Bucs Don’t See “Throwaway” Picks
April 27th, 2024
Former Bucs kicker Matt Gay.
So Rounds 4 through 7 of the NFL Draft are today and few things get Joe to throw boulders through windows more than hearing someone talk about “throwaway” NFL Draft picks in late rounds.
There is no such thing and Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht talked about that early Thursday.
Flash back to 2019. The Bucs drafted kicker Matt Gay in Round 5, despite a ton of needs on the roster. Joe can’t tell you how many times Joe heard, ‘Hey, no big deal. It’s a throwaway pick. Maybe the kicker will work out.’
Well, drafted immediately after Gay was Amani Oruwarive, a cornerback out of Penn State who had a nice run in the NFL that includes nine interceptions. Two picks later was linebacker Dre Greenlaw. He made the all-rookie team and is a rock in the beastly San Francisco defense. Think the Bucs would like him right now?
One pick later was Hunter Renfroe. Anyone remember his 103-catch, Pro Bowl season in 2021?
Licht told Buccaneers.com that trading up — and giving up picks to do it — is never taken lightly.
“Those picks are so priceless,” Licht said.
Joe would love to see the Bucs trade up today and grab a running back that can make an immediate impact, and maybe they can trade up to find a good blocking tight end.
But the decision won’t be made lightly, and it might include a 2025 pick, something Licht has done in the past.
That’s how the Bucs acquired cornerback Zyon McCollum in the 2022 draft. They traded a 2023 pick.
April 27th, 2024 at 11:46 am
Not sure about RBs but there are ALOT of DBs
April 27th, 2024 at 11:47 am
I for the life of me can’t understand why we haven’t taken a running back yet
April 27th, 2024 at 11:48 am
That’s also how we got Palmer….using this year’s 5th…….and yes, we should trade up for the right player. The problem is sitting at the bottom of these rounds
April 27th, 2024 at 11:49 am
Who do you trade up for….top 4 are already gone in a weak class
April 27th, 2024 at 11:49 am
For how big our scouting dept is you think they would try to get as many picks as possible. Maybe they did.. who knows.
April 27th, 2024 at 11:50 am
JL has been uncharacteristically reserved in the 2024 draft…. So far.
Don’t have much draft capital for a move up or a double pick in today’s round 4 so it would have to be a future pick or a player in the mix
We will know soon enough and then off to the UDFA scramble!
April 27th, 2024 at 11:55 am
I think if we could give a 6th, and 7th to get a 5th back, it would pay off. Like the idea of getting anything for JTS in a trade. What to pick next? I hope they have a DT in mind.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Licht’s worst trait is throwaway picks—kickers and guys like kieft and Grant Stuard. He outsmarts himself, like Bowles.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
Why in the world would you trade up in the 4th for a RB? There will absolutely be a RB2 available when we pick. We already gave up 2 6th rounds picks in the Carlton Davis deal. We don’t exactly have the capital to give away.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:03 pm
There’s value in staying where you are or trading down. You certainly lose players by getting cute with the trades.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
He11 Brock Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant, not to mention the number of UDFA’s that are found each year. Hope we can find guys who can make an impact today. Fingers crossed on Estime.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
Trask for a 5th! 🙂
April 27th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Looking back, the pick on Gay was a good one, we just didn’t give him enough time to develop. He’s one of the better kickers in the league now.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Gay had emotional/depression issues not physical, happy he was able to sort his off field life out.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
MadMaxi…Estime is still out there.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
I have my fingers toes and ears crossed for. Estime
April 27th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Braylon Allen is still there. He is a big, strong running back who is hard to take down, breaks tackles, and plays fast. He did not run the 40 at the combine or at his pro day, but he plays fast on film. With his size and strength, speed is less a part of his game than power. Still, he runs with violence, has good balance, and when in space, is hard to catch (or tackle).
April 27th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
I’d be happy with Allen as well
Both are bigger bruisers…I believe Allen is the bigger though
April 27th, 2024 at 12:56 pm
OrlandoBucFAn …that’s what I’m hoping for a guy like that.
A truck.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
Agree with Orlbuc fan and Buc1987.
If the Bucs could now get Allen to complement their RB room I”d be excited.
The RB’s I’ve seen suggested other than Allen and the USC heavy guy, not the Rachaad White clone are simply more of Rasheed White.
I have a great deal of respect for White. He’s a true offensive weapon but he’s not going to be a POWER RUNNER between the tackles…although with a couple more guys like Barton and Wirfs…. White is just not that guy. IMO
Chase Edmonds played through injuries last year but by the end of the season he looked like a competent backup. White…Allen..and Edmonds as a backup are a pretty darn good lineup of RB’s…especially if the Bucs keep improving the OL!
April 27th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Took Bucky Irving, RB.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Welp they drafted a RB…so there’s that.
April 27th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Not a fan of this pick but w/e we can never find a home run rb with our scouts. Id rather JL pick any position except back. I’m a white fan but he’s not a home run level player. He’s really solid but not great.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Bad teams whiff R1/R2 or both. Decent teams don’t, and nail a R3-5 pick. Good teams hit most picks between 3-6. Great teams find gems every round; that was Belichic’s magic…until it wasn’t. Licht and company are between good and great
April 27th, 2024 at 9:23 pm
The math generally supports extra picks where possible. Wish we had more of them.