The Buccaneers have to avoid these bad decisions this offseason.
As everyone focuses on what the Buccaneers should do this offseason, the easier task may be figuring out which decisions Tampa should avoid.
This franchise is not above making bad decisions. Keep in mind that this is the same group that put together the extremely underwhelming 2021 class, and Jason Licht is still subject to reaching on players (like kickers!) from time to time.
Here is where the Buccaneers need to be careful this offseason:
Tampa can’t reach on a running back
See Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Do we need to say anything more? The staff may love the strides that Vaughn has made over the past few seasons, but the pick didn’t make sense that night, and we still aren’t to a point where we can justify the selection now.
Vaughn in a later round would’ve been a steal. A day two pick on a back that still has barely seen play in the NFL after two years is a tough sell to anyone.
The Buccaneers should absolutely look at running backs in this class but they need to wait as long as possible before pulling the trigger.
The Buccaneers can’t overvalue anyone
You have to know when to cut bait. Guys that have grown beyond their usefulness relative to their cap hit shouldn’t be prioritized solely because they have been contributors on the team.
We’re looking at you, Blaine Gabbert, but that is a conversation for a different day.
The same can be said about guys like Jason Pierre-Paul. JPP didn’t even outperform Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in 2021, and paying him to continue taking reps away from a promising young option is counterproductive.
Don’t reach on IOL in the draft
If watching the Buccaneers over the past few years has shown us anything, it’s that you don’t have to spend a first-round pick to find a great interior offensive lineman.
The Bucs have done extremely well with several mid-round guys on the inside, and spending a valuable first on a guy simply because Ali Marpet retired could cause the Buccaneers to miss out on more value at another position.
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