Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to nail 2018 free-agency
It’s been an emotional time for fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leading up to the beginning of the 2018 NFL Season. According to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, there’s a good reason for it.
Outside of re-signing Mike Evans and Ryan Fitzpatrick, very little activity out of Tampa Bay Buccaneers headquarters has made a whole lot of noise on the national radar. They have tried to be a part of a couple trades, and were rumored to be interested in the services of one Richard Sherman.
None of those reported efforts or intentions came to fruition of course, and now here we sit on the cusp of the legal tampering period. So, what’s at stake for Jason Licht and his team?
Quite frankly, their futures. Many among the fan base of the Bucs are as sure as a fan base can be that failure to show large growth from their disappointing 2017 campaign means the loss of jobs for Licht, head coach Dirk Koetter and defensive coordinator Mike Smith. Others would likely join them on the job hunt.
In fact, according to Brandt, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are second on his list of teams. The only team the NFL Media Senior Analyst ranks beyond them? The Chicago Bears.
Here’s part of what Brandt wrote,
"“The pressure is on Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter to right the ship this year. Rather than trying to accumulate more veterans in the hopes that they’ll play like they did in their prime, the Bucs should focus on trying to sign younger up-and-comers.”"
I have to say, I don’t know if I’ve ever agreed with two sentences ever written before these two.
Throughout the build up to today’s big rush of legal tampering, I’ve written and even stated on the Locked on Bucs podcast that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to find young guys who haven’t reached their ceilings yet, and then focus on the draft for even more pieces.
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Some names? Well, like Brandt, I want Licht to target Kyle Fuller from the Chicago Bears. The same team who is the only one apparently who has more riding on this upcoming period than the Bucs do.
Bashaud Breeland of the Washington Redskins is a name also brought up by Brandt. Bring them both!
In addition, Kony Ealy, Aaron Lynch and Jeremy Hill are all younger players with room to grow and have already shown the ability to be impact players earlier in their careers.
Each is looking for a new start, and isn’t it about time Tampa becomes the rejuvination location?
After years of watching talent like LeGarrette Blount, Aqib Talib, Michael Bennett, etc. leave the organization only to become successful stars for new teams; it’s time to put the other shoe on.
I still have faith in Licht. Like Brandt says in his piece, the staff seems very good.
However, in a free-agency period as big as this one is, it makes more sense to bring in four or five guys who could be impact players rather than targeting one who either will or won’t.
I agree with Brandt. Do you? Let me know. And enjoy legal tampering. Let the games begin!