Buyer Beware
April 24th, 2019
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
It seems there are many more red flags with players this year than last year.
Say what you want about cranky Greg Gabriel, the former Bears scouting director who has turned himself into sort of an NFL #DraftMedia type of celebrity. On Twitter, Gabriel is a loose cannon, unafraid to offer an opinion and if you are offended, go take a long walk on a short pier.
Even so, Gabriel is still well-plugged in with NFL personnel departments and quite a bit of his insight is really interesting. Even though he may rub people the wrong way, Joe gets the impression Gabriel treats people fairly.
At any rate, Gabriel dropped a nugget on Twitter last night that had Joe raising an eyebrow.
1 decision maker said that looking at non-QB’s last year there was Barkley, Chubb, Nelson and Roquon Smith, none of whom had any issues and were great players. He said this year isn’t close to those type of guys up top
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) April 24, 2019
This sort of makes sense. Let’s take a look at a few top-rated players who don’t play quarterback.
Ed Oliver: Has a reputation as a me-player and dances to the beat of his own drum. Some question his passion.
Rashan Gary: Embarrassing no-show games against pathetic opponents and now we know he has a ripped shoulder labrum.
Montez Sweat: Character concerns but more importantly, he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, per an NFL Network report.
Greedy Williams: Allergic to tackling.
Jeffery Simmons: Beat up a girl and blew out a knee.
Yes, the Bucs pick at No. 5 tomorrow night. Joe hopes Gabriel’s Twitter doesn’t come back to haunt the Bucs in a couple of years.
Join Ira Kaufman and Joe at the annual NFL Draft blowout. Everything will get rolling at the South Tampa Buffalo Wild Wings around 5:30 p.m. All kinds of drink specials!! TVs inside and out. Buffet available!!!
April 24th, 2019 at 8:44 am
Oliver is the only player on that list who interests me. The Bucs have connections to the Houston team including a former Buc who does their broadcasts and has watched Oliver every week and raves about him.
So is he another Simeon Rice…nobody figured out what planet he was from but he was an entertaining interesting dude who walked to the beat of a different drummer. But the dude could ball big time. If that’s Oliver…great.
If he’s not really coachable…take a pass.
Greedy just not physical enough..he scares me moving up but hey Neon Deion wasn’t exactly a hitter either.
No need to look at the rest other than perhaps Simmons if he drops into later rounds.
No risk it no biscuit. Fine during a game…a single loss is not the end of the world…not good in the draft…a single mistake can cost a franchise bigtime. See JW. This year we either cash in big time (my prediction) or we discover we made a huge mistake with the #1 pick of the entire draft.
April 24th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Do we need to even watch the draft tomorrow? The Bucs have apparently let it be known to everyone whom they are picking tomorrow night.
Welcome aboard Mr. White.
April 24th, 2019 at 8:53 am
There are Question marks with of the headliners.
April 24th, 2019 at 8:54 am
And forget that off the field stuff. There are question marks about they’re on field play.
April 24th, 2019 at 8:59 am
Wausa Devin White is the only special player among the headliners. I mentioned yesterday how seamlessly he transitioned from RB to LB. Don’t think people realize how good you have to be to accomplish that. That means game as a whole comes easily to him. Show me the Dline guy that would become a beast moving to oline. I’ll wait.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:03 am
The cut-line under the Licht photo should read: “Mr. Clueless”
April 24th, 2019 at 9:08 am
Ugh I had a nightmare last night that Williams was available at 5 and the bucs took white. It’s pretty much ruined my morning.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:12 am
thought this was going to be another propaganda attempt to suggest the Bucs should trade up for one of the known character guys.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:13 am
The Bucs have done a terrible job of keeping it secret whom they are picking tomorrow.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:15 am
Warren Sapp: out of shape and failed drug tests.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:16 am
I had no idea 99s name was filtered for moderation…
April 24th, 2019 at 9:27 am
[No. — Joe]
April 24th, 2019 at 9:39 am
Steven,, LOL that’s pretty funny.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:40 am
NOSBOS Says:
April 24th, 2019 at 8:59 am
Wausa Devin White is the only special player among the headliners. I mentioned yesterday how seamlessly he transitioned from RB to LB. Don’t think people realize how good you have to be to accomplish that. That means game as a whole comes easily to him. Show me the Dline guy that would become a beast moving to oline. I’ll wait.
