Playing Defense Against The Stinking Panthers
April 20th, 2026
Chess or checkers?
Joe remembers being a hardcore baseball fan and being a National League guy. Joe didn’t sweat what the Yankees or Red Sox did or didn’t do.
(Very few things get Joe to change the TV channel faster than any reference to the Yankees or Red Sox. Joe. Just. Doesn’t. Care!)
Still, Joe admired George Steinbrenner. He was beyond aggressive with very high standards. All owners should have been like Steinbrenner and demanded excellence — or else!.
Steinbrenner was notorious for aquiring players not so much because he could use them, Steinbrenner just didn’t want them picked up by the Red Sox. The classic case of that was Jose Canseco. New York had no use or need for him, other than to keep him out of Boston.
Mark Sessler, formerly of NFL.com who now co-hosts an NFL podcast, Heed the Call, with his (former) NFL.com colleague Dan Hanzus, said recently, without mentioning Steinbrenner, that the Bucs in this week’s draft should pull a Steinbrenner. That is, draft player(s) who the Stinking Panthers might draft.
You kill two birds with one stone, Sessler believed. You build up your roster by keeping dudes away from Carolina.
In particular, Sessler thinks Carolina is going to target a receiver at No. 19. Sessler, who is not enamored with the Bucs receivers in the post-Mike Evans era, thinks that is how Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht should play chess Thursday night.
“I watched this offense fall apart [last year],” Sessler said. “The whole team fell apart down the stretch. Like, you can’t have it happening on the Todd Bowles defense as well.
“That said, like they’re a little light at wide receiver, and I think it’s going to be really interesting to see … what happens with this wideout class, and also look at Kenyon Sadiq, who’s sitting here at 15 because you don’t [want them] to go to the Panthers.
“You want to steal that guy away from them. But also fortify a wideout group that does not look the same right now.”
Sessler brought up a couple of interesting points. Emeka Egbuka went invisible the second half of the season. There had to be a reason. What was it? Can it or has it been resolved?
Sessler also did not like how Chris Godwin had so many drops last year and he fears Godwin is on the downside of his career. Can he rebound?
No, Sessler did not mention Jalen McMillan.
Joe isn’t sure receiver is the way to go, not in the first round. Maybe later with Denzel Boston, OK. Joe can just imagine how both Bucs fans and national talking heads would howl like a lost coyote if the Bucs drafted a receiver at No. 15. LOL
But yeah, Joe is very much on board with drafting Sadiq. But pulling a Steinbrenner and drafting a guy at No. 15 just so he can’t be used against you by the Stinking Panthers, this ain’t baseball. Joe’s not sure that’s very smart.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:04 am
Just take a hammer to my skull and repeatedly wail away until the chili is made.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:58 am
We got Egbuka they got Tmac. Is what it it is. Still prefer Emeka all day.
Only way I care what Carolina does is if we dont fill the crater at Edge opposite Diaby.
They want a TE fine, then get to the QB for a change.
Bucs are not as far off as it seems if they nail this draft that is deep at positions of need.
And it is simple really. Take the mf top EDGD at 15. Duh.
Then maneuver up if ya must to make sure you end up with Hill Jr or Rodriguez in Rd 2.
At this point. Bucs remaining needs are only CB, IOL, and TE upgrade.
Focus on Vita and Anzalone heirs later, only 2 DTs on field in Nickle anyway.
Igbinosun would be a steal in Rd 3. Trigg a same in Rd 4. Then go G followed by depth.
And we can go to the Super Bowl even with Todd Bowles.
But fail to land our #2 Edge and next Deriick Brooks, then 4getta boutit
April 20th, 2026 at 1:01 am
Edge Rd 1. Bain, Mesidor, trade down for Faulk if only he left. Something
April 20th, 2026 at 1:05 am
Rd 2 we must get our next Derrick Brooks in this draft.
Once we do f@@@ what the stinking Panthers do they wont be able to beat us
April 20th, 2026 at 6:40 am
Getting a HOF LB like Brooks is highly unlikely in the 2nd Round as only 12% of HOFers came from the second round. 46% of HOFers come from the first round.
April 20th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Joe isn’t sure receiver is the way to go, not in the first round. But yeah, Joe is very much on board with drafting Sadiq
*********************************************************
wow…definitely contradicted yourself there joe lol…
Sadiq is a TE that can “stretch” the field and isnt a traditional in line blocking TE…he’s a bigger WR playing TE lol…
so you are on board with a Receiver or at the very least some form of receiving weapon…
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 20th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Injuries eliminated the Bucs last year. Stick to your draft plan because the Bucs will start healthy. The Bucs will be much improved after this draft.
Hopefully the new coaches can improve the team. Jason Licht and Todd Bowles are addressing the Bucs to be a legit contender. GO BUCS
April 20th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Just trade down
April 20th, 2026 at 8:43 am
Be true to ‘your’ board and let the draft fall to it.
April 20th, 2026 at 9:03 am
This Joe really wants Sadiq and this sounds like another angle to justify the pick.
But then you say drafting a WR might not be smart, yet I. Sadiq that’s pretty much what youre getting. A 6’3″ WR that needs work on blocking to be a true TE.
I’m pretty sure JL has his board set and isn’t drafting a guy at 15 just because he is concerned with what the Panthers may do.
I also dont get the thought the Bucs are “light” at WR.
April 20th, 2026 at 10:12 am
No on Offense in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounds — unless we trade back and get extra picks. Then I’m OK with using one 3rd rd pick on Offense.
April 20th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Drinking heavily at 9am.
April 20th, 2026 at 11:29 am
I’d prefer defense in round one but it depends on who the BPA.
If you watched this team the last two years you saw the offensive struggles once the WRs started getting hurt.
Our WRs are talented, but you will not get 16-17 games out of JM or Godwin. You can take that to the bank. We have to hope that EE takes a step like JSN did and becomes a legit alpha #1. If that happens we’ll be fine, but if it doesn’t we need another weapon. if theres a guy there that fits that mold and he’s head and shoulders above any defensive player, I have no issue taking him.
April 20th, 2026 at 11:57 am
No. No WR. I don’t like the class at the top. It’s just like last years, which was VERY underwhelming. There are ‘solid’ ones in the later rounds. If it’s myself, I’m keeping my eye on Louisville’s Chris Bell, and targeting HIM. He is an absolute GAME. BREAKER. Very versatile and can play inside or out. It doesn’t matter. Just get HIM the ball.
Next year’s ‘draft-class’ is where you get your legit TRUE #1 Superstar WR (Jeremiah Smith), to pair with JMac and EE, and (maybe Bell, IF they target a WR). Next year’s WR-class is sooooo deep and STRONG, you don’t need to waste a ‘top pick’ there, this year.
Even, though, I do agree with this guy about our WR-room. I know A LOT of fans on here, THINK we have a LOADED Offense with great RB’s and WR’s. But, we don’t. It’s NOT a Top-20 group (unless Chris Godwin is “Chris Godwin” again, and that’s a fantasy at this point). And, neither is our RB-room. NOT a Top-20 room even, and fans on here ‘think’ they’re GREAT. Same with the Quarterback. It’s been quite a long time, since HE’s looked-like a Top-20 QB. This season will be a major STRUGGLE.
April 20th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
They have to get DEPTH on Defense. Have to get YOUNGER. This team is absolutely NOT a draft away. Young depth is the way to go in THIS Draft. Just young and explosive, period. Maybe, you find that diamond in the rough.
April 20th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
I don’t have any idea who that guy is, but I’d sure like to know where he buys his weed.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:26 pm
Who TF is scared of the Panthers LOL