Why Not Jason Peters?

March 23rd, 2020

Right tackle candidate?

For the folks who habitually bellyache about the Bucs offensive line being the root of all evil from running out of toilet paper to the corona itself, this post is for you.

Free agent and two-time All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters, 38, said, by way of Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, that he is open to playing right tackle. Why?

Because, per Rory Parks of ProFootballRumors.com, Peters is scared teams will be spooked with a 38-year old left tackle.

Of course, the Bucs have a left tackle in Donovan Smith. And Smith isn’t going anywhere because his $14.5 million salary for 2020 is guaranteed. Nor is Smith going anywhere on the line.

A favorite campaign slogan for the anti-Smith crowd is he can play right tackle. Years ago Smith told Joe there is no way he could effectively play right tackle, as much as he may want to play right tackle if ordered.

So Smith is your Bucs left tackle for at least 2020.

Why is Peters willing to move to right tackle? Parks claims that Peters’ graybeard status means teams may not want him because he would only be a short-term answer.

Well, hello Bucs. The Bucs are all about short-term as Joe types this here post. The Bucs just signed a 42-year old quarterback and their coach will be 68 this fall.

So why not sign Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler who is 6-4, 328? A well-respected NFL talking head who used to work as a pro personnel director with the Eagles and Redskins and played for Bill Belicheat thinks that’s a smart move.

50 Responses to “Why Not Jason Peters?”

  1. ModHairKen Says:

    How much? That’s the only question.

  2. IANB Says:

    I’d be fine with Peters coming in on a team friendly deal as depth, we still draft a RT and if he beats out Peters, great! If not then Peters can start the season until the new RT is ready to take over

    If the Bucs are truly going for a SB run the next two years we need to load up on O-Line and D-Line depth

  3. Larry Says:

    38 years old really??? Not sure that is a good move or an upgrade.

  4. SOEbuc Says:

    Not a bad idea. Deal?

  5. Adrnagy Says:

    Double up at left tackle. Use peters as a TE to help d. Smith. And sign Dotson. Double TE. Let’s see if that way will improve our oline.

    Also , while all or most teams upgraded at safety we decided to sign Adams. Smh.
    With sanders. Kamara. Thomas … good luck hopefully our QB Arians arm can last a shootout and 17 games.

  6. Jason Hull Says:

    This team is all in for two years why not get players who have been to the big show to help build a winning attitude

  7. Joe Says:

    This team is all in for two years why not get players who have been to the big show to help build a winning attitude

    If the team is banking on a 43-year old QB and a 68-year old coach, why not a 38-year old RT who has been to too many Pro Bowls to count?

  8. Buczilla Says:

    Cool with me.

  9. Jean Lafitte Says:

    Bad move, especially since we didn’t go after Conklin. If he were worth all the hoopla the Eggles would have re-signed him since there is a premium on tackles.

    You ever notice every season these talking experts always link guys on the backend of there careers to the Bucs. Haven’t we had enough of taking Eggle leftovers by now?

  10. Billy-43 Says:

    Should be cheaper than Conklin for sure. Probably why he mentioned he was willing to play RT.

    Everyone wants to play with Brady.

    Still have time to get a safety also.

    Maybe Bell will play for cheap.

  11. Bucs Fan From Philly Says:

    I am all for this win now signing as long as we are drafting a rookie to learn behind this pro bowler. Same with Brady, draft a QB to learn from him.

  12. Jason Mclaurin Says:

    I would be all in for Peters. Bring in Peters and bring Dotson back and we have depth. There also would be no need to draft their this year imo. The team is about to be more closer to the Gruden days when there were a lot of veterans here. Sign Peters and bring Suh back as well. There would be a lot of will to win in the locker room then. The draft will probably be used to get players on special teams such as a returner or two and grab more LB as well. One player I would love to see drafted is AJ Dillion. He looks to be what we need which is a shifty physical running back that can block as well.

