Dan Orlovsky: Bucs Return To NFC Elite
April 27th, 2026
Ex-Bucs QB big on Bucs.
If for some odd reason you don’t buy what Nevin Shapiro is selling, maybe Joe can interest you in Dan Orlovsky?
In a segment discussing the NFL draft this morning on “Stay in Bed,” seen on BSPN, naturally closet Bucs fan Peter Schrager was hyping up Tampa Bay and their draft.
Joe always enjoys hearing Schrager give the Bucs love. But it was passion from an unlikely source that had Joe’s ears perk up.
Former Bucs quarterback Orlovsky suggested as a result of this past weekend’s draft, the Bucs should return to NFC elite status along with the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks.
That’s how much Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and his selection of a pair on Canes impressed Orlovsky.
“[They] were both outstanding picks,” Orlovsky said of Rueben Bain and Keionte Scott. “The Buccaneers continue to draft well. They were a very good football team last year that dealt a little with injuries down the stretch.
“I know no Mike Evans, but everyone’s is — and rightfully so — [hyping the] Rams the NFC West and all that. I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be a fantastic group.”
There you have it, Bucs fans. It appears the moves the Bucs made have them back to being the beasts of the NFC South and a return to the playoffs!
Home playoff game, baby.
"I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to be a fantastic group again."@danorlovsky7 reacts to the Bucs selecting Rueben Bain Jr. and Keionte Scott ? pic.twitter.com/6msKS8yBkb
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 27, 2026
April 27th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Excellent draft and an overall solid offseason. Ebuka is going to breakout this year mark my words.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:47 am
Sure.
With that 5-12 record and three plane crashes (borrowing from legendary John McKay), Bucs are a lock to win the NFC South.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:48 am
One of the best drafts we ever had
We got bigger, faster, smarter, and more physical
April 27th, 2026 at 10:55 am
We just have one little problem, and its initials are Todd Bowles.
April 27th, 2026 at 10:57 am
Did the Bucs get a new HC?
April 27th, 2026 at 11:14 am
Elite – “those people or organizations that are considered the best or most powerful compared to others of a similar type.”
We went 8-9 for the second time in four years in the worst division in the NFL.
As long as Bowles is the HC\DC, we are never going to be elite in any sense.
The Glazers must believe this assessment from Orlovsky. They just love the culture!
April 27th, 2026 at 11:23 am
Todd Says:
“Did the Bucs get a new HC?”
Nope. And clearly they didn’t feel they needed one. Were they right? We’ll see.
But what’s done is done…no point on dwelling on it now.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:24 am
definitely feel like we had a solid draft and added some great talent…
but i wont let my love for the BUCS weaken me lol….gotta see translate on the field without the excuses or mid season slump
GO BUCS!!!!
April 27th, 2026 at 11:24 am
I’m holding my overall on the draft but have just a couple of modern opinions on the second and third as well as the sixth. And addressing the “seem ably bad choices”. HOWEVER…. I’m going to sign the waiver up front that states “nobody pays me for my opinion”… With that said..
Trotter just feels like the wrong pick for us. Maybe he can be coached up by the new coaching staff (this year or next) but the way he would be used in his “best setting” Doesn’t address where we got DESTROYED last year and the year before that. He just the Wrong guy (as is) and if feels like a bowles “desperate to stop the run” even though they aren’t running the ball with the PERPETUAL easy out, Right Down the Middle”. Trotter simply isn’t talented enough to “Truly” cover the middle as we need. It (as of right now) was a foolish choice…
The second “seem ably” bad choice was the Very Promising selection of our new receiver. …. We simply DID NOT need him. We are already FLUSH with Plenty of receiving talent, Even With the loss of the BEST offensive weapon we’ve EVER HAD! (Everybody KNOWS WHY Mike left) and ANYBODY that’s wasting their time trying to dream up lies like the now questionable J. Licht, is only lying to yourselves AND YOU KNOW! Back to the “new” receiver, well he’s not top ten but who knows, one day we all may look back and say “he should have went in the first round”.. BUT WE DESPERATELY STILL NEED OTHER POSITIONS “FAR, FAR WORSE” THAN ANOTHER RECEIVER! Especially in the 3rd round! How about A OTHER D LINEMAN! A THIRD ROUNDER INSTEAD OF A FORTH ROUNDER! PICKED 30 TO 40 MEN BEFORE! Or another CB? Or just about ANY defensive position that we ARE incredibly thin at! Perhaps another LBer???….
