Reason Bucs Did Not Draft A Left Tackle
May 9th, 2023
No left tackles to draft.
Now Joe remembers!
Over the weekend, Joe typed a story about Tristan Wirfs and his maybe move to left tackle. One reason for that is, well, the Bucs didn’t draft a left tackle.
Bucs’ vice president of player personnel John Spytek claimed the team was looking for a tackle but the cards didn’t fall properly where the Bucs could draft one.
And Spytek claimed the Bucs were not going to reach.
Joe cited a Dan Pompei article from The Athletic where Pompei noted the Bucs didn’t get their left tackle because they were never in position to draft a stud tackle.
Longtime NFL scribe Mike Sando regularly has columns where he speaks to NFL suits, scouts and coaches about other teams without them going on the record. In Sando’s latest column looking back at the draft (a piece Joe referenced in a past story but couldn’t recall the author to share), an unnamed NFL executive said there weren’t any left tackles good enough for the Bucs to draft, plug-in and play.
“I really liked the second-round pick, the North Dakota State kid (tackle Cody Mauch, who will play guard). He completely fits the mold of what they look for on the line from a grit, toughness, get-after-you mentality. Reminds me of Alex Cappa.
“The problem they have is, they don’t have a left tackle, and the problem with this draft is, there were really no left tackles, including some of the guys at the top.”
So that pretty much sums up why the Bucs didn’t draft a left tackle. They apparently didn’t like what was available.
The fact Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager said on SiriusXM NFL Radio that Wirfs flipping to left tackle isn’t yet etched in stone, that tells Joe that Licht is still hunting for a left tackle.
May 9th, 2023 at 12:14 am
Does it really need explanation? You have to be some kinda retard to not understand why they didn’t draft a tackle. Whenever there’s an agreed-upon need that doesn’t get filled it’s because the value just didn’t make sense, and they also had other needs to fill.
May 9th, 2023 at 12:21 am
Licht has plenty of cred on the offensive line, and if he didn’t think there was any tackles worth drafting, it probably means there wasn’t anyone worth drafting – or at least no one in the same value range as the pick.
Also, again, it’s not like this year matters. The Bucs aren’t one tackle away from being a contender. So take the best player available for now.
May 9th, 2023 at 12:32 am
In other news, water is wet. You’re welcome.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:07 am
Reason Why Bucs Did Not Draft A Left Tackle…….JL is worst GM in league.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:27 am
^^ You apparently don’t understand how the draft works.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:22 am
Jim Says:
May 9th, 2023 at 1:07 am
Reason Why Bucs Did Not Draft A Left Tackle…….JL is worst GM in league.
Yeah…… based on his superbowl ring, I would say worst is just a bit of stretch.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:47 am
The one possibility was essentially a D Smith clone. Slow and not a good run blocker.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:41 am
@Jim, the one you characterized as “the worst GM in the league” recently built a team that Tom Brady came to because he believed it was he best option to get another ring. And they won a Superbowl in his first year with that team. Do you remember that?
Because of the salary cap situation and the need to get younger and faster as well as having to fill so many holes, the team is essentially in rebuilding mode.
I would recommend listening to Sean Sullivan’s podcast from yesterday where he does a deep dive into the Bucs draft. Licht hit a home run in my opinion. Give the coaches a year or two to develop some of these guys. All opposing QBs will need to go into therapy due to having recurring nightmares.
May 9th, 2023 at 5:24 am
Jim Says:
May 9th, 2023 at 1:07 am
Reason Why Bucs Did Not Draft A Left Tackle…….JL is worst GM in league.
^^^^^^^^^
Who would’ve you drafted?
May 9th, 2023 at 6:13 am
Keep an eye on Brandon Walton. Maybe the Bucs think they have a better in house candidate. Walton might be a pleasant surprise.
May 9th, 2023 at 6:21 am
Nothing much in free agency either as all 4 LT FA are on other side of 30. Taylor Lewan 31, Eric Fisher 32, Jason Peters 41 and Dakota Dozier 32. I wish Donovan could have gotten himself together as when on, he was good… but when off… UGH.
