Kay Adams Has (Draft) Love For Jason Licht
April 28th, 2026
Has Jason Licht on her radar.
There is nothing scary about Kay Adams. But she said the way Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht added playmakers to the defense in last week’s draft, the Bucs defense ought to be scary good.
Three of the first four players Licht drafted were not only on the defensive side of the ball, but one player for each level.
Rueben Bain, a defensive lineman, Josiah Trotter, a linebacker and Keionte Scott, a nickel corner. Adams is not only convinced all three start, but all three will quickly become playmakers.
“I don’t thnk it could possibly be better than what Jason Licht did this weekend,” Adams began. “Just take a look at the changes that were made:
“Reuben Bain at [No. 15] overall, that’s a home run. He would have been a home run on any team, any defense.
“[Licht] landed Mizzou linebacker Josiah Trotter, yes those Trotters, in the second round to help fill [the hole left by] Lavonte David. That will be huge. So Trotter, as I understand it, is like a tackling machine, makes a lot of plays at the line of scrimmage, dynamo, all that.
“And then [Licht] got Miami nickel Keionte Scott in the fourth and that’s going to be one of the steals in the draft, my staff here [says]. He’s somebody that really will hopefully transform the secondary, which is needed. This is a guy who is like a game breaker, like win games, like absolute playmaker.”
Adams said the Bucs must improve the pass defense. With a new nasty pass rusher, a raging linebacker and a playmaking nickel corner who can blitz and tackle, the Bucs ought to at least have a decent pass defense, Adams noted.
Joe really doesn’t know what to make of the Bucs defense, at least in the early weeks. Are we really to believe three rookies during Week 1 will be able to ball out?
If those three rookies can play solid ball while they learn NFL nuances, the Bucs ought to be able to make another run at the division title. The Bucs’ defense fully collapsed last year and still the Bucs damn near won the division.
This Bucs defense just got a WHOLE LOT scarier 🫢@Buccaneers | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/6be96KOD7J
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 27, 2026
April 28th, 2026 at 4:54 am
Division titles are participation trophies unless the team wins playoff games – especially in the NFC South
April 28th, 2026 at 5:13 am
Division titles really are”participation trophies” like the above poster said, but I’d rather have a home playoff game than not have one. Plus you have a feed chance to win and advance. The only way to guarantee failure is not to try. Even if you are 4th seed you have a small chance at a second home game. Heck yeah! Gimmie that division flag.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:20 am
Anyhoo, I love this draft. Kay stopped with the 4th round, but I like that DT in the early 5th we got too. He even picked up a decent swing guard if he can stay healthy. I don’t know what to think of that last guy though.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:05 am
Are you kidding me? We’re going to leave skid marks. On the NFC South.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:13 am
I love the Josiah Trotter pick
If you want a violent, physical defense, it start with the MIKE
And Josiah is the most violent, physical MIKE in college football
He did 27 reps at the combine, more than any linebacker
He shoot through gaps, attacks the ball carrier, he’s a lethal blitzer
He’s only 21, he’s going to get a lot better in coverage
He’s the best MIKE the Bucs have had since Hardy Nickerson
He’s going to be the leader of the Bucs defense for many years
April 28th, 2026 at 6:28 am
Some Bucs love from Kay! Yeah! But, if she told me to put my shoes on the wrong feet and go stand in the corner…I might.
Seriously Kay has grown on me. Unlike alot of the so called sports journalists she seems to do her homework.
Go Bucs!
April 28th, 2026 at 6:29 am
We have at least one Taints fan in here Joe…
Go Bucs!
April 28th, 2026 at 6:34 am
“Joe really doesn’t know what to make of the Bucs defense this year …”
Agree, and you can add the unknown in David Walker to the mix. Being injured before he got a chance to do anything last year makes him another “rookie” to be added to this new, revamped defense.
Walker will be 26 when the season rolls around. It’ll be interesting to see if this old dog can learn a few new tricks and make his reputation as last year’s draft “steal” come to fruition.
Funny, I had zero recollection of his age being a factor when drafted. Technically, he should be in the prime of his career, yet he’s still awaiting his first NFL snap in a preseason, much less a regular season game.
When I saw his birthdate (June of 2020) I thought it was a misprint. Again, no recollection of this. Must be getting old …
April 28th, 2026 at 6:57 am
Jason had better stay away from my squeeze
April 28th, 2026 at 6:59 am
“ He’s a tackling machine, makes alot of plays at the line of scrimmage, dynamo, all that.” Ok. Trotter. Zero interceptions. Zero forced fumbles. Zero fumble recoveries. 3 severe knee injuries by 20 years old and a season and a half of missed football. And an indisputable home run with our 15th pick- a couple of late night crashes and a fatality to boot- might be an inside the park dinger, but it’s a 4 bagger nonetheless. I’ve read this upbeat report 3 times. Then I had my morning shave. Difficulty getting smooth shaven at the corners of my mouth as this stupid grin made it more difficult than usual. I’m not sure why, but slowly but surely I’m feeling better about this draft. I’m just feeling better about everything! It’s hard to explain. Have a great day everyone!
April 28th, 2026 at 7:06 am
Actually, I remember reading Walker’s age and then forgetting. If we get 2 or 3 years out of him that’s just fine. I know we are all expecting big things, Brasswell was supposed to blow up too.
April 28th, 2026 at 7:13 am
Been says: “Licht better stay away from my squeeze”.
I dunno about Licht, but according to the Babylon Bee the Patriots spent a second round pick on a marriage councilor.
April 28th, 2026 at 7:28 am
6 win division champs would be awesome lol
April 28th, 2026 at 7:30 am
The Bucs definitely get an “A” for positions drafted. Just like with any draft, only time will tell if the players selected will match that “A” grade.
