There is talk about trading away or cutting talent. I disagree, because other than high salary cap figures you have to pay someone to play. Overpaying for unknown quantities isn't going to work and better to stick with the players the Bucs have who are known quantities.
The common denominator between GM/Coaching changes has been a talent drain with each regime and it sets back the new regime.
This is my hypothesis as to why the Glazers chose Koetter to take over after Lovie and why Licht stayed on board. The preservation of homegrown talent is #1 priority of Glazers.
It is not secret that the Glazers want to build a core group of young players they can build around and also excite the fanbase. They also would prefer to hand out contracts to players that are known quantities to the FO and community. And not the mercs that come from FA.
Which is why this talk about trading away Evans, Brate, etc is simply non sense.
IF free agency has taught the Bucs ownership anything it simply doesn't work as well as they think it does.
If the Bucs were smart they would lock up their young players in the off season while their values are low due to a sour season.
As for the young players drafted in this year draft these players were not drafted to be saviors of the franchise. Remember there were vets ahead of them on the depth chart before the season started. It was the veteran players that failed to deliver and the young players forced into action.
In the end I am very happy to see the progress of all the young players on the Bucs squad as they are learning tough valuable lessons. A young Lavonte David learned a tough lesson with that Jets loss years ago and it actually forced him to become a better player. Adversity is what makes players better.
Which is why I think the media has been hyping this team too much which is a big part of why the Bucs are 'cursed".
The Bucs are not cursed or lack "talent".
This is one of the most talent Bucs teams fielded in a long time. Not only on offense but defense as well.
If you go take a look at that Bucs 99 defense you have HoF players on D like Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, and Barber. But you also have a lot of supporting players that pull their weight like Singleton, Robinson, Cannida, etc.
Too many Bucs defenders in recent years have gone to other teams and look NFL average starters.
Bucs lack of defensive identity is a result of not having a system in place and scouting/Bucs FO has to take a blame on this along with the HC. This is why the Ravens are so successful in that they do draft players for their defensive system and bring them along.
In comparison the Bucs defense tries to force players to do things they are not good at. VH3 for example does better with press and in the slot. MJ Stewart is clearly a boundary CB and not a nickle. J. Elliot should have been starting in NCB from day one when VH3 kicks to the outside. Whitehead should have been starting ahead of Conte as he doesn't bite on the window dressing as much. McCoy needs to be rotated far more often and his ability to play the run is overrated. JPP is clearly as advertised. Curry is being misused. K. Alexander should be kicked back to the outside as a SAM, etc, etc.
