“We Just Don’t Want To Deal With Them”
May 2nd, 2025
“Sorry Bryan, I’m not drafting that dirtbag. You don’t want another Kellen Winslow in your building, do you?”
So earlier this week, Pat McAfee made a big deal about how Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager has not struck out on a player drafted in the first six rounds since the start of the 2019 draft.
Licht explained this is when he and his staff changed their personnel and scouting strategies because Licht didn’t like his batting average in the draft.
If a guy is a jackwagon, Licht and his staff cross him off the list. He’s taken off the board, Licht says, no matter how good the player might be. Licht said he feels compelled to brace Team Glazer prior to the draft about this, telling them why the Bucs aren’t taking available and talented players.
“We go around the table to all the people in the scouting department,” Licht explained when building the draft board.
Licht asks each person in the room if Player-X is “that guy,” meaning, does he possess the same qualities both on and off the field as Lavonte David.
“I say, ‘Is he that man?'” Licht said. If enough folks in the room say “No,” the player is launched.
“We take a lot of good players off the board,” Licht told McAfee. “A lot of players that are going the first round.
“But I inform the owners, ‘Don’t get that nervous, these guys are probably going to go in the first. But we just don’t want to deal with them.'”
Every player Licht drafted in the first six rounds, starting with the 2019 draft, was on an NFL roster somewhere last fall, mostly with the Bucs. That is a crazy batting average.
Joe doesn’t believe one can argue with Licht’s new strategy, given the results.
May 2nd, 2025 at 4:00 am
As a fan, it’s nice to have players worth cheering for. It’s easy to root for Evans, David, and Godwin. Younger players like Bucky, and Barton. Keep doing what you’re doing Jason.
May 2nd, 2025 at 4:09 am
Well get ready to root for Chris Godwin. Just saw where Licht said he was expecting him to be ready on week 1!!!!
May 2nd, 2025 at 4:47 am
Dangerous philosophy, I get it BUT
BUT ….
Supreme talent especially offensive players is just a tough part of coaching any competitive team in ANY competitive sport!
May 2nd, 2025 at 5:15 am
I can assume that same set of criteria does not apply with trades or free agent signings.
For instance … Antonio Brown.
I get it though. Sometimes you have to compromise your values and go ‘full psychopath’ to get a ring.
And too bad about JTS. He could never fully grasp the concept of rushing the passer, but he must’ve been a really good guy.
May 2nd, 2025 at 5:29 am
I’m the greatest Bucs fan of all time….
May 2nd, 2025 at 5:51 am
The draft philosophy is fantastic and the self-evaluation is off the chain. I’m not much for putting names into the ring of honor while currently active in their careers, Joe, but if ever there was to be an exception…..Licht would be the guy. The Glazers lucked out with this one.
May 2nd, 2025 at 6:14 am
It’s not a dangerous philosophy, it mitigates risk. You get hard workers and team players you establish a reliable floor and healthy competition. Might not get the FLASHY players, but I’m just fine with that.
May 2nd, 2025 at 6:17 am
We are the most honorable franchise in American sports!
When will our fans represent the same honor as our warriors?
When will 90% of our fans also be men of character like our players?
When will our fanbase reflect the same light as our players?
It’s time for the Buccaneers and the Krewe to change America by setting the right example!
Go Bucs!
May 2nd, 2025 at 6:22 am
Hodad – Agree completely
Teacherman – Wow you got me fired up already this morning!
Speaking of players whose personalities and egos have blown great opportunties.
Word is now out that the reason Shadeur Sanders fell so far was due to his interviews. He didn’t even attempt to hide his egomania. Wonder where he got that?
“Allegedly” in one interview the team showed him videos of his mistakes and asked him about it. He was so offended he replied it means you shouldn’t draft me.
May 2nd, 2025 at 6:23 am
If you want to see what the opposite of this theory would look like, check out the Steelers. When is the last time they had a WR that had supposed high upside talent but was a basket case.
AB, Claypool and now Pickens. Yes, I know we picked up AB but to me that was Tom cashing a check vs. a JL decision. And Tom found out.
May 2nd, 2025 at 6:37 am
Think of the Browns. There is no one they won’t consider. How has that worked out for them?
May 2nd, 2025 at 6:44 am
Couldnt help but notice you used the word jackwagon to describe guys we dont want when it was probably the man Joe lovingly refers to as jackwagon that taught Licht that lesson. Did you do that on purpose? lol
May 2nd, 2025 at 7:05 am
So, we can assume that Shilo has a much better Character than his brother…
May 2nd, 2025 at 7:34 am
“SB~LV Says:
May 2nd, 2025 at 4:47 am
Dangerous philosophy, I get it BUT
BUT ….