  13. lambchop Says:

    I think there’s a big difference getting an older OL like Jason Peters than an older QB who is two seasons removed from winning a SB. OL is a highly impactful position. We would be replacing an average aging RT with an upgrade as far as skills in Jason Peters, but age has to be a huge factor with OL.

    I think the Bucs have their mind set on a starting RT in the 1st round of the draft.

  14. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Switching from left tackle to RT and vice-versa is not easy. Risky strategy.

  15. Joe in Michigan Says:

    I’m for it, unless he wants too much money. Right Tackle, if something happened to D Smith, Peters could play Left. Draft an OT in the 1st (if any of the Big 4 are there) or 2nd (if they’re gone, there still will be quality) and have the grasshopper watch and learn.

  16. BucsFanSince1976 Says:

    So Licht BRain did not want the best LT available and failed to sign Conklin. Wake up Licht Brain and get moving on signing Germain Ifedi and that right soon. No time to gamble on the unproven coomodities in the draft for protecting your highest paid asset in TB12.
    Remember Licht Brain that your Arse is on the line this year if you do not win with TB12-YOU ARE FIRED.

  17. Noles Says:

    If they got peters on ‘team friendly deal then they should trade back in rd 1, get an extra 2nd rd pick & then w first rd pick take DAndre swift followed by Ol. DL & S in rd 2. Best player available

  18. SteveK Says:

    Conklin already tore a knee badly and missed a year. And he fetched $20million for a RT in his first year of FA. That’s too much.

    I kind of hope that if we don’t have a stud on the board at 14: Chassion/D. Brown/ J Kinkaw, 4 OTs, then trade back and scoop up a handful of round 2-3 guys. Then we can get a bunch of toys /depth.

  19. BucHead588 Says:

    If he’s healthy he’s an upgrade at RT he is still one of the Best OT in the Game when he’s on the field an I believe the Bucs would be Wise to bring in another Vet in case the Rookie RT needs a little time to develop but I think that’s what Haeg is here for I actually think he will win the Starting RT job he can play all over the off line an h believe he is this years Shaq

  20. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    We are paying the price for not investing enough in the draft with our Oline…..regardless, we need to draft a RT…
    I’d be OK with Peters….but we only have so much money to go around….need to resign Suh…..top priority.

  21. Bucsalltheway Says:

    Gosder cherilus 2.0 😂😂

  22. Bucsalltheway Says:

    Too frail due to aging….we cant grab everyone on their last leg

  23. WhatTheBuc Says:

    The only way we sign Peters is if we miss out on tackles in the draft. The remaining cap would be better spent on Suh and Markus Golden. We need more depth on the defensive line.

  24. Jonzey Says:

    Depends on how much money he is asking for we can sign him for 2 million

  25. Allbuccedup Says:

    5 mil one year

  26. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    Lol, so Smith appears to be the only guy that can’t change sides. Picks him and draft Andrew Thomas because he played both sides at UGA. Joe, ever consider that D Smith doesn’t want go to the right side because right tackles make considerably less money. I have never heard any other tackle say he can’t switch sides.

  27. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    38 years old???? Are you people insane?

  28. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Tampabaybucfan Says:
    March 23rd, 2020 at 7:11 am
    “We are paying the price for not investing enough in the draft with our Oline…”

    Smith. Marpet. Cappa.

    I’d say that statement is inaccurate.

    We only need one spot filled.

  29. Defense Rules Says:

    Jason Peters was great in his day … yesterday. Today? At 38 years old? Pass.

  30. Bucs Guy Says:

    First re-sign Suh.

    I hate the idea of all in for 2 years!!! Don’t sacrafice the future, by only signing vets and trading draft picks. Unless you can swing a trade for Trent Williams, I’m OK with Peters as a backup. We still need an OT in the first, followed by DT (Suh’s replacement), DE (JPP replacement), S, RB (pounder), WR and CB.

