Jason Licht, the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is widely regarded as one of the top GMs in the NFL. While no one is perfect, he has made more good decisions than bad, keeping the Bucs relevant since Tom Brady's retirement—not just relevant, but division champions. He consistently delivers successful draft classes and effectively re-signs key free agents. There’s not much to question him on, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask.
Licht has built a team capable of competing year in and year out, which is a goal for every franchise. But when does being competitive stop being enough? When is the right time to take a big risk to elevate your team to the next level? As Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman said recently about his team's personnel decisions, “We can’t be afraid to fail.”
Looking back at the Bucs’ two Super Bowl teams, both started with a strong young core of talent. What pushed them over the edge were the risks they took. In 2002, the Bucs made the bold choice to fire Head Coach Tony Dungy and replace him with Jon Gruden. Dungy had turned the franchise around after 14 consecutive losing seasons, leading the team to consistent competitiveness. However, the time came for a pivotal decision.
That 2002 core was built through the draft, featuring stars like John Lynch, Ronde Barber, Mike Alstott, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and others. But they also added talent through trades and free agency—Keyshawn Johnson, Brad Johnson, Simeon Rice, and Keenan McCardell, among others. Without these additions, the Bucs wouldn’t have won their first Super Bowl in 2002.
Fast forward to the 2020 team, which boasted young homegrown talent like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Vita Vea, and Lavonte David. They also brought in key players via trades and free agency, including Jason Pierre-Paul, Ryan Jensen, Shaq Barrett, and later, Ndamukong Suh, Rob Gronkowski, and Leonard Fournette. Without these acquisitions, the Bucs wouldn’t have captured the Super Bowl in 2020.
I’m sure Licht explored every potential player acquisition, but was a move not made because the cost was too high? Or does Licht believe this team isn’t ready for a championship run this year? While he values draft picks, supplementing the roster with trades and free agents is often crucial for success. As Roseman pointed out, “I don’t think that you have great success without taking great risks at times.” His Eagles have seen those risks pay off, and Licht himself made bold moves five years ago. “When there are opportunities to be aggressive for the right players, we’re not going to sit on our hands,” Roseman emphasized. “We can’t be afraid to fail.”
I hope that when Licht feels the Bucs are ready to take that leap, he won’t hesitate to swing for the fences. After all, you can’t hit a home run if you don’t take a swing!