Jordan Whitehead Is Gone
March 15th, 2022
Gone.
UPDATED 7:45 p.m. – From the penthouse to the outhouse. That’s where Jordan Whitehead is heading.
Rich Cimini of BSPN reports Whitehead is going to play for the Jets.
Whitehead, the Bucs’ 2018 fourth-round pick, must have gotten serious coin. No one would bolt a Super Bowl contender to play for that lousy franchise unless you are getting paid big time.
What makes Whitehead’s departure most interesting is what Rondé Barber said about him in January — that the film revealed him to be the best Buccaneers defensive player.
Whitehead was one of Joe’s favorites, a bone-crushing hitter, a Bucs playoff hero, and a guy known for his work ethic. What an early birthday present for Whitehead, who turns 25 this week.
This what happens when your general manager drafts so damn well. You lose good players when it comes time to pay them.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Bummer.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
I wanna know the contract details. Jetes always spending year in and year out and remain a mediocre franchise.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Defensive minded coach may put him in the right situation to succeed. Gonna miss his intensity, not sure we win the NFC division crown against GB without him
March 15th, 2022 at 3:50 pm
I’ll miss Whitehead, but I’d miss Marcus Williams even more if I were a Saints fan
March 15th, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Knew we couldn’t keep them all….if he’s being paid enough, we’ll get a comp pick for him…..maybe 4th rounder…..so we’ll get the 4th round pick we paid for him back.
If there was a position we could afford to lose…it was S……..we’ll probably draft one in the first 4 rounds….
March 15th, 2022 at 3:52 pm
That sucks!
March 15th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Thanks for the memories and goodluck.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Gotta find a replacement quickly.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Bummer. I am curious what he got paid…
You couldn’t pay me enough to live in New York.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Pain, suffering even, agony if you will. Really really wanted to keep him… Good luck Jordan.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:55 pm
Maybe he’s hoping for some better tattoo artists up there…
March 15th, 2022 at 3:56 pm
Any clue what they will do about this D-line? I wanna hear something.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:56 pm
At least we’ll know he’s truly fully vaxxed!
March 15th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
He is a big loss. But we knew we couldn’t keep them all. We have some S depth. But, as many have said, – need to replace; probably with a high draft pick.
March 15th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Honey badger on the way soon
March 15th, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Glad he got paid
March 15th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
2 years $14.5mil/year is what I’m reading
March 15th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Baller
March 15th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Edwards andWinfield are very capable. Whitehead was a better hitter but Edwards is a better ball hawk
March 15th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
I really liked him, hated the name though.
Good luck man.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:00 pm
You couldn’t pay me enough to go from the Bucs to the Jets.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Ywah didn’t cost them that much. Guess he really wasn’t pleased not being out there on that last play against the Rams…
March 15th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Russell Gage 3 years 30mil instead of whitehead. That’s disappointing
March 15th, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Bummer but at least we still have AW2 and MikeE, with AAA a very decent backup. S was probably the deepest position subgroup on the D.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:04 pm
14.5 over 2 years…..that’s certainly a good deal for him….but a bit too high for us……we probably didn’t want to pay him more than $5mil per year….if that.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
That sucks but Jets will learn that he’s average in coverage, he’s better down near the line.
Edwards will step up and be the starter
March 15th, 2022 at 4:08 pm
I may be in the minority here but I viewed Whitehead as more “expendable” than Davis. My opinion of course.
That said, we do need to find a competent safety to fill those shoes.
Food for thought: Is Mike Edwards THAT guy?
March 15th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
is Edwards – Winfield too soft to be ours Safeties?
March 15th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Shaq Mason, G to Bucs from Patriots. Trade
March 15th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Go get the honey badger .
March 15th, 2022 at 4:11 pm
I agree with Marine, although they play in New Jersey…
March 15th, 2022 at 4:12 pm
What draft pick did they give up? Wow
March 15th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Shaq Mason for what draft pick? Where are we getting this money? Are we gonna have enough to sign gronk?
March 15th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Dang. If that is deal …that is reasonable number
Dude can play
Safety from saints just got 14 a year . Now he is a stud
But still. 7.5 is very reasonable
He obviously was ticked with bucs over stuff he posted. Thats not good to hear
Go get maye who played under bowles before
March 15th, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Im telling you guys, loved the way Whitehead played. But watch…it hits too hard… suffering nearly the damage he puts on opposing players. Have to admire his guts…but I think he will be on the injury list chronically in the next few years.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Going to miss his thumping play style. The only saving grace is knowing Mike Edward’s has shown he can ball hawk. The potential of more possessions is the only saving grace of losing Whitehad.
