“Nothing Desperate Here”
April 22nd, 2022
“Breathe easy, Mr. Glazer.”
Joe hit a skeptical Bucs-loving friend with a great question this week.
Could the Bucs win the Super Bowl without a draft pick in 2022?
Joe believes the answer is, “Yes.” And the other dude begrudgingly admitted he could go there, too. The guy was moaning about how critical this draft is for Tampa Bay and what they must do, blah, blah, blah.
Of course rookies play roles on championship teams, even the Rams, a team that routinely trades away its draft picks. Their third-round pick last season, linebacker Ernest Jones, became a serviceable starter who made plays late in the season and finished with 61 tackles, one sack, four passes defensed and two interceptions.
The Bucs of 2020 had clear holes entering the draft and filled them immediately with Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Entering this season, the Bucs are in great shape among their starters. Former Bucs QB Chris Simms, the NBC Sports analyst who pays close attention to Tampa Bay, said this week of the Bucs, “We’re not desperate anywhere.” And Simms later repeated “nothing desperate here” when scrutinizing the Bucs’ needs.
He’s right. But he’s also assuming tight end Rob Gronkowski returns. Joe assumes that, as well.
Regardless, the powerful roster speaks to how well general manager Jason Licht has built the team. Joe still applauds adding Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal in the offseason. Bravo!
Simms thinks the Bucs should go guard or defensive tackle in Round 1, and the Joe typing here would do the exact same thing. Trenches, trenches, trenches, it’s hard to go wrong there with a smart pick.
For Bucs fans who want the offense to improve and at least maintain its greatness, finding an NFL-ready elite talent to replace Ali Marpet would be a good start.
Enjoy Today’s Ira Kaufman Podcast.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:56 am
I still like your Joe’s idea to trade Trask for a high round pick if hers better than all available QB’s in this draft.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:56 am
Guard is not a need. We have candidates who will prove more than capable.
Seems DL value may not be there when #27 rolls around.
I’m not confident that Gronk and Suh return, so we still have major holes that need to be filled in this draft.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:57 am
The draft is always critical because it helps cap and keeps young blood coming up.
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Yes if they trade the pick and Godwin for Deebo.
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:01 pm
Somehow the bucs need a WR that can go, either through FA or the 1st round but the bucs need one until CG is ready….kick the tires on larry fitzgerald he knows what is asked of the slot in this system
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:04 pm
1st- Interior OLine
2nd- DLine or LB
3rd- Secondary or TE
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Love this article. I like the idea of looking for the convergence of the best player available and a perceived need in the first three rounds. (I got that notion from a remark by Scottt Smith at the Buc’s site of course.)
I am looking at DT, Edge/OLB, TE, CB, S, ILB, WR, RB then almost every other position as my hierarchy of “wants”.
I automatically expect at least one DB and would not be surprised if we come out with two again this year. That seems to be a Licht signature move to me.
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:14 pm
Trade back with a team that has two 2nd rounders this year. Draft Trey McBride and Darian Kinnard (or a tackle who you can convert to starting guard and have him play backup OT as well); take a CB or a DT with the last 2nd rounder and a CB or DT in the 3rd. Perfect draft.
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:14 pm
They’ve already helped the secondary with 2 nice additions. D-line with a couple of old guys that aren’t signed yet is top priority.
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Joe……Didn’t you just spend an entire day arguing with several of us that YOU thought that secondary was the must have in round one while refusing to accept OUR position that DT should be a higher priority. Now in this article your promoting DT in round one. Nobody promised anything. What are you talking about? –Joe Your now supporting the very thing you argued against. 🤦🤦🤦
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:47 pm
“Trenches, trenches, trenches, it’s hard to go wrong there with a smart pick.”
Verily! Can I get an AMEN! Preach it Joe…..
Getting a quality young player (or 2) up front on Defense really HAS to be a priority this draft IMO. You can find very good OG prospects in rds 2>4.
1. DT/CB
2. CB/DT
3. DE
4. OG
7. TE
7. Return specialist
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:52 pm
1-DT
2-DE
3-OG
4- TE
5- LB
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Darlington is Henry Hill when Henry kept going on Stern acting like he was still made but was nothing but a rat. Darlington is running on shows commenting on Brady even though he has no insight. Being in Tom Brady camp circle of trust is like being in the mob. Darlington is a rat. Tom sr called him at a couple of weeks ago pre maturely saying Brady is retiring. Darlington is out of Brady trust circle. Go look it up March 2 he was on get up and said Brady wasnt coming back. He said Brady was enjoying he retirement with his family. He said maybe in june he will get itch but in my opinion he is done. Google Get up march 2. That same week Schefter on his podcast said Brady is not coming back. No insider not Shefter Darlington will ever break major news about Brady again
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:00 pm
My old eyeballs are still screwy.. I see ‘Scott’ with three Ts, now. 😳
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Sasquatch I don’t think Brady will agree with you.
