If they were obvious picks, why didn't other teams make them? Especially with Winfield. If Winfield was a no-brainer for Licht in the 2nd round it was because of the homework he and his staff did prior to that. Winfield wasn't a no-brainer for all the other teams picking before them. Evans was a question mark because he was supposedly a product of the system and quarterback he was playing with. It turned out the opposite. Licht traded up to get Wirfs. It was something of a no-brainer, but he deserves credit for making that snap decision and being ready to pounce when some teams can barely get their pick up to the podium on time. There are "no brainer" picks who didn't work out as well. I such as OJ Howard. Even the first pick of the draft can be a bust. There are no "no brainers" in the NFL draft.
Another way to look at, licht traded up to take the 4th OT. That reeks of desperation. Looking back , we have a lot of guys who were team wirfs from day 1. But the league felt differently
The “fell in his lap” argument has always been dubious. Laremy Tunsil “fell in his lap”, yet Licht didn’t take him. Ryan Ramczyk “fell in his lap”, yet Licht didn’t take him. Derwin James “fell in his lap”, yet Licht didn’t take him. Josh Allen “fell in his lap” too, yet Licht didn’t take him.
You can’t criticize the GM for passing on these players while simultaneously not giving the GM credit for taking the players he did. Winfield is a horrible example of this argument, when you consider he was taken 45th overall. He fell in every GM’s lap, some of them twice. Licht gets credit for selecting him, trading up for Wirfs, and taking Evans.
I'm giving Licht credit... I'm saying that those picks were still dummy proof.
Yes you can point to Reagor over JJ and countless other picks, but I think... and of course this is just my opinion, that Licht has had a bit of luck keep him afloat.
Because he misses and misses big a LOT in both the draft and FA.
There's def some luck involved that other teams foolishly pass on players.
But I agree he still made the picks and you have to give him some credit...but for me it's the combo of CLEAR NEED and BPA being the same and falling to us in those 3 specific picks.
Good on him for not fumbling on the goal line I guess...?
I'm more impressed with the Marpet, Davis, Dean, Whitehead picks than I am with the layups that fell in his lap.
Lastly, I did give him credit for trading up 1 spot for Wirfs. Worth it. Many on this board at the time were complaining about it.
The “fell in his lap” argument has always been dubious. Laremy Tunsil “fell in his lap”, yet Licht didn’t take him. Ryan Ramczyk “fell in his lap”, yet Licht didn’t take him. Derwin James “fell in his lap”, yet Licht didn’t take him. Josh Allen “fell in his lap” too, yet Licht didn’t take him.
You can’t criticize the GM for passing on these players while simultaneously not giving the GM credit for taking the players he did. Winfield is a horrible example of this argument, when you consider he was taken 45th overall. He fell in every GM’s lap, some of them twice. Licht gets credit for selecting him, trading up for Wirfs, and taking Evans.
Well said.
I think Licht has done a good job as a GM since he got to Tampa. As a first-time GM, he certainly learned some lessons along the way and has had some whiffs in the draft and free agency.
2014: Mike Evans - finding a Hall of Fame WR in his first year is huge. Prior to Evans, we took Michael Clayton first round (BUST).
2015: Jameis, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Kwon Alexander - all multi-year starters, some SB contributors. Impressive haul.
2016: Bad draft, no excuses, but I have to think Lovie's failure and promoting Koetter to HC had something to do with it.
2017: OJ Howard, Justin Evans, Chris Godwin - injuries are apart of the game and I think had OJ and Justin stayed healthy, they could have been solid contributors.
2018: Vea, Carlton Davis, Cappa, Whitehead - another nice haul.
2019: Devin White, SMB, Jamel Dean, Mike Edwards, Anthony Nelson, Matt Gay - another impressive haul. I'm against drafting kickers, and Gay didn't work out in Tampa, but he's had a nice couple years in LA.
2020: Wirfs, Winfield Jr. - Wirfs has been elite, Winfield Jr. has been another solid player. To argue they "fell in Licht's lap" is silly.
2021: JTS, Trask, Hainsey, KJ Britt - TBD, but credit Licht for putting together SB roster in 2020.
2022: Logan Hall, Goedeke, White, Otton, Camarda, McCullom, Keift - TBD
It's a what have you done for me lately league, but I trust Licht to have a nice draft this year.
Losing Brady is going to be very tough, but if Licht can cater to Bowels strength (defense) and find some good defensive players this draft, I think that's the way to go and stay competitive in the division given everyone else's QB situation.
Other players falling in his lap isn't a counter point... lol
I said he's been lucky with players falling to him.
And I'd add the Creed Humphrey fell to him as well... both centers did...and instead he stood pat and took a fucking qb.
My argument is this: he's more lucky than good.
Lucky players fell
Lucky he had connections to Brady
Lucky he's had 10 years to keep his job despite a losing record
I've given Licht plenty of credit... when it comes down to it, i don't think he is a good GM... he had a nice run. He's had a long time and a LOT of picks.
Blind squirrel and all that...
Or another way to put it... his larger body of work tells me his good picks are just one offs and random.
Random chance...
When the BPA is also a position of need and it falls to you... pretty damn nice (lucky)
And I'd add the Creed Humphrey fell to him as well...
The same way he fell to every GM in the league?
More than once for nearly all of them?
You’ve been proven wrong, MULTIPLE times on this whole “X-Player fell in his lap”.
Why do you insist dying on that hill?
Players fall... just because this board seems to want to deny the existence of players falling in the draft., sometimes for no reason at all, sometimes because of group think, doesn't mean it isn't happening.
Just because other GMs also failed to draft an all-pro center doesn't mean it was the right decision to not go after him.
What kinda of backwards logic is that?
The chiefs took him then shortly after won a super bowl.
Creed was projected all over the place but as early as the late 1st.
...
It's a message board. I have an opinion. I don't consider it fact and I don't need to have everyone agree with me to feel validation.
I see it how I see it. You see it a different way.
I thought the reason Wirfs was 4/4 was because he was the only one of the top 4 tackles that wasn't an easy projection to LT?
And I'd add the Creed Humphrey fell to him as well...
The same way he fell to every GM in the league?
More than once for nearly all of them?
You’ve been proven wrong, MULTIPLE times on this whole “X-Player fell in his lap”.
Why do you insist dying on that hill?
It's some combination of draft ignorance and confirmation bias.
The good GM's apparently can draft players that aren't available to them. Everybody else has to take players that "fall in their lap" on draft day.
The good GM's apparently can draft players that aren't available to them. Everybody else has to take players that "fall in their lap" on draft day.
Exactly. Lol.
You 2 can jerk each other off all you like.
When the BPA falls to you and it's a huge position of need, then I'd say that's luck.
Are you both saying luck doesn't exist in the draft?
Are you telling me that Licht doesn't know how to trade up 1 or 2 spots in the 2nd round when he recently did it with Wirfs?
He had a great prospect 1 pick away and instead took an absolute trash qb.
Easily could have jumped GB and KC for Humphrey.
The rest of the draft was trash anyway.
Licht has been mostly lucky with his good picks outside of Marpet, Dean, Davis, and Vea (great trade back).
...
Oh wait, luck doesn't exist in the draft..it's all skill.
If the Jags drafted Zach Wilson first, would it be lucky for the Jets if Lawrence fell to them?
Or is that skill for the GM?
