“Jason Licht Told Me He Would Have Loved To Have Re-Signed Him”
July 10th, 2025
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht.
Is there remorse at One Buc Palace for a money-driven decision that has a spotlight on it this week?
That was a picture painted by longtime Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud as he spoke today on 1150 AM in Tampa.
All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs had knee surgery this week and is projected to miss regular season action in September, per various reports. How many games is unclear.
Veteran tackle Charlie Heck was signed in March to back up Wirfs after the team did not re-sign backup tackle Justin Skule, who bolted to the Vikings for a $2 million contract.
Stroud said that was not the ideal scenario for Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
Per Stroud, Licht “told me he would have loved to have re-signed him,” referring to Skule.
Stroud added that Licht said the price tag on Skule was too high. Of course, $2 million is a low NFL salary and the Bucs have loads of available salary cap room. Per Spotrac.com, Heck’s salary is $1.57 million.
Joe finds this very intriguing, even more intriguing considering this information was not published in Stroud’s TampaBay.com story Wednesday about Wirfs’ surgery and pending absence. Perhaps it was one of those nuggets writers won’t put in print because they weren’t supposed to share the information.
Or perhaps it was the result of a typical dying-newspaper move: not including what fans are most interested in.
Regardless, Skule is gone and in his place is Heck, who is bigger, more athletic and more experienced (23 starts). Joe’s not concerned about Heck being a downgrade, and Joe’s quite sure Licht isn’t either.
A Quick Word On The Tristan Wirfs Injury, And Ira Kaufman Talks Cornerback Decisions, Trending Predictions, Head Coach Playoff Records, Year 2 Of Bucky Irving, And Much More
July 10th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Stroud’s a hardass but he’s a consummate pro
July 10th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Heck is a serviceable backup, but he’s gonna need help.
July 10th, 2025 at 10:47 am
We will be fine.
Not all good teams have a TW at LT.
I bet he heals quick.
4-0
July 10th, 2025 at 10:48 am
“Joe’s not concerned about Heck being a downgrade, and Joe’s quite sure Licht isn’t either.” Very comforting words (not being sarcastic).
I feel like if a trade becomes necessary – trade R. White for a decent left tackle (depth piece or maybe starter) and a mid round draft pick.
July 10th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Lt. Dan, White is an important piece of the offense. His running skills seemed to improve last year, so he can spot Bucky when needed. He’s also a good blocker, which we’ll need in Wirfs’ absence and an excellent receiver coming out of the backfield. Let’s trust in Licht to know what he’s doing with the o-line. If he spots weaknesses in Heck during training camp, there will be opportunities to pick up serviceable o-linemen, and Licht seems to have a knack for spotting the good ones.
July 10th, 2025 at 11:30 am
LOL @ 4-0 w/o WIRFS and whoever gets hurt during training camp.
Love the optimism though. I had plenty until hearing our 2nd most important player out of 53 tiers will be on the couch thru December (most likely).
Life goes on but be real here. Wirf’s is not replaceable. You know it. I know it and 17 other teams that play us know it.
July 10th, 2025 at 11:52 am
dean and/or palmer = trade bait ?
July 10th, 2025 at 11:57 am
Skule got tired of being a career backup. He felt like he had the qualities to be a starting Tackle. Minnesota promise him a opportunity to compete for a starting job. We can’t blame Skule for having starter aspirations. He wasn’t going to compete against Wirfs or Goedeke. He can earn a nice salary if he can get starter pay. Similar to Ben Bredeson getting paid this year. One contract as a starting LT will set him for life.
July 10th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
skule prolly wanted outta here immediately after the backlash from the detroit game……bolted 1st chance he got
July 10th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
I can’t tell if BucU is just feeling sorry for himself, being hysterical or just the biggest pessimists.
It is ironic that he says ‘Love the optimism’ then acts like it’s just a fact that Wirfs will be out for the year, Thru December. (Most likely *reality is very unlikely) most likely would probably be somewhere between 2-5 games.
July 10th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
I honestly wonder how long these newspapers have. Advertising revenue is way down so subscriptions are a must. I doubt it’s going well.
July 10th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Skule was solid at LT.
Not so good at RT.
I hope this undrafted LT that everybody is talking about becomes our next Donald Penn.
And undrafted gem at LT.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
If Heck gets hurt, then we’re really in deep doodoo.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
No doubt Wirfs knee caught Licht and the bucs by surprise. Zero doubt now.
“Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network before kickoff, Licht made the proclamation and emphasized that Wirfs’ backup, Justin Skule, is a significantly better left tackle than right tackle and would be more than capable today.”
