Jon Gruden: Bucs Should Trade For Micah Parsons
August 27th, 2025
“Hey Glazer, you hear what your boy Chucky said?”
How serious are the Bucs about winning right now?
Joe thinks they’re damn serious. But the organization has a line in the sand.
They want to be a lasting contender and they’re not exactly willing to mortgage the future. Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht isn’t willing to go Phil Hellmuth and push all-in with a flush draw and top pair. Licht isn’t about to make a bold move unless he thinks it’s a can’t-miss with little downside.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor head coach Jon Gruden isn’t cheering that strategy. He thinks the Bucs are on the cusp of being a Super Bowl team and he’s ready make a big move to push the team over the top.
“I’m hoping the Bucs trade two first-rounders and get Micah Parsons in here. I mean that’s really what I want,” Gruden told The Rondé Barber Show today.
“The one thing the Bucs haven’t proven is, do they have the guy that can get there off the edge? And I’ve said this. I learned this from [Hall of Fame head coach] Bill Walsh with the 49ers; if you don’t have a fourth-quarter pass rush, you’re not winning a championship. Because you gotta beat Joe Burrow, you gotta beat [Patrick] Mahomes, Josh Allen. Your gonna get the lead. Their going to have the ball in the fourth quarter and they’re going to throw it. And they’re going to have four downs to get 10 yards. You better be able to close it out with the [pass] rush.”
Parsons, the Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher/defensive terror, is unhappy with his financial situation in Dallas and potentially could be had in a trade.
Joe gets why the Bucs wouldn’t be interested, but there’s also the reality of how much Parsons could help the team win now and the entertainment value of it all.
Regardless, fun stuff from Gruden. He’s accurate with his fourth-quarter pass rush take, and his comments are a reflection of the Bucs’ disappointing edge rush of the past few years.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:50 pm
0% chance of that happening.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:56 pm
I agree with Gruden. In fact…let’s launch Bowles and hire Gruden to put us over the top again.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:57 pm
Bowles is kinda like having Trask. Let’s just upgrade.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
Love Gruden.
DONT want him as my coach or gm
August 27th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
It would be a wasted trade. Micah Parsons would be dropping into deep middle empty zone, and also become the backup placekick holder. Versatility is important to Todd. It’s his genius.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
He’s not worth two 1sts without a long term contract.
Who needs end of 1st round picks when you can navigate the draft like Licht Co. ?
August 27th, 2025 at 7:59 pm
Don’t listen to Gruden. He drafted horribly when he was here in Tampa. That’s why he never won a second Super Bowl. Great coach terrible GM.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:00 pm
What would the downside be for Parsons? You can only pray that the draft picks not used to trade for him are even 75% aa good as him. This team is missing 2 things. An edge rusher and a HC who knows how to manage the clock.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
100% on board
Do the Khalil Mack trade
Send
2026 1st
2026 3rd
2027 1st
Rachaad White
Receive
Micah Parsons
2027 2nd
Giving up 2 picks and a RB on an expiring contract for the best pass rusher in this generation at his prime is a steal. Wirfs and Parsons would also make each other even better in practice
August 27th, 2025 at 8:05 pm
3 firsts and 2 seconds or something? maybe we’d get a couple of 3rds or 4ths back. maybe if we picked near the top every year, but our picks aren’t as valuable as others
August 27th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
How much better would Parsons make the Bucs defense?
Maybe 20% better and that is all speculation.
How much would trading for and signing Parsons mortgage the Bucs future?
Definitely 100+%
What’s the guarantee that Parsons would ensure a Super Bowl?
Less than 5% providing everyone stays healthy, no weird bounces, no bad calls to overcome, the list goes on. Too many unknown variables.
Football is a team sport, the season is long and adding one person doesn’t guarantee anything.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
Says the same guy that traded Khalil Mack
I never listen to Jon Gruden,
August 27th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
And that is why he isn’t a head coach anymore. He’s too willing to trade away picks.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
Everyone but Todd and Jason agree with Chucky. Gruden knows if this team has an edge rush, it can compete for the SB. Otherwise we are left with Braswell who is no better than JTS. Sorry I don’t believe a word Todd says about him. We mortgaged the future for Gruden and won a SB, we mortgaged the future for Brady and won the SB. Why not Parsons?
August 27th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
If Gruden value Edge Rushers so much
Why did he trade Khalil Mack
Jon Gruden is not a GM, not even a decent HC
But, he’s probably on the same level as Licht and Bowles
August 27th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Pass on that….
I think Haason Reddick is a perfect fit and will be a FORCE this year…he is going to THRIVE this year.
He is THAT man.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
Well a really good pass rush will help create the interceptions that Todd Bowles covets.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:37 pm
Bill Walsh had a great understanding of what it takes to win. I appreciate what JL has done, but this defense is NOT a Super Bowl defense.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Thank you Gruden. He gets it. The alternative is we draft 2 pass rushers the next 2 years and we wait 4-5 years for them not to pan out. Micah is a guarantee. He’s 26. Who cares if he’s very highly paid. His age, skills and production make it all worth it!
August 27th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
I think Grudawg undervalues picks because of how much we gave up to get him. He snagged a few FAs, pushed Sapp’s buttons, and then boom-boom-boom-boom—bam’d his way to a trophy.
In all seriousness, love Gruden, and his take about staving off 4th quarter rallies is 100% right. But he wasn’t here when The Lost Decade happened. You don’t give up that kind of draft capital—and simultaneously preclude yourself from keeping the capital you’ve already hit on (Goedeke, Cancy, Evans, David)—without signing up for the bad years that follow. Licht navigated the Brady cap hell, but he has to know he was lucky with Mayfield!
