Trading for backup players isn't going to trigger a cash crunch or upfront signing bonuses to be prorated to the point it cause a strain to the cap roster or owners checkbook. Bucs have more dead cap space on bottom depth chart or backups they cut that would be far greater than one player being traded for mid season or before the start of the season.
point 1: if you're operating under a budget that is as much as $50-60 million a year than competition draft picks are more valuable because drafted players are cheaper longer
point 2: its not an excuse it's just a potential explanation
Since the draft slots are set now money wise and each round I don't see it as a big competitive advantage for cap budget management. If you ignore the dead cap space from Evan's this year the next biggest dead cap hits are Braswell and Browning. Braswell isn't some street free agent or undrafted player so the flipside of your argument you are making is that higher draft picks cost more money than a lower draft pick or undrafted free agent.
Since the draft slots are set now money wise and each round I don't see it as a big competitive advantage for cap budget management. If you ignore the dead cap space from Evan's this year the next biggest dead cap hits are Braswell and Browning. Braswell isn't some street free agent or undrafted player so the flipside of your argument you are making is that higher draft picks cost more money than a lower draft pick or undrafted free agent.
I must be explaining it incorrectly lol
The truth is Licht used to be active with trades
Still waiting for the examples of this.
Should be easy, since you say it's "Truth".
there it is again
"How This Impacts The Bucs Going Forward
Now with Baker Mayfield in the fold for the foreseeable future, the finances get tighter for everyone else. Tampa Bay isn’t a high-spending team when it comes to cash. With Mayfield making just over $50 million per year (including his old money), the Bucs have less cash to spend on their other pending free agents. And with two talented members of the 2023 draft class (Yaya Diaby and Cody Mauch) in need of new deals by 2027, it is likely one or both is allowed to find a new team."
the cap will expand, salaries will increase, but like every other market, one won’t exceed the other. I do think one of those two players could be signed, if they prove they’re worth it.there it is again
"How This Impacts The Bucs Going Forward
Now with Baker Mayfield in the fold for the foreseeable future, the finances get tighter for everyone else. Tampa Bay isn’t a high-spending team when it comes to cash. With Mayfield making just over $50 million per year (including his old money), the Bucs have less cash to spend on their other pending free agents. And with two talented members of the 2023 draft class (Yaya Diaby and Cody Mauch) in need of new deals by 2027, it is likely one or both is allowed to find a new team."
The sky looks sunny again, it isn’t falling.
The time to choose which of your children to love the least, is not now.
there it is again
"How This Impacts The Bucs Going Forward
Now with Baker Mayfield in the fold for the foreseeable future, the finances get tighter for everyone else. Tampa Bay isn’t a high-spending team when it comes to cash. With Mayfield making just over $50 million per year (including his old money), the Bucs have less cash to spend on their other pending free agents. And with two talented members of the 2023 draft class (Yaya Diaby and Cody Mauch) in need of new deals by 2027, it is likely one or both is allowed to find a new team."
Diaby can go get paid somewhere else.
Sounds like Diaby will bet signed soon.
Sounds like Diaby will bet signed soon.
Coming from you, it's now a lock that Diaby will not be in Pewter next season.
Kiss of death.
With Baker signed this year the puzzle is set for Diaby and Mauch to be re-signed next season.
Jason Licht used to have a reputation as a top tier trade merchant but he has gone dormant recently and it is hurting this team.
Jason Licht, GM of theTampa Bay Buccaneers, is widely regarded as one of the NFL's best trade negotiators. His signature moves include trading up one spot to selectTristan Wirfs(2020), acquiringRob Gronkowskifor a fourth-round pick (2020), and theCarlton Davistrade that netted a third-round pick used onJalen McMillan. He has traded down in the first round far more often than up (only one trade-up in 11 drafts as GM), preferring to accumulate extra picks.A notable misstep was trading out of the first round forLogan Hallin 2022.
