There are so many quality players still available. Our window is now. We have Baker, Godwin, Evans, and Vea now. In a couple years, Maker will get a huge raise, and Vea, Godwin, and Evans will be retired. Anyway, all of these guys would be significant upgrades over guys that are on our roster. All of them could hit big, and if not, they would all at the very least be better than the backups at their positions:
CB - Asante Samuel.
Nickle - Mike Hilton
Edge - Za-Darius Smith
LB - EJ Speed and Kyzir White (both of whom I think would start over anyone, including David, on our team)
WR - Keenan Allen. Even last year, with a rookie QB, he still caught 70 passes. What are the chances that both Godwin and Evans play the whole year without getting hurt?
The spending frenzy is done. Some of these could be gotten at a bargain.
Probably the same reason(s) why the other 31 teams haven’t either.
Because we got to continue to develop the guys we have in place. J-Mac turned it on second half of the season, so adding Allen would just take away his live game reps. In addition to being a cheaper player, he is healthier and adds a different dimension to our offense.
As for as the linebacker, edge, and corner guys available...its still early in the process and those guys probably be sitting til the end of the month. Nobody is in the rush to sign stop gap type players.
remember that twitter beef a few years ago between Evans and Allen. Allen trying to claim he was better or something.
in any event, if we could get a veteran WR cheap, may not be a bad idea to add to the stable with McMillian. BUT...given our needs, i rather have more than enough guys rotating in the front 7 and a veteran CB for sure - i like Samuel or Gilmore to be added to the fold when Dean misses time.
Because we got to continue to develop the guys we have in place. J-Mac turned it on second half of the season, so adding Allen would just take away his live game reps. In addition to being a cheaper player, he is healthier and adds a different dimension to our offense.
As for as the linebacker, edge, and corner guys available...its still early in the process and those guys probably be sitting til the end of the month. Nobody is in the rush to sign stop gap type players.
i like your first sentence! goes hand in hand with the knuckle heads lobbying for a WR in the first few rounds. i think a veteran is likely preferable because they wont benefit more from snaps to progress. For example, an Allen or a Kupp can be fine with limited snaps if all of a sudden they get starter snaps due to injury to Evans or Godwin. Where as a guy that hasn't played or ran NFL routes yet, would take some adjusting.
in terms of your second point on defense, yeah, i expect the Bucs to see who they can land in the draft in the first 4 rounds - ILB, edge, CB, etc. before they make some other impact signings. But...i dont think we can ever have too much help on defense.
look at the eagles last year
Front 7 - Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Zach Baun, Oren Burks, Jalyx Hunt
Secondary - Darius Slay, Reed Blankenship, Chauncey Gardner - Johnson, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Isiah Rodgers
compare that to the Bucs currently -
Front 7 - Logan Hall, Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Haason Reddick, Lavonte David, Sirvocea Dennis, Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson
Feel like we can use another 2 bodies here, no?
secondary - Zyon McCollum, Antonio Windfield Jr, Tykee Smith, Jamel Dean, Christian Izien
again, feel like another 2 bodies here could be helpful here too
and i mean quality like the Eagles so hence suggesting at least 3 picks of our top 4 go defense
suggesting at least 3 picks of our top 4 go defense
I think PRs latest mock is just that.
OLB
CB
ILB
WR
S
DT
The Bucs aren't done IMO. They still need to add a couple bargain basement FA depth pieces on the defensive side.Probably the same reason(s) why the other 31 teams haven’t either.
Of course the Bucs can't cover all the bases in the draft without trading for more picks, but I think they could use O-line depth and legit DT depth which isn't going to come in the 7th round.suggesting at least 3 picks of our top 4 go defense
I think PRs latest mock is just that.
OLB
CB
ILB
WR
S
DT
The Bucs aren't done IMO. They still need to add a couple bargain basement FA depth pieces on the defensive side.Probably the same reason(s) why the other 31 teams haven’t either.
Most likely not. I’m sure there will be some depth signings. Happens every year.
That being said, some people simply fall in love with washed up players, simply because they’re a name they recognize. Makes them look stupid.
