Bucs are all in with Mayfield.
This was a good pick and he fits a need. It was still hard to pass on McCoy and Louis sitting there. If either of those guys are available when they pick next, they should grab one of them.
Pregnon dropping hard.
I’m wondering if Malachi Fields was who they wanted, and when he went to the Giants that prompted the trade back..was hoping for Malachi personally, but I’m not upset with this pick at all…helps fill that big bodied X the roster was missing and brings some speed with it
Bucs WR depth chart:
Godwin
Egbuka
McMillan
Hurst
T. Johnson
Look like a huge fight for the last spot with K. Johnson, Greene, Houston, and Sills.
Pregnon dropping hard.
Good value for a trade up... But he didn't play well for us last year so only kinda shocked
Pregnon went to the jags... This is a smart pick
Taking a JAG wr who came from a super small school to a slightly less small school just screams bust.
Third rounder.
God I fucking hate these last 2 rounds
Bain dropped saved Licht's dumbass
I’m wondering if Malachi Fields was who they wanted, and when he went to the Giants that prompted the trade back..was hoping for Malachi personally, but I’m not upset with this pick at all…helps fill that big bodied X the roster was missing and brings some speed with it
Fields is who I think they had their eye on.
1. "game wrecking" OLB,
2. Downhill, young (Deven White style) LB (Bowles)
3. and an X.
Not sure a new coach with a new scheme makes those same moves, but if you are giving the existing coach a "make or break" year then you get the 2nd round and 3rd round move. Even the 1st round move because, for better or worse, the Bowles defense is to shut down the run first and Bain is the set the edge run stopper too.
So many different ways they good have gone.
The problem for me with the Trotter pick is the same problem I always have with the Bucs and their draft strategy......it seems they reach far more than any other NFL team. Trotter wasn't going anywhere. If he was 2nd LB on their "big" board, then draft him where he truly is projected. He's a good player. I won't deny that he has some great qualities. The problem is they drafted a 3rd round talent when there was still some 1st to 2nd round talent available in places that could have helped this team........and they still could have had Trotter. That, coupled with the fact they could have really traded up to get the guy everyone seems to think they really wanted (Rodriguez) and they did nothing but shit the bed and panic again. I don't know if that is an indictment of Licht, Bowles, or a combination of the people in the room but its poor drafting.
don't know if that is an indictment of Licht, Bowles,
Has to be a little of both, whether they are ultimately indicted or credited.
The Devin White pick sure seemed like Licht fulfilling the request of the coaches, Bowles and Arians.
If that is true (I think it is) then this very likely more of the same because Trotter is sort of a White clone who Bowles must envision in that exact role of downhill run stopper and BLITZER.
I dont know that the comparison is fair to Trotter, especially because of how so many fans feel about White, but White's problem was really White. And even then he made a substantial contribution to the defense before his ego killed him. In his rookie season White became a starter, won a DP award, had a few sacks and multiple turnovers created or made. In 2020, White was a game wrecker with something like 9 sacks and a bunch of TFL. He even sounds like White as a player (not as a person):
"“When it comes to my strengths, it’s obviously going to be my physicality,” said Trotter in his press conference. “My instincts to be able to play by brain, trying to put myself ahead of plays, and then just being a leader. Being able to communicate, be a tone-setter.”
If Trotter ends up even close to White's early days performance then the Bucs 2026 front 7 is going to be a handful with Bain, Kancey Vea and Diaby and downhill Trotter and the rest. The Bucs defense is setting up to be very much what Bowles wants, for better or worse. . . run stop first, physical and multiple rushers. Again, for better or worse.
The problem may be that the Bucs D is so far still relying on Anzalone as the coverage guy? is that right? 2025 Anzalone was a way better coverage LB than 2025 LVD and SVD (by PFF grade), but not close to 2020-ish LVD elite. So, does Anzalone turn around what to me has been the defense's biggest weakness over the last two years? They've done a lot so far to up the pressure, but can they cover underneath so the pressure can get there?