The 6th rd TE… Well….. hmmm.. it is the 6th round but again, we NEED DEFENSE! However, it looks like J. Licht got “bored” with the draft this year and decided to go All In on the only prospect that “supposedly” was the best option left on their board, and a “token” for the incoming OC..? It could Well Have Been that the initial idea was to get the new OC the best TE in the draft but that got thrown out of the windows when BAIN came to town!
The Best laid plans and all…..
Looks like 2 to 3 were GREAT picks and the others were Good picks “except for” the 2nd rounded… Being SO HIGH in the draft, AND the “wrong fit” was just a bad choice. Not a bad player! But a bad fit, and therefore a poor choice
I suppose it’s been gone over and over. I just wanted to get in the conversation.
I am curious about the rest. I haven’t had time to look all over yet. We DEFINITELY NEEDED some more O line help! Hope he’s a good one..
April 27th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Ander Says:
“Ebuka is going to breakout this year mark my words.”
I agree, and I don’t think he’s the only WR who will do so. I suspect one of our backups is going to explode.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:41 am
Here is what I know. The Bucs last year were bad injuries no injuries. The secondary was awful period. The talent on the front seven poor. Does this draft class put them back with the elite?, well let’s see what the new players add. So while I would not put them back in the playoffs yet, I think the team is improving. We still desperately need a cornerback unless you think Morrison has suddenly developed in the off season. I do like Scott and Parrish thus far. However please on the statements about the Bucs being good last year or this year right now.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:41 am
The more I look at the Trotter pick the more I like it. Where he seems to struggling coverage is in Zone. But I watched him read and react to screen plays while looking at the film. He diagnoses them quickly, managed us to slip the block and tackle the running back in the backfield. He is a very good blitzer as well.
Let’s not forget he just turned 21 in the month of April and has only played two years of college ball. He seems fast enough big enough and strong enough so I think he can certainly develop into a better player in coverage. I think we need to give the team the benefit of the doubt, but I think this guy is going to be a stud linebacker.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:44 am
I think the free agent signings, though under the radar, were crucial for shoring up our weak points on defense. The linebackers will be much improved and the defensive line as well. Adding Bain, Trotter and Scott will add even more heat to the defense, particularly Bain and Scott. I expect Trotter to learn behind our starters.
I think drafting Hurst was a necessity. Our offense has been reliant on Evans to stretch defenses on the outside. Evans would either catch a long pass or get a pass interference. Either way, it would result in a big play. Hurst brings that element back to the offense, well, at least in theory. We’ll see how he plays.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Denver traded out of the 2nd after Josiah Trotter pick.. they were targeting him from what I found online. I rank them as the top defense in the NFL so that makes me upbeat on the kid if they wanted him..
April 27th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Obvious One, good post.
Trotter: I agree it was a bit of a head scratcher. but looking into him I see that he is high energy and has well-timed run blitzes and crafty rush work. I suspect he will rush the QB a bit, and might be good at doing so. As a blitzer, he fits what Bowles defense needs.
WR Tedd Hurst was a bit of a surprise to me as well. I felt they should have addressed a defensive position too…but…that doesn’t mean it was a bad pick. He’s tall, and he specializes in jump catches in the end zone. He can beat press and hit the accelerator. He’s an above-average ball-tracker deep and a dangerous catch-and-run option.
He’s no Mike Evans…no one is…but he’s as close as this draft offered…and he only cost a 3rd round pick.
CB Keionte Scott was a genius pick. He and Bain worked well together and had their own things they did together. That pick is going to pay off big time.