Funny he’s going to Gotham city where his cousin, Revis, built his “island” though.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:16 pm
5th rounder
March 15th, 2022 at 4:16 pm
Shaq Mason traded to Bucs
March 15th, 2022 at 4:17 pm
Well they just fixed their guard problems. Now the question is how much money do they have left! They haven’t addressed the DL nor Gronkowski.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Mason is a very good player!!!!!
March 15th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Shaq Mason from the Pats for a 5th round pick
March 15th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Get a guy like Jalen Pitre in the draft and I could care less. Love Whiteheads, but Jensen, Godwin, Davis and Brady were unexpected and bigger priorities. Jalen Pitre is a dog and you can literally line him all over the secondary. Inside, outside, box, deep, roaming, Star linebacker, doesn’t matter. Maybe my favorite non-first rounder in this entire draft.
Plus, I’m totally cool w/ Edwards and AWJ ✌️starting back there too. And I’m interested to see if Fred Warner’s brother Troy Warner gets a chance to compete at Safety this year too.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
So looks like our offense is pretty much set if Gronk comes back. Some depth at TE and oline would be good. Otherwise looks like a defensive draft which I’d be totally on board with. Edge rush, DT, CB, safety
March 15th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
I agree mark. Whitehead at his size is too fearless In a sense. Would be nice to find another good young 3rd safety though… Was a nice thing to have, especially when injuries happened
March 15th, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Coburn…don’t forget Lombardi Lenny, hopefully.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
GOAT is back. No worries.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Shaq Mason is very good, pretty durable, a pretty good deal in terms of quality versus cost on that contract.
He’s good at pass protection and is one of the best run-blocking guards in the league.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
I am starting to wonder if gronk will be back along with JPP. They haven’t addressed this DL.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Oh yeah we do need a running back
March 15th, 2022 at 4:26 pm
PassingThru our running game will be better. He posted a 85 pff number and only allowed one sack
March 15th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
He’s always hurt. Good riddance!
March 15th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
Honey Badger?
March 15th, 2022 at 4:27 pm
7m a year?? (walterfootball) sheesh. GL Jordan….
March 15th, 2022 at 4:29 pm
We got us a guard! Shaq Mason!
Upgrade over Kappa for sure? As good as Marpet
March 15th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
7mil a year for Whitehead. Glad we got that guard, especially for 5th
March 15th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
The draft is getting clearer……with Shaq Mason trade & Gage acquisition…..Whitehead loss….
Look for DT, RB, S, TE, CB maybe OLB….in no particular order.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Like the trade for Shaq Mason.
Paid a 5th round pick. He is due 19 million over next two years. He is 28 years old. Graded higher than Cappa and the same as Marpet.
1 sack last year and 4 penalties.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Lol @Tood
March 15th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Jason Licht has some balls that you could shoot from the Raymond James endzone cannons……no money and he’s spending it left & right…..trading, acquiring resigning……amazing…..
March 15th, 2022 at 4:33 pm
mark2001 Says:
March 15th, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Im telling you guys, loved the way Whitehead played. But watch…it hits too hard… suffering nearly the damage he puts on opposing players. Have to admire his guts…but I think he will be on the injury list chronically in the next few years.
****
Perfectly said. Remember that Pro Bowl safety Dungy has with the Colts? I can’t remember his name, but he was smallish and hit like a truck, then one year–when he was still very young–his body just broke down. He could NOT stay healthy. I see that happening very soon for Whitehead. I love the kid, but I think that’s one you let go.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Where the heck are the bucs getting this money from? Could they have reached a deal with godwin?
March 15th, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Going to miss Whitehead’s Lynch like thumping skills but I think Mike Edwards is the more cerebral player and will end up making a bigger impact.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Holy smokes
Licht is getting after it
I thought 2 biggest needs of 4 combined were third receiver and guard
Third receiver so important since godwin to miss a few games likely
We got 2 above averAge players
Pff had mason as 4th highest rated guard in 2021
And gage has 4.42 and can jump and has 70 plus catches for 700 plus yards and 4 tds the last 2 years
Now with getting guard and receiver , bucs can go d line (tackle and end) and db with first 3 picks. Awesome stuff.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
Bye
March 15th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
In Licht we trust!
March 15th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
Ronnie Harrison’s out there
March 15th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
You can sort of think of Mason as a near-equivalent of Ali Marpet, though they line-up on opposite sides of the Center.
Licht will have to restructure some contracts, but Mason is a damn good pickup. Now the Bucs can save their ammo and prioritize help at DE, CB, and possibly TE. Backup OT too, though that might be addressed in the free agency marketplace.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Feel like we are assembling another Superbowl roster.
Draft will fill positions to replace such as secondary and running back as well as trenches.
Restructuring contacts will free up cap space..
This roster I think we’ll be at least as good as last year.