Perfect example was Julio Jones.
We absolutely need bodies, especially after last season debacle. We had people thinking JJ Russell could be the future because he played one good game. Do not get get me started about the shit show at CB. We got killed by the injury bug from every level of the defense. That said though, I think your on the right track in terms of seeing who we can land first in the draft and then filling the rest out with vet leftovers. The Bucs have been doing this for years now so there's no mystique about what is going on.Because we got to continue to develop the guys we have in place. J-Mac turned it on second half of the season, so adding Allen would just take away his live game reps. In addition to being a cheaper player, he is healthier and adds a different dimension to our offense.
As for as the linebacker, edge, and corner guys available...its still early in the process and those guys probably be sitting til the end of the month. Nobody is in the rush to sign stop gap type players.
i like your first sentence! goes hand in hand with the knuckle heads lobbying for a WR in the first few rounds. i think a veteran is likely preferable because they wont benefit more from snaps to progress. For example, an Allen or a Kupp can be fine with limited snaps if all of a sudden they get starter snaps due to injury to Evans or Godwin. Where as a guy that hasn't played or ran NFL routes yet, would take some adjusting.
in terms of your second point on defense, yeah, i expect the Bucs to see who they can land in the draft in the first 4 rounds - ILB, edge, CB, etc. before they make some other impact signings. But...i dont think we can ever have too much help on defense.
look at the eagles last year
Front 7 - Nolan Smith, Brandon Graham, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Zach Baun, Oren Burks, Jalyx Hunt
Secondary - Darius Slay, Reed Blankenship, Chauncey Gardner - Johnson, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Isiah Rodgers
compare that to the Bucs currently -
Front 7 - Logan Hall, Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, Haason Reddick, Lavonte David, Sirvocea Dennis, Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson
Feel like we can use another 2 bodies here, no?
secondary - Zyon McCollum, Antonio Windfield Jr, Tykee Smith, Jamel Dean, Christian Izien
again, feel like another 2 bodies here could be helpful here too
and i mean quality like the Eagles so hence suggesting at least 3 picks of our top 4 go defense
At the very very least, we are crazy for not signing a couple more LB's and 1 outside CB. I truly do not believe we have a single LB who would start on a championship level team. David is a legend, but he can't cover well anymore. At best, he would serve as a 2 down LB. The guy we just got from Miami was replaced by Britt... the same guy we didn't want anymore. Denis can't stay healthy. In the draft, the dude from Alabama just isn't elite, and the next best guy has a 3rd round grade. Truly, it is unimaginable that the Bucs think we are set at LB... and given that this is a very weak LB draft, we need to sign 2 guys who started somewhere last year and played well. EJ Speed and Kyzir White both played better than any LB on our team, last year. They represent significant upgrades. What the Eagles did last year was flood their positions with mid-tier FA's. Most of them DIDN'T hit, but a few did, in a big way. We have to do that at LB. At CB, we need to sign at least one for the same reason. WR is a bit of a luxury, but still, having a proven guy would be very helpful, given that we should expect Godwin and Evans to miss time, given their age. There is no reason to think that late-round draft picks and UFA's should be a part of the plan. Yes... every once in a while, we may get lucky. But, why play those odds? The Bucs need to realize that this is our window... not 2 or 3 years from now.
they could just be waiting...negotiating tactic as well
Some of these guys over inflate their worth...hell look at Lombardi Lenny...still looking for work after he "asked" the Bucs for a release in 2023 off-season.
Heard we were interested in Stephon Gilmore....and maybe his ego will subside a bit after week 1 of free agency.
i am with you though, we would be crazy if our depth consisted of undrafted free agents
I agree with OP, our window is NOW. Add one or two of these guys on the cheap and we’d improve so much.
would be crazy if our depth consisted of undrafted free agents
That was last season! we are supposed to be upgrading
The Bucs aren't done IMO. They still need to add a couple bargain basement FA depth pieces on the defensive side.Probably the same reason(s) why the other 31 teams haven’t either.
Maybe a veteran safety and another CB but I think they are about done. Possibly another edge rusher but it doesn't seem likely this week.
