Was Calijah Kancey The Norm Or The Unicorn?
April 22nd, 2024
“Ira, I’m not telling ‘ya.”
If you are like Joe, you are mocked out right about now. Joe’s sort of in a zone on cruise control mentally until the draft begins Thursday night.
Joe may pay attention to Daniel Jeremiah’s final mock because Joe trusts him and knows who he talks to.
Other than that, can Thursday come any quicker?
Since the Bucs pick late, it’s anyone’s guess who they may go after. The NFL Mock Draft Database, which monitors some 1,200 mock drafts, still shows the majority of mockers believe the Bucs will select Chop Robinson, the unproductive edge rusher from Penn State.
Should we even be looking for the obvious signs? Take Calijah Kancey last year. He was the Bucs’ first-round pick but the selection took Kancey totally by surprise.
Last week speaking at One Buc Palace, Kancey explained how the Bucs selecting him was like a bolt of lightning.
“I didn’t have a feeling at all,” Kancey said. “I mean, I met with the Bucs at the combine. Other than that, I hadn’t talked to them.
“I honestly didn’t know. I didn’t. … You never know. You just don’t know.”
So with all of these 30 official visits and mock drafts and analysts hyping a player (often as a favor for his agent) to the Bucs, is it just a giant smokescreen?
Should we be looking for a first-round pick from a player that isn’t linked to the Bucs? Or was Kancey an outlier?
April 22nd, 2024 at 7:09 am
Ask me Friday.
April 22nd, 2024 at 7:14 am
I want the same results this time around…
April 22nd, 2024 at 7:19 am
I think our future ring of honor GM & his team do a fantastic job getting the players in here that are football guys mixed with talent . They have a pretty good formula now and I don’t see them changing that . They know what they are doing & weather or not us the fans or the player they draft have an idea of what they might do is meaningless..I just want whoever they draft to produce and be apart of this good culture the bucs have built . Go bucs !
April 22nd, 2024 at 8:00 am
I’M ALL IN ON … VERSE
I’ve been advocating “stay put or trade down.” The more I watch tape on Verse, the more I’m all in.
VERSE – CK – VEA – YAYA
The Bucs are a top 1-3 team in the NFC with that frontline and a new IOL. I say, go all in.
April 22nd, 2024 at 8:14 am
I would be happy with either JPJ, Barton, Verse, Latu, DeJean, or a trade back.
April 22nd, 2024 at 8:29 am
I see no way we can get Verse or Latu. JL would never surrender the picks it would take to move up that far
April 22nd, 2024 at 8:30 am
There is a 90% chance it’s someone the Buc’s haven’t brought in or even talked to at least in the first round. Definitely not a Kool-aide or a Chop!
April 22nd, 2024 at 8:37 am
Here’s a weird scenario. Licht might draft an OT at 26, and they move Goedeke to G.
April 22nd, 2024 at 8:51 am
Goedeke already tried guard in his first season and it was bad. Guy graded out well at tackle, no reason to move him.
April 22nd, 2024 at 9:18 am
I don’t know about using a top-30 on a favor to an agent buy they do use them on potential UFAs. Undrafted players go places they feel most comfortable. Where their skill set fits the system and feel like they’ll get a fair chance. The Bucs staff are top-notch at signing the best UFAs. The draft after the draft. Last year was an amazing UFA class.
April 22nd, 2024 at 9:22 am
67 is fine where he’s at. Upgrade the LG . I think Hainsey is ok but if we can upgrade there and he becomes the interior swing guy off the bench that would be great. I think we will draft Defense first because Todd Bowles.
April 22nd, 2024 at 9:43 am
Carnivores eat herbivores. Fact.
Monday night is steak night. Because every night is steak night.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:00 am
Mock Draft done at NFL Mock Draft Database:
26 Brian Thomas Jr – WR – LSU
57 Zack Frazier – C – West Virginia
89 Brandon Dorlus – DT/DE – Oregon
92 Jaylen Wright – RB – Tennessee
125 D.J. James – CB – Auburn
220 Jaylan Ford – LB – Texas
240 Caedan Wallace – OT/OG – Penn State
Commentary:
26th pick. Was not the priority on the board to get a WR but Licht could not pass on the wide receiver in the draft with a RAS score of 9.97 and unbelievable improvement between his age 20 to age 21 year.
57th pick. See Ira Kaufman’s review on this. High level wrestler, team captain, married, perfect 4.0 in college.
89th pick. A secret favorite of Todd Bowles. Can play edge in Todd’s defense but also can move inside for pass rusher on passing downs. Fits Licht’s recent tendency to take a little over aged guys that are more physically ready to take on NFL talent.
92nd pick. A position of need as both Licht and Bowles believe in running back by committee. Wright was chosen over Braelen Allen in most heated debate the Bucs have had in years on draft day. Licht’s push for high RAS score won the debate. Wright was 2nd among running backs in RAS Score this year at 9.82.
125th pick. This one was easy. Showed ability in college to play both man and zone coverage something Bowles values in his multisets. 27 PD in last three seasons. He is clearly capable gunner on special teams as well.
220th pick. His production and instincts in college were outstanding. He was team captain. However, he slid down so far because most scouts think he will be too slow in the NFL. Think of a guy like MJ Stewart where lack of speed continued to get exposed.
240th pick. Along with Brian Thomas Jr, this was the most surprised that the Bucs were that a player was available. They had a 4th round grade on Wallace, with skills that he can win a starting job both on the exterior and interior of the offensive line.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:15 am
If either Verse or Latu makes it into the 20s – trade up and grab him and pop the champagne.
Otherwise stay put and hope either JPJ or Barton makes it to 26.
If all 4 are gone – perhaps either CB Wiggins or WR Thomas falls to 26 – either would be a good pick and be good value at that spot.
If none of those 6 players are available and barring some unforseen drop by another highly rated player at a position of relative need – Licht needs to be looking to trade down and pick up another top 100 selection.
Thats my take and I’m sticking to it.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:20 am
Mike Evans didn’t come in for a pre-draft visit either. They wanted to keep it under wraps.
I took a look and it appears most first rounders came to One Buc before the draft, including Devin White, Vernon Hargreaves, Vita Vea, Jameis, and OJ Howard. Logan Hall at #33 was also brought in for a visit.
No sure about Tryon, and I assume Wirfs didn’t get to visit during the apocalypse
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:36 am
Can Joe get an “A-men!”
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:42 am
“Stanglassman” – I believe he was referring to just pre-draft ‘talk’ by all of these analysts pumping up a players name, etc. I also thought so, at first. It was a little confusing, but I don’t believe he was referring to an actual Top 30 ‘in-person’ visit.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:47 am
@Geno, thats who I think KC wants and will want to trade up with us. They need a WR. I think we can still land Powers at #32.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:55 am
GMs, like Licht, not only have to worry about information leaking out to other teams but also players and their agents.
April 22nd, 2024 at 10:57 am
I could see Latu dropping down to 26, but not Verse. If not for Latu’s neck injury, I’d be all in on an edge rusher at 26. However, this draft just doesn’t seem to have any good depth at this position and the last thing the Bucs need is another project at DE / OLB.
April 22nd, 2024 at 12:58 pm
I agree Joe A-MEN to a draft as good as last years
April 22nd, 2024 at 1:18 pm
LOL Too weird.
April 22nd, 2024 at 6:56 pm
Linebacker Bobby Boucher has to be our pick! Guaranteed 20 sacks.