Bucs Apparently Believe They Have A Super Bowl Team
November 5th, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
As Joe pointed out last night, it appears the Bucs are confident they have the horses to make a Super Bowl run.
Despite a myriad of injuries to critical players that would bring most teams to their knees, the Bucs apparently believe they can still get to Santa Clara in February, and not as a paying customer.
Joe is not here to rag on the Bucs. Joe gets that the team values draft picks above all else. The drafting by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht this decade bears that out. Hell, they are getting critical snap from a couple of Day 3 draft picks from this spring, Elijah Roberts and Tez Johnson.
However, a comment left on this here corner of the interwebs from a reader last week struck a chord with Joe: “A draft pick next year will not help you win a Super Bowl this year.” That’s spot on. Rarely do teams have a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl run.
Standing on the dock watching the ships go by might be what the Bucs are doing by sitting on their hands this week and not upgrading at the trade deadline.
Look, Joe hates to type the following, but until Joe sees Chris Godwin slicing through defenses the way Godwin did before he had his ankle destroyed, only then will Joe believe Godwin returns.
Same with Mike Evans. We expect him to be in mid-season form after missing two months (or more) the second he steps on the field for the first team since he had his shoulder wrecked in Detroit?
It’s hard for Joe to wrestle with the thought that a rookie receiver, no matter how good he is, is going to lead the Bucs deep into the playoffs.
And yes, the Bucs expect Calijah Kancey back hopefully for the playoffs. Again, is Kancey going to be in midseason form the first time he steps on the field?
For some context, back in the playoffs for the 2020 season, Vita Vea returned for the NFC title game after missing most of the season with a messed-up ankle. He played in 46 percent of the defensive snaps (and he was a huge reason Shaq Barrett went nuts that day).
Joe really thought there was an opportunity here to help shore up razor-thin areas on the roster due to injuries, which would only make those positions stronger in January when people, in theory, are healthy enough to return.
Who knows when the stars next align for the Bucs to be this-close to a real Super Bowl run?
It just seems like a major opportunity lost.
“Hope” is such an empty, evil word.
November 5th, 2025 at 3:55 am
I say again “I believe in Jason Licht”. He’s proven that he knows what he’s doing. Best GM in the NFL. He knows more about the injured players than we do or anyone else. Trades are a crapshoot anyway and yes they can pan out for you. But you pay astronomical money and picks for say Miles Garrett and then he gets hurt and misses the season. You just sold the farm for nothing and you’re future is in doubt too. I want to win this year but they may be better next season. Licht likes to trade during the draft. Go Bucs!!!
November 5th, 2025 at 3:58 am
Eh, we messed up imo….all good. We’ll squeak something by. I dont like it but we couldve done something. I get frustrated sometimes but nothing I can do but post here….sometimes they listen sometimes they dont…all good.
Lots of injuries….we’re not what we started as….and meanwhile, NE is getting strong and so is Carolina…..just being real. Hopefully we’ve got the horses to push through the rest of the season.
November 5th, 2025 at 4:05 am
Seriously, the Bucs think they’re going to get a better player in the draft then Maxx Crosby? LOL, You trade a #1 for Crosby instead of going with the garbage they have. Sorry!
November 5th, 2025 at 4:14 am
a 1st for crosby? nope, sorry…. 4th? maybe….
and i truly think thats what happened….guys were asking too much for a target or two we may have been considering…. so lets not throw Jason under the bus like some of you like to. If the price is too high, you walk away. We know how to draft. And if all of the injuries add up to us not making too much of a run this year, all good, we’ll be there next year….we’ll see.
November 5th, 2025 at 4:19 am
What i see remaining schedule:
L
L
L
W
W
W
L
W
November 5th, 2025 at 4:24 am
Philly operates like they’re all in. I’m generally not a fan of mid season trades. But. With our injuries, I was looking for Phillips and Waddle from Miami. Both guys 26 could have helped this year and in the future. Oh well.
November 5th, 2025 at 4:35 am
Yesterday’s inaction is an example of loyalty to a fault. We are paper thin at receiver, smoke and mirrors at LB AND we still have a real shot at the SB. To do nothing leaves the door wide open for blame should the Bucs come up short this year. Better to go down swinging then leaving your bat on your shoulders.
Let’s go Bucs!!!
November 5th, 2025 at 4:41 am
Bucs are wrong. He’s obsessed with his draft picks, but drafts Chris Braswell in the second round.
November 5th, 2025 at 4:58 am
Braswell is on me, I pushed for him….i didnt realize he would get lazy with the money….they do that sometimes….or they’re just not or will ever be NFL caliber…its the chance you take.
November 5th, 2025 at 5:29 am
lol @ the guy that would offer a 4th for Maxx Crosby. Can’t take you seriously. It’s analogous to the kind of businesses I hate talking to on a meeting. The tire kickers, the trunk slammers. They want to drive a Porsche 911 GT3 RS for the price of a Camry. The audacity of some people is incredible. Don’t walk to the high stakes poker table if you can’t play
November 5th, 2025 at 5:36 am
While i would have liked to see us do something to upgrade before the deadline if you can add Bucky and Luke and hopefully Godwin back to this lineup i feel that is almost like trading for pieces – This team beat the Seahawks on the road not even close to 100% – I like our chances moving forward – Excited to see how we play against the patriots!- Hope yall have a blessed day and as always – GO BUCS!
November 5th, 2025 at 5:50 am
What this team needed was added depth, and solid rotational production. Licht didn’t need to chase the huge sack monsters to do that. There were I think at least 2 previous first round OLB/DE that were traded for cheap before the deadline, gladly would have loved to have seen that move, instead I got fed from another Bucs fan, well, bringing in another DE would stunt the growth of Braswell, wtf?… are we watching the same team? … give me a freaking break. We knew Yaya was going to have potential within his first season. Braswell is a JAG. He was a 3rd stringer coming off that Defense line at Alabama, and Licht took a swing hoping those measurables and pedigree would bear fruit, it hasn’t yet, and to Braswell’s credit, he’s not terrible, I’ve seen some nice tackles and special teams play, but he’s not even the next Anthony Nelson for this team. Another move we could’ve made was a for a RG. There are veteran RGs, that we could have rented for a season, and it wouldn’t have killed our draft picks.