Jason Licht: I Eliminate More First-Round Talents Every Year
July 14th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht got a ton of production from his 2022, 2023 and 2024 draft classes.
And before the 2021 Tampa Bay draft hiccup, Bucs drafts in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were critical to the team’s Super Bowl win.
Licht is on a hell of a roll when it comes to the inexact science known as the NFL Draft. It’s easy to moan about misses or could-haves, but overall Licht is one of the best drafters in the game.
Speaking to Field Talk recently, Licht talked about how he steadily adds to his annual elimination list: the guys he won’t draft.
Licht reiterated that Team Glazer gets a list of undraftables in the hours before a draft, so ownership doesn’t have a meltdown or go on a questioning spree when the Bucs pass on a talented and well-known player
“I, over the years, have taken a lot more players off the board every year, a lot that go in the first round,” Licht said.
“It’s for, ‘this guy doesn’t love football,’ or, you know, this, this, whatever, a myriad of reasons. There’s injuries, too. Our drafts have gotten a lot better over the last few years just because we’ve focused on the right kind of person and kind of resisted the temptation of taking the super-talented guy that we don’t know if he’s the right kind of person.”
Previously, Licht said a dozen or so players could be on his annual list. Joe wonders if an ommitted player could magically re-appear in a given year if he fell, say, to Round 4 of a draft?
Regardless, Joe wonders how much more Licht might bore into his philosophy and eliminate more prospects before the draft bell rings each year. The process sure seems to be working.
July 14th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Great article, Joe. Licht’s loaded the team with talent.
If only the coaching could stimulate maximum performance from it, instead of overseeing its regression.
July 14th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
It’s clear that he has refined his formula and has a winning system. Licht is building a dynasty type roster.
July 14th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
I’m a huge Licht fan. That spell of kicker failure/Jameis would have doomed any other GM. He’s overcome some big mistakes and delivered even bigger results. Landing Brady then Baker is just GM perfection. He’ll have to pick another QB eventually so that’ll be exciting. Keep killing it JL!
July 14th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
And I will give the Glazers some props here. Just like Licht, they’re learning from their mistakes. They’ve almost made as many bad hires as Licht as bad draft picks but hit on a whole lot less. LOL They’ve extended the two guys that created a good roster with an amazing culture. Licht made some mistakes but we’ve gotten through them since at the same time he’s had some real home run picks and now he has a really solid personnel process in place. Model every future pic after Lavante David. The more they are like him, the more successful they will be and the better they will help the team. I’m glad the Glazers stuck by him.
July 14th, 2025 at 3:43 pm
There a lot of talented players in this past draft that off field issues. Most notably James Pearce, who went to the Falcons and Mykel Williams to the 49ers. I hope Pearce does not do too much damage to the Bucs.
July 14th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Tampa has become an elite franchise under Licht’s watch. He’s definitely come a long way from trading all those picks to take a kicker in the second round.
July 14th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
The young Glazers had to learn how to manage the financial empire that Malcolm built. Then they had to learn how to oversee an NFL franchise. Jason Licht had to grow and mature as an NFL GM. We are in a “golden age” for the 50 year old team. Very few fans get to live through what we have going. Barring catastrophe this should be a stellar year for the Bucs.
And yes Todd Boweles has proven to be a good but not yet great head coach. This year’s roster is an excellent one! This year will certainly tell the story of Bowles acting as head coach and defensive coordinator concurrently.
July 14th, 2025 at 4:15 pm
SenileSenior
The young Glazers had to learn how to manage the financial empire that Malcolm built.
^^^^^
Great observation. I agree the Glazers are also due some kudos in respects to Jason. He wasn’t perfect or proven when he arrived in Tampa. They let him fail and grow. It’s not always easy to do.
How many of us would have let Licht continue after taking a kicker in the 2nd that flamed out after one season? Most organizations would have fired him or cut him off at the knees.
The Glazers let him learn and they been rewarded for their patience … I’m not sure it’s real patience or if they just have so much money they don’t care … but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
July 14th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
I’ll take the guy grading at 88 who lives and breathes football and is a team guy over the selfish diva who wants endorsements and “likes” and puts himself first.
July 14th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
That said, if he drops to round 3-5 because of attitude he is probably worth the risk then
July 14th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
From what I’ve seen already, Egbuka seems to be a guy that genuinely loves football. I’ll bet he ends up a superstar.
Watch it happen. In Licht we trust.
July 14th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
It looks like the Browns second round draft pick will be spending more time next year in the slammer than on the field. They seem to have a knack for picking the wrong people. I don’t know any other team that’s wasted so many high draft picks.
July 14th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
That’s odd coming from a guy who drafts a lot of guys with injuries/ injured including this year
July 14th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
I’m all in with Licht’s “No Knucklehead Plan.”
GO BUCS
July 14th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
BuxfaninTX
I read Licht saying he is not likely to take an injured guy in the 1st round,
The 2nd round guy he took was a 1st round guy with an injury history.
July 14th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
“Licht is one of the best drafters in the game”
Correction – Jason Licht is THE best drafter in the game – last few years prove it.
Proof you ask?
No other GM but Licht is averaging 4- yes FOUR starters per draft – including averaging more than 1 starter per draft from day 3…
Last 3 drafts (2022, 2023 & 2024):
Hall, Goedeke, Otton (4), McCollum (5), Kancey, Mauch, Diaby, Dennis (5), Barton, Tykee Smith, McMillan, Irving (4)
Thats 12- yes TWELVE starters in 3 drafts. Plus a # of other valuable contributors, special teamers and/or potential future starters (White, Keift, Durham, Hayes, Palmer, Braswell, Klein, Culp,)
3 drafts = 20 – yes TWENTY players worth mentioning
And I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if this year’s haul makes it 4 – yes FOUR STELLAR drafts in a row – back to back to back to back……
Egbuks, Morrison, Parrish and Walker will all likely be starters within a couple years so the 4 per draft streak likely continues for a 4th straight year.
NO other GM in the NFL over this period has even come close to this level of drafting excellence!