Jason Licht On His Bold Statement About Bucs’ Offensive Line
February 26th, 2026
Explains o-line comments.
At least in Joe’s mind, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht made a bolder than bold statement about his team this week.
When Licht took to the podium at the Indiana Convention Center, the beehive of the combine in downtown Indianapolis, Licht declared his offensive line to be the best room on the Bucs.
“We have an offensive line who I think, we think, is very, very good,” Licht said. “It’s one of our strongest rooms in the in the building, if not the strongest.”
This from a general manager of a team that has a wide receiver room of Mike Evans (if he is re-signed), Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and (if he is re-signed) Sterling Shepard.
So when Licht appeared later the same day on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast,” Joe admitted to Licht to being taken aback by Licht’s statement.
Oh, Joe agrees with Licht that the line is damn good — when healthy. But holy cow, how deep is the Bucs’ receivers room? Joe has never seen a group this deep.
Hell, Tez Johnson could likely start for Arizona or the Raiders. And he’s at the bottom of the food chain for Bucs receivers.
Licht responded and detailed why he said what he said. And Licht admitted he may be a bit subjective because he is an old offensive lineman.
“I certainly didn’t mean to take anything away from anyone else or any other room,” Licht said. “And we certainly have an outstanding receiving room. Thank you for giving me an opportunity and a platform to clarify that.
“Being an ex-offensive lineman, I just am very proud of the way we as an organization have assembled that room and the chemistry that they have and the importance of that room.
“If you don’t have great offensive linemen, you are maybe not going to be able to realize how good your receiver room is with their protection and ability to produce in the run game as well. For me saying that … I think everything on offense begins and ends with the offensive line.”
Well, Joe totally agrees that without a good offensive line, it’s like having a leash on your offense. Can’t dip into the full playbook without time to throw.
And Joe does think Licht makes a good point. One reason the Bucs receivers are so great is that when the line was healthy, they allowed Mayfield to create plays.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Agree with his thought processs to an extent, the OL starting 5 is a really solid group. However, the depth outside of Chukwuma could all easily be replaced with no drop-off in performance. Don’t think the same can be said for the WR room.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
To clarify, think all but one of the OL backups are replacement level or below guys. Not the case for WR’s.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Jason Licht … “We have an offensive line who I think, we think, is very, very good.”
I could easily agree with JL IF he’d said … ‘ Our STARTING offensive line is very, very good, but our DEPTH is circumspect’.
Our starting 5 OLinemen can play with anyone, but as we all saw last season, we didn’t have the DEPTH that it takes to truly compete with the big dogs.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Agree with JL . Also, it’s nearly impossible to be 7-8 deep on thr oline. There will always be some drop off when you sustain injuries 4 out 5 starters. Adding a quality guard would nr nice however.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
“when healthy” – the same can be said for the WR room.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
“Look at me I’m just so great and always make the best decision”. – Bud Licht
Nothing but hot air coming out of this balloon.
He’s a huge, and I mean huge, Todd Bowles fan.
As Joe has said, the boss loves money from home playoff games.
On that measure Todd has delivered three out of four years.
From the fans perspective, we would like home NFC title games.
Not one and done or none at all. That Eagles playoff win was a fluke at best.
Bowles will never reach a SB as a HC. Every year with him is an absolute waste of time.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
The offensive line has been the strength of Jason Licht’s entire tenure with the Bucs. We have drafted, signed & traded for excellent OL.
February 26th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Be curious to hear the Bucs results from the NFLPA survey when you guys get the info.
February 26th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
FlBoy84 ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️ agreed.
February 26th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
I don’t agree. A significant part of building any group of players is to have a group deep enough to rotate based on injuries and ‘blows”. Did he develop one – -no! He’s joined at the hip with TB. When we sink out of the playoffs again they both need to go.
From a fan converted to a troll
February 26th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
I wouldn’t have an issue with the Bucs taking a beastly offensive lineman with the first round. I think we need to out score the opposition because there’s no evidence that our defense under Todd will improve regardless of who we draft. Let’s keep Baker upright and we may be able to compete
February 26th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
Licht really needs to be talking about the catastrophic job he has done drafting and signing FAs on defense. He needs to be fired for gaslighting everyone about players on defense. Why doesn’t anyone in the media hold his feet to the fire on the defense and totally inept DC. I guess the local media are just his lapdogs.
February 26th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
Sign Linderbaum make it even better. With Todd Bowles defense the bucs are a sure thing!
February 26th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Trask is throwing in linebacker drills at the combine
February 26th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
The negativity in the comments is out of control.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:03 pm
Anyone watching NFL combine??
Sonny Styles so far;
43 1/2 vertical jump 👀
11’2” broad jump 👀
Getting ready to watch his 40 time…
This dude is a monster athlete!!
February 26th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
Get used to it. 90%+ of Buc fans are still outraged over what happened under Todd Bowles “leadership” last season. We’ve been gaslighted big time by Jason Licht as well. These 2 will be under an electron microscope every single day moving forward. Wtf do u expect? 6-2 to 8-9 and we’re all supposed to say awww shucks we’ll get em next time?Unfortunately most of us remember every awful moment after the bye week where we saw minimal effort, no will to win and zero enthusiasm. Yet the retain this HC/DC. We’ll back off the day we see Todd Bowles do something worthy of our support.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:27 pm
40 time (round 1)
Arvell Reese 4.53
Sonny Styles 4.49
February 26th, 2026 at 7:36 pm
40 time (round 2)
Arvell Reese 4.47
Sonny Styles 4.47
Good lord!!!