DT DeMonte Capehart wasn’t a sack artist in college, but he’s big and heavy. He’s a run stopper…and believe it or not, we needed one. He’s strong and quick. Being taken in the 5th round, he’ll start off as a rotational player…so it’s up to him to perform and earn better.
G Billy Schrauth was known as a tough guy in college. Guard depth was badly needed, and honestly, Guard was the only Offensive position I wanted us to draft. Here’s to hoping he is good. He missed the last 5 games last year to a knee injury. I don’t know if he’s healed up yet. If he is, he has a chance to earn a roster spot and maybe raise himself in the depth chart. Jason Lict is very good at drafting Guards. It’s worth mentioning that this guy has experience playing both sides…so he is definitely a depth pick.
TE Bauer Sharp. The head scratcher pick. The thing that stands out for me on this guy is his experience at playing QB as well. That means the Bucs can come up with trick plays on offense and special teams. Special Teams is a major concern too. With a new ST coach, we don’t know what Special Teams will look like yet, but if they can improve and add some trick plays, he’s worth the pick. Keep in mind, he is a 5th rounder, so it really isn’t too big of a gamble.
THE TRADE UP, loosing our 7th rounder seemed unneeded. I think Sharp may have been there for them, but I don’t have insider knowledge. The Bucs may have gotten word that another team was planning to take him, and if they wanted him for trick plays…I GUESS it makes sense to trade up.
And to be honest, a 7th rounder is usually a throw away pick.
While the draft didn’t unfold the exact way I wanted, I still think it was a good draft. Again.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:58 am
I really like Dan-O. I think he’s a nice person. But, he is NEVER right on these things, EVER. Bless his heart. It’s kinda funny! He knows it and laughs about it all the time, with everyone. It’s more like, “Oh-Dan.” LoL.
April 27th, 2026 at 11:59 am
3,28,Evans Says:
With three plane crashes, Bucs are a lock to win the NFC South.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
WELL DONE! Not enough McKay quotes on this site. I don’t think Joe is old enough.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
The Trotter Pick was another low risk, high-floor, low-ceiling guy, when compared to the other available LB’s in that pick 40-80 range.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
I’m 100% certain that the Bucs could have drafted Love, Bailey, Styles, Sadiq, Ioane and Bain ALL of them..and there would still be people bitching.
Im also certain that most of the ones who bitch and complain, were not Buc fans in the 80s and 90s.
Lots of good posters and content on here and thats why I like this site. But the idiots who log on and take time out of there lives to complain endlessly is really sad.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
@ Obvious One Says: “…but the way he would be used in his “best setting” Doesn’t address where we got DESTROYED last year and the year before that. He just the Wrong guy (as is) and if feels like a bowles “desperate to stop the run” even though they aren’t running the ball with the PERPETUAL easy out, Right Down the Middle”. Trotter simply isn’t talented enough to “Truly” cover the middle as we need. It (as of right now) was a foolish choice…”
THIS is soooo true.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Oh, Joe remembers John McKay coaching USC to titles. But it’s hard to connect 50 years ago to the present and still be relevant. Shoot, even quoting Chucky is ancient history.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
I was a ‘bicentennial’ baby, born in 1976. My very FIRST piece of NFL merch was yes, a BUCS hat. When I was just 7-years old. I wore it everywhere, literally all day long. Until, I started playing Little League for the Cubs. LoL.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
I needed a good laugh.!!!
April 27th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
I liked the draft. I’m a little concerned about trotter and his limitation. Licht has a history (not a significant history but history none the less) of missing in round two. If he could have hit on a few of those we might not have been in such a deep hole in our front 7.
But I’m not nitpicking. This was a good draft by all accounts
But back to elite? Not a chance with our head coach.
The talent level is better tho!
April 27th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
It’s funny how these “in the know” reporters, with the hot takes that we’re supposed to evidently take as gospel, fail to even follow the team close enough to understand the roster got healthier as the season progressed while the record got worse. The failure to examine that and the reasons behind it are too complicated evidently, so let’s just use the patented “injuries caused the issue” excuse and move on. Lazy journalism, but par for the course these days.