Supreme talent especially offensive players is just a tough part of coaching any competitive team in ANY competitive sport!”
I thought about that part too, THEN I thought of Devon White, who clearly cannot accept coaching
May 2nd, 2025 at 7:44 am
I love that Jason is concerned with character. We do not need any more ASJs or Freemans. Winston?
Go Bucs!
May 2nd, 2025 at 7:48 am
Thought we might lose a beat in the draft without Spytek. Glad I was wrong! Looks like a really good haul. Even the 7th round pick was 4th round talent.
May 2nd, 2025 at 7:57 am
They learned after dealing with Winston as the face of the franchise.
May 2nd, 2025 at 8:02 am
This is how you build a great locker room and culture.
May 2nd, 2025 at 8:09 am
@st Pete Bucs fan
That’s what I’m talking about!
Our WR room calls themselves “the brotherhood”
Our fanbase needs to follow their example!
May 2nd, 2025 at 8:15 am
Jbeachbuc Says:
May 2nd, 2025 at 5:29 am
I’m the greatest Bucs fan of all time….
————-
and…? Licht is simply stating Basic Common Sense Human Psychology 101. It works, folks.
May 2nd, 2025 at 9:07 am
Not gonna lie—on the first day, I was like YESSS! Now I’m starting to feel like, “So you’re perfect, Mr. Licht? Good to know.”**
I agree—character is a huge quality, and it absolutely matters. But people make mistakes. No one is perfect. We all deserve grace—especially if we’re going to be shown grace ourselves. Honestly, the more this keeps getting brought up, the less I like the way it’s being framed.
Yes, make character a priority—but don’t act like you’re above making mistakes, and now these kids have to be too. “No jackwagons” is very different from “no mistakes.” These are young people—some not even old enough to drink. Maybe instead of judging, we talk about the dumb stuff *you* did at that age. I know I made plenty of bad choices at 20—I wouldn’t have hired my younger self either.
But here’s the thing: those life experiences helped shape who I am now, in a lot of good ways. Just because someone has made mistakes doesn’t mean *they* are a mistake. Environment has a lot to do with attitude, and sometimes people just need a little love and understanding.
But yes sometimes there AB…
May 2nd, 2025 at 9:12 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
May 2nd, 2025 at 7:05 am
So, we can assume that Shilo has a much better Character than his brother…
Yes and no.
How he might be different than his brother:
1. He has played for coaches other than his father.
2. He fired his father as his agent.
3. He seems closer to his mother than is father.
but
4. He clearly got into an altercation with a security guard when he was 15 at a high school. The school had a no phone policy and he was using it. When the guard tried to take the phone, Silo assaulted the guard. The extent of the guard injury or his financial motives may be disputed but the attack is not.
5. Further, and what is worse is that the case went to trial in 2022. Almost 7 years later and Shilo did not attend the trial or even present a defense to the case. Shilo, (then an adult) and his family with clearly assets, made a crazy decision not attend or put on a defense. How can that be — a clear lack of judgment.
So as for ‘Is he that man?’” Clearly not in Shilo Sanders case unless there has been a lot of changing since 2022.
Curious if any contrary comments to my analysis.
May 2nd, 2025 at 9:29 am
Awesome process oriented approach..
May 2nd, 2025 at 9:31 am
Teams may have to deal with bad attitudes in baseball or basketball, but football is the ultimate team sport. If you can’t work well with others it doesn’t really matter hot talented you are.
May 2nd, 2025 at 9:33 am
No turds in the punch bowl is a great philosophy IMO.
May 2nd, 2025 at 10:12 am
@Geno711,
As Josh wrote above, most of us do dumb stuff when younger. That incident with Shilo happened at age 15! We shouldn’t judge his character now based on what he did back at age 15.
Jason Licht didn’t have to invest any draft capital in acquiring Shilo, so even if there were character concerns, bringing in Shilo didn’t violate his policy on drafting players.
Many players come out of college with a lack of maturity, and Licht has indicated he’s fine with bringing those players onto the team. That’s different from a character issue. But any UDFA, including Shilo, if they show in the preseason they have significant character issues, they’ll get launched.
May 2nd, 2025 at 10:23 am
The philosophy of drafting high character players seems to also affect re-signing those players when their contracts expire. It seems we’re more likely to get a home town discount when a player isn’t a diva and is more interested in helping the team than helping himself.
May 2nd, 2025 at 10:27 am
it really is an incredible statistic. is it partly because other GMs know we take this approach, and therefore our former players are basically double-vetted? maybe even our picks have established a reputation for being reliable acquisitions over the years, so now teams see us as the safest source or something like that?