Maybe we can find one during cuts made by other teams, but then again, what would be the quality….
May 9th, 2023 at 6:30 am
I would’ve takin Anton Harrison, even JBF wrote a pre-draft article on him and seemed on board with him as our 1st pick. We probably still could’ve gotten Kancey with our 2nd pick had Licht waited or we could’ve moved up if Jason was worried but personally I don’t think teams had Kancey that high up on their boards because of his lack of size as a DT. He probably would’ve been available in the 2nd. Hey, but it is what it is and I have huge faith in Wirfs making the transition and hope Kancey does overcome his measurables and tears up the league. I’m not complaining because I’m in it helL or high water.
Go Bucs!
May 9th, 2023 at 6:36 am
What is Roman Oben doing 😂 !! Rich McKay never got credit for being one of if not the best GM in football .
May 9th, 2023 at 7:06 am
You’re kinda late to the party
May 9th, 2023 at 7:11 am
Yep !
May 9th, 2023 at 7:14 am
I buy the explanation and am quite good with it. I do think we would have drafted that tackle out of Tenn but he was gone before we picked….as were others.
May 9th, 2023 at 7:23 am
According to Mike C Licht was the reason we won the Superbowl not Tom Brady. Look a the Patriots dude don’t be brainwashed.
May 9th, 2023 at 7:25 am
Wirfs will be the LT. And he will be dominant. RT will be a disaster. And the Bucs QB’s will get smashed.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Steelers gave up pick 17 and pick 120 to move up and take LT Broderick Jones who was widely regarded as one of the best if not the best LT in the draft. So for anyone to suggest there was NOT opportunity to draft a LT that would be ready to start on day one is just ignorant , the Bucs chose to NOT draft a LT , but they could have certainly.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:35 am
On a site littered with dumb takes, “JL is the worst GM in the league” has to be one of the dumbest.
As for Kancey, whoever said ‘take him in the second’ – he wasn’t making it out if the first round. Anton Harrison had a better chance of dropping. If Licht wasn’t sold on Harrison, I’ll take his opinion over some message board poster. His track record on identifying OL talent is exceptional.
Although there aren’t any sure things, Kancey seems likely to succeed. The pass rush sucked last year, especially from the front. Kancey should boost that.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:44 am
Tackles available on the cheap:
Brandon Shell. 31 years old. Arms 34 and 3/4. 60 PFF grade for last 6 years running but only an on and off starter for those years. Started 60 games in career.
Cameron Fleming. Also will be 31 when season starts. 34 inch arms. Started at tackle last season for Denver. 6 penalties and 7 sacks last season. Played in a wide zone rushing scheme last season and had a PFF grade of 72.6. He started 9 games at right tackle and 6 games at left tackle last year and was above a 70 PFF score on both sides.
Eric Fisher. Suffered the achilles injury right before the superbowl against the Buc. Came back and played the next season (for Indy) starting games 2 thru 17 for them (a sign for those saying Shaq Barrett wont come back). Had a solid season for Indy in 2021. Did not play in 2022 which still seems to be a mystery. Maybe does not want to play. But has talent.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:54 am
I think the Bucs will find a serviceable LT after June 1st. They will give him plenty of help from TE and FB. Moving Wirfs to LT isn’t the best long term plan. Remember, this year is a year to get younger, faster, and be in a position to draft either a QB or LT next year in the top 10.
LT – Not on roster yet
LG Mauch
C Jensen
RG Goedeke
RT Wifs
Feiler is primary backup at RT and G. Hainsey is primary backup at C and G. Leverett and Stinnie will fight it out for another backup G position. Justin Skule or Brandon Walton might develop into a serviceable backup at LT.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:02 am
Some of y’all that comment on here should be evaluated for mental illness. Looking at you Jim , Jeff
May 9th, 2023 at 9:22 am
Letsbucinggo Says:
May 9th, 2023 at 7:23 am
According to Mike C Licht was the reason we won the Superbowl not Tom Brady. Look a the Patriots dude don’t be brainwashed.
