There are lots of Tampa Bay Buccaneers focused podcasts out there, but if you’ve listened to the “Locked on Bucs” podcast you’ve heard me say how gross it is there might be four quarterbacks drafted in the first five picks of the 2018 NFL Draft.
I can’t begin to express how happy I am the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Jameis Winston, because it’s almost like college quarterbacks are the NFL equivalent of the “Tickle-Me Elmo” pandemic. No matter how dull or unimpressive they may actually be, people just can’t see beyond the shiny packaging and gimmicky tag-lines.
So, what does this have to do with the Bucs? Well, everything.
If four quarterbacks fly off the board somewhere in the range of picks one to six, then either Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, or Saquon Barkley will be on the board when Jason Licht gets his first turn at the plate.
So will Denzel Ward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James.
Basically, there will be a buffet table of Tampa needs just waiting for Licht to pick which one looks the most desirable.
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For the record, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan in me wants this to happen. How great would it be to watch Bucs Twitter explode with fans claiming who they want selected, only to see all of the names be great ones?
Plus, no matter what name is turned in, the team immediately addresses a big-time area of need. I mean, start planning the parade in February now, am I right?
However, there’s also a general football side of me that hates seeing hard-working people make really bad decisions. Like, the kind of decision that when they get fired in three years you can look back at point at this move as the first domino.
And, I’m not the only one who hates the quarterback hype happening right now. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, NFL Network and of course the Move the Sticks podcast breaks down just why he too dislikes what’s happening.
The example he uses is from 2011. In that season, four teams took quarterbacks in the Top-12. Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder were three of them.
To take those quarterbacks, those teams passed on guys like Tyron Smith, J.J. Watt, Mike Pouncey, Ryan Kerrigan and more.
Give the Panthers credit though. They took the first of the four quarterbacks selected in 2011, and he led them to a Super Bowl appearance and has won the MVP award.
While I’m happy Brooks agrees with my angst about the 2018 quarterback love-fest, we’re here because he also wrote about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his words about the Bucs’ draft potential, he mentions the word ‘flexibility’. This is important. Because, if the rest of the league realizes just how crazy the quarterback hype is, then it’s fully possible – even likely – Bradley Chubb will not be available when pick seven hits the clock.
With Pierre-Paul on staff, this doesn’t signal panic, it signals Plan B, or C, or whichever makes the most sense with how the board has developed.
There are three top secondary prospects in Fitzpatrick, James and Ward. All three could be available, and all three will represent ideas on how Licht and defensive coordinator Mike Smith plan to weaponize their new additions.
Most of Brooks’ thoughts following this trade center around the Giants. Which makes sense considering they’re the ones with first shot at the draft board and also gained a third-round pick in the deal.
However, as we get closer to the NFL Draft, attributes like flexibility couldn’t be more valuable.
"Join James and Dave over at the Locked on Bucs podcast as they share their reaction to the trade news involving the Bucs and Giants!"
Thanks for checking this out, and come back as we get closer and closer to the big day. Draft Day!