That is the recent trade history of Licht.
Older history of Licht trades:
Traded away dead weight of DeSean Jackson, Mark Barron, Johnathan Banks, and Jonathan Casiallas.
Traded for JPP. Mason and McLendon.
Bucs trading for McLendon, Gronk and JPP was a key part of the Bucs SB win. Saying trades don't matter or Licht isn't a trader makes me realize people are afraid of calling out Licht for what he is used to be known for.
Why?
Licht needs to recapture his core part of what helped him win a SB as a GM through trades and not being so tight with draft picks.
Had Licht traded for a competent guard in 2025 the Bucs may have won another game in 2025 and punched their ticket in the playoffs. Note that McLendon was traded for during the season because Vea was out and Roches had to moonlight at NT during the SB run.
Bottom line the 2025 collapse was a failure of not only Baker and the rest of the players. But more specifically Bowles and Licht as they were humbled with their own arrogance and reading their headlines too much. The team crashed back to reality and Bowles didn't know how to motivate them to break their funk especially Mayfield's. And Licht didn't throw in any life line for Bowles which is odd given Licht needs Bowles to succeed.
Lets hope this season Licht doesn't become lazy as the trade deadline nears and Bowles learn a lesson about how to treat practices and the bye week. This season should be a redemption season compared to last season for Bowles, the players and especially Licht.
With Baker signed this year the puzzle is set for Diaby and Mauch to be re-signed next season.
Jason Licht used to have a reputation as a top tier trade merchant but he has gone dormant recently and it is hurting this team.
Jason Licht, GM of theTampa Bay Buccaneers, is widely regarded as one of the NFL's best trade negotiators. His signature moves include trading up one spot to selectTristan Wirfs(2020), acquiringRob Gronkowskifor a fourth-round pick (2020), and theCarlton Davistrade that netted a third-round pick used onJalen McMillan. He has traded down in the first round far more often than up (only one trade-up in 11 drafts as GM), preferring to accumulate extra picks.A notable misstep was trading out of the first round forLogan Hallin 2022.
That is the recent trade history of Licht.
Older history of Licht trades:
Traded away dead weight of DeSean Jackson, Mark Barron, Johnathan Banks, and Jonathan Casiallas.
Traded for JPP. Mason and McLendon.
Bucs trading for McLendon, Gronk and JPP was a key part of the Bucs SB win. Saying trades don't matter or Licht isn't a trader makes me realize people are afraid of calling out Licht for what he is used to be known for.
Why?
Licht needs to recapture his core part of what helped him win a SB as a GM through trades and not being so tight with draft picks.
So, basically, TWO noteworthy trades and the rest roster and cap management (which practically every GM does year in and year out).
Those two trades help the Bucs go to the SB (JPP and Gronk). And Licht also had a trade up for Wirfs too and traded for McLendon so it was FOUR trades within a short three year period where Licht actually wasn't being lazy and aggressive to improve the roster.
Also the excuses about being cash strapped probably end this Sunday as the Bengals who are under ownership far more cash strapped than the Bucs when it comes to doling out guaranteed money and limited to three year deals. And yet the still went out and traded for Lawrence which is a big gamble but it shows even cash strapped teams can still find a way to improve.
So lets hope the Bucs can beat the Bengals this Sunday because I do not want to hear anymore about cash strapped excuses to defend Licht.
Also the excuses about being cash strapped probably end this Sunday as the Bengals who are under ownership far more cash strapped than the Bucs when it comes to doling out guaranteed money and limited to three year deals.
Goodness gracious lol. Offer potential explanations for the actions of the team does NOT = excuses. And you're a poster who denied that the Bucs even had a budget, so come on man.
Can a GM do better even with a budget, absolutely. The Bengals have Joe Burrow because they went 2-14. I think they have Chase because they had 4 wins. The Bucs been above that for while. So Licht is a bad GM because the Bucs win more than the Bengals? I guess they should tank?
