Buccaneers Trade Up For Tight End Ko Kieft In Round 6
April 30th, 2022
Joe’s always in favor of drafting a player molded by Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck.
The former 49ers receiver and Bucs receivers coach is a high-octane leader of men and a damn good coach.
The Bucs just drafted Minnesota tight end Ko Kieft late in Round six and traded up two seventh-round picks to grab that pick from the Rams.
Kieft is a big dude at 6-4, 260 pounds and is known for his aggressiveness. He’s not known for speed or hands. He had 12 career catches in four seasons with the Golden Gophers, a big reason why he wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
If Kieft can block and beast on special teams, he will stick around.
April 30th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Best blocker in this draft
April 30th, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Dude had 8 pancake/knockdown blocks in a SINGLE game against Colorado 𤯠heâs known as âbloody and bruisingâ and âthe poster child for the attitude of our entire Football Team (Minnesota)â
April 30th, 2022 at 5:40 pm
FEAR THE BEARD!
April 30th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
I had to do double take on career catches đ
Blocking tight end that would not have been drafted but all good
Licht and arians putting some back during this draft.
We did fill some needs for sure
Not lets sign gronk And maybe suh
Cutting pinion almost frees up another 3 mil so should be around 15 mil under
April 30th, 2022 at 5:41 pm
Jason Licht is on fire!!!!!!!
April 30th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Very interestingâŚ
April 30th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
This is exactly the kind of pick we need……role player….blocking TE….>ST
April 30th, 2022 at 5:42 pm
Jumbo package!
April 30th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
Good move.
April 30th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
What is wrong with Jalen Wydermyer!?
April 30th, 2022 at 5:45 pm
This guy probably flying under the radar…..we have Fleck, Tyler Johnson & AWJ giving us intel on this guy…..
April 30th, 2022 at 5:49 pm
NOW we’re talking beef.
April 30th, 2022 at 5:50 pm
PJ Flecks says There’s teams looking for people that can do what he does,” Fleck said. “And that’s literally putting people on their back, over and over and over.”
OMG! Licht landed a mauler him and Grant Stuard are gonna tear it the Fck up! on special teams–they are gonna make it real special very worthy pick! Can’t wait to see what Lefwich does with him! awesome 6th round pick!
April 30th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Wydermyer basically didn’t show up for the pre-draft process. Ran a 5.03 40 with a 25 inch vertical. Players who declare early after basically flat lining in production and show they don’t take Draft prep seriously and/or are minus-minus athletes usually find themselves at the end of the Draft if they are taken at all.
April 30th, 2022 at 5:54 pm
The trend is obvious: Bucs are going to run it a lot the next couple of seasons, which I think is great. Take some pressure off Brady, help Trask transition into a starting role.
April 30th, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Ryan Jensen type, these 2 tight ends bucs drafted have Bradys fingers prints all over.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
Ko “Beefed” Kieft
April 30th, 2022 at 6:01 pm
This draft is a puzzling dud. A defense badly needing pass rush and DL depth, secondary and LB, and all they get is a raw Logan Hall and Zyon McCollum (a fine pick). That doesn’t begin to fix the problems on D.
So they devote even more resources to the offense? Two TEs!? So Gronk isn’t coming back? Neither Otton nor Kieft are Gronk, although thank goodness both can block.
Goedeke, an okay pick, likely solid, but a reach where he was.
Jake Camarda, punter, with a rd 4 !!!??? What the hell! A terrible waste, no matter how good he might be. Special teamers should not get picked higher than rd6 or off the street.
Rachaad White, a stiff hipped, stiff legged upright RB who dances instead of using his size to blast defenders, who was inferior to MANY other backs on the board.
They passed up great talent at every spot, and the defense still doesn’t have what it needs to win a SB.
Let’s hope there are big, big moves still coming in free agency and in trades.
Elite pass rushers are still available. Honey Badger and other solid veteran safeties also.
Lousy draft.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:02 pm
As opposed to Kobe Faker Kieft.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:03 pm
“This guy probably flying under the radarâŚ..we have Fleck, Tyler Johnson & AWJ giving us intel on this guy”
Which begs the question, why trade up to grab him?
April 30th, 2022 at 6:04 pm
And think the goal was to get some mean nasty guys with this draft
Lets face it. The saints are more physical. Rams too. So we addressed some needs
We ll see
Cant wait for season
April 30th, 2022 at 6:05 pm
H back
April 30th, 2022 at 6:06 pm
Certainly Licht’s affinity for kickers/punters was on full display late in Round 4. Personally, I like the kid from ASU in the 3rd. If Kieft can block, he may make the team. I agree with Joe. PJ Fleck is a maker of men. If I had a son headed to college to play football, I would have loved him to be coached up by Fleck.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Great pick we really need blocking depth on the outside oline.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
I disagree with you Steele.