Yet he let Skule walk for a few hundred k…..
July 10th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
Maybe I missed it, but does anybody actually know what Wirfs “knee surgery” entailed? “Knee surgery” is so vague and could mean any number of things.
This has the feel of a slow media time of year story that they’re hoping to get a few days out of before something real actually happens.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
After watching the video on Heck…why did we even sign him to begin with?
He looks awful in pass pro. What a terrible signing.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Depth is important at RB too, especially if you intend on increasing the little guy’s workload. White is durable, is a great “slot” receiver out of the backfield, and is in a prove it contract year. Imo, he is way more valuable than a depth piece on OL.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
If a SINGLE injury costing a half dozen games is enough to derail the entire season then this team isn’t as good as the press it’s been receiving.
I’m not suggesting it’s not alarming. It means the team starts without the talent cushion they were expecting.
It’s NOT a good thing but nobody really knows what his going to happen in life.
Baker is NOT a pure pocket passer anyway, he has made his money throwing on the run ESCAPING the oncoming rush. The great OL just enhanced that game.
So if Baker is mobile Grizz can figure ways to move the pocket, there are now so many freaking targets of every size and description he can confuse DC’s a bit and perhaps gain a little edge.
While I agree with D.R. on his list or irreplacebles…Baker…Vea…Wirfs…IMHO only ONE player is irreplaceable right now that’s Baker, the other two simply represent challenges to be addressed. And as far as even Baker I don’t really know what Trask brings to the table. He’s been the invisible man so far.
July 10th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
I love R Stroud!!!
July 10th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Skule will get cut He will be back
July 10th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
skule’s development was actually leaps and bounds, from the detroit debacle, until hutchinson officially adopted his as his red headed stepchild 🙂
July 10th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
in fact skule likes hutch so much, he went into their division, so he can guarantee he see’s dad at least twice a year
July 10th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Some of the comments suggest that Skule left to seek a starting opportunity. The only way that Skule starts more than a few games for the Vikings this year is if Darrisaw fails to recover from his knee injury last season, or if O’Neil gets hurt. If Darrisaw and O’Neil are healthy, there is zero reason to think that Skule takes a starting job away from either player.
And, the report above is that Licht said “…the price tag on Skule was too high.”
The reporting is that this was about money. If it really was a matter of $430,000, or even three times that, then Licht made a bone headed decision. A smart decision for that money would have been to sign both for a total of less than $4,000,000.
That may not mean that it is time to panic.
I have only seen one video of Heck in one game after being on the bench for almost the whole season. Run blocking looked good; pass blocking did not!
But, Heck does now have training camp and preseason to run with the big dogs. Hopefully, that means greatly improved pass protection over what was shown in the video.
Remember that Skule was not very popular after his first start. But, he improved significantly and, as mentioned, looked better on the left.
July 10th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
I am recovering from an avulsion fracture in my foot. I get regular follow up x-rays. After three months, the conservative treatment of my foot fracture changed.
With NFL money and a contract like Wirth’s, he could have had monthly MRI’s and physical evaluations since January to aggressively track the condition of his knee. Waiting six months to decide that conservative treatment wasn’t working in an NFL off season is nuts. Showing up in a brace and not fully participating in camp should have been an obvious indicator that he needed more aggressive treatment unless he had just recently tweaked something.
Teams and players usually hide information contemporaneously only for it to come out later as he said – she said tell all gossip.
July 10th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
“If it really was a matter of $430,000, or even three times that, then Licht made a bone headed decision.”
It’s only “boneheaded” after this news broke about Wirfs. It’s likely really as simple as Licht and the front office probably had a figure in mind on what they’d offer to retain Skule. If Minnesota decided to go above that price and pay Skule a few 100 grand more on top of providing a more feasible path(for him) to starting instead of waiting behind Wirfs or Goedeke.
If I’m Skule I’m taking the money & opportunity to start before staying in Tampa for less money and a shoulder shrug worth of playing time. This doesn’t need to be an indictment of Jason Licht when we still have plenty time to cushion this unfortunate blow.
July 10th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Seeing as they called it an arthroscopic surgery I’m my recollection..players typically return in 6-8 weeks. When they use that term they typically mean cleaning the debris out of there. I personally haven’t heard that word being used much anymore, but if it still means what it used to mean and opening day is 9 weeks. I’d say he could well be ready on week one after all. Players used to get scoped all the time.
July 10th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL back in late October 2024. They don’t know when he will be back 100%. Even if he comes back before the opener, will be at 100%. I’m not a doctor or medical professional. But common sense tells me a 320 lbs man will not fully recover from a torn ACL and MCL in 10 months.
