I’ve expressed my disappointment with the start of free agency multiple times this week. Losing Bucs legend Mike Evans due to his lack of confidence in the team’s commitment to being a contender is a tough blow. We’ve missed out on Trey Hendrickson and so far, Maxx Crosby as well. Sure, we’ve signed a few mid-level free agents, but none of these moves will help us to forget that we decided to retain our head coach for another year!
Hey Jason Licht… Can you give us something to be excited about? Can you throw us a bone for once? At least throw your players a bone. It’s been far too long since we’ve brought in any substantial superstar talent. Honestly, when was the last time we signed someone impactful—was it Antonio Brown?
Licht’s drafts alone aren’t building a superstar roster. We’re not asking for a roster of superstars; just give us one this offseason. Tristan Wirfs was drafted back in 2020—feels like an eternity ago.
When you haven’t drafted a superstar in six years, you better supplement your roster with a few free agent stars. Where else is your money going? Oh right, overpaying average players on your own roster. Throwing money at a player who doesn’t end up meeting expectations is bad money; whether they’re someone you’re trying to retain or a new acquisition. I don’t care if it’s our own player’s 2nd contract or a player from another team’s 2nd contract… Those are misses, plain and simple.
We won’t draft a player with the 15th pick this year who will outperform Maxx Crosby over the next three seasons. We’ve seen some of our own first-round picks miss the mark in the last five years (looking at you, JTS, Logan Hall, and the jury is still out on Graham Barton). Let’s trade this year’s picks and see what another team can do with them.
I’d take the risk of trading two picks (a first and a second or third) for Maxx Crosby over making those two selections any day. I’d even double down on that bet. The bigger gamble may truly be keeping and drafting those picks instead of securing a known talent like Crosby.
I think there are some guys that the Buccaneers would have a chance to draft at 15 (perhaps even trade back and get a little bit later) that could make a difference. The issue is the defensive scheme, position coaches, and the defensive coordinator have a historic problem of not being able to get the most out of their defensive line players.
- Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
- Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
- Cashius Howell, DE/EDGE, Texas A&M (2nd round)
- Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF (2nd round)
- Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri (2nd or 3rd -- DWI arrest needs to be investigated)
Overall, I tend to agree with you. The edge rushers in this class are weak in comparison to previous years.