March 15th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Hopefully we can sign RB/WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson
March 15th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
Plz resign Gronk and get someone upfront on the DL!!!
March 15th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Joseph I think you had Bob Sanders in mind. Was thinking of him as well
March 15th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Well he got a ring. And now it’s time to pad that bank account. There won’t be any rings for ANY New York teams. So take the millions. BUT….the Bucs better do something with that defense. They cost them a Super Bowl chance last season.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:03 pm
Keep shoring up that Offense Bucs. Gonna be real nice with Brady slinging completions all over the place and losing because of no pass rush. Our secondary seriously was never that good to began with.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:09 pm
Gronk will get resigned.
It wont be for a few weeks but it’ll happen.
safety or DT in the first. Running back in the second. 3-5 is CB or the other safety or DT. Best available.
I still think DT and CB is more important even with Whitehead gone.
What about resigning Gholston
March 15th, 2022 at 5:10 pm
I’ll miss that guy and his hitting. We’ll never forget that fumble he caused in the NFCCG right after half time.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:19 pm
I like him better than Davis but he really struggled tackling.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:25 pm
I wanted to keep whitehead over ALL defensive players.
Oh well. I guess $ talks
March 15th, 2022 at 5:27 pm
Gronk will get resigned.
It wont be for a few weeks but it’ll happen.
safety or DT in the first. Running back in the second. 3-5 is CB or the other safety or DT. Best available.
I still think DT and CB is more important even with Whitehead gone.
What about resigning Gholston?
March 15th, 2022 at 5:31 pm
We couldn’t pay 7 million go keep a star safety?? He hated being here that much??
March 15th, 2022 at 5:33 pm
whitehead is a thumper. To think the bucs paid double for the golden grill is and will remain a complete mystery to me.
Someone got into those stupid pills again.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Austin
There’s a lot of pieces to sign.
Besides, Edwards is better in coverage. They couldn’t keep everyone. As much as we love how Whitehead comes down and hits, he’s average in coverage and the way he hits, there is no doubt of my mind he will be on the injury list a lot
March 15th, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Stone crab… You love the big hits but Carlton Davis is way way better in coverage. In fact – across-the-board he is better at absolutely everything than Diggs, the all pro CB from Dallas. Diggs just got a lot of interceptions. Otherwise he’s below average, Davis is top 10
March 15th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Gholston, lenny, suh, and da gronk. Come on man.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Whitehead produced big hits in big games.
The golden grill, well I cant recall that in big games.
Remember when whitehead crushed that running back from green bay in the nfc title game year before last?
Those guys are not easily replaced David.
March 15th, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Man
Gonna miss that dude patrolling back there
Whitehead reminding all them receivers and backs that this is a man’s game !!
But we will be aight
Go Bucs
March 15th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
I liked Wnitehead, but I’m excited to see what Edwards can do as a starter.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:36 pm
Mark2001, I agree. Whitehead was good but just like a jackhammer beats itself up from hitting hard, so did Whitehead. Your best ability is availability as Joe says. Licht probably took this into account when making the must keep list.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Too bad. He is a solid safety. But you can’t afford to keep everyone. I wonder what the deal was ? More than we could afford I guess. Good luck in New York.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:41 pm
Whitehead was a throwback to another time when Safeties would destroy you.
He was so much fun to watch. Sorry to see him go.
March 15th, 2022 at 6:45 pm
There are still a few good safeties available in free agency, but the Bucs might be satisfied starting Mike Edwards there and drafting some competition for him. The Bucs have praised Mike plenty, and when he sees the field he tends to make splash plays. Jordan had a great season but hard choices need to be made. LFG
March 15th, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Maybe he grew up a Jets fan watching his uncle D. Revis, He was a beast in our secondary n definitely will be missed.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:07 pm
Bummer. I liked Whitehead. Can now see us drafting a Safety in the Top-4 Rnds. Thankfully signing Mason (RG) and Gage (WR3) makes it more likely that this draft will go heavy defense.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:10 pm
That will create a spot for the Honey Badger
March 15th, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Yeah, whitehead had little lunch in him for sure.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Whitehead is one of his big hits away from the end of his career.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:28 pm
Leaves for the Jets and high taxes. Makes sense
March 15th, 2022 at 7:28 pm
In case no one’s noticed, the Bucs have now absorbed the 2022 CAP hits for Jensen ($4.0 mil), Davis ($8.2 mil) and Mason ($7.4 mil), but not yet for Stinnie or Gage for some reason. That’s the good news.
On the bad news front, we now sit at the very bottom #32 spot with MINUS $21.4 mil of CAP space. But we do have 55 players now signed, so the Top-51 CAP number is now valid.