___________________
I am not saying Devin White will not be a great player. My point is the Bucs franchise has done a terrible job of keeping their selection a secret. In my opinion this is a sign of a dysfunctional organization.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:40 am
I like FSU DE Burns….great kid…has his life together
April 24th, 2019 at 9:46 am
I would add Nick Bosa’s name to that as well. He hasn’t played a down in over a year. I’d call that a question mark.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:46 am
@steveen007
Also, any questions relating to “the ommish” (just add a C to the beginning) is off limits.
April 24th, 2019 at 9:47 am
I think this year’s list of ‘cleanest’ prospects at the top looks very much like:
Williams
Bosa
White
Allen
April 24th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Also add Q Williams to the list as a one year starter, so very limited body of work
April 24th, 2019 at 10:03 am
White. arm tackler. not a thumper.
April 24th, 2019 at 10:04 am
Todd,
Well that one is certainly understandable.
April 24th, 2019 at 10:05 am
Dewey,
There sure are a lot of other people saying otherwise.
Are they all wrong?
April 24th, 2019 at 10:37 am
I’m still intrigued by Sweat. I don’t know about character concerns that Joe is referring to but there is a rumor of a heart condition. It could be hypertension for all we know, and that can easily be controlled with medicine.
The fact:
He has produced huge numbers in college. Besides having Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line the rest were average players. Sweat was doing it on his own before Simmons arrived. His speed at the combine was fascinating for a man his size. Whoever gets him I believe in the future will be one of the most valued selections in this draft. Just a hunch. I just hope it’s not against us twice every season. I won’t freak out if they select White but I am in the DE/DT camp first.
April 24th, 2019 at 10:39 am
Oliver should be the only one considered at five on that list period. Licht can’t afford to gamble on anyone even a talented guy like sweat if he has a documented heart condition
April 24th, 2019 at 10:53 am
fire, haven’t read anywhere that White is a thumper. look at the tape. have read that he is slow to react on play action. makes up for it with his speed. haven’t seen him stand anyone up on 3rd and 1.
April 24th, 2019 at 10:57 am
^ Dewey, unfortunately I can not review film at work, but I will take your word for it. I have enough of your posts to know that you have great insight. I am just saying that others are comparing him to some truly great LB’s.
April 24th, 2019 at 11:00 am
nosbos
lol….RB and LB are very similar…..see hole, hit hole….see ball, hit ball…..RB and LB are 2 of the most plug and play position in football…..
LVD started as a rookie….kwon….beckwith…..the list goes on and on…white did nothing “special”….he played fullback and LB in HS…..
its called being an “athlete”…lol…
your acting like he went from a 300LB dlineman to a speedy MLB…..lol….
richard sherman played wr in college and then transitioned to CB…..jr sweezy played dline in college and transitioned to oline….
no doubt white is a good player but he aint even close to roquan smith…..
if the bucs are serious about winning, they’ll select ed oliver so we can stop losing the trenches…..white wont do anything if the dline is weak…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
April 24th, 2019 at 11:17 am
don’t get me wrong Fire i would be happy with White. but the title of the article is buyer beware, so I went with the theme. PS. He only has 1 int in 3 years of playing LB. lol
April 24th, 2019 at 11:48 am
The media have tried to keep the hype up for this draft but it’s become pretty clear that it’s a pretty weak class. I’m in the trade back crowd. Going to take more than one top five pick to convert this defensive roster. Need to find a guard, too. Someone will want to move up for QB and we can make out with a pile of picks.
April 24th, 2019 at 11:53 am
Trade down…four or five spots will net the Bucs at least another 2nd and 4th round, maybe better. They need so much…
April 24th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
PoppaBuc it is a weak class.
April 24th, 2019 at 1:40 pm
We tend to ignore red flags… a kicker that missed half his kicks from 40yds and above. A qb with sexual assalt alligations.. A tight end that likes to party too much. Trade down and draft the seminole DE that likes to play hard or stay and take the LSU kid
April 24th, 2019 at 3:53 pm
So take White, get a pro-bowl LB, and you’re in good shape – so long as he’s as good as people say he is.
April 24th, 2019 at 4:14 pm
The Bucs will get trade offers for sure with the Giants potentially looking to draft a QB at 6. Ideally, the Bucs could give the Giants the chance to swap picks and get some draft picks without having to miss out on one of their top “6” guys. There are a lot of talented DLinemen in this draft, so I would expect one of those guys will be a Buc come Thursday night.
April 24th, 2019 at 5:07 pm
trade down a couple, few at the most–get White or Oliver. Then use all those additional picks and our second pik and go up and get Brian Burns or whoever is the best edge left. Making it back to back picks.
April 24th, 2019 at 5:09 pm
Obviously feel free to thrown in GMC to the offer