——————-
Yes, because it was because of Brady and not Licht’s defense, that we hounded Patrick Mahomes all day and had him running for his life. As Bruce Arians once said, I can win with __________, but I can win with other guys too. Brady was a very good QB for us for two years then lost his nerve last season. It was time to go… but don’t think for a second that we couldn’t have won with other QBs. The 2020 and 2021 teams were excellent overall teams. Not just Brady. If you think Brady is so good, why were we only 8-9 last season?
May 9th, 2023 at 9:42 am
Good news: Licht did not “reach” because of need.
Casuals don’t get it, as usual.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:54 am
The Bucs had a great second line of O-linemen last season. They rotated through and barely missed a step.
Some of those guys can play LT better than anyone in the draft class. Not to mention that they have had a couple of years in the system and with the Bucs strength and conditioning coaches.
The line might be shaky for a couple of weeks, but with gel into a a pretty good one.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:08 am
I also would like to know who Jim thinks was so great??
May 9th, 2023 at 10:38 am
All things being equal, which position is more critical? OT or DT? We may all in hindsight be thankful that the draft fell the way that it did for us to steal CK8 with the 19th pick. I think we are all going to love watching our defense wreck opposing offenses. Kancy was a much better pick at 19 than Harrison would have been for sure. Even if we could have traded back and picked OT later since 19 was too high for Harrison to be selected, we would all regret passing on CK8. For example, I would take Warren Sapp over Kenyatta Walker and that is kind of the mindset I think the BUCS had this draft class.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:48 am
IMHO I think Harrison OT Oklahoma would have been a better 1st rd pick & would not have been a reach.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:52 am
The Walker/Sapp comparison is spot on. Harrison, by all indications, seems to be a serviceable OL, while Kancey is a potential game wrecker. Much higher upside.
I, for one, like that Licht didn’t reach for need, especially if a much more highly graded – and also needed – player was a available.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:55 am
Agree with sasquatch’s first comment 🙂
May 9th, 2023 at 11:24 am
Some patently absurd comments on here today.
If Jason was gonna take a left Tackle in the first round. The guy had to be a better LT than Donovan Smith. Without doubt game one starter. There wasn’t one at pick 19 that wasn’t a reach. RT yes maybe. Better than what we have on the roster? I doubt it. So was RT a need in the 1st round? No!
Just my opinion but I think Jason and company think they have a RT already on the roster. One that can play in Canales new offense. Were they gonna find a more athletic LT in the draft that could outplay Wirffs? Dream on.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:54 am
Rayjay1122 Says:
“Warren Sapp over Kenyatta Walker”
Nice analogy. Lets hope it is an accurate one….
May 9th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Our best lineman is Wirfs. He can play LT, did it in college. Left tackles are hard to find, Wirfs is going to be our LT. You ain’t putting a rookie, or a journeyman on the left side when man beast Wirfs can do it. Goedeke is a second round pick who is going to play. He played RT in college, and did well there last year against Atl.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:47 pm
Some good takes and a few bad takes here. I’m glad the Bucs didn’t reach on somebody. First round pick needs to be a top 1-2 rated player at their position and the position needs to be one of need (exceptions for K, P, RB). This is exactly what the Bucs did this year.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Why not sign one of these guys in case this tackle thing blows up in camp?
LT/RT isaiah Wynn
Ok when healthy. Lakewood High grad. Still young.
LT/RT George Fant
Veteran. Injuries caught up last year. Still not a bad starter.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:09 pm
It was blatantly obvious by mid-round 1 that there was nothing left to draft at LT unless the Bucs were going to reach and draft a player 50-100 spots ahead of where they should be drafted. After the first 4, everything else drafted at LT will probably never be a starter in this league and certainly not good enough to start year 1. The Bucs drafted quite well.
May 9th, 2023 at 11:56 pm
Let’s say we did draft the equal of Wirfs, but on the left side.
Toad would be sure not to rest until the poor bastage played like he was a noodler instead of a football player.