“High floor”
heard that about OJ Howard as well.
we not only didn’t draft for need but also didn’t go best available player
I agree that Licht didn't just slam in a need, which is a credit to him.
But I do think they took the best player on their board. I don't think they took the 8th best player on their board at a position that isn't a need. They obviously took the best player on their board, whether anybody else agrees with it or not.
Like the player, not the position.
Mike Green would have been a menace in this defense.
The Falcons passed on Green and they were gushing about him. Bengals have no problem taking troubled players and they too passed on Green.
If Green doesn't go in round 2 he might fall to day 3.
Interesting pick. Textbook example of Bucs "character guys" drafting philosophy. He's also a baller.
IMHO the WR pick is a year early, but as others have noted, he helps shore up that crew given the time Evans and Godwin have missed during the past few seasons. That said, I honestly thought going defense at 19 was the smarter thing to do.
But relax, no reason to worry. Todd "I can figure things out on defense" Bowles will have the defense fixed. 🙄
Maybe Bowles was telling us that his play calling was off last season and maybe that is what he meant. The Bucs are basically returning most of their projected starters on defense. It is rare for an established team to have a rookie beat out a veteran for a starting spot. Might still happen at NCB or S but beyond that I think your 2025 defensive Bucs starting roster is set for the most part.
we not only didn’t draft for need but also didn’t go best available player
I agree that Licht didn't just slam in a need, which is a credit to him.
But I do think they took the best player on their board. I don't think they took the 8th best player on their board at a position that isn't a need. They obviously took the best player on their board, whether anybody else agrees with it or not.
Yup.
There's still tons of D players available with grades just slightly worse than the ones we passed on. I can't remeber a draft where almost everyone on D could go anywhere in the top 3 rounds. There's just not that much difference between the haves and have nots this year.
I like that our leadership likes where our team is at this point to allow them to draft "Best Player Available". There is very little to nothing negative to say about Emeka Egbuka; solid performance at the highest level (back to back 1,000 yd seasons), great character, team captain, led the "National Champion" team in receptions / yards and to finish up he is Ohio States All time receptions leader. And for all you football people; let me remind you there have been some legit stud WR's come out of OSU..... Lets GO!! Not to mention I am sure Baker is Juiced up about his arrival to Tampa!!!!!
I know people were saying the Bucs would draft safety but the team did have draftable grades on Wisdom and Banks last year. And the Bucs like both their respective upsides. So drafting a safety isn't a guarantee in this draft but we will see.
But LB and CB is probably a safer bet at this point with day 2 and day 3 to go. The team may like Funderburk's upside, but drafting another boundary CB allows Hayes to shift back to safety.
i dont understand the pick. The best course of action was to trade down, stock pile picks and address the side that cost us games.
I really hate when fans say, "We should have traded down"
You can't just call the commish and say, "we want to trade down, we think that's the best course of action". You have to have teams willing to trade up and give you what you think is fair in return.
The teams that draft the best are always teams that don't reach for need. The draft BPA in the first round and often that works out in the long run. We have 2 highly paid, aging WRs both coming off injury plagued seasons. Hamstrings don's get better with age and Godwin's ankle/leg injury was severe.
The Bucs will add some defensive players that will help fill those needs in the next few rounds.
Maybe Bowles was telling us that his play calling was off last season and maybe that is what he meant. The Bucs are basically returning most of their projected starters on defense. It is rare for an established team to have a rookie beat out a veteran for a starting spot. Might still happen at NCB or S but beyond that I think your 2025 defensive Bucs starting roster is set for the most part.
Great. So, the Bucs' 18th ranked defense is returning intact.
Egbuka was a good pick, but I'll reiterate my stance that they overpaid Godwin. I hate to think that it's about rewarding for past performance, but I do think that. Licht wants his current players to know that if you perform well, you may get tagged but, in the end, you'll get paid so don't worry about it. If you don't perform, they'll move on as they did with Jameis, White and JTS. But if you do perform at a high level you'll get paid eventually. They told Godwin "Look we have to tag you, but don't worry you'll get paid down the road" so they felt they had to stick with their word.
Godwin's contract was an expensive message to the rest of the players present and future, but he may never be the player he once was. That's what the Egbuka pick says to me.
Egbuka was a good pick, but I'll reiterate my stance that they overpaid Godwin. I hate to think that it's about rewarding for past performance, but I do think that. Licht wants his current players to know that if you perform well, you may get tagged but, in the end, you'll get paid so don't worry about it. If you don't perform, they'll move on as they did with Jameis, White and JTS. But if you do perform at a high level you'll get paid eventually. They told Godwin "Look we have to tag you, but don't worry you'll get paid down the road" so they felt they had to stick with their word.
Godwin's contract was an expensive message to the rest of the players present and future, but he may never be the player he once was. That's what the Egbuka pick says to me.
He's also the second best receiver in the franchise's 49 year history, so...
Sure but there is also a salary cap. Godwin was going to get his money and then some from the Patriots. They should have let him go and say thanks for the memories. You pay for future performance not past performance. If they really think Godwin is going to come back 100% he's a great player and he'll earn that contract he got, but the Egbuka pick seems to indicate that they aren't confident of that IMO.Egbuka was a good pick, but I'll reiterate my stance that they overpaid Godwin. I hate to think that it's about rewarding for past performance, but I do think that. Licht wants his current players to know that if you perform well, you may get tagged but, in the end, you'll get paid so don't worry about it. If you don't perform, they'll move on as they did with Jameis, White and JTS. But if you do perform at a high level you'll get paid eventually. They told Godwin "Look we have to tag you, but don't worry you'll get paid down the road" so they felt they had to stick with their word.
Godwin's contract was an expensive message to the rest of the players present and future, but he may never be the player he once was. That's what the Egbuka pick says to me.
He's also the second best receiver in the franchise's 49 year history, so...
