Good points.
I think the reality of whethering a tight cap period, may have some reservations about the available options in the FA market.
Edge rush productivity can be heavily influenced by the line play of the FA’s previous team.
It can be as much of a crapshoot as drafting an edge, but it’s a LOT more expensive… especially when you need an edge, but everyone else does too (ie, one armed Judon for a 3rd rounder!?).
Just wondered, because as ADW mentioned previously, you typically have some depth to your posts - curious as to whether you knew of a better option we may have missed? Sounds like it’s just a general statement.
It does seem like the Bucs could have landed someone that could have added some serious contribution. BUT would that option have also limited draft options & future cap space?
As an example of what I’m struggling with can be summed up with either Reddick (if available) or Judon (injured bicep & aging). Each would have had some serious impact to draft picks and cap space - which had to be measured against whether either will contribute enough production to offset that cost?
I don’t think Reddick would have been worth it. I felt differently about Judon - until the price tag became a 3rd rounder AND a big contract.
I believe the calculus was done on all of the available options, and the value just wasn’t there for the anticipated production.
Maybe the Bucs overvalued the roster/depth, maybe they undervalued the market, maybe it was a little of column A, and a little of column B.
We’ll know soon enough.
We could have traded for Brian Burns. And yes, we could have made the money work out if it was important enough.
I'll ask again, of the players we just re-signed/extended, who were you willing to give up to get him?
As of now, OTC has us projected roughly $5M over the cap next year (I'm guessing it's factoring in projected dead money on Godwin...not sure though). Let's say the cap is up $12M-$15M higher than OTC's projection, that would still leave us with barely enough cap for operating expenses.
And, Burns is carrying a $30M+ cap hit from 2025 - 2028.
So, how would you get that to work?
@donkey_hunter - very valid question. Our cap space beyond this season is in very good shape. There is no doubt could have back loaded his contract and taken care of that. Our contract specialists are the best. We would have given up a 2nd and 5th round picks. Braswell wouldn’t have been gone but not needed with Burns in the fold. There were small additions I.e. - like Gregory that wouldn’t have been added. My point is our patience with this position over the last few years hasn’t worked. Take a chance. That’s what gets a good team over the top. Fill good rosters of drafted picks with some needed FAs. Maybe front office doesn’t think we’re ready for that step???
@white-tiger - great points. I had a few examples of actions that could have reasonably been taken. My question to many on here is “do you think we’ll be fine at edge this year?” It’s Licht and Bowles job to be ready. I wonder if Bowles truly believes that his defense is fine with their current players? Ego gets involved. “I’ll be able to scheme around an average edge room.” Well his best defense was during our 2020 Super Bowl run when he had dominant edge rushers in Shaq and JPP. We were able to run primarily 4 man rush schemes with a variety of zone and man coverages behind them. It doesn’t look the same when we’re having to bring one or two blitzers to get any pressure.
i hear many on here say “I like our depth at the position.” To me it’s like the dual quarterback saying, “if you have two QBs, then you don’t have one.” The Fact that we can throw out 5 different OLBs doesn’t help one of them better beat the tackle in front of them in a 3rd down passing situation.
The FO and Bowles are choosing to take the risk of scheming around a lack of talent at this position, and it hurts to think that will probably e one of the bigger downfalls for the season. Not fair to Evans, Lavonte, and those guys that are near the end.
It’s Licht and Bowles job to be ready. I wonder if Bowles truly believes that his defense is fine with their current players?
I think a team is almost always slightly off from fully competitive and even more so when it has an external issue like post-Super Bowl cap. In fact, I think that is one reason Bowles has a little more goodwill than a typical 9-8 coach. I think everyone inside OBP knows the score so, for example, Bowles was very unlikely to get fired in 2022 and I doubt Bowles gets fired last season even if they just miss the playoffs because the team was heavy UDFA and draft picks, no FAs
Maybe its more accurate to say it is "Licht and Bowles job to be" as ready as the circumstances allow. If you can disregard all future finances to go all-in on a Super Bowl then the opposite must also be true. You can forgo opportunities that might actually improve the team in the short run because of some other longer term goal.
@ehinote - I believe that history often proves that if you think there’s a weakness, there usually is a weakness.
I think we didn’t see a FA that would have provided the edge solution, without impacting valuable draft picks, AND added cap complexities we’re navigating away from.
BUT, it’s also why I don’t think the Bucs FO is targeting this year for a Super Bowl run, but have their eyes on next off-season for the missing talent needed at key positions, primarily at edge.
I still think we can win more than we lose, just think it’s going to require depending on a platoon at edge with some hope for Braswell to contribute.
I don’t know this to be true, it’s just a clear-eyed view from the cheap seats.
And our 3rd and long defense has looked poor again tonight. It doesn’t matter who’s in. Ugh.
Watts was nearly unblockable last season which is why it was criminal to have him not play more and to have Shaq play so much. And Diaby did hit a rookie wall but to me I think he has so much upside.
As for Ramirez he is just very active with his feet and hands which makes it hard for him to be denied.
