I know it will never happen, even though it very realistically could but if I ran this team this is how I guarantee us to be in the playoffs next year.
Teams should only ever trade up to #1 for a ransom if they think they are getting a super bowl winning, game changing, future hall of fame quarterback
Oh, really?
I believe that our offense is one Saquan Barkely, and maybe an Andrew Norwell, from being -potentially- one of the greatest offenses of all time.
Jameis Winston has Mike Evans, Desean Jackson, Chris Godwin, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate, and even Adam Humphries. Our tackles are decent. Our center is developing into a pro bowl talent. Add in a guard like Andrew Norwell through free agency, maybe even another guard to replace Sweezy and with Barkley, who could stop us? It would be the greatest show on turf resurrected.
Imagine how much easier things would be for Winston not having to bide time because the defense plays back and doesn't respect the run. Put Barkley out there and every defense MUST respect the run on every down. That means more one on ones for Evans and Jackson, easier playcalling for Koetter, easier reads on passing downs, and much better production from all of those weapons.
Our defense could get even worse next year and we would still finish 10-6 or better with that offense. If we have to win every game 42-31, so be it.
Everyone- even the owners -are talking 'win now'... Guys know that their jobs are on the line. The pressure creates desperation which creates a huge move.
What if...
Buccaneers trade #7 overall to the Browns for #1 overall.
Cleveland receives Tampa Bays 1st round pick in 2019 and 2020.
We would also need to do like the Jags last year and open the vault to high profile free agents. I'm reluctantly okay with losing, say, Brate next year in a bidding war if it means getting Norwell or Richardson in the building now.
Sign Andrew Norwell 8m
Sign Sheldon Richardson 8m
Sign Trumaine Johnson 6m
Sign Morgan Burnett 6m
Sign Adrian Clayborn 4m
Resign Brent Grimes 8m
1 RB Saquan Barkley
2 DE Sam Hubbard
3 G/C Billy Price - falls due to minor orc injury
4 CB JC Jackson
5 FB ???
Winston
Barkley, Barber, Sims
Evans, Jackson, Godwin, Humphries
Howard, Brate
Smith-Norwell-Marpet-Price-Dotson
Clayborn, Spence, Hubbard, Gholston
McCoy, Richardson, McDonald, Stevie
David, Alexander, Beckwith
Grimes, Johnson, Hargreaves, Jackson
Evans, Burnett
If you want to win in 2018, that will get it done.
