Jason Licht: It’s The Person, Not The Player
May 1st, 2025
Revised scouting method works.
Right about the time Bucco Bruce Arians came to town, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht figured he had to tear apart his draft philosophy, process and scouting approach and start from scratch.
And that is why you see the Bucs having consistent success this decade.
While appearing on the The Pat McAfee Show yesterday, McAfee pointed out that beginning with the 2019 draft, every player picked by the Bucs from Rounds 1 through 6 was on NFL rosters last year.
That’s 38 players, an incredible total.
In short, outside of seventh rounds (which are total rolls of the dice), Licht hasn’t struck out once in five straight drafts and counting.
Licht then explained how, five years ago, Licht didn’t like his batting average in the draft. So he decided to have a big staff meeting and the decision was made to craft a completely different attack plan.
Licht told McAfee the Bucs now put a stronger emphasis on the person, not the production or skillset, though those last two elements are still highly critical.
Results have told Licht his changed method is the way to go.
“First of all, I mean, I got a phenomenal staff,” Licht said. “I’m lucky, and the only thing I’ll take credit for is hiring well.
“It was about five years ago, you know, we weren’t having the success I wanted in the drafts. Kind of had a pow wow, got together, just all of us, the whole staff, talking about, what are the picks that have made it? What are the picks in the history of the Bucs that have made it? It was the person.”
Licht didn’t think the Bucs previously missed on drafting guys without good skill sets. But something was missing in how the same players weren’t maxing out their abilities.
Licht found that if you pick a good person, the talent will often take care of itself.
(If you think about it: Joe believes this sort of worked for Father Dungy as well.)
“So what were the qualities of the person?” Licht asked rhetorically. The goal was to strive for a player who embodied Lavonte David’s character and ability. That was the new model.
“You know, we put the players that are worthy of being drafted on the draft board,” Licht said. “We kind of take the @ssholes and the dou#%bags off and guys that don’t love football and guys [who] have proven that they don’t like [football]. They’re difficult to deal with.”
Key here is Licht realized his previous method wasn’t working, or at least wasn’t working well enough. So Joe gives Licht credit for having enough of an open mind to sit down with his staff and demand input to come up with a brand new plan.
Occasionally, Joe is asked what it is like to cover the NFL. Joe always cautions folks to never, ever underestimate egos in the NFL. They are massive and are often so big that many shot-callers and coaches are simply incapable of recognizing they are not smarter than your average bear and may need to change or adjust.
So in an ego-driven league, Licht wasn’t blinded by his ego and could see he needed to go back to the whiteboard and seek input on how the Bucs could build a better mousetrap.
Most general managers would never allow themselves to think their plan wasn’t the NFL standard.
May 1st, 2025 at 3:55 am
We had a great GM. I hope he retires with the Bucs.
May 1st, 2025 at 3:56 am
Have a great GM.
May 1st, 2025 at 4:08 am
Jason Licht is built different, dude is very humble, down to earth, open minded type of guy who learns from his mistakes. It is unreal how this guy has absolutely nailed the blue print on how to build a Team wich is thru the draft. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he has done but the media is finally starting to take notice. We are truly spoiled as Bucs fans to have Licht. there isnt another team(not even close) in the league that is better at building there team thru the draft.
May 1st, 2025 at 4:41 am
There is a balance!
Gotta have some elite a’holes sprinkled in !
May 1st, 2025 at 4:41 am
I totally get the point about drafting high character, good people, to play on your football team. They are less likely to run into situations that will keep them OFF the field. I.E suspensions, legal issues, etc. If they are not on the field they do you no good. The dilemma lies in finding those good people with high character who have that dog/go to war mentality on game day. Certainly you don’t want to count on the paper boy or choir boys either.
May 1st, 2025 at 4:50 am
Rod Munch and others like to make fun of those of us who talk about drafting high character guys. Now I feel like we are vindicated.
GO BUCS!
May 1st, 2025 at 5:05 am
This kind of post will ruffle the feathers of all the haters and dooshbags on this site.
