Jason Licht: Consensus “Tends To Work”
April 15th, 2023
On Thursday, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht mentioned that when he has “fun” watching an offensive lineman’s film, then the guy typically turns into a special draft pick or free agent.
In Phoenix 1-on-1 with Joe two weeks ago, Licht shared another key to draft success.
Despite what teams say publicly, there are disagreements at club headquarters when it comes to draft picks and free agents. Strong consensus can be elusive.
And that’s a good thing. It’s never good to have a bunch of yes-men and yes-women running around sniffing the GM’s butt.
Joe was in stunned disbelief nine years ago when Licht herald total consensus on all things personnel at One Buc Palace. Joe didn’t believe the spin back then, but consensus is a legitimate positive, Licht told Joe recently. And Joe buys that after Licht’s track record of success as through 9 9 1/2 offseasons in Tampa.
Joe asked Licht to reflect on drafting Carlton Davis, Jordan Whitehead, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Mike Edwards and Jamel Dean during the 2018 and 2019 drafts. Selecting five huge contributors to a Super Bowl defensive backfield in that short timetable is extraordinary.
Licht talked about his pride in his front office and the coaches’ role in scouting and development those guys.
“Not only did we have great scouts, but the coaches played a big part in it, too. And we were on the same page with them on all of those players And whenever you’re on the same page with coaches where you like a player, it usually tends to work,” Licht said.
The consensus angle to this year’s draft intriuges Joe.
Licht hasn’t worked previously with new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales, and the Bucs have new assistant coaches on both sides of the ball. Plus, Bucco Bruce Arians’ voice is getting progressively quieter.
April 15th, 2023 at 9:46 am
I just have a funny feeling that Licht is gonna nail this draft!
April 15th, 2023 at 10:01 am
Success begins with a collaboration of Ownership, Front Office, Coaches and Players. The Bucs have been pointing in the right direction over the past decade.
April 15th, 2023 at 10:03 am
Trade diva…
Trenton Simpson
Darnell Wright
Darnell Washinton
Devon Achane
Mekhi Garner
Jayden Reed..
….aka MadMax, aka i know my stuff
April 15th, 2023 at 10:36 am
“Carlton Davis, Jordan Whitehead, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Mike Edwards and Jamel Dean”
If anyone at One Buc is bragging about these picks, they need to find a different line of work. None is a Top 10 or even Top 20. They were better than the Kickers Licht drafted. But not by much.
April 15th, 2023 at 10:37 am
We’ve had it good under Licht. You see what he’s doing during free agency?? We all thought we’d have to trade everyone and let everyone walk. Wayyyyy better than I thought it’d be.. plus he’s a really good drafter.. give Licht Credit, alot of credit
April 15th, 2023 at 10:41 am
What Licht has done during this free agency, and how well he has drafted, I’d say we are very lucky to have him. He built a stacked team BEFORE Tom Brady, and he’s trying to maintain it the best he can while being 50 mill under the cap…. bravo Jason
April 15th, 2023 at 10:42 am
Over* the cap
April 15th, 2023 at 10:42 am
Licht has been very good at the draft, which is why even after Brady has left we are still looking at the possibility of being relevant. Also as much as many of us have not loved Bowles as a head coach, his aptitude at finding gems in free agency is uncanny. Watch out for that quote signing of edge rusher we got few weeks ago, something tells me he may turn some heads for us this year
April 15th, 2023 at 10:44 am
Give Jason alot of credit for pulling off this off-season with 50 mill over the cap. His drafting record is solid, better than most GMs. I’d say we’re lucky to have him… built a team so stacked it lured Tom Brady to the buccaneers lol
April 15th, 2023 at 11:15 am
Pointing in the right direction the last decade Licht has 3 winning seasons in the last nine years I guess that depends on which direction your pointing.
April 15th, 2023 at 11:15 am
I guess he must’ve had ear plugs in for the past 2 drafts…..as far as overall personel issues he seemed to get a whole lot better upon the arrival of Arians…just sayin
April 15th, 2023 at 11:23 am
Synergy is underrated
April 15th, 2023 at 11:24 am
@Forthepeople, I’m pretty sure talking about Greg Gaines. He’s a nose tackle, not an edge rusher.
April 15th, 2023 at 11:26 am
I agree that he sounds pretty good at applying pressure from the inside. Ha comes pretty cheap too. I looked up his cap hit and it’s just over one million
April 15th, 2023 at 11:29 am
I missed that he has a $2.5 mil signing bonus.
April 15th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Licht is Right
April 15th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
Joe- “Plus, Bucco Bruce Arians’ voice is getting progressively quieter.”
BA’s been the queen of England for over a yr now, a figurehead for all his loyal subjects to bow to.
April 15th, 2023 at 12:09 pm
If BA had as much as a pinky on the pulse of the team, he would have taken his protege (BL) out to the woodshed and set him straight last yr.
