Pretty tough to find Evans eventual replacement in the 3rd round or later. If that’s the goal maybe wait until 2026
The Bucs could take any position if there’s enough value so can’t rule anything out in the draft, especially with free agency still.
yeah i am confused, we arguably have the best WR trio in the league....at least a top 10 unit no doubt.....and we have fans of the team wanting another WR
and completing agree unless you go 1st or 2nd round, it seems like it could be a waste...particularly if they are not going to get reps - Guys drafted past the 3rd round in the last several drafts - Trey Palmer, Jaelon Darden, Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, Justin Watson
also - can anyone name me the 4th WR on the Eagles or Bengals?
1) The Buccaneers use three wide receiver sets 83% of the time, third most in the league. So, they essentially have three starting WRs.
2) Do you think both Evans and Godwin are going to start 17 games? Godwin may not even be healthy to start the season. We don't know. And Evans has one year left on his deal and could decide to retire - we don't know that either. If we want both of them healthy for the playoffs then we need to be able to sub in for them at times. We may be paying them a lot of money, but money doesn't change who they are - they are veteran players who will be more injury prone and will need more breaks than a younger player would.
3) Palmer is not the answer. He's borderline to even make the roster as are any of the other WRs on the team.
So for those reasons we need another WR, a younger one who can develop into an eventual #1 or #2. I'd use a 3rd or 4th rounder.
1 - noted....and luckily they seem to have 3 starting WRs
2 - Evans usually misses maybe 1 game. Godwin, maybe we can pencil in for 1 or 2 depending on if it's a "healthy year or not". Hey, this made me think of the game we kicked the Eagles ass last year when they didnt have AJ Brown or DeVonta Smith. Wondering if they are regretting not taking a WR that game as opposed to being used on the defense?
3 - agreed but then again, i'd argue that a guy in the 3rd round or later likely isn't the answer either. Godwin turned out to be solid because he received playing time. Look at McMillian last year, hardly noticed he was on the team prior to Godwin's injury. Do you see where i am going here?
i'm all for the best player available within reason but when outsiders look at Tampa...they see a teams who strengths is WR. Drafting a guy in the 1st or 2nd round in this years draft which would be the only players realistically that can replace guys like Godwin/Evans, would be brutal GMing considering the holes we have on defense. A debatable Dan may say, "Free agency" isn't over yet...and that is true...but given how the team is currently constructed...can still use help at DL, Edge, ILB, CB, OG, and TE before WR.
again, doesnt mean, we can't address in 2026 when we have a better view of Godwins injury and Evan's battle against father time, but in 2025, borderline terrible football acumen if Licht goes that route
we have fans of the team wanting another WR
We need Evans replacement now but not LVD’s? How about a warm body to go next to LVD? Or behind him?
We only have 1 pick in the draft?
FA is over?
the draft and FA don’t really matter because Bowles blew the Super Bowl window last year
So for those reasons we need another WR, a younger one who can develop into an eventual #1 or #2. I'd use a 3rd or 4th rounder.
Evans was a 1st rounder and my guess would be that every WR1 in the division is a first rounder
the chances of finding Evens eventual replacement in rd 3 or 4 is pretty small.
even finding another Godwin would be really tough
So you’re most likely finding a depth WR with a draft pick when that role can be filled in FA, right?
id rather see the Bucs replace Evans when they need to and with a 1st round pick
but in 2025, borderline terrible football acumen if Licht goes that route
Let’s say you have the following 2 options at #19, what would you pick:
1. A WR who ends up playing multiple contracts for the team and is a perennial Pro Bowl/AP player. But, not a “need” position.
2. ILB who plays out his rookie deal, no 5th year option picked up, and has one (maybe 2) flash years. And, an absolute “need” position.
but in 2025, borderline terrible football acumen if Licht goes that route
Let’s say you have the following 2 options at #19, what would you pick:
1. A WR who ends up playing multiple contracts for the team and is a perennial Pro Bowl/AP player. But, not a “need” position.
2. ILB who plays out his rookie deal, no 5th year option picked up, and has one (maybe 2) flash years. And, an absolute “need” position.
lol I think the point you’re trying to make is BPA, a point that almost everyone accepts, but making that point with that stark contrast of hindsight makes it sort of meaningless because a) everyone answer receiver and b) the Bucs are going to be very unlikely to have that stark a contrasting choice (and probably later where it’s even more muddy)
If this draft Sanders is top of everyone’s board and for some reason he is available when the Ravens pick, but so is a top tier tackle and they need a tackle… do they take Sanders? He is the BPA and the LT is just the best T in a position of need.
not what should they do, what do they actually do?
Especially with a salary cap BPA is an aspirational philosophy but all teams are factoring in need especially when the delta between the choices gets smaller.
2 - Evans usually misses maybe 1 game.
