Well they weren't still evaluating White and Davis. Or Hainsey or whoever the LG was.I don't think "hyperactive" is the word. Onne big time free agent like Patrick Queen or somebody of that stature would have been what I was looking for and of course it didn't happen. The only one was Whitehead. The let Devin White walk and traded Carleton Davis. Not complaining at all, but if you let some key players go there's no reason you can't go out and steal one or two from somebody else. If Licht can come in with the 26th spot and have another great draft then everything will work out for the best. So lets hope he can do it again.I'm not sure why people think we were going to be hyper-active in FA other re-signing some of our key players.
We simply didn't have the money to sign a premier EDGE.
Not sure why that's so difficult for some to comprehend.
The Bucs punted on a big free agent signing because they are still trying to evaluate their roster. Meaning trying to see which players raise their games or sink from the recent draft classes.
Plus, a lot of money is going to go to Winfield and Wirfs so that takes higher priority.
@catherder - yeah, we’re all taking our best educated guess. But hopefully the Bucs have the solution. And depending on the 26th pick to come thru as the fix is scary.
Unless verse drops into the 20s I would not mind trading back. Fiske is an absolute steal of a pick.His stock has risen and I can see him making an impact. Not a fan of Kneeland.
f you let some key players go there's no reason you can't go out and steal one or two from somebody else.
You can, if you have the money, but you might not want to.
I dont think a team thinks in the same "plug/play" way that fans do. Fans are mostly building by looking backwards (ie "who had a lot of sacks last year that we could add this year") whereas teams are looking at the past, but also who is already on the team that might develop. And even when the team looks back they are probably more focused on the $ side than fans, balancing the cost of the FA versus the cost of a draft pick, as one example. Or, of a lesser free agent.
The Bucs have certainly been burned in the past by signing free agents who busted out. But there are plenty of cases where teams have brought in the key piece and it has worked out. The Bucs brought in a couple guys named Brady and Gronk. But I just think Licht has put a lot of faith into his own drafting ability. He wants to resign our own players and show the young guys that if you stick with us you'll be rewarded. He's using last offseason and this to build up the team with draft picks while retaining key veteran stars. It's a good plan .... if it works.f you let some key players go there's no reason you can't go out and steal one or two from somebody else.
You can, if you have the money, but you might not want to.
I dont think a team thinks in the same "plug/play" way that fans do. Fans are mostly building by looking backwards (ie "who had a lot of sacks last year that we could add this year") whereas teams are looking at the past, but also who is already on the team that might develop. And even when the team looks back they are probably more focused on the $ side than fans, balancing the cost of the FA versus the cost of a draft pick, as one example. Or, of a lesser free agent.
Don't get the Barton hype. His film vs Florida State was the worst I've ever seen for a draft prospect.
The Bucs have certainly been burned in the past by signing free agents who busted out. But there are plenty of cases where teams have brought in the key piece and it has worked out. The Bucs brought in a couple guys named Brady and Gronk. But I just think Licht has put a lot of faith into his own drafting ability. He wants to resign our own players and show the young guys that if you stick with us you'll be rewarded. He's using last offseason and this to build up the team with draft picks while retaining key veteran stars. It's a good plan .... if it works.f you let some key players go there's no reason you can't go out and steal one or two from somebody else.
You can, if you have the money, but you might not want to.
I dont think a team thinks in the same "plug/play" way that fans do. Fans are mostly building by looking backwards (ie "who had a lot of sacks last year that we could add this year") whereas teams are looking at the past, but also who is already on the team that might develop. And even when the team looks back they are probably more focused on the $ side than fans, balancing the cost of the FA versus the cost of a draft pick, as one example. Or, of a lesser free agent.
Well, no need to go nuclear with Brady and Gronk free agent examples (lol) because your point is made with guys like JPP and Barrett. In fact, Barrett was sort of a second fiddle guy who exploded here. So, Licht and his team have a pretty good track record, as you say.
I was more thinking of the team choosing (hopefully correctly) to go with either the development of existing talent or a draft pick where the like'y difference in production between one of those types and FA was not enough to justify the FA money. For example, it sounds like Bwoles thinks that some of the loss in pass rushing will be picked up by Dennis:
“He’s a very good blitzer, actually,” Bowles said. “We hadn’t started to do that yet.”
He wasnt really on my radar so that is surprising
@catherder - agreed. There are examples of bad free agent pick ups and examples of good. It is another avenue to building the right pieces to your team. I don’t want us to build thru it alone but use it supplement what you do in the draft. And when you miss on a pick like Devin White and you pass on giving him a second contract, I feel that’s an opportunity to help fill that miss by getting a young free agent that can help.
The Patriots had the most cap space to spend on free agents this year. But because of the huge cap increase most of the notable free agents were re-signed by most teams The Bucs were able to re-sign all their own free agents with ease as an example.
So because of that situation the Patriots turned around and invested their money by re-signing their own free agents for the most part and adding some value free agents here and there. The Patriots wanted to make a splash signing but there were too many teams swimming in the green to realistically be able to compete.
Based on what I have read this was not the year to have cap space and be looking at free agency to significantly improve your team. I mean the Patriots will probably improve the most if their improve their offense through the NFL draft more so than what they could have done through free agency.
It kinda indicates that the teams that did sign some splash talent - likely did so at a premium.The Patriots had the most cap space to spend on free agents this year. But because of the huge cap increase most of the notable free agents were re-signed by most teams The Bucs were able to re-sign all their own free agents with ease as an example.
So because of that situation the Patriots turned around and invested their money by re-signing their own free agents for the most part and adding some value free agents here and there. The Patriots wanted to make a splash signing but there were too many teams swimming in the green to realistically be able to compete.
Based on what I have read this was not the year to have cap space and be looking at free agency to significantly improve your team. I mean the Patriots will probably improve the most if their improve their offense through the NFL draft more so than what they could have done through free agency.
it also means that being able to re-sign your own talent, to cap friendly deals, means your talent believes in the teams prospects and path… if those 2023 picks step up, it could get interesting!
Hopefully those good team vibes continue with the Wirffs, Vea & Winfield extensions!