Can’t believe these dudes played next to each other at Ohio State
February 26th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Very well put bucu. 3rd and 28 we will never forgive! Our leader thinks he has no blame in the disaster that was 2025.
February 26th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Dayummmmm!!
Official 40 times
Reese & Styles BOTH at 4.46
February 26th, 2026 at 7:55 pm
Any small chance of Sonny Styles slipping to the Bucs is completely gone.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:25 pm
Munch, totally agree…
Not gonna be any slipping here….
Licht gonna have to go up & get him….
Styles could totally reset the attitude on our front 7 …
Licht also needs to sign Bradley Chubb as well opposite Yaya…
February 26th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
Injuries caused 2025. That and a shortage of defensive talent hopefully soon to be rectified.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
We should just stick to the trenches OL / DL can’t go wrong drafting good linemen. We got cute last year taking receivers and DBs and the line injuries on both sides hurt us. I hope they don’t pass up a pro bowl caliber guard just because we have our 5 guys returning. If Bredeson was the 6th lineman we have depth.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
Every team has had a 3rd and 28 get over it
February 26th, 2026 at 8:36 pm
Hol boy man
Here we go again with Jason Lit
Aka
Mr never trade a pick
Dude … TRADE THE PICK !!!!!
February 26th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Does Jason Lit realize we didn’t even make the playoffs this year ??
I don’t understand why he’s so confident
This team cannot beat the Rams , Lions, Eagles
Seahawks prolly beat us in the next matchup
Maybe he should worry about that
TRADE THE FIRST ROUND PICK
February 26th, 2026 at 8:52 pm
When Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Bucs and Philadelphia in the Super bowl 🏈 their offensive linemen injuries forced KC to move linemen to positions they normally don’t play.
Injuries in 2025 for the Bucs offensive linemen ended the Bucs just like KC 2020 and 2024 seasons because of linemen having to play out of their natural position. And the Sports writers will have the KC returning to the top of their division and the Bucs completely missing the playoffs in 2026.
For some reason bias against the Bucs is their red badge off courage. Its just plain stupid. I’d love to see them have that 🦌 in the headlight look.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:55 pm
Bucfan1988 Says:
Licht gonna have to go up & get him….
———–
I can’t see any way that happens, Sonny probably just worked himself into the top 7, and the price to go up that far is multiple 1sts and and probably a 3rd – maybe more.
But a long ways to go in the combine, so who knows who else will jump out and move up the charts and maybe knock him down a couple of spots. But still, the price would be way more than I can see the Bucs paying.
February 26th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
Don’t trade the 1st for Max Crosby!!!!
Not worth it!!!!!
Sign Bradley Chubb!
You lose zero draft picks…
He’s a good player and high character dude!
Won’t cost what the elite edge rushers do!!
He & Yaya would be great edge rush duo!!
February 26th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
Depth players are not starters for a reason. You people are being unreasonable.
February 26th, 2026 at 9:27 pm
Bucfan1988 Says:
“Sign Bradley Chubb!
You lose zero draft picks…”
I agree on not trading picks…but Chubb has had two healthy years in his entire career. He hasn’t had double digit sacks since his rookie year.
Not to Chubb!
February 26th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
The emperor’s clothing
February 26th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Mansoor Delane is a CB predicted to go at #8…but CBs tend to slide a little. It’s possible he could be there for us.
If that is the case…he would be an excellent pick. Though projected as a CB, he prefers ILB…and he’d be great at it.
February 26th, 2026 at 10:51 pm
Licht should be in weight loss drug ads.
February 27th, 2026 at 12:04 am
I just saw Tez Johnson on the home page of the NY Post – never a good sign.
February 27th, 2026 at 12:59 am
And without a Defensive Line, your defense is Garbage, your linebackers get overrun and secondary gets torched. So uhhhhh maybe JOE IS RIGHT lol and we should work on that. It’s going to take more than a little bit. Oh btw edge rushers really weren’t intended to be used as cornerbacks coach. Just thought I’d throw that in. Where are the D line guys in this draft? I don’t know but find them and draft them. And please stop drafting these garbage guys who are projects and never produce. If the front office can’t find the good ones or figure it out, hire someone who can. The Bucs have drafted Vita Vea and even he’s got and cold, hurt a lot. Has anyone else they’ve drafted on the D line in the last 10-15-20 years been really productive? GMC was a great guy but not a productive player. The good ones have all been free agents.
February 27th, 2026 at 4:57 am
This is TB & JL’s prove it year. Any such talk is balderdash. The starters are good, the backups are the worst in the league. If the Oline room is the best in the building, then the Bucs are headed for an even worse season. My word to JL, keep your words cautious and few. Do not speak when you drink alcohol. You just made a fool of yourself. No one believes what you said. You have a job to do to significantly upgrade this team. Now, shut up and do it!
February 27th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Drug testing is underrated