    If the big 4 OTs aren’t available, trade back to #21 with Philly and get Josh Jones and a 2nd rd pick. Yes, I would trade back even if Kinlaw is available. Why? Because there is higher value getting Jones and one of the many 2nd level DTs sure to be available in the 2nd rd over Kinlaw and a mid-2nd round right tackle.

  31. Bobbo Says:

    Draft Tua the southpaw and the line flips. Problem solved

  32. Hodad Says:

    Believe me, they have a plan for the RT spot, and they would’ve had to sell it to Brady. I’m sure Tom did his homework before signing, so he had to see Dotson was a big liability. We signed one third tear O linemen so far. If we don’t bring in a Vet before the draft, the Bucs must think they can get a plug in play RT with their first pick.

  33. Casual Observer Says:

    Several high quality OTs in round one next month.

  34. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Jason Peters can’t play, just because he’s 38? Have you ever heard of Darrell Green, Jerry Rice, Tom Brady, Jackie Slater, Bruce Matthews, Clay Matthews, Junior Seau, Bruce Smith, or Jeff Van Note?

  35. Go Bucs 72 Says:

    Like many people have said already, it’s all about the money.

  36. LordCornelius Says:

    I’m OK with this as long as it doesn’t change their draft strategy at all or cause us to ignore good OT value if it’s there in R1/R2.

  37. The Coroner Says:

    It is all about cap space.
    Trading for Trent Williams if we had the cap room?

  38. Swampbuc Says:

    Maybe Jason can lure Paul Gruber out of retirement.

  39. Joe in Michigan Says:

    I do remember the Bucs signing Todd Steussie, a Left Tackle who everyone said could play Right Tackle, because it’d be easier. It didn’t work out so well.

    Donovan Smith and a draft pick for Trent Williams?

  40. JimmyJack Says:

    Joe it’s a fine idea but I’ll tell you why not Jason Peters. Go back to last time he played in Tampa. It was a swertering day…….and he lasted about three plays. I bet he had trouble making it through warmups.

    Some guys just can’t handle this heat. Betting g Peters falls into that catergory. This is probably the last place he wants to play. Because of the heat.

  41. TOM Says:

    All depends on $.

  42. WestChap Says:

    Experts say he’s still starting quality at LT… if we can have as Donovan insurance and mentor to a few new OL at a reasonable rate, how can you say no?

  43. 813bucboi Says:

    LordCornelius Says:
    March 23rd, 2020 at 9:50 am
    I’m OK with this as long as it doesn’t change their draft strategy at all or cause us to ignore good OT value if it’s there in R1/R2.

    BINGO!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  44. 813bucboi Says:

    can wells play RT?…played good when d.smith went down….

    GO BUCS!!!!

  45. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Agreed, we need to draft one of the stockpile of good tackles in the first 2 rounds this year.

  46. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Walter football rates Jason Peters 4 stars (out of 5), saying he’s still blocking at a Pro Bowl level.

  47. stpetebucsfan Says:

    SteveK

    You are from the Bobby Beathard GM school and I never quarrel with that. Dude reached SEVEN SB’s and won four of them.

    One of his major beliefs…ALL draft picks are a crap shoot so the only way to protect yourself was convert when possible to multiple picks thereby increasing the odds of success…two or three shots at the bulleye are better than just one.

    In fact I was truly torn when we picked JW#1. I did not want MM…I did seriously think we should have considered trading down and using the “Beathard” method of draft success.

    Imagine Steve with only two QB’s available in a horrible QB class..JW and Mariota were the darlings so picking either was a MAJOR investment of draft capital. How many picks would that #1 have fetched?

  48. NOLES Says:

    Good ? st Pete…

  49. Jim Says:

    The Super Bowl year Gru brought in some last gas but effective O-linemen. Seemed to work out.

  50. Joe in Michigan Says:

    stpetebucsfan: Chip Kelly was the coach at Philly at the time, probably would’ve given up all of their picks to move up to take Mariota. There are no “do-overs” though, and one of the most intriguing parts of the draft is nobody knows who’ll make it in NFL and who won’t.