The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Blow it up: 5 steps to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers rebuild

By Cory Kinnan

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans wearing paper bags mourn a loss Dec. 26, 2004 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Carolina Panthers defeated the Bucs 37 to 20. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans wearing paper bags mourn a loss Dec. 26, 2004 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Carolina Panthers defeated the Bucs 37 to 20. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 30: General manager Jason Licht of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks with head coach Dirk Koetter before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 30: General manager Jason Licht of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talks with head coach Dirk Koetter before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /

Step One: Find a GM that can evaluate talent

One of the main problems with the Browns’ rebuild early on was that they hired an analytical mind who was great at numbers and stockpiling picks, but when it came to adding talent with those picks, he managed to whiff quite a few times. If the Bucs head into a rebuild, and given his track record as a general manager, they should fire Jason Licht and find a new GM.

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Licht took over the role of GM in Tampa in 2014, where outside of Mike Evans, none of the other selections have stuck around in Tampa; he managed to whiff on Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Charles Sims, while finding no gems in the later rounds. His 2015 draft was much better, somewhat hitting on his first four picks.

In Licht’s defense, Winston was the obvious first overall pick at the time and Donovan Smith has hung around and never missed a game (despite his subpar play). Later in the second round and in the fourth round, Licht managed to hit on Ali Marpet and Kwon Alexander in that draft.

However the entire 2016 draft, from top to bottom, has been a disaster starting with Vernon Hargreaves, Noah Spence, and Roberto Aguayo. Outside of the first round from 2017 and beyond, Licht has struggled to find success outside of the first round.

If I were the Bucs, I would can Licht and hire a new GM who is more equipped to add talent to start a rebuild.

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