All the hateful and mean men on here will take this post personally after they look in the mirror.
The hatin fans and the racist fans and rhe fair weather fans will not be able to understand the quantum physics and metaphysical nature of a locker room and team culture.
The fans on this site without honor or compassion or brotherly love will hate Licht for these words because his words reveal their darkness and hateful nature.
I’ve always said. I’m a fan of the man under the helmet. I love my Buccaneer brothers as human beings not as objects.
Many ignorant fans objectify players.
I humanize them. I respect them. I admire their struggle to make it to the NFL.
Fair weather fans? Heartless fans?
They just don’t get it. Their hearts are too hardened to understand that the Buccaneers are about FAMILY and HONOR during an era of wickedness and spiritual corruption.
Go Bucs!
FAMILY!
“Forget about me. I love you.”
Sounds like Jesus to me!
May 1st, 2025 at 5:54 am
So Licht’s 1st pick after having this ‘character matters’ epiphany was Devin White… The guy who openly stated that he was expecting $100M come contract time – but never said a word about earning it or wanting to be an all time great football player….
Ooops…..
May 1st, 2025 at 6:12 am
It’s taken me a long time to learn so little. One thing I HAVE learned is the worst lies you can tell are the lies you tell yourself! As pointed out Jason is confident enough to listen to himself separating ego and reality, what is true and what is wishful thinking.
Pickgrin
I take your point but nobody is perfect. And I try to eschew hyperbole so forgive me this time.
Without DW45’s incredible play during the SB year would the Bucs have grabbed that second Lombardi? I’m not sure.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:09 am
Fair enough spbf….
There really is no good argument that the Bucs would have earned a 2nd Super Bowl victory without the contributions of Devin White during that deepest of playoff runs.
White put together 3 fantastic games (after missing the wild card game with covid) to finish off the 2020 season in the grandest of fashions….
At that ONE moment in time – Diva, as I prefer to call him, looked every bit like a #5 overall pick and perhaps the 2nd coming of a Ray Lewis / Mike Singletary type talent at MLB…..
And those 3 games were the last we would ever see of White’s immense physical talents being utilized to their fullest on an NFL football field…
Being the best player he could possibly be and football in general were just not very important to Devin White it turned out….
A cautionary tale to be sure – and a situation I’m quite sure Jason Licht learned a lot from…..
I love our GM but just found it ironic that as soon as he had this epiphany – he burns a #5 overall pick on a guy who gave signs – even publicly – that perhaps he was not worthy of that type of investment – especially considering positional value and that MLBers almost NEVER get selected that high….
I personally was 100% on board with the Bucs taking White at #5 pre-draft that year so I certainly can’t criticize the pick as well as Joe who I believe was pushing for Edge Josh Allen. That’s who should have been the pick in retrospect….
May 1st, 2025 at 7:28 am
With this recent philosophy, I wonder if Licht would draft Sapp???
May 1st, 2025 at 7:34 am
Hunter, you are correct. During the draft Munch made fun of every pick that cried after his selection. Suspiciously I didn’t see him criticizing our picks who did the same. Munch is a fake alpha who is obsessed with such things.
May 1st, 2025 at 7:47 am
Teacherman — is it you that more and more bring Jesus Christ into these discussions.
If you have two things in your life and they are Joe Bucs fan and Jesus Christ —
I ask the following: In this blog talk about JB all the time and leave JC to endeavors outside this blog.
“I never told my own religion, nor scrutinised that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another’s creed. I have ever judged of the religion of others by their lives.”
Thomas Jefferson.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:02 am
Is it possible Devin White had the following happen as his career progressed:
1. Love for football diminished
2. Love for horses and horseback riding increased
3. Amount of money he was making and notoriety he was getting went to his head
??
Is it possible Devin White = Eddie Haskell?
All I remember about Eddie Haskell is he was a sneaky guy, and it looks like Devin White’s character flaws flew under the radar. That’s kind of sneaky.