You know how you get a generational talent at the edge? You demonstrate it matters in the draft and in coaching the ones you select to actually rush the passer. I think the lack of press corners has made Bowles have to drop rushers into coverage, so hopefully we now have the horses outside to let rushers be rushers.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Not for that much. Danm.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:56 pm
No risk it no biscuit.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:04 pm
@Bantry
You are making TOO MUCH SENSE,for theses MORONS!!
August 27th, 2025 at 9:18 pm
If you could get him for 2 late round 1’s and White I don’t see why you don’t do it. He’s only 26 so we could be looking at 12-15 wins per year over the next 5 years. As a lifelong bucs fan that would be beyond my wildest dreams.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Lakeland Buc is a total Shmuck
August 27th, 2025 at 9:26 pm
Cleanhouse Says: “In fact…let’s launch Bowles and hire Gruden to put us over the top again.”
Interesting.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:33 pm
It’s probably the last ride for Mike Evans and Lavonte David. Like they say in poker, never call. You either have the best hand and raise, or you don’t and fold. I’d say we push our chips in while Evans and Lavonte are still here. Get Parsons! We can suck several years from now.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:41 pm
^^^ Ballwin gets it! It’s our 50th anniversary season!!!
August 27th, 2025 at 9:42 pm
I mean if they are going to make a move like this then this would be the year to do it. The vets are ending their careers and the NFC is wide open this year.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
I’d rather see a swing and a miss than a ball. You can’t hit a home run without swinging!
August 27th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
Micah Parsons has serious back issues. Why do you think he wants all that guaranteed money on his new contract. Should have traded for Trey Hendrickson. Micah and his drama si.ply isn’t worth the struggle and the 2 first.s. Wait til mid season when he is still not playing then trade for a 3rd rounder and a 6th rounder.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:44 pm
As usual Aqualung is right on the money, again. As is Gruden. As is JBF.
You see we are dealing with a coach that is absolutely steadfast in his use (misuse) of his pass rushers. He won’t budge. I can sit here and throw adjectives at Bowels all night long. In the end when it comes to edge guys/ pass rush guys and how to use them Bowles is his own worst enemy. It’s his undoing. It’s his downfall, it’s one of the things that locks him in as just another head coach and nothing more. Mr Mediocre, signed, sealed and delivered. With Bowles defense Bucs fans are condemned to purgatory. Not quite hell but real damn close.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
With the way Licht drafts why not go for it, 2 first rounders and whatever it takes, that is a superbowl winning move.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
@LakelandBuc
Ok slow down. I know you’re coming down from the Trask release but Jesus. I think a trade for Parsons is absurd but to say the Gruden was not a decent head coach is absurd. I agree he was a shi**y GM and made crappy decisions during the post Super Bowl era but to say he wasn’t a good coach is ridiculous. As far as the Licht/Bowles bashing look dude they were part of a Super Bowl run and 3 division titles (most likely 4) what else do you want?
August 27th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
Baker is squarely in his prime and he is not getting any younger. Part of Bakers skill set is extending plays and making things happen with his legs. Lavonte and Mike don’t have much longer. We will not be as loaded offensively in future years. Swing for the fences!
August 27th, 2025 at 10:14 pm
And the second practice in Parsons would blow a hammy or his back again and we have nothing and lose everything, HARD PASS!!
Hasson has a lot to prove just you naysayers wait and see.
Offensives can’t double team YaYa and Hasson.
LFG BUCS
Fire them CANNONS!!!!
August 27th, 2025 at 10:26 pm
You draft in high first round hoping to get a Micah Parson. It hardly ever works out. Parsons is there for the taking, give up a #1 and get him in here. Parson plays allover the line of scrimmage and can do whatever crazy stuff Bowles will want him to do. Make it happen or regret 4th quarters all year
August 27th, 2025 at 10:31 pm
I’d spludge in my pants if we landed Parsons. Doubt Jerry will trade him but boy it would open up for vea and Clancy. Taking the defense to a whole new level. I’m fine trading draft picks. Especially if your just going to draft joe Tryon and trask.
August 27th, 2025 at 10:41 pm
Gruden the GM, is exactly why he is a mediocre head coach (.513).
August 27th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Jason Licht has NEVER been able to draft a good pass rusher. Sure enough someone here would blame bowles. But praise licht on the picks that do work out lol
August 27th, 2025 at 10:50 pm
I would love to have him
August 27th, 2025 at 11:01 pm
If you could get it done for two firsts, then of course you do it. Problem is you’re giving up more than that, because you have to pay him, which means you’re not resigning some people, could be a combo of like Mike Evans AND Luke Goedeke AND maybe even Cade Otton, in addition to the two firsts. Additionally Dallas would want more than two firsts. It’s a very high price to pay.
August 27th, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Gruden was a great offensive mind but he’s a fan at heart and that made him a terrible judge of how to build a team.
August 27th, 2025 at 11:08 pm
Parson’s is too brittle, he will be fortunate to play 3 more seasons, let alone 5
August 27th, 2025 at 11:15 pm
Just got an email from Gruden…NSFW…yikes
August 27th, 2025 at 11:20 pm
Who’s Parsons gonna start over if we bring him in here?
We’re not gonna start him over Reddick and I guarantee they wouldn’t want to push Yaya down to 2nd string either.
We’re too loyal to do that and we have too much confidence in those 2 guys to do that.
So, I guarantee that we don’t trade for Parsons.
Because we view that as a waste of resources, I guarantee it.
August 27th, 2025 at 11:25 pm
Cant afford him, no.
August 28th, 2025 at 12:44 am
Make the deal
August 28th, 2025 at 12:50 am
No. in Licht we trust.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:11 am
Next years 1st and 2nd since we suck arse with 2nds…..nothing more…and he’s affordable.