The contract renegotiations for HC and GM were about more than that. They were about the Bucs setting in motion the path for the future. Licht extended for "multiple" years. Arians got a raise, but it was not reported that he got an extension or even that his 2023 "club" option year was firmed up. That has to be by Arians choice. That means that even though Arians publicly says he has no plans to retire, privately there is a transition plan for him to retire after 2022.
I'm not saying that plan is "set in stone," but there has to be some kind of path to move forward. A successful organization doesn't just use the "We'll just see how it goes" plan, even if that's how Bruce Arians portrays it. If Arians did firm up that 2023 year that would be different, but that wasn't reported.
Two years is a long way away, but the work starts now. At the end of 2021 regular season both Leftwich and Bowles will likely be on the short list of candidates for HC jobs around the league. Jason Licht has to decide who will be the heir apparent and inform them both before they take a job elsewhere. He doesn't want to be left with 2nd choice or neither. He has to be honest with both of them privately about what his thinking is.
Of course Licht already has his opinions. But with the situation more firmed up, he now knows what he has to do. He can start a more serious and deliberate process. He has this season to decide, and that season has already started.
Byron Leftwich or Todd Bowles? Jason Licht, who will you choose? Coaches, your audition starts.....now!