May 2nd, 2025 at 10:31 am
Bucs fan 96.
Don’t get me wrong. It is an UDFA — so the shot is fine.
But I was getting more into the question from someone else about grading Shilo character compared to Shadeur.
I am not throwing shade because a student had something at 15 years old.
I am throwing shade at knowing a court date as an adult (21 or 22) and purposely deciding not to show and how that reflects on him and his two parents.
Phrasing it as a simple lack of maturity does not in my mind give it a proper perspective.
But I appreciate the discourse. You may have the last word.
May 2nd, 2025 at 10:39 am
‘But we just don’t want to deal with them.’
The same approach all 32 teams took this past draft and now media is losing their minds constantly blubbering over a 5th round pick!…
It should be the approach of every team every year…. a lot less drama…
May 2nd, 2025 at 10:59 am
Key words on a roster somewhere around the league… I love Jason Licht, but that 2021 Draft is looking like a pretty big whiff…
May 2nd, 2025 at 11:36 am
If we are grading on scale of where they were drafted:
JTS — C minus
Trask — C minus
Hainsey — C Plus
Darden — C minus
Britt — B minus
Wilcox — D
Stuard — B plus
But yes, his worst draft in awhile.
May 2nd, 2025 at 11:44 am
Everyone is making excuses for Shilo’s problem at 15. Total BS! I would no more assaulted a school guard at 15 than try to fly to the moon on a box kite. I have made bad decisions at a later age- -with women not school guards.
May 2nd, 2025 at 11:50 am
Thanks geno711 fir putting things into the proper perspetive. Everyone of those guys may have helped a little old lady by carrying her bag of groceries but how productive were they for the team on the football field. I would give my eye teeth for a player who could register 17 sacks a season and I wouldn’t care if he urinated on Jane Castors leg in public.
May 2nd, 2025 at 11:53 am
It definitely makes a difference. Those are the non-divas that don’t cause locker room issues. They usually tend to be fantastic teammates that buy in to the system, process, and team mentality.
May 2nd, 2025 at 12:14 pm
We
Learned our lesson the hard way. Once burned twice shy. Good for Jason and good for us!
May 2nd, 2025 at 12:23 pm
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
I like this approach.
May 2nd, 2025 at 12:38 pm
I doubt the owners want to deal with them either
May 2nd, 2025 at 2:23 pm
It is a pleasure for the fans as well. Seeing the new draft picks participating is awesome. The game where Devin Culp had a breakout was awesome, Jalen mcmillan last half of the season, Bucky, Tykee both were incredible
May 2nd, 2025 at 2:28 pm
Though I understand the reasoning behind Licht’s focus on the complete person, you have to have the right level of talent across the board to win in the NFL. Not wanting to deal with a Jackwagon is fine & good, until your rival takes that Jackwagon and beats you with him.
I’m referring to OLB James Pearce Jr. who ALT moved back into the 1st to get…I’d jumped on him at #19 vs going WR Rd1 & then looked for a value WR like Savion Williams in the 3rd…But that’s me, just my opinion.
(If the Bucs brass & medical staff were not 1000% confident that Godwin would be 100% ready for camp, they should not have resigned him for 3yrs/$60m…Which would have made WR Egbuka much more palatable as an obvious choice vs what we all knew needed to be an extremely DEF heavy draft….tOSU / WRU is a great place to go get your WR but I question getting him touches in the slot once/if Godwin gets right.)
IMO, JPJ will be a force in ALT in short order & having yr to learn behind Reddick in TB would have been a GREAT plan B for when Reddick wants $28m/yr next off-season. I’m not sold on small school production (David Walker) = NFL success but I 100% believe that showing out in the SEC translates!
JPJ was a force in the SEC that had to be schemed against & played against NFL level talent weekly. Looking good for a week during Sr. Bowl practices does not get me all weak in the knees for a prospect but Licht falls in love every year & has a hankering for small school guys, as we all know.
Additionally, I probably go Shavon Revel Jr (acl) in the 2nd vs Benjamin Morrison (hip) if your taking an injured / in recovery CB…Revel has high level CB1 traits & I’m not so sure Benjamin has that level of dawg in him…Again, just me playing armchair GM. Time will tell on how the FO did in this draft over the course of the next few years…But I have a real hard time giving the FO any above a B- grade at this point.
May 2nd, 2025 at 3:22 pm
Stop worrying about people’s personal life this isn’t powder puff football. How times have changed before you just had to he great at football now you have to be a powder puff angel to make the team smh imo this is lame to many good players can slip threw your teams hands with this way of drafting