April 28th, 2026 at 7:52 am
Nice take from Kay. I like how she has gone old school with the vinyl: Fleetwood Mac Rumours, Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton. Any morning with a solid take by Kay is a good one. Thanks for putting her in this morning’s rotation Joes!
April 28th, 2026 at 7:58 am
@Lakeland: “He’s the best MIKE the Bucs have had since Hardy Nickerson” Easy Big Fella! It’s way to early to “crown his a$$”.
April 28th, 2026 at 8:27 am
Anyone can ball out in the first 4 weeks. Once teams practice those 4 weeks and start making adjustments is when bowles folds
April 28th, 2026 at 8:48 am
definitely not crowning any of them yet but this draft does feel different in a positive way….
the identity of the team is starting to take shape…something we havent had in a few years….
Trotter is an easy pick to start and should….dont like “gifting” players starting jobs but the LB position lacked talent and he’s a clear upgrade….
im hoping David Walker, E. Roberts and Morrison all step up and make it very hard for the coaches to take them off the field…that’ll mean the quality of depth has improved significantly….
just need to stay healthy and have a sense of urgency throughout the season!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
April 28th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Absolutely Joe. Not just 3 rooks were added. Robinson a violent dude , Alex who has bin praised for his coverage , tackling and physical play , AQM who for 11 sacks last year in a part time role and let’s not forget kancey coming back. Defense will look a lot different and play different too. I’d be skeptical if it was only 3 rooks coming to save this defense but it’s a lot more than that
April 28th, 2026 at 11:06 am
“The Bucs defense ought to be scary good.”
Yeah except for one small issue.
We don’t have a capable DC that can scheme a defeense.
I really wish the HC would wake up and fire that guy.
#NoPlayoffs
April 28th, 2026 at 11:06 am
*Defense
April 28th, 2026 at 11:15 am
The idea that Division titles are “participation trophies” is just plain wrong..
You have to win the most games in your division to get one. That’s not a participation trophy. This idea has been spread by the trolls since the end of the season.
But – it’s wrong. Every team would be getting one – but they do not. Only the team with the most wins overall. Sometimes with tiebrealers. but there is only one division winner.
Guarantee you that the Browns and Jets would love to win one.
April 28th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Man, Kay causes a case of the warms every time.
Did she say something?!
April 28th, 2026 at 11:24 am
In the worst division in football, the title is in fact a participation trophy.
You get to participate in the playoffs, but it’s a one and done with Bowles at the helm.
Or a none and done as in 2025.
Zero teams in the NFC South had a winning record last year.
We couldn’t even crack 500 ball. Pathetic.
April 28th, 2026 at 11:54 am
And she’s in love again, knew she’d come back
April 28th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Dianna who lol
April 28th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Well… I’m going the positive route concerning the draft. It’s a B- ” on it’s face”. That IS NOT failing. It’s not polyanna but it’s still pretty solid.
For me it’s really about who we pick from the start. That may seem like low hanging fruit BUT IT MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT… Believe it or not, Licht might have made an OUTRAGEOUS decision. He sure has done it before. Missing on MANY actual Stars of the game, ESPECIALLY in the first round. So…
Beyond that a discussion was had yesterday of “when and where” players of NEED where taken and the actual quality we got compared to the quantity of WHERE they were taken. That really doesn’t matter now and maybe it turned out the best it could have for who the actual targets were and the importance of them in the first place.
For instance an O lineman in the second might have netted a STAR for the O line and Trotter (allegedly targeted by another team in the second) might not have been there in the third. I understand why but I’m not so sure if that was as realistic as many make it out. Especially since MANY other top flight LBers were certainly there to be had in the third. Then again, even I would argue that a LBer was CRUCIAL for us to require one of the best we could get our hands on! BUT then… on the other hand….
Did we really “NEED” another receiver? In the third? I would argue we could have and maybe SHOULD HAVE gone after that O lineman in the third! Got LUCKY with our 4th rounder and if he was such a phenom then we might have picked up that CB in the Third… Or maybe a FAR MORE CAPABLE D lineman in the third and etc…
So…. with that said, I’m giving it a B-. Our draft could have and maybe should have been Better.
We’ll never know but we DO know we still came out FAR BETTER than we started.
April 28th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
it will be steering against the run but susceptible to a short quick passing game- cb is still a weakness
April 28th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
The thing with Bain, and Scott is they already know each other. Miami would line 3 to one side of the formation, and leave Bain, and Scott on an island alone daring teams to run at them. It didn’t work. One, or both most times blew up the play before it started. They work off each other really well.
April 28th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
I have heard all about Bain and some hype on the Georgia State receiver and Notre Dame guard and the Miami DB.
Seems great. But… Other than Kay briefly mentioning him here, I have not seen any articles or really heard much about Trotter, the heir apparent to LVD.
I saw the kid play and know he’s fast, hits hard, a sure tackler, but I’d like to see some in depth articles about him.
I didn’t freak out like some but I was disappointed they did not take CJ Allen.
I want to feel warm and fuzzy about him
April 28th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Hodad…. Yes, I saw it and I read it. Bain and Scott both have great instincts and play reading capability to shut things down fast. Love it!!
Apparently the ILB from the Mizzou, Trotter, is the same way.
Waiting for some articles on him
April 28th, 2026 at 9:02 pm
The take on the Bucs’ draft that I’d like to hear is Anzalone’s. It had to be a real pleasant surprise to him!
Joe — Can you get a reaction from Alex?
April 28th, 2026 at 9:59 pm
Kay Adam’s looks like she’s getting ready to make a video in that picture Joe has up of her, if you know what I mean.