I see no reason why Logan Hall with Bowles cannot become a Calais Campbell.
Took most of his snaps last year from the B Gap which is what fits what the Bucs wanted and needed. Some teams downgrade guys they think are tweeners and for some teams that is what Logan Hall appeared to be.
However, for Todd Bowles Logan Hall appears to be a guy that will be able to play inside a lot and some outside.
Who is feeding you the negativity on Rachaad White? Not sure why you want to hate on that guy that much.
Not only was Otton’s father a coach but his grandfather was the all-time winningest high school coach in the state of Washington history. If you don’t like the athletic ability of either Otton or Kieft fine.
But then why hate on McCollum who has crazy athletic ability and also has the 9th most passes defended IN THE HISTORY of FCS with 54.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Line up over center on punt and FG block team
April 30th, 2022 at 6:08 pm
I think Cho might be correct:
The Bucs may go more ground and pound in 2022, a lot more play-action, and not depending on Brady carrying the load, as well as not having the D on the field so long…
April 30th, 2022 at 6:10 pm
looks like Litch want to be big and nasty next season
April 30th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
What’s the story on Rasheed Walker? Top 50 prospect and now looking at going undrafted. Isn’t the 7th round where you throw caution to the wind and take a chance on a talented guy with a medical, character, or other red flag? He’s too talented not to try.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:13 pm
Steele is about as qualified to be a scout as Rich Eisen is to being a speed coach. Seriously, STFU.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:14 pm
That beard is raw beef.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:16 pm
Every draft need met. In what rounds is the only thing people have a problem with which is status quo.
Good job Licht!
April 30th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
@Tom S. Thanks I didnt know he played himself like that, maybe we can grab him if he goes undrafted
April 30th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Canât complain about this draft
April 30th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Multi tool Ruffian
April 30th, 2022 at 6:20 pm
This is worst draft the Bucs have had in 20 years. No name small school players they traded down and traded up in different spots to get when there are inarguably superior players on the board. Trading away a 2023 pick to move up day 3? Also hasn’t Licht learned his lesson on drafting special teams players? A punter in the 4th round? Pinon had a down year, but the 4th round? I hope we just drafted Pat McAfee. This is ridiculous. I’m extremely disappointed.
Its a good thing Bucs got Tom Brady. I know we’re all in for 2022 and Tom likes veteran players and all, but they beclowned themselves in this draft. I’m embarrassed to be a Bucs fan today. Is F minus a possible grade? It would be too high for a grade today.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
With these draft picks and FA signings, it seems clear the Bucs want to run the ball more this year. That’s a good thing. Balance.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:23 pm
A very puzzling draft.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Mike S Says:
April 30th, 2022 at 6:20 pm
This is worst draft the Bucs have had in 20 years.
Wanna bet blowhard?!
April 30th, 2022 at 6:31 pm
HilariousâŚ. empathetically passing judgment on the draft.
April 30th, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Andre Anthony
Last pick out of LSU graduate student in sports management
April 30th, 2022 at 6:38 pm
Mike S
Take your embarrassment and stick it where the sun doesnât shine, we donât need âfanâsâ like you!
April 30th, 2022 at 6:49 pm
geno711 Rashaad White was a wink and nod to Herm Edwards so he can point out his players get drafted during recruiting. Certainly wasn’t made for the best interests of this football team. White is at best a perimeter guy with meh quicks and no explosiveness who’s only saving grace is he has workable hands and they say they are going to coach up on pass protection. I hope he’s a quick study, because if he can’t pass block Tom Brady won’t let him in the huddle.
Only thing Logan Hall has going for him is size and for a size guy he’s not that big. He will get blown off the ball on running downs. So what they drafted a passing down inside pass rush guy who didn’t get a lot of sack production at Houston and wasn’t on the stat sheet at all in half their games last season.
I guess they Goedeke because he is a cornfed guy who likes tractors? The guy has injury histories going back to high school. Played TE as a D3 walk on before moving to tackle and quit on his team late last year. They trade up to get this guy. The only way he doesn’t wash out is if the Bucs make him a reserve player and he never sees playing time. Even then he’s probably going to get injured. His track record for playing complete seasons isn’t good.
The two TEs are backups/blocking filler for short yardage and special teams. Yawn.