If he was 2nd LB on their "big" board, then draft him where he truly is projected.
Where was he projected? As a 3rd rounder?
The problem for me with the Trotter pick is the same problem I always have with the Bucs and their draft strategy......it seems they reach far more than any other NFL team. Trotter wasn't going anywhere. If he was 2nd LB on their "big" board, then draft him where he truly is projected. He's a good player. I won't deny that he has some great qualities. The problem is they drafted a 3rd round talent when there was still some 1st to 2nd round talent available in places that could have helped this team........and they still could have had Trotter. That, coupled with the fact they could have really traded up to get the guy everyone seems to think they really wanted (Rodriguez) and they did nothing but shit the bed and panic again. I don't know if that is an indictment of Licht, Bowles, or a combination of the people in the room but its poor drafting.
I was dreaming of a scenario with Baine and Rodriguez teaming up and meeting at the ball carrier...I was highly disappointed that he went a few picks ahead of us, but not sure I'd say that Licht "panicked"...Bowles himself said that "there were 10-12 LBs that they really liked",admittedly I didn't get to follow college ball as much this year as I normally do because of life circumstances so I don't know much about the other LB's that were available outside of CJ Allen(makes me wonder if Licht was maybe hesitant to pull the trigger on him because of Braswell, and question whether it was the player, or the system) . From what I've read Trotter brings the Alpha mentallity like his daddy did, but is weak in coverage. Given Bowles comments about wanting bigger players with a mean disposition it sounds like this was their legit #2 behind Rodriguez....It does certainly seem as if he was selected purely with Bowles blessing as was mentioned in other threads based on his similar traits to White but with a nastier edge.
The problem with this team and this pick is they need a LB that can play sideline to sideline. Trotter is the opposite of that. Can he make a difference in the run game? Absolutely, but he 100% will be a liability in the pass game and guess what? The NFL is a passing league. I stand by my statement and stand firm that this was a really bad reach.The problem for me with the Trotter pick is the same problem I always have with the Bucs and their draft strategy......it seems they reach far more than any other NFL team. Trotter wasn't going anywhere. If he was 2nd LB on their "big" board, then draft him where he truly is projected. He's a good player. I won't deny that he has some great qualities. The problem is they drafted a 3rd round talent when there was still some 1st to 2nd round talent available in places that could have helped this team........and they still could have had Trotter. That, coupled with the fact they could have really traded up to get the guy everyone seems to think they really wanted (Rodriguez) and they did nothing but shit the bed and panic again. I don't know if that is an indictment of Licht, Bowles, or a combination of the people in the room but its poor drafting.
I was dreaming of a scenario with Baine and Rodriguez teaming up and meeting at the ball carrier...I was highly disappointed that he went a few picks ahead of us, but not sure I'd say that Licht "panicked"...Bowles himself said that "there were 10-12 LBs that they really liked",admittedly I didn't get to follow college ball as much this year as I normally do because of life circumstances so I don't know much about the other LB's that were available outside of CJ Allen(makes me wonder if Licht was maybe hesitant to pull the trigger on him because of Braswell, and question whether it was the player, or the system) . From what I've read Trotter brings the Alpha mentallity like his daddy did, but is weak in coverage. Given Bowles comments about wanting bigger players with a mean disposition it sounds like this was their legit #2 behind Rodriguez....It does certainly seem as if he was selected purely with Bowles blessing as was mentioned in other threads based on his similar traits to White but with a nastier edge.
All of the mocks and simulations that I saw (and I saw hundreds of them) had him in the 3rd. I ran across a couple that had him at the end of the 2nd but when you see the LBers on the board, I am fairly confident he would have made it where the Bucs picked in the 3rd.If he was 2nd LB on their "big" board, then draft him where he truly is projected.
Where was he projected? As a 3rd rounder?