Will Licht Work Over The Draft
April 21st, 2020
Trade down candidate.
Two years ago Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht pulled off a draft night trade that left him with a .666 batting average.
Given that 50 percent of first-round picks bust out, that’s good.
The Bucs owned the seventh pick in the draft. Licht traded back with Buffalo to nab Vita Vea at No. 12 plus two second-round picks. After other wheeling and dealing, those picks became M.J. Stewart (miss) and Carlton Davis (hit).
Getting two defensive starters for one pick, including one of the better young players in the NFL, is not too shabby.
(Player personnel director John Spytek later admitted that even if the Vea trade was not consummated, the Bucs were still going to select Vea at No. 7.)
Might Licht want to wheel and deal again? Joe brings this up because Peter King of NBC Sports suggested trade offers will burn up Licht’s cell battery Thursday night, as there should be seriously coveted players on the board when the Bucs pick at No. 14.
If the Big Four offensive tackles are gone, might Licht want to trade back to see if he can grab Boise State offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland?
Before you choke on your corn flakes, Joe offers interesting intel from closet Bucs fan Peter Schrager of NFL Network. Schrager is tight with many general managers and he said yesterday he’s hearing a lot of talk that Cleveland will go in the first round.
Then, with an extra second-round pick, Licht could clean up and grab Southern Illinois University safety Jeremy Chinn as well as LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire?
The Bucs had a private workout with Cleveland before The Sickness shut down America. Teams don’t waste time and money on private workouts unless they are very interested in a player.
You can watch Schrager discuss players rarely discussed as first-round picks in the NFL Network video below.
“Some names you haven’t heard.” 👀
Check out @PSchrags’ top 5 potential 1st round surprises 👇
📺: @gmfb pic.twitter.com/9FaS6P7wGe
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 20, 2020
April 21st, 2020 at 8:07 am
Even with the “top 4 OT’s”…trading down could be the best Big Picture option
April 21st, 2020 at 8:17 am
Trading back and getting an extra 2nd would be the only way I can be ok with drafting a RB in round 2. And even then I woukd still question the decision.
On a side note Bleacher Report had us taking Ezra Cleveland in their latest mock draft at 14. Passing on BOTH Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw. I might puke if that happens.
On another side note, Daniel Jeremiah says he believes Austin Jackson will be a top-15 pick…
One other side note, Benjamin Allbright believes a “minimum” 6 OTs go in round 1. Which would make it tough for the “OT in the 2nd” crowd.
Im growing scared the Bucs are going to pass on better players just to take an OT, even if its OT5. Praying they take BPA when its all said and done.
April 21st, 2020 at 8:35 am
why is every so high on this guy?
April 21st, 2020 at 8:35 am
^Everyone
April 21st, 2020 at 8:39 am
Not to bad but a safety in the 2nd is to high. I would double up on OT or OL in general. DL would be ok too.
April 21st, 2020 at 8:49 am
I like it.
April 21st, 2020 at 8:57 am
More draft ammo is always a better bet. IF the goal at #14 is to find a RT and not a future LT, why not trade down and get an extra pick?
April 21st, 2020 at 9:04 am
People are high on him, because he is a long term starter with the size and athleticism NFL teams want for a left tackle. If the Bucs trade down to target a right tackle I would rather them get a mauler like Isaiah Wilson from Georgia.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:09 am
Trading down in round 1 (or 2) has a lot of appeal. Will be interesting to watch.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:14 am
I have never seen so much push in my life for a team to want to use a top 15 pick on a right tackle. Even if you trade back to around pick 20, a right tackle is not going to push this team over the top.
I honestly think they left that big hole at right tackle leading up to the draft on purpose. They want everyone to think they’re taking a tackle.
Who would you rather have, the 5th best tackle in the draft at pick #14, or Jason Peters or another ring chasing veteran?
There might be a chance at a true game changer at 14 and most fans want to settle for whoever is left of the average tackles.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:17 am
gotbbucs Says:
April 21st, 2020 at 9:14 am
I have never seen so much push in my life for a team to want to use a top 15 pick on a right tackle. Even if you trade back to around pick 20, a right tackle is not going to push this team over the top.
I honestly think they left that big hole at right tackle leading up to the draft on purpose. They want everyone to think they’re taking a tackle.
Who would you rather have, the 5th best tackle in the draft at pick #14, or Jason Peters or another ring chasing veteran?
There might be a chance at a true game changer at 14 and most fans want to settle for whoever is left of the average tackles.
.
.
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so are you saying take Jordan Love ? 🙂
April 21st, 2020 at 9:25 am
Trade down for sure if the big 4 are gone
April 21st, 2020 at 9:36 am
Trash Licht will for sure F?$! UP
April 21st, 2020 at 9:41 am
The Bucs need to be more secretive in whom they are targeting. Teams can assume based on need and whom the Bucs talk to before the draft, but it seems like the Bucs targeted players are typically known by casual fans.
There is no reason why everyone knew the Bucs were drafting Devin White last year, but the Raiders selection was not known despite them picking ahead of the Bucs.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:42 am
I say trade down for a team desperate enough to jump up. Or maybe trade up?and then back down?idk what im talking about. I just have a feeling this draft will be full of surprises.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:44 am
IMO: Licht could have gotten the same players that turnred out good w/o making a move. Or if he was savvy he could have gotten 3 good players. I Do not praise his draft thinking after watching who he picks and who is left on the board to choose from.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:48 am
@ocala I’m like Wilson he is nasty and a road grader.
