTH situations are unlikely, but that’s neither here nor there). The bigger question is ‘Why Ford over Allen?’
Dee Ford had a great 2018 (13 sacks) in his 5th year with KC (3-4 defense), plus a very nice 2016 (10 sacks) but did relatively little in his first 2 years (5.5 sacks TOTAL in 30 games played) and missed most of 2017 on IR (back injury). If we’re dreaming, I’d rather see us take Josh Allen … his upside looks to be tremendous IMO. I see a lot of Simeon Rice in him for some reason.
February 19th, 2019 at 7:43 am
It appears that Kliff Kingsbury has fallen in love with QB Kyler Murray. If he pulls off another Baker Mayfield and goes first, then there is a high probability that the Bucs will land one of the Big 3 defensive linemen.
If the Giants, Jags, Broncos, or Redskins get the yips and make a dash for the next best QB at 2-4, then it becomes an absolute certainty that the Bucs will get one of the Big 3.
If none of the above happens, the Bucs sit in perfect position at #5 to trade down for more picks or maybe even trade down twice depending on who may pony up for QB Nick Foles. Go Bucs!
February 19th, 2019 at 7:48 am
Both Allen and Williams will be gone at 5 everybody seems to know this except Joe?
February 19th, 2019 at 8:35 am
I hear you Joe, I really, really do, but I’ll continue to stump
for Devin White. MLB is a critical position and our LBs have inconsistent, at best. If there’s a chance to grab a Ray Lewis/Patrick Willis with speed type talent, and a real alpha dog, how do you turn away from that?
February 19th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Universal Rule of the NFL Draft…the players one covet’s are always ranked/picked just ahead your your selection slot
February 19th, 2019 at 8:50 am
Trade GMC and our 5 pick (and another if needed) to the Jets for the 3 pick if Josh Allen is still on the board
February 19th, 2019 at 8:57 am
JSon will find a way to blow it
February 19th, 2019 at 9:05 am
I would love this but seems unrealistic, Ed Oliver is undersized but comes with major athleticism and insane first step quickness. I think we get rid of Gerald ( love him but too expensive ) and Ed played a lot of Nt in college and fought double and triple teams while playing out of position. His size will be normal for a 3tech in the future anyway.
February 19th, 2019 at 9:21 am
polkfan
i agree….
ed oliver has the athleticism and versatility to play 43DT or 34DE….but i would try like hell to restructure GMC….gotta prepare for injuries and if VV or GMC goes down, there wont be a major drop off in production….
trade down, draft EO and gain an extra pick or 2 would be sweet….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2019 at 10:19 am
No team will swap 7 rounders with us for GMC and Djax. The idea of trading them for a valuable picking is ridiculous. Their current production is of less value than their contracts that’s why we want to dump them.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:47 am
Good to see Joe thinks the Bucs have a top 3 pick and those players are available to the Bucs. Incredible draft insight as always, almost as enjoyable as the times Joe would think the Bucs could pawn off Roberto Aguayo for draft picks in the midst of being the worst kicker in the NFL.
February 19th, 2019 at 11:55 am
I agree with what Tvan said above, if Allen is there at 3 move mccoy and our 5th overall up and draft this kid. we could easily replace mccoy in the 2nd or 3rd. Allen is the Rush linebacker prospect since von miller. hes a cant miss. in years past we have been burned not by not moving up. (Calvin johnson, Joe Thomas, Quentin nelson )