Keep drafting the good citizens… as long as only the other team thinks they’re a holes, I’m good with it.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:07 am
This is amazing! I think the above is the hallmark of a great GM. You won’t be able to keep everyone you draft, but every pick is an asset if you hit and Licht has hit around 85% of his draft picks in that stretch. Who’s done better? Over the past 11 years I’ve gone from thinking Jason Licht was a terrible GM who deserved to be fired to Licht being the best GM in the NFL.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:14 am
Geno, well said brother.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:15 am
I remember DW having to have a bit of a different role in his 2nd and 3rd season. LD was out for a time and DW’s stats had fallen, remember peeps talking about it, some on here and Bowles saying DW had some different assignments based on injury and some on schemes/situations. Heard some grumblings then so maybe his desire to be a team first person was showing? He was the right pick where he was drafted just went south for whatever reason but the reason is ALL on him. Even after the the trade request and sit down, apologizing to media, yada yada yada.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:20 am
Agree 100% with the premise of drafting good, solid, and team first individuals. I would ask that we apply the same metric to signing FA’s-i.e. Antonio Brown. I believe Teacherman is just witnessing his faith and it is most admirable.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:33 am
So for those fans that wonder why “their guy” has not been picked instead of the guy the Bucs did select. Everything we see about a player only tells part of the story. The part that we are not privy to is the character of the player and how much that player embraces the sport. That type of information is generally not circulated in the public arena. In the case of the Buccaneers it is that kind of information that is weighed heavily. Which makes it nearly impossible to correctly pick the player the team ultimately chooses to draft.
May 1st, 2025 at 8:57 am
Even a diva $$hole would turn into a choirboy with our locker room…
May 1st, 2025 at 9:02 am
Baker and the O-line are all dawgs on the field and solid people off the field. I agree with the Glazers and Licht’s philosophy of drafting players. One can be a bada$$ competitor on the field and of solid character off the field. Rather root for Baker passing to EE, than a Deshaun Watson passing to an Antonio Brown.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:17 am
It’s not that they are forcing the higher character guys ahead of the “Better” football players.
It’s possible to have both.
I’m also sure JTS was a wholesome individual with great character, but the “Drive” wasn’t there. Or he just didn’t have the ability.
They have to “Love” football as an art they are perfecting in order to WIN EVERYTHING.
A ton of players are in it for the glory and the high of 80,000 cheering for you. It becomes all about individual statistics and not winning.
It becomes about getting paid.
Give me guys that have tons of talent and want to win and put them in order of BPA. Then remove the bad eggs.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:23 am
Pickgrin Says:
“So Licht’s 1st pick after having this ‘character matters’ epiphany was Devin White.”
.
.
😂🤣😂
Had to learn that lesson one more time for it to stick.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:27 am
Steven007 Says:
“Munch made fun of every pick that cried…”
.
.
Wish we had a “Like” button. 👍
May 1st, 2025 at 9:37 am
geno711 Says:
“is it you that more and more bring Jesus Christ into these discussions.”
.
.
Expressing our faith is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. It was a very brief and harmless expression. Certainly did not hurt you to read it. Why you would expend so much energy voicing your offense says more about you than it does him.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:53 am
I count 19 out of 23 current starters as having been drafted by the Bucs, and that number could rise depending on what happens in training camp. That is incredible. Credit to JL and his staff.
May 1st, 2025 at 9:53 am
“If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and you think it’s not worth telling someone about it, how much do you have to hate him to not proselytize? To believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell people? This man cared enough about me to proselytize.”
-Atheist Penn Jillette
May 1st, 2025 at 10:01 am
⬆️ ⚡⬆️
May 1st, 2025 at 10:02 am
I was far less offended by the comment itself than by the impulse to police it.
That said, all comments can have some merit — even mine, as I try to help keep this space clear of politics and religion.
My Roman Catholic upbringing (and hey, if you know anyone in the Conclave who’d vote me pope, I just need a good tailor) doesn’t quite align with your view that “expressing our faith” on a sports blog is a fundamental part of Christian life. Many like me support secular spaces as well.