April 21st, 2020 at 9:48 am
Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw would be a HUGE win at 14
April 21st, 2020 at 9:59 am
licht is not savy at all; that losing record proves that
April 21st, 2020 at 10:32 am
Somehow (and I don’t know how) I’m hoping we come out of this draft w/ both CEH and Antoine Winfield Jr. two of my personal favorites in this entire draft. I think CEH would fit in perfectly here and is exactly the type of RB we need and to compliment RoJo. I’ve been on the Antoine Winfield Jr. bandwagon since before the college season even officially ended. He’s been my favorite player, of non-first rounders, in this draft since the beginning. Glad to see he’s FINALLY getting his much deserved recognition and people are starting to see what I saw months ago. He’s got so many similarities to The Honey Badger. He’s the safety I want…not Chinn. But I do like Chinn better than Dugger.
Here’s to hoping we SOMEHOW land both CEH and Winfield Jr. Cheers!
April 21st, 2020 at 10:34 am
Joe is there any chance that you would let us know which of your sponsors/advertisers want you to refer to this virus as “the sickness” instead of COVID-19? It just might influence my buying decisions. Go Bucs.
April 21st, 2020 at 10:35 am
People want an OT because this is supposed to be a good OT class and the top 4 are elite prospects not “average”
We also need a RT and most of these prospects project as potential LTs eventually. We already have 3 big contracts on this O-line as well.
I’m sick of us buying O-line / front 7 and not building it through the draft.
GO BUCS
April 21st, 2020 at 10:35 am
I would love CEH / Antoine Winfieeld Jr
April 21st, 2020 at 10:42 am
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April 21st, 2020 at 10:46 am
“Lol
Any team/GM would rather have Derwin James than
Combined VV, MJ and Carlton Davis
*Any team/GM would rather have Derwin James than our whole draft that year
If you cant draft, You can’t win
Jason Gump tries to be too cute. The man is surely not cute”
Kobe Faker
April 21st, 2020 at 10:51 am
I agree with LordC. This an excellent draft to pick an OT. Lots of elite talent with great on field production that means a smaller bust percentage. I still think we don’t have to move up to get one of the top 4, and there will be great options in the 2nd for a RT. We are in a good position in this draft since we don’t have any glaring holes for starters, just need depth and future starters.
April 21st, 2020 at 11:03 am
Negative on Ezra. Reminds me of Donovan Smith and the only reason it would be awesome to get Thomas or Becton is because they’re mauling man-beast’s that could slide into LG and drop Smith and his huge contract. If you do this, I will except your “we f’d up big time DS contract. Sorry” Jason.
April 21st, 2020 at 11:06 am
Joe, you finally listened to what I’ve been saying for the past few weeks. If big 4 OTS are gone trade back and get Jones or Cleveland. Then CEH and a S (Chinn, Davis or Dugger) in the 2nd. Follow this with a DT in the 3rd. There’s very high value on day w fir RB and DT. Wait for rd 4 to get your WR. There will be players with 2nd or 3rd rd grades left in rd 4 at WR.
April 21st, 2020 at 11:32 am
Agree with Sir Click’s take. We are in a good spot.
April 21st, 2020 at 11:47 am
SirClicksALot…I agree. Good OL can be found randomly throughout the draft every year. And this year especially is stacked with OL.
EVERYONE TELL ME WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NO KINLAW OR TOP FOUR OT AT #14? I would try to wrestle up as many picks as I could between 1-4. Don’t know why people think we don’t need to address defense with early picks when they want WR (Bucs overflowing) and QB to sit behind Brady for two years in the first four rounds. Be down for OLB Baun and S Chinn/Dugger in the second round with two picks.
April 21st, 2020 at 12:02 pm
Curious what the Bucs could get in trade if a top QB (Herbert, Tua) were on the board versus a top WR (Ruggs)?
The Bucs need roll players – RT, S, RB
I love trading back into the 2nd. I may advocate on one or two trade backs in the first round if it yields extra second or third round picks. There seems to be a lot of high quality 2nd round talent in this draft. We could fill all our holes with three picks in the 1st and 2nd rounds.
April 21st, 2020 at 12:40 pm
I have heard from several Bucs sources now that it seems the Bucs may not have a “Big 4” of Tackles for this draft. The Bucs might just have 5 Tackles they like above the rest. It makes get even be 6……..We all gotta learn from this. Especially if it plays out that way. Listening to all these mockers and talking heads is telling us wrong. Last year it was this magical “Big 3” not for the Bucs……A year before it was another “Big 3” or four whatever……..not for the teams ahead of us.
We are listening to the wrong people. They are close to right but are never right. These prospects are not rated the same by actual teams. Lesson is to stop buying the hype.
Listened to JP today and he made a great point. The league has been suffering from shortage of OL. Yet here we are in arguably one of the deepest OL drafts we may see for a long time. Now the Bucs may disagree. It’s their call. But if they also think this is a very deep draft they oughta get maybe two or 3 this year. We might be glad we did and it may give us a leg up on the competition for years to come……..Let them reach for desperation later.
And if the Bucs stay at 14 and go outside this magical “Top Four” don’t act like a prick cause Mel Kiper set the bar. These so-called experts are never right, remember that.
GO BUCS!!!!