This may start to change. At 6'5", 230lbs, I'm not sure how much longer he will continue to dust NFL DB's. It was impressive as hell he could still do it last season. He'll be 32 in August. Injuries will start to come more easily and he may start slowing down a step. Randy Moss fell off at 33. We all hope that Evans continues to be a freak-show, but the odds are against him.
Godwin turned out to be solid because he received playing time.
Godwin turned out to be solid because he is an excellent football player. It didn't have much to do with playing time. I still have no idea how he lasted to R3 after his bowl performance and combine. It's nuts that he was the 11th receiver taken that year.
i'm all for the best player available within reason but when outsiders look at Tampa...they see a teams who strengths is WR.
Who gives a shit about what outsiders think?
again, doesnt mean, we can't address in 2026 when we have a better view of Godwins injury and Evan's battle against father time, but in 2025, borderline terrible football acumen if Licht goes that route
The GM has to have an eye on the franchise beyond the 2025 season. Who is to say that Godwin doesn't have another major injury and/or Father Time whips Evans' ass earlier than we'd all like?
This is why good GM's don't just focus on needs when drafting.
because a) everyone answer receiver
You sure about that?
well maybe not lol but I was commenting on the structure of the hypothetical
if you say to anyone with common sense choice a is massive success and b is failure …they choose a but it doesn’t follow, logically speaking, that the way the chooser got to a is the best even if the outcome was
because you’ve over limited the outcomes it washes out the point. For example, b is a player at a position of need that has only a slightly inferior career but who played a pivotal role in winning a SB in year 1? The need pick was arguably the better pick
now what if the draft room flipped a coin to decide between the two
this topic can go round and round because nfl team are actually balancing the two. And with different teams giving them different t weights, even by round.
It's nuts that he was the 11th receiver taken that year.
As nuts as saying the Bucs should take the 11th receiver this year to replace Evans or Godwin.
you are literally making that point by pointing out that Godwin was an anomaly. If a Godwin dropped to the Bucs in a “3rd or 4th” round pick and everyone knew his career would be Godwin-like then of course ..
but as a strategy to employ in this draft?
This is why good GM's don't just focus on needs when drafting.
You have to include “just” to make that point lol.
Good GMs don’t “just” draft BPA.
Lots of example but teams are balancing the two categories and many other factors
Licht helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl. He’s a pretty good GM. The cost of the Super Bowl was a lot of cap problems. One way the Bucs have navigated this problems is by relying on drafted players … obviously need has played a part in the Bucs drafting strategy.
and Devin White was a BPA pick right?
:-)
let's save the receipts on this one. i haven't been wrong in a while since the Julio Jones take. let's put it here.
Do the Bucs draft a WR in the first 4 rounds this year? i'm saying No.
let's save the receipts on this one. i haven't been wrong in a while since the Julio Jones take. let's put it here.
Do the Bucs draft a WR in the first 4 rounds this year? i'm saying No.
Other people may be speculating that the team will for certain draft a WR, but I'm not. I'm simply discussing the philosophy that WR should not be off of the table, depending on who is available when they pick.
let's save the receipts on this one. i haven't been wrong in a while since the Julio Jones take. let's put it here.
Do the Bucs draft a WR in the first 4 rounds this year? i'm saying No.
Other people may be speculating that the team will for certain draft a WR, but I'm not. I'm simply discussing the philosophy that WR should not be off of the table, depending on who is available when they pick.
yes in a hypothetical world, if a can't miss guy drops to us at 19, of course you consider doing it; just seems to be that Licht's MO as of last has to go based off of need. I mean look at the last few drafts since our run. Almost all need related picks. Doesnt mean they weren't BPA or great, but he definitely was plugging holes
2024 - Center, Edge, Secondary, #3 WR, #2 RB. All these guys were needs to fill holes, just so happened that some might have also been BPA - Barton, McMillian, and Bucky; while others maybe a reach in Braswell
2023 - DL Kancey, OG Cody Mauch, and edge Yaya Diaby - all seemed like needs and filling holes to me.
2022 - Dude...we drafted a punter in the 4th round. BPA or need? DE Logan Hall, OT Luke Goedeke, RB Rachaad White, and TE Cade Otton. Without Gronk and with Lenny closing in on 30, Donovan Smith becoming due for free agency, and with Suh and JPP out of the picture - all look like needs
2021 - Draft was not based off of need. This was a still drunk from the parade draft - JTR, Trask, Hainsey, and Darden. Not even sure you can call this a BPA draft either. Wondering if Licht let his neighbors kid that is a little slow make the picks here
2020 - Tristian Wirfs and Antonio Winfield Jr - Wirfs was the very definition of need. We were looking at Joey Haeg as our starting right tackle that year. I'd argue AWJ could have been BPA with edwards and whitehead being serviceable. Keyshawn Vaughn - not sure what you call him.