McCollum is best pick they made with the highest upside and the only reason he fell to the Bucs dumb luck. He’s raw I’m not expecting impact in 2022, but maybe 2023.
I don’t even want to talk about the Punter because a 4th round pick burned on a punter is a joke and a signal to the fans there are serious thinkers making these picks. They want to cut Pinon – OK so now everyone knows. You could improve upon dead last in the league on net yards any other way then drafting a 4th rounder?
I’m dumbfounded. Absolutely puzzled. These guys want to win right?
April 30th, 2022 at 6:50 pm
This draft is pretty MEH
C+ at best – if that.
Seems like more projects than immediate help
Blech
April 30th, 2022 at 6:57 pm
UFAs to consider
Kevin Austin WR ND
Reggie Roberson WR SMU
Smoke Monday S Auburn
April 30th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Josh Jobe CB Ala
April 30th, 2022 at 7:01 pm
Cry babies! Want to be General Managers
April 30th, 2022 at 7:15 pm
I give this draft a bang average B. No terrible picks apart from the punter pick, but no amazing picks either… Step your game up Jason, step your game up! Step it up Jason!
April 30th, 2022 at 7:25 pm
Um guys just because you don’t know much about the player doesn’t mean it was a bad draft pick. We needed to add quality depth and role players; which is what we did.
April 30th, 2022 at 7:31 pm
that’s what i mentioned earlier…dump some 7’s and grab a 6 for a player you have an eye on…
good job bucs…
glad to see mr. licht is reading joebucsfan.com from inside the war room…lol đ
April 30th, 2022 at 7:33 pm
Time will tell. Let’s see how this looks in 2-3 years. I don’t think Licht did anything with his trades that he couldn’t have done staying put. Not sure one guy wouldn’t have been there with the 6 picks we went in with. I guess we will never know. But I do know that we are down a 4th again next year…again!
April 30th, 2022 at 7:42 pm
32 inch vertical at his size isn’t crazy but shows decent athleticism. Let’s see what buddy can do.
April 30th, 2022 at 7:48 pm
Geno, look at the film on Rachaad. I have, for the entire pre-draft, and didn’t like what I saw. There were so many other better backs with more natural talent and better just about everything that Rachaad. Senior Bowl, he showed some flashes. I didn’t like his combine film at all.
I don’t like stiff upright runners with limited lateral quickness, who juke and dance (and get taken down) instead of exploding through holes, and going right and past single defenders who are at a disadvantage. Go look at his game film.
There were so many better options at that spot.
April 30th, 2022 at 7:55 pm
The main problem, in my opinion, is the lack of instant impact with this draft. Near immediate starters. The team doesn’t have the luxury of missing opportunities with a one year window. Developmental guys are for the future, fine. A SB with Brady demands more than what is there as of now.
Painful to see the talent they passed up. The quality of what they got, I’m not sure.
Hall has potential, but is like JTS. Raw, needs a lot of work. Goedeke and McCollum may be promising. That’s about it.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:11 pm
He’s nasty. Instead of picking a number, they’re just putting a skull emoji on his jersey. đ
April 30th, 2022 at 8:21 pm
I am not sure why anyone says Hall needs a lot of work.
His downside for some is that they consider him a tweener. Bowles likes versatility. He fits what the Bucs need. 75% of his snaps were B gap last year. He will be fine in this defense. Maybe not day 1 but early in the season no doubt IMHO.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:22 pm
Rashaad White and Otton clearly had the Tom Brady stamp of approval unlike Rojo and O.J. Howard. These guys will fit what Tampa needs for this year.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
Inch taller and 10lb heavier than the Czonk.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
I like all this years Draft choices .All the players fit specific roles and can eventually become starters and key reserves .Bucs donât need immediate starters .
April 30th, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Now we can pass protect for Tom against 2 elite pass rushers and saved on the cap with a good punter. We need a free agent pass rusher and gronk with a dash of J.Jones. SB roster?
April 30th, 2022 at 8:34 pm
Here was a past draft profile on a running back’s weaknesses:
Weaknesses
Long-strider
Doesn’t always look like he has the foot quickness to burst through the hole consistently
Allows defenders to get a hand on him through the replace and isn’t a classic finisher
Tends to hit the brakes too hard in order to make his cuts
Questionable vision
Looks to make cuts instead of keeping the run play-side
Scouts want to see more fire in his play demeanor
Play strength and blocking are problems
Goes down too easily
That was David Johnson. The Arizona Cardinals selected Johnson in the third round (86th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft. Maybe just maybe Rashaad White who was the 91st pick can somehow work out well. By the way, David Johnson overall draft grade was lower than Rashaad White’s.