I’m sure they convinced Skule to sign to showcase his talents at LT
Skule is a solid LT, he’s not a RT, but he can fill in at RT
I wished the Bucs had extended Skule before he hit Free Agency
July 10th, 2025 at 3:49 pm
At Falcons
at Texans
home v the Jets
home v Eagles
The first three games should be no problem with the back up. Eagles without WIRFS could be a problem.
July 10th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
If they rush Darrisaw back, he could get reinjured and miss the season. I’m sure the Vikings are aware of that possibility. Skule is in a great position to get paid, regardless..
July 10th, 2025 at 5:21 pm
2nd game @Texans
Houston has the #1 pass rush dou in the NFL
Daniel Hunter & Will Anderson Jr
I would expect those 2 edge rushers to provide quite a challenge without our All Pro Tristan Wirfs on the field to help protect
July 10th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
toopanca…
lots of negative and likely false assumptions in your last post….
Too many are looking to scapegoat or blame someone for this situation with Wirf’s knee…. doctors, trainers, even Wirfs himself… LOL
Of course Tristan was getting regular MRIs and regular evaluations. But the MRIs were obviously not showing everything…. evidenced by the facts that they thought it was going to be OK without surgery – but Wirf’s kept having setbacks – so they decided to go in arthroscopically – and reportedly found worse damage than expected….
it happens – MRIs don’t always show everything you need to see….
No conspiracy – no one is trying to “hide information”….
So quit gossiping….
July 10th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Wirfs being injured and out for an unknown time is bad for a team with a tough schedule. Not sure why this wasn’t addressed back when the team exited the playoffs.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Would like to see if Donnie could fill in for a few games. Heck has a 41.2 pff rating and is pretty bad at run blocking. Chukwama looks like he has foot and leg movement problems on the college tapes. Think he would get owned by DEs and LBs in the NFL. He doesn’t look like he could even compete at the SEC level. Bucs need to get another vet backup.
July 10th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
Way to loosely imply Rick Stroud/TBT did something wrong. You must have skipped the TB Times morning sports podcast where he flamed the Bucs for not covering their bases with Wirfs? Print isn’t going dead because of people like him.
July 10th, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Gene Sanders? The Left Lookout tackle
July 10th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
White being a top notch blocker can see him taking snaps away from Bucky.
July 10th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
If they don’t like what they see from Heck there should be plenty of options to pick someone up during the cuts
July 10th, 2025 at 9:14 pm
I’m Joe. I rehash articles. If not that constantly bitch about needing pass rush. Tough job bud
You’re definitely not a regular reader. –Joe
July 10th, 2025 at 10:16 pm
They should at least bring some free agents to kick the tires on.
July 10th, 2025 at 11:17 pm
Licht “told me he would have loved to have re-signed him,” referring to Skule.
—-
I’m 100% certain, if someone asked about Britt, Licht would say the same thing. Literally every GM says that about every player who they don’t want to resign. If Licht wanted Suckey back, he’d have brought him back.
July 11th, 2025 at 5:44 am
If this has been said, I apologize, but why did Wirfs wait so late in the offseason to have surgery, that could have been had in March??
July 11th, 2025 at 6:37 am
I remember Skule leaving early in the cycle, even though Wirfs and Goedeke are his best friends (remember reading about that) he knows he’ll never have a starting job here
July 11th, 2025 at 8:45 am
In the 2020s the NFL Salary Cap has increased 91 million dollars to 279.2 mil and Licht let Justan Sklule (A Capable Backup) walk for 500k. That’s being cheap. I watched tape on Heck and he is not good! We could lose 2 games because of this
July 11th, 2025 at 8:50 am
The Wirf s thing could easily end the Bucs season , game one or two .
Mayfield will not survive the beating Winston took trying to win the game
By extending failed o line play !! This is NO TIME to be Stupid ,, Licht allowed this and he had better go full butterfly stick job to fix it !! No Gaurantee Heck is Healthy Game One !!
# 1 NFL priority is protect your QB ,,,, especially with a gamer !! Play extensions increasing means really bad things are coming !!
July 11th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
id rather read good writers like Romano and Stroud than this kook on joebucsfans, poor writing but lots of content the only reson we are here
grew up reading hubert mizell
July 11th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
I cannot believe so many people here think there are teams willing to trade a quality left tackle. You can name pretty much anybody on the Bucs and teams willing to trade a super hard to find piece like a left tackle for whoever you name would be slim to none.