April 15th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
BA is “Mr. Irrelevant”
April 15th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Shots fired at Mike Smith lol
April 15th, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Modhairken. You say they were better than the kickers he drafted. Funny thing is the 2nd of 2 kickers he drafted was at the pro bowl last year. So he must not he that terrible st drafting kickers. 1 for 2 isn’t that bad yes aguayo was a big miss but he was one of the greatest kickers in cfb history. Who would ever think he would have a major meltdown like he did once he got to OBP. While the guys he listed aren’t great they were a big part of us winning our first Super Bowl in 2 decades.
April 15th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Yes ModHair. You are waaaay off on that assessment. Those DB’s were good enough to win a Super Bowl. What more do you want? All of to be first team All Pro and first ballot HOF’s. Give me a break
April 15th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Everyone misses at the draft. It’s an inexact science. Some voices are louder than others. Licht does need to have an excellent draft if they are to win the stinking south. Problem is, we won’t know it for at least two years. You can’t properly evaluate a single draft without time. The jump from college to the pros is the biggest one.
April 15th, 2023 at 1:14 pm
DISSING LICHT? BETTER CHECK YOURSELF
First Round Picks Since 2014 in the NFCS
TEAM – TOTAL PICKS – PRO BOWLS
BUCS – 8 – 4
NOLA – 11 – 2
CAR – 9 – 2
ATL – 10 – 0
Licht has delivered as many Pro Bowlers in the first round as EVERY other them in the NFCS.
April 15th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
Was there “consensus” on drafting MJ Stewart so high? – with Donte Jackson on the board no less…..
Licht is easily a top 10 GM – but that MJ Stewart pick STILL bugs the crap out of me.
April 15th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Licht gambled the last two drafts drafting developmental players.
Licht better hope that Hall, Goedke, White, Otton, McCollum, Kieft, JTS, Trask, Hainsey, etc start to show up.
April 15th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
So the odds favor a good draft.
April 15th, 2023 at 2:43 pm
I love the draft, but I don’t get involved as I used to because I can’t stand all the people online who think they know better. They’re all a bunch of Monday morning quarterbacks sitting on their couch, talking about who they would have drafted five years after the fact. LOL
Licht (and his crew) is one of the best in the business. Sure, we all have proclaimed someone we would like and they turned out to be better than what the Buccaneers actually drafted. But some point to that for years as to why they are the best GM around. LOL.
Then there are the ones who constantly talk about the trades they would have made… Like other teams, don’t have a say in it. With the free agents they would have signed… Like a salary cap doesn’t exist and the free agent doesn’t have a say in it.
Watching football since the late 1970s I have learned one thing from the draft – you absolutely must draft an offensive and defensive lineman in the top three rounds –
Every.
Single.
Year.
Your WRs, QBs, RBs, DBs don’t mean a thing if you don’t win the trenches.
April 15th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
Ken, did you consider the fact that none of those picks were first rounders? And only a few were second rounders? Not a bad haul based on where they were drafted.
April 15th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
All_da_way this year Licht & Co need to stay away from developmental guys who are a gamble – Bucs need bonafides this year.
April 15th, 2023 at 4:47 pm
I agree with David and Redeemer. BTW, @Alldaway, I think a bunch of your listed players have already started to “show up”. Licht and Co. have done really well, imo. and I am looking forward to what happens this year.
Joes, I love how you held back and are still milking those Phoenix interviews with interesting articles! Well done. 😀
April 15th, 2023 at 6:33 pm
TRADE DEVIN & BRING BACK DERRICK BROOKS!
April 15th, 2023 at 9:22 pm
That mug of Big Storm draft beer sure looks inviting Joe !!!
Can we start the party early? (asking for a friend…well, not really)
April 16th, 2023 at 6:01 am
ModHairKen Says:
April 15th, 2023 at 10:36 am
“Carlton Davis, Jordan Whitehead, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Mike Edwards and Jamel Dean”
If anyone at One Buc is bragging about these picks, they need to find a different line of work. None is a Top 10 or even Top 20. They were better than the Kickers Licht drafted. But not by much.
____________
Davis and Dean are definitely top 20. Dean was top paid CB in free agency. Davis was among tops two years ago.
Along with Winfield, that’s the secondary that helped shutdown everyone in 2020 playoffs and win Super Bowl. You’re a fool if you can’t see that.
April 16th, 2023 at 9:04 am
Question is who breaks the ties?
Just kidding but someone will say Bowles I just know it! LOL
April 16th, 2023 at 9:06 am
MJ Stewart started for the Browns and the Texans.
MJ Stewart was just re-signed by the Texans.
We may have cut him.
But MJ Stewart is actually a starter in the NFL.
Which is quite amazing.
I wanted to make him a “money-backer”
I wanted MJ Stewart to replace Devin White on passing downs.
MJ Stewart could have made a badass LB/SS
He’s a nasty hitter!
April 16th, 2023 at 9:49 am
You guys want Dominic back?… Mckay? He’s done so well with Atlanta ya know. I would not want to travel with some of you. One of us wouldn’t make it.