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:18 pm
There are two Joes. And Joe is not anti-DT at No. 27, just far more pro-CB.
Also, Joe doesn’t know what Jason Licht knows about negotiations with Ndamukong Suh. If Licht believes Suh is gone, then yeah, Joe can see drafting a defensive tackle at No. 27.
Joe has always been very upfront about this.
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:37 pm
BPA!!!
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Drafting w/o having to handcuff ourselves to any “need’ is luxurious af, most teams wish they could go into a draft looking for talent behind the veteran presence on this team. All those years spent during the lost decade, pining for Mark Barron to play up to his billing, or getting Doug Martin to give us a stretch of consistency, and dont get me started on how weird it clamoring for Mike Glennon to start in 2013 lol
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Licht won’t draft a Guard in the first, especially with Bowles as the HC.
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:59 pm
The only three names that I would scoop in the first is Zion Johnson, Kenyon Green, or Tyler Linderbaum falls to 27. Other than that, trade back and let Licht do his thing with a couple extra earlier round picks.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:18 pm
HC Grover Says:
April 22nd, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Phoueck that shyte.
Trade Godwin?!?! You are insane.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:22 pm
Letsbuccinggo Says:
April 22nd, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Really? Have you had a discussion with Brady?
Frankly, I think the front office and coaching staff know better… and I believe they’re sincere when they talk about how much they like Hainsey and Leverett, and we know Stinnie has played rock solid in a playoff run…
So what do you know about what Brady thinks?
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:23 pm
To Sasquatch…Godwin is gone with the wind til December at least, then hope h can recover and who knows. Deebo is plug and play now. Trade Godwin and pics etc for Deebo. Deebo is 2 for 1 RB and WR. Best trade ever.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:30 pm
I would also bring AB back now that Bucco is out to pasture. AB and Deebo = Super Bowl win if the Bucs can pull it off. Nobody could stop the Buc O.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Sorry sasquatch take some chill pills sounds like you have all the answers.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:38 pm
HC Grover better yet trade Godwin and Fournette for Deebo our first round for their second round. Sign AB back SuperBowl 2023!
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:39 pm
I agree with the notion, Bucs can win SB without any draft picks. This has me thinking about trading all of our draft picks for key players that are already proven in the NFL.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Trading away draft picks worked for the Rams.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:44 pm
@ Ken YES!!! Now is the time. AB. Deebo, Proven Left Guard, That is what I thinks too. All we need is a D that can hold opponents to less than 24 points. Gronk is coming back and so are Suh and JPP will be in there and fired up.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:46 pm
I believe left guard should be top priority we have six guards on the roster that are not worthy of starting then why are they still on the roster. Stinnie and Johnson are the only ones that have significant playing time. Package the rest up for trade bait.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:49 pm
@LBGO I think keep Playoff Lenny to compliment Deebo and get a BIG fullback for 2 back sets. Imagine Lenny and Deebo set up behind Brady and Gronl YE with Evans and ? outside. If only we could get Deebo. Prolly a pipe dream but word is that he may be available….send up the Brady Bat Signal.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Lets get AB back. If he drops a pas make him do 10 jumping jacks and a strip tease. He is still a great receiver and clicks on the field with GOAT.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:57 pm
We’re not trading Godwin or Lenny. We’re just not… so play fantasy general manager all you want, but that sh!t ain’t happening.
April 22nd, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Tatoo de plane de plane sasquatch
April 22nd, 2022 at 3:09 pm
Expendables and my dream switcheroo
Godwin, Johnson, Miller, and Darden … For
Deebo, AB, and Julio Jones
I always wanted to see Julio in a Buc uniform
April 22nd, 2022 at 3:32 pm
I don’t want AB back. Why not just tap dance on a land mine?
Trading Godwin for Deebo might create more problems than you’d imagine.
April 22nd, 2022 at 3:37 pm
BF4…Please name a better WR on the market than AB. I say try to get him back. Maybe he can get along with Bowles.
April 22nd, 2022 at 3:40 pm
BF4 then cut Godwin and use the wasted 20 million to hire Deebo all we has to do is add 5 million and we have a full time player day one. Godwin is not the one and only saving grace for the Bucs. Right now he is nothing at all til December and then a big MAYBE.
April 22nd, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Don’t understand the alabama receiver Jameson Williams had the same surgery months after Godwins surgery and is suppose to be ready in september. Does Saban have better surgeons than the Bucs?
April 22nd, 2022 at 4:01 pm
You cannot sign AB after the stunt he pulled. Cost us a chance at the Super Bowl. That is like catching your wife with another man in your marital bed and saying ” let’s try again baby”. Utterly foolish.