Within the NFC South, the Panthers have done a very good job of cleaning up their earlier salary CAP mess, and now sit at #5 with $30.4 mil CAP space with 62 players signed. The Falcons have also done a good job of cleaning up their mess, and they sit at #12 with $17.4 mil CAP space. Saints have actually made a lot of progress in the past week or so, and now sit at #29 with MINUS $3.0 CAP space (it had been at MINUS $70 mil).
It’ll be interesting to see what actions JL takes to clear more CAP space so we can re-sign several more players. Restructuring our big contracts greater than $10 mil (Evans, Brady, Shaq, D Smith, LVD) will make a pretty good dent in the current $30 mil ‘deficit’, but signing Godwin to a long-term contract would do a lot more. Still think we may see a few cuts in the future.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:35 pm
BigMacAttack … ‘Your best ability is availability as Joe says’.
Are you sure that Joe says that? Joe seems to be perfectly fine with re-signing Davis with his 80% availability (missing 14 games in 4 seasons). Whitehead’s availability is over 90% (only missed 6 games in 4 seasons). And he settled for only half the bounty that Carlton did.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:37 pm
Joe Rogan told him they make horse wormer in NJ
March 15th, 2022 at 7:38 pm
Bowles job now is to build a ‘No Name’ defense like the 72 Dolphins. I have visions of a ‘perfect season’ as the goal.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:40 pm
Great player. His run support will be missed.
If there’s one position this team has done really well at finding capable players to plug in it’s safety. Mike Edwards is a good player. The scouting department has done a great job at finding tweeners like Edwards, Whitehead, Adams, and Winfield recently.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:45 pm
@Stone Crab….If they are worthy they will be back.
March 15th, 2022 at 7:50 pm
That would be a MAJOR LOSS
March 15th, 2022 at 7:51 pm
Defense rules great read as always! I skip through a lot lot of posts to find yours. Minus 21 million means we are going to lose some fan favorites but that’s how the NFL works. Kick the can down the road as far as you can but like the saying goes you have to pay the piper.
March 15th, 2022 at 8:12 pm
he will be forgotten there
March 15th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
I DON’T GET IT …
With income tax and cost of living index, $5.4M in Tampa is equivalent to $7M in NJ. I’m certain Licht would have resigned Whitehead for $5.4M.
Why endure the losing, weather, and people problems of NJ/NY for the same $?
March 15th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Edwards will replace him…
March 15th, 2022 at 9:16 pm
Recall how well Edwards played in the Super Bowl run. Real ballhawk. The question is, what do they lose without Whitehead’s thumper talents? Do they need to sign or draft a legit strong safety?
Really too bad they didn’t grab Marcus Williams from the Saints. Honey Badger is a two-way. Keanu Neal is a hybrid SS/LB.
March 15th, 2022 at 9:36 pm
Dammit
March 16th, 2022 at 12:01 am
Whitehead was a spark plug for us. Going to be missed! I will remember him best for those 2 forced fumbles in GB that impacted the game huge in our favor. All the best!
March 16th, 2022 at 12:26 am
i think, they think, he’s an over bulked small guy with shoulder injuries, and he can actually re-injure himself with his hard hitting ways…
2 years at 15m or 3 at like 20 was reasonable…
i guess they thought if he relaxes a bit and doesn’t stay bulked he won’t be sh!t…
or he will tear the labrum, or more…
he really is a system player tho…can’t see him blending into a new system right off the bat…
shame to lose him tho…he was a good buc!
March 16th, 2022 at 1:09 am
That stinks, Whitehead was such a good player for us. Mike Edwards is fine, but is a big step down from Whitehead when you’re talking about every week play. But there is only so much money to go around and they have to resign Gronk still, so you can’t pay everyone.
March 16th, 2022 at 1:11 am
Wow, I only just saw the numbers, he got $7.25m? That’s a lot more than I thought he’d get, although it’s only for 2-years.
I don’t know if his play is going to translate to a bad team or not, but I do know how important he was in this defense, and he’ll be missed, bigly.
March 16th, 2022 at 1:53 am
The Jets will start to compete soon. They’re making some good moves and their QB is turning a corner. I was really hoping to keep Whitehead. He’s a gamer! Best luck to him.
March 16th, 2022 at 4:24 am
Sometimes it’s all about the money- he should’ve stayed with TB especially with the Goat coming back! Jets aren’t going anywhere….haven’t since Joe Namath!
March 16th, 2022 at 9:47 am
I still believe he would have made twice as much money staying with The Bucs. Maybe not in contract but over the long haul, playing with a a super Bowl team is much more advantageous than playing with a second class franchise.
March 16th, 2022 at 10:50 am
In the 90s, Whitehead would be a star. Now he’s a personal foul waiting to happen.