Be cautious and keep in mind the Super Bowl stars of the past who turned out to be one-hit wonders. Consider players like Dallas cornerback Larry Brown, New England cornerback Malcolm Butler, and Washington running back Timmy Smith. These athletes delivered remarkable performances in the Super Bowl, leading to lucrative free agent contracts. However, the reality is that they weren't consistently the players they appeared to be during those pivotal moments. They simply shone at the right time, and some teams were misled by this primetime showcase.
This year could present a similar scenario. Josh Sweat put on a dominant performance for the Philadelphia Eagles, and he is poised to enter the free agency market. The question is: should teams evaluate him based on his Super Bowl performance or his overall career? While I think he's a talented player—being an FSU alum, I'm a big fan—I'm not convinced he's on the same level as Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons.
Personally, I’d rather see another team overpay for his services. I’d prefer to invest in proven performers like Garrett, Parsons, or Trey Hendrickson—three players who have consistently delivered throughout their careers.
I'm not seeing a great scenario where we get an edge rusher for the right price.
We either go old and get a name with very little left in the tank or we go all pro and pay out the ass for it.
If only Licht could evaluate edge talent in the draft. Sigh
we got to try something
if they run it back without 3-4 new starters on defense, we aren't serious about contending
EDIT: and to clarify, best management guess improvements at the starter position, not making Thunderfuck a starting cornerback or saying that Braswell can start opposite Diaby!
we got to try something
if they run it back without 3-4 new starters on defense, we aren't serious about contending
EDIT: and to clarify, best management guess improvements at the starter position, not making Thunderfuck a starting cornerback or saying that Braswell can start opposite Diaby!
Interesting that you feel that way.
Bucs do not really need that many new starters on defense. New edge is a given opposite of Diaby. We will see about LVD and if Dean is still part of the team. And what they choose to do at safety.
Keep in mind the Bucs have 9 of 11 starters on offense under contract. And that is the same with the defense with 9 of 11 starters under contract. That is why I am projecting the Bucs have two new starters at OLB and one of the DB spots.
Offense has 6 depth players hitting free agency while the defense has 11 depth players hitting free agency.
Bucs defensive depth needs more help than anything else than starters IMO. But upgrading OLB opposite of Diaby is priority #1. Then if the Bucs want to upgade NCB OR safety they can and have T. Smith fill either or spot accordingly. Or, if the team wants to roll with Whitehead again than T. Smith stays at NCB.
Based on all that a DL that is behind Vea and Kancey jumps up the list of a priority like it does for the offense needing another WR in the mix between the top three with Godwin being re-signed.
Sometimes we as fans have tunnel vision looking at starting spots when the team is more focused on the depth players for rotation.
EDIT: and to clarify, best management guess improvements at the starter position, not making Thunderfuck a starting cornerback or saying that Braswell can start opposite Diaby!
Exactly.
thrilled to have those guys beat out legit competition but not to get the role by default
we got to try something
if they run it back without 3-4 new starters on defense, we aren't serious about contending
EDIT: and to clarify, best management guess improvements at the starter position, not making Thunderfuck a starting cornerback or saying that Braswell can start opposite Diaby!
Interesting that you feel that way.
Bucs do not really need that many new starters on defense. New edge is a given opposite of Diaby. We will see about LVD and if Dean is still part of the team. And what they choose to do at safety.
Keep in mind the Bucs have 9 of 11 starters on offense under contract. And that is the same with the defense with 9 of 11 starters under contract. That is why I am projecting the Bucs have two new starters at OLB and one of the DB spots.
Offense has 6 depth players hitting free agency while the defense has 11 depth players hitting free agency.
Bucs defensive depth needs more help than anything else than starters IMO. But upgrading OLB opposite of Diaby is priority #1. Then if the Bucs want to upgade NCB OR safety they can and have T. Smith fill either or spot accordingly. Or, if the team wants to roll with Whitehead again than T. Smith stays at NCB.
Based on all that a DL that is behind Vea and Kancey jumps up the list of a priority like it does for the offense needing another WR in the mix between the top three with Godwin being re-signed.
Sometimes we as fans have tunnel vision looking at starting spots when the team is more focused on the depth players for rotation.
i mean on offense it's simple; resign Godwin and Bredeson. Why fix what is not broken
then you restructure Wirfs, Baker, and Winfield and extend Evans; boom cap space magically appears
Dean is an interesting case. Dude only plays 70% of the games. Do we really want to tie up that cap space with a guy who isn't available?
Charvarius Ward had some injury issues of his own but wouldnt mind seeing that swap happen. Ranked higher than Dean in the NFL landscape
to me, there is only 5 guys on defense that should be guaranteed return starters - Vea, Kancey, David, McCollum, and Winfield.
in the secondary, assuming Dean is cut and not replaced with undrafted player, is a new starter. at safety, would not suprise me if Tykee Smith is moved there to start.
At Edge, we almost certainly need a new starter in JTR/Nelson spot and hopefully a proven player as drafting really hasn't landed a home run yet. Diaby can start but i'd like to see us have some competition. Edge needs some help.
Uncourtly need a new starter next to David. Really going to go with Dennis? ehh. and Logan Hall is JAG.
so would be surprised if we didn't bring in outside help to start at CB, ILB, and Edge this off-season at the very least.
Don't sign Sweat, just find the next one. They're out there.
Don't sign Sweat, just find the next one. They're out there.
Yeah that is through the draft. Bucs should still sign a vet edge rusher and draft the next Sweat.
Some players are just champions, and they'll come back just as if they never won anything. Mike Evans never eased off because he won a title. Others are going to ease off a bit when they get the title and the big contract. Of course I have no idea which category Sweat falls into, but if I'm signing a big-name free agent my first choice would be a great player who has never won a championship and that's what they're coming here to do.Don't sign Sweat, just find the next one. They're out there.
Or just learn to evaluate edge talent in the draft.
Sweat is averaging about 6 sacks per year for his career. If you can't get someone with better stats, pay him accordingly, or, as others have suggested, draft the next Sweat. No need to overpay him due to his Super Bowl performance.
Or just learn to evaluate edge talent in the draft.
This is maybe on Bowles right? he is the JTS fan (as a "chess piece") and Diaby reflects his choice to go bigger on the edge
@kermit56 - sorry guys. “Just sign the next Sweat” is why we’re where we are with this position. It’s not an easy position to draft outside of being in the top 10 or 15 draft spot. And it’s a position we can’t just hope works this year in the draft. It is our biggest need and it will make everyone on the defense better.
@kermit56 - sorry guys. “Just sign the next Sweat” is why we’re where we are with this position. It’s not an easy position to draft outside of being in the top 10 or 15 draft spot. And it’s a position we can’t just hope works this year in the draft. It is our biggest need and it will make everyone on the defense better.
To your point, Sweat is/was like our Diaby and the Eagles still got Reddick. They led the league in regular season sacks (by quite a bit) and I think post season too. They went to the SB . . but LOST
Two years later THOUGH, without Reddick they are middle of the road in sacks but still go to the Super Bowl. This time they WIN . . with 6 sacks
Football is a tough sport to predict. More pressure is way better than less, especially if it comes form rushing four, but at what cost? That is the ultimate question because there is not one way to win. The Bucs were better and won a Super Bowl with Barrett having 1/2 the number of sacks of the year prior, roughly?