April 27th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
We had an excellent draft
Bottom Line
We accomplished what we set out to do
Some folks may have a different opinion
But, that’s how life goes, everyone don’t agree
April 27th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Why do the Bucs keep using valuable draft picks on WRs year after year Even with Evan leaving they’ve got an embarrasing abundance of quality receivers already!
Especially with one of the best Buc LB’s of all time in David retiring, NOT ONE of the this year’s picks can even carry his water, let alone replace him! And even after the draft, why not load up on undrafted LBs sucn as Alabama’s LB Devontae Lawson who is still out there. At a minimum he could help their putrid special teams learn how to tackle, and that guy had consisistent numbers every year for the Tide. Come on Licht, go get more help at LB!
April 27th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
They signed Caden Fordham ILB from NC State as UDFA
April 27th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
I bet Light finds another veteran ILB on the market when it gets time to start trimming.
April 27th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
“Why do the Bucs keep using valuable draft picks on WRs year after year Even with Evan leaving they’ve got an embarrasing abundance of quality receivers already!“
WRs & CBs are expensive if you’ve got a good one(or two) on your roster.
Look at KC and what they did with McDuffie
Look at what Cincy is paying Chase & Higgins combined.
You keep drafting them, you might not have to cash out for one for a little while
April 27th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
MFL games are usually decided by less than a TD, 5 of our losses down the stretch were by 3 or less, an L is an L but that’s a pretty crazy stat, that being said, did we get better across the board this offseason, I say a resounding yes, except HC QB S n TE which is the same, not the point, WR OL RB DL Edge ILB all needed to get better and more depth, time will tell but 2026 Bucs look improved
April 27th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
The Bucs will be a young defense, especially on the back end, so how fast can these guys get up to speed? In the words of Ronde’, Bowles needs to simplify the defense, so these young guys can play fast and avoid busts.
April 27th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
The team is still close to the year we went 10-7 the start last year 6-2. The team isn’t as bad as the crying ? make it out to be. 5 or 3 win seasons hahaha is a ? take. When’s the last time the Bucs only won 3 to 5 games ? My point exactly. Your hatred for the coach clouds your clown ? thinking. The move the Bucs made that is under the radar is the OC. Get this offense back humming again a this team can be better then the 24 Bucs with coen.
April 27th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
Call me when they go 6-0
April 27th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Obvious Says:
“Licht has a history (not a significant history but history none the less) of missing in round two.”
This is why I felt the Guard position should have been addressed in round 2. He knows OL best, and it would have increased the chances of a successful 2nd round pick.
April 27th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Hey Bonzai,
Your’s was a better post than mine. I liked how you’ve really done your homework and brought a light unto the entire spread.
Though, my concerns remain for now. There were some great points put on the board. However it doesn’t change a thing in the now. We needed a couple of those picks to have been a bit more “for the now”. The future is simply a unknown quantity. But we Certainly Know where our weaknesses Are and how important it was to Fill in the Blanks.
For instance, filling in Large holes in the CB, LB, D line and other with extra trimming instead of WR (no Real need) or another TE (OC gift) versus area’s of Desperate Need would have at the Least, felt like the wiser choices. Our current depth in So Many areas was just Paramount vs another receiver and another TE where we’re flush and Then Some.
I just would have played it differently. Then again, nobody’s paying me for my opinions. It just seems “OBVIOUS”…
BUT, I don’t want to give the illusion that I think it was a bad draft. That’s NOT how I see it or feel (thank God). I think we actually had a “Very Good” draft. Just not a Great one..
I just Know it could have been 25 to 30% better and Far More complete, IF we or more the management, we’re focused more on “Completing and Filling In depth across our boards” vs More Than overflowing certain cups that are Already pouring out and waisting (there’s only one football) all over the locker room and field…, just my 2 cents
And I’m grateful that there are some many other points of view so that it can balance how things are seen no matter who you are. Somebody can find some light in the dark is a beautiful thing.