April 22nd, 2022 at 4:36 pm
I’d be somewhat OK if the entire draft was traded for a s#!t-ton gaggle of 2023 picks, since I suspect 2022 will be the end of a SB run, especially if Brady leaves the house.
April 22nd, 2022 at 4:42 pm
If he plays well I do not care if he does the Macarena atop the UFO at 2001 Space Odessey in a Conga Line with the dancers.
April 22nd, 2022 at 5:35 pm
AB is an a55h0le. He burned his bridges and he’s not coming back. Keep playing fantasy general manager, but that’s all it is. Sad that your fantasy involves re-hiring an epic sh!tbag who quit on his team and is so toxic he can’t find other employment elsewhere in the NFL. Maybe you should stick to playing Madden.
April 22nd, 2022 at 6:11 pm
HC Grover, no way he can do all that on a bad ankle.
April 22nd, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Good one, Sparky.
April 22nd, 2022 at 8:54 pm
HC Grover. First of all , Deeboo is looking for Davante Adams money. Not worth it. We’ve got Evans Godwin and Gage for just a little more that that one player. As for AB he has publicly stated he is not having surgery on his injured ankle until he is under contract. Godwin will hit the field again before that narcissistic sel-centered douche.
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:11 pm
Definitely trenches in round one, personally I think D line. Specifically I think DT because an edge rusher will probably have a little impact his rookie year, at least picking at number 27 he would.
If they go with a lineman they think they could beat out Stinnie and have an immediate impact or start next year, I would not have a problem with it.
I know many disagree with this but I really think Jordan Davis, DT Georgia, falls into the 20s just based on other teams needs. If the 20th pick comes up and he is there, I would really really really like to see them trade up to get him.
That would probably only cost a second round pick and maybe next year‘s third. I would do it in a heartbeat. Davis and VEA next to each other for the next decade makes every single player on the defense better. The two of them would take up a minimum of 3 -lineman every play.
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:25 pm
I’m in favor of the Rams mentality. Screw the picks, get established players. You’ll see more and more of this. The draft will only continue to be defiled. Many, and I mean many of these draft picks, aren’t worth a roster spot. How many bums have been taken in the first three rounds of the draft over the years? Even the best GM’s have terrible years, and terrible misses. The draft is mostly a crap shoot. Now I understand this isn’t how you build for the future. But, the future is now on the NFL. Win while you can, suck while you have to
When you suck is a perfect time to draft, then once in striking distance, let em fly
April 22nd, 2022 at 9:53 pm
The d line as it stands today is not good enough, deep enough, experienced enough and Ya like Vaughn Miller told his Bitch D Smith Talented Enough …….. the Rams don’t play games with we may have or I think we have…… current Bucs Don’t Have !!! Sorry !!! 🍺
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:20 pm
HC Grover
No chance they trade Godwin.
1-He probably will be back after 4-5games.
2-Brady absolutely loves him.
3-You claim Deebo is a 2 for 1 by playing RB or WR…. The whole reason he said he wants to be traded is because he does NOT want that work load. It makes him a massive injury waiting to happen. The man took a pounding last year.
Anyway, sorry but this argument is ludicrous. Godwin will return healthy. Evans, Godwin, Gage make up arguably the top receiving trio in the NFL.
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:22 pm
On another note…. Flipping through channels and just saw Jeff Fisher is coaching a USFL team. LOL. I remember several buccaneer fans wanting him to come coach the Buccaneers, laughable. The man had 6 winning seasons in 22 years, so very overrated.
JOE- are NFL teams using this new US FL as training grounds? Are they going to own rights to players there or just another place to scout?
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:25 pm
Jimbo that idea you heard from Scott smith was literally taken from that days presser with Licht. You really think Scott Smith knows wth he’s talking about?
April 22nd, 2022 at 10:40 pm
Draft picks have become way more valuable with the current rookie contract structure. Rookie contracts are basically 5yrs now. 3yrs with a 5th year option. Draft a successful player and you get 5yrs cheap before a huge contract. But in certain circumstances trading picks for an established player makes sense. For the Rams trading picks for Stafford made sense when they did it. And the trade paid off.
April 22nd, 2022 at 11:38 pm
Jeff lane
You are correct with the draft picks. Because of their price they are more valuable than they were in the past. In the Buccaneers situation of just having Brady for one more year, along with a few other players most likely, they need to go all in. If that means trading for another vet they can somehow afford or moving up in the draft to get someone who can contribute immediately in an area of need, they should do it.
April 23rd, 2022 at 10:38 am
after his learning curve, jason licht has proved to be one of the best gms in the league. In every facet. I trust in him. i have ideas and things i would like to see too, but even if i dont like a move these days, licht has earned my respect and trust. I believe in him.