You may have the last word, as I will not speak on the religious aspect again today, Hunter.
May 1st, 2025 at 10:03 am
You mean by Licht?
Baker Mayfield
Ben Bredeson
Lavonte David (Mark Dominik pick)
Will Gholston (Mark Dominik pick)
May 1st, 2025 at 10:26 am
When I used to train other paramedics, I would tell them that when they are with me, how they interact with patients is the most important thing. I can teach them how to do every paramedic skill, and how to do it at 70mph, but I can’t teach them how to be kind and caring. If they weren’t kind and caring, they wouldn’t last with me. Character was, and is, the most underrated “skill set”.
May 1st, 2025 at 10:52 am
“We kind of take the @ssholes and the dou#%bags off and guys that don’t love football and guys [who] have proven that they don’t like [football]. They’re difficult to deal with.” omg one of my favorite quotes ever bahahahah
May 1st, 2025 at 12:02 pm
His approach has proven to be successful, so you can’t argue with that mindset. Of course, they have to be able to play and love the game of football at a high level as well.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Pickgrin
Agree with you completely. What fascinates me is what happened with DW45?
I can see how Licht and most of us were taken in by his character. Sometimes guys are just able to fool people and get over.
When he signed he was the guy, loved the horses, he had a world class smile, the world was his oyster. I guess fame and fortune really are the challenge they are made out to be. I wouldn’t know about fortune but I have had enough “fame” on a small scale, still plenty of groupies, to realize that women tossing themselves at you even for the wrong reason can do things to your head.
There are many people I have offended back in those days with my ego jackass behavior. MEA CULPA. So I do not judge DW but man he could have enjoyed his run a lot longer if he hadn’t self destructed.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Glad you pointed that out Pickgrin. White didn’t start talking about money until right after the draft and when he did I thought to myself, uh oh, this is trouble he hasn’t played a down and he’s already talking about money.
May 1st, 2025 at 12:37 pm
stpetebucsfan, “women tossing themselves at you for even the wrong reason can do things to your head”. Wish I ‘d of had the opportunities to have figured that one out for myself! No, hold off on that one. Picture Bill Belidunce, who many of you yahoos thought should have had Bowles job. Talk about do things to your head! I’d say from the top of his head to the tip of his, you know, toes!
May 1st, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Kenton
Yep…LMAO. BB should know better by know. Again I believe the worst lies you tell yourself are the ones you tell yourself!!! I don’t know that I lied to myself at 28…well a little rationalization perhaps…but BB is old enough to know better.
There is a really hot lady who swims the same time I do. She’s VERY friendly and VERY attractive. She’s also married…happily I hope. Bottom line for me is that I’m totally in love with my wife and so temptation isn’t strong. But if I’m honest with myself I’m glad I’m not still 28!
Drdeast- that was a good pickup at money at signing time. I never thought about that.
I also question how much horrid advice he got from his agent.
May 1st, 2025 at 1:26 pm
This wonderful emphasis on good character in picking potential players really got off the ground with Tony Dungy. I love it. Just basic common sense. It is a big reason why the Bucs locker room is as tight as it is. Devin White’s success went to his head, unfortunately. He was a light weight compared to some of the malevolent lowlife the NFL protected (and is still protecting) over the years. Guys like Sapp prove there are exceptions. He might have been a first class ahole off the field, but a HOFamer on it. Male and female groupie/gold diggers come with the territory, so zzzzzz. As far as religion goes, the only thing I won’t personally tolerate is the being-saved shoved in my face.
May 1st, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Jason’s explanation of what he now looks for got me wondering if he’d draft Ndamukong Suh or Simeon Rice today.
May 1st, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Ego is the bane of man.
May 1st, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Geno- didn’t Thomas Jefferson own like 600 or more slaves? Let’s not criticize someone because they see Jesus in everything good. Humans are imperfect as evidenced by Mr. Jefferson and all of us every day. But Jesus, I’m not so sure he is understood by the likes of you and that is ok.