April 27th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
And Bonzai, I’m in Complete Agreement with your last statement. His strengths would have been better served Right There. We NEED that hole Filled by a Strong Contender! And more than likely have gotten a “Top of the Line” O lineman in the second vs the forth or fifth rounds. This draft is disjointed in that Very Way… However, still not a “bad draft”.
With a little more focus, it could have been so D@@m Good. I think Bain falling to us COMPLETELY threw them off their game and they grouped up best they could after the fact. Too bad they are so distracted by the weight of “YOU BETTER OR ELSE” (Licht and his job on the line). ..
April 27th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Was Dans’ assessment, out of bounds?
April 27th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Not sure it matter what Dan O thinks. Week 5 of 2024 season, Orlovsky said that not only would Tua be the MVP, but the Dolphins would win the Super Bowl and become the next dynasty in the NFL. All b/c Miami was 4-0 and Tua was playing well. He also talked about how no one can figure out a way to stop this dolphins offense. They did….the next week.
April 27th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Building from last season, which is a requirement, the Buc defense rolled over, causing the offense and Bake in particular to press, and everything (remember ST efforts, too?) regressed.
Yes Bowles seemed to fumble. lash out and lost the team effectively. But a team with true leadership wouldn’t have let it get there. ME wasn’t great. LVD worked hard but a step slower. Bake was hurt just enough that he couldn’t be his brash self.
Football is passion. Get soft and get thumped. Good news is that with some tough veteran additions and ears-pinned-back rookies, the new year can be totally different. Bowles and Baker need to get it started early and let’s see the boys kick some people on their way to 12-5.12-5.
April 27th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
I agree with the post by obivioue one about the draft. Trotter is not a bad player but the Bucs got the wrong player for our needs & drafted him too high. There were better options avaliable. also agree about the receiver we took at 3. Didn’t need a receiver should have drafted Defense. The TE at 6. Makes no sense. But to show our GM needed to.make sure his style was on the draft. Hire a DC or we are a 500 team at best anyway.
April 27th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Overall a good draft. I would have preferred a trade up to get JRod in the 2nd. Or staying out and picking Lee Hunter then picking up Trotter in the 3rd (believe me he still would have been there). Loved the 4th and 5th round picks.
April 27th, 2026 at 8:45 pm
a month or so i had the very early 2026 season outlook total at 7-10…
licht and gang haven’t exactly gone wild with earth shattering moves, but in the process they have quietly secured and sealed up seemingly a lot of holes and issues on the defense…
it’s been a pretty darn good offseason with a lot of solid additions thru the draft and free agency…
they’ve done a very nice job to say the least…
are we going to have an elite record this year…?…i say no…but i consider elite to be 12 wins or more…
can we get 9, or bowles’ ceiling in his coaching history of 10…?…we just might…it is possible…
absolute ceiling on the team is 11 for me rn…
absolute floor is 7…maybe 6 – if it’s a disastrous injury plagued season, or something like that…
and as of right now i see us at say 9-8, and if things go our way, maybe 10-7…but that’s a hard maybe at this point…
so i had us a couple months back at 7-10…but with all the savvy front office work, i will bump my number up 2 wins to 9-8…
i think saying the bucs are a 10 win team right now is a bit of a tall order…especially with all three divisional opponents getting better…
and elite…which is 12-13 wins or better, is fool’s gold
April 27th, 2026 at 8:55 pm
the division looks tough this year…it’s not out of the question for all teams…and i mean all…to go like 3-3 in division…
it’s like everyone can split evenly with everyone…
if we can go 4-2 in division that would be very good…
we aren’t sweeping 2 divisional opponents…
maybe we sweep one and split with the other 2 if we’re lucky…
it’s very feasible everyone can go 3-3 in division…everything seems sort of up for grabs after the way we finished out last year…
10 wins should once again probably secure the division title…i don’t see any of the nfc south teams winning 12