April 30th, 2022 at 8:48 pm
I agree, Mike S. Some potential in McCollum. Hall needs a lot of work, same as JTS. Goedeke, okay if healthy, but was a reach. Yes, Rachaad was a wink-wink, and a reach, and a flawed RB.
I’m deeply concerned. You look around at what Bengals, Ravens and other teams managed to do, more like what Bucs should have done.
I don’t see a SB roster. I don’t see the holes filled yet.
April 30th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
This pick has me worried that Gronkowski is not returning. On the other hand, they still only have 4 TEâs so maybe itâs just depth and looking towards the future. The guy is a beast for run blocking.
April 30th, 2022 at 9:28 pm
I just have to disagree with most people here are being so pessimistic and saying nothing impactful.
The D lineman will be in the rotation.
The running back will be in the rotation.
The O lineman might be fighting for a starting guard spot.
The TE will definitely be playing. A lot if Gronk doesnât come back.
The CB may be a return man. And if you read about him, he is highly regarded, said to be the highest graded athlete at DB EVER! in the history of the draft. Several sites say heâs one of the big-time sleepers in the later rounds. The guy can fly and has a 40 inch vertical and good hands.
Not saying heâs going to jump up and start but sounds like an impact player at the very least in special teams to begin with.
They needed a punter and got one, which helps with field position, which helps with a special teams coverage, and saves them a couple million To potentially sign back Gronkowski or SUH.
Basically they addressed every single need and other than the second TE taken all of them are going to see the field one way or the other.
Just because theyâre not some of the players you think were better, doesnât mean anything. I had favorites I thought they shouldâve drafted but I am under no illusion to think I know better than their scouring department.
Over 60% of everyone in rounds 1-2 will be a bust. So are the players we thought they should take, some will pan out and some wonât.
Have faith and LFG!!
April 30th, 2022 at 10:57 pm
One way it’s going to be easier to talk Gronk into coming back is telling him he won’t have to be in there on every running down getting beat up.
The Bucs have gone heavy on pass catching TEs over the years, although OJ was a better blocker than people give him credit for. But in previous years you’ve had OJ, Brate, Hudson, and the Canadian kid who was the only real grinding blocker.
People also need to remember that Arians didn’t use his TE’s for anything other than blocking before Brady got here – not never, but not that often. Remember all the complaints on this forum of people saying, why aren’t we using our TE’s, where’s Gronk, where’s OJ, where’s Brate?
Well once Brady leaves, the offense goes back to Arians offense, which means you’re not throwing to the TEs, they just need to mainly block. So long term these are good picks.
April 30th, 2022 at 11:56 pm
his first name must be short for “Knock Out”
dude will knock you out…
let the rams know
May 1st, 2022 at 2:19 am
agree with adam we need to unleash KO Kieft during the rams game or perhaps the saints game just his attitude will help us over the hump–we need to beat the saints–tired of getting our ass kicked by them
May 1st, 2022 at 3:32 am
To all those saying that Brady made any decisions in this draft are crazy. Brady had zero input. Licht probably just shot him a text and gave him a run down on the players he drafted, but Brady in no way had any decision making input on specific players. You really think Brady gave Licht the green light to draft an undersized back in the 3rd round who canât pass protect? Surely, Brady wants to be killed by one of his backs whiffing on a free rusher. He really has loved it so far. Weâre supposedly in win mode now, and this draft did absolutely nothing to help our SB chances this year on both sides of the ball.
May 1st, 2022 at 9:37 am
Bucs need to get more physical to handle teams like the Rams and NO. Hope this kid can kick some ass.
May 1st, 2022 at 12:08 pm
It will be interesting to see how Klieft will be used. First off, I don’t know if his hands are suspect. Minnesota had a very run-oriented offense, which means the box was stacked with defenders. Unless a TE has outstanding speed (Klieft doesn’t) you won’t throw the ball his way if you elect to pass. I’m not expecting much in the pass-catching department out of Klieft, but I’m keeping an open mind that he might be better that the college stats suggest.
As Joe speculated, he could be a FB. He’s a bit tall for a FB, but he loves to hit. Despite the difference on where they line-up, a FB and a TE have a lot of commonalities in their skill sets. It isn’t a stretch to see Klieft at FB.
It’s also possible that Klieft could add some weight and transition into a developmental OT. His wingspan is acceptable, he’s athletic, but he’d definitely need some additional weight.