Throughout Jason Licht's tenure as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has had some big hits and big misses in the NFL Draft. Licht has drafted multiple future Hall of Famers, several major busts, and many players who fall somewhere in between.
This list will explore every pick Jason Licht has made in the first round since taking over as Buccaneers GM back in 2014, starting with the most disappointing pick and finishing with his best draft pick.
Every Tampa Bay Buccaneers first round since 2014, ranked
9. Vernon Hargreaves, CB/Florida - 2016 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 11
Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves earns the honors of being Jason Licht's worst first-round draft selection. The team had a glaring hole at the cornerback position and looked to finally create stability in the secondary with the investment of a first-round draft pick in 2016.
He flashed some potential throughout his Bucs tenure, but his development quickly plateaued, and he became a constant liability in the secondary. There was a growing frustration with Hargreaves' lack of improvement in coverage, but the final straw was when head coach Bruce Arians noticed a lack of effort from Hargreaves and saw him avoid making a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals in a 2019 regular season matchup, causing Arians to bench Hargreaves and then release him immediately after the game.
Hargreaves is a particularly disappointing case because he was a local prospect from the University of Florida and became a very popular draft choice within the fanbase. He even wore custom "Tampa" cleats to his Pro Day before the draft, leading to speculation that he hoped to play for the Buccaneers. His status as a hometown talent, mixed with his fun-loving and expressive personality made him a generally likable player in the eyes of many fans.
Hargreaves was selected in the first round with the expectation of becoming a core piece for a secondary that had consistently been among the league's worst. Instead, the team had to invest in the position even heavier in the following years due to Hargreaves' lack of improvement. He had a lot of upside as a prospect, but his development ultimately fell short, and he stands out as the most disappointing selection made during Licht's tenure.
8. O.J. Howard, TE/Alabama - 2017 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 19
O.J. Howard was ranked as one of the top offensive prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft, and when he unexpectedly fell to the Bucs at pick 19, Jason Licht had to pounce. Many Bucs fans had mixed feelings about the pick, as it felt like a large chunk of the fanbase had their hearts set on Dalvin Cook, the explosive running back out of the local Florida State University.
Howard showed promise in his first two seasons, following up a respectable rookie campaign with an even better sophomore season where he caught 34 passes for 565 yards and five touchdowns in only ten games. His demise was largely due to injuries, having only one season in his career where he has played in every game.
After suffering a torn Achillies after playing only four games in the 2020 season and has never truly bounced back in terms of production.
He also never lived up to his freakish athletic profile and played a bit softer than his size and speed would indicate. Howard looked to be a legitimate downfield weapon at times, but he was inconsistent, and he was only average at best as a blocker. His inconsistencies paired with several significant injuries led to the end of Howard's tenure as a Buccaneer and made him one of Licht's most disappointing draft picks.
7. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DE/Washington - 2021 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 32
Labeling Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as a bust is a bit premature, but he has been quite underwhelming to this point in his career. He still has the upcoming season to prove himself before the Bucs are forced to make a decision regarding his future with the team.
Through three seasons, Tryon has logged 13 sacks. He has remained consistent with his production, with four sacks in each of his first two seasons and improving to five sacks last season. His numbers are serviceable but do not live up to the expectations that come with his status as a first-round draft pick.
The Bucs had hoped Tryon-Shoyinka would blossom into a dominant force off the edge and possibly record double-digit sacks. Instead, Tryon-Shoyinka was benched last season in favor of rookie YaYa Diaby, who logged 7,5 sacks as a rookie and looks to be the future of the position for the Bucs.
Tryon-Shoyinka still has a chance to develop further, he is still only 24 years old, and he has a lot of potential. He is one of the more athletic players at his position in the league, and he has earned a reputation for being able to get into the backfield but not finishing plays. There is still a lot of refining to be done as Tryon-Shoyinka is still quite raw despite multiple seasons in the league, but if he can continue to grow as a player and sharpen certain aspects of his game, he can still be a quality starter in the NFL.
For now, he hasn't done enough to be considered a successful draft pick, especially with the high standards Jason Licht has set for his front office.
6. Jameis Winston, QB/Florida State - 2015 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 1
While Jameis Winston's career with the Bucs didn't play out the way either party had hoped, it is hard to fault Jason Licht for selecting Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the consensus best player in the draft and was a local product coming out of Florida State University. Winston was coming off an illustrious collegiate career where he led the Seminoles to a 26-1 overall record in his tenure.
The Bucs were coming off a 2-14 season led by quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Josh McCown, and needless to say, the Bucs were in dire need of a new quarterback. The only other option for the Bucs would've been to draft Marcus Mariota out of Oregon, but even in hindsight, Winston was the right pick for the Buccaneers at the time. Winston was the more decorated and was viewed as the more pro-ready quarterback entering the draft. He had tremendous leadership qualities by all accounts and had proven himself as a winner.
What Licht does deserve fault for is his failure to provide his young quarterback with a quality supporting cast. For much of Winston's time in Tampa Bay, the team had a porous defense, no legitimate rushing attack, and a subpar offensive line.
Additionally, the team had a revolving door of head coaches and coordinators, failing to provide Winston with organizational stability. Winston's turnovers were a big problem, but there was a lot more to the Bucs' struggles than just that.
While the team didn't see as much success as they expected to under Winston, Licht was correct in his assessment of Winston as the best option for the Buccaneers in 2015. Winston made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, broke just about every Buccaneers' passing record, and is one of only nine quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season, proving he can be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league.
The flashes were there, but the Bucs failed to unlock Winston's full potential.
5. Calijah Kancey, EDGE/Pittsburgh - 2023 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 19
Calijah Kancey was the Buccaneers' first-round draft choice in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite only one season with the team, Kancey is poised to cement himself as one of Licht's best draft picks, and with time he can move further up this list.
The Buccaneers have a history of great defensive tackles. Warren Sapp, Gerald McCoy, and Vita Vea are examples of premier defensive tackles who were drafted and developed into stars in Tampa Bay. Kancey is destined to continue the tradition as his career progresses.
Despite missing four games due to injury, Kancey was able to earn four sacks in his rookie campaign. In comparison, Sapp, McCoy, and Vita all notched three sacks each in their respective rookie campaigns. The four players landed in the same ballpark for tackles made in their rookie season.
The favorable comparison between Kancey and these players is very encouraging. Sapp would go on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the best defensive tackles ever. McCoy was a three-time All-Pro and a perennial Pro Bowler, and Vea is consistently one of the league's best at the position, especially as a run-stuffer.
The organization has very high expectations for Kancey, as they expect him to continue the franchise's tradition of developing dominant defensive tackles that wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Plus, Kancey enjoys the luxury of playing next to and learning from Vita Vea, who makes life easier for everyone on the defensive line by absorbing double teams and opening up pass-rush opportunities for his teammates.
Expect Kancey to take another step forward in his development in 2024 and take on an even bigger role for the Bucs' defense.
4. Devin White, LB/LSU - 2019 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 5
Jason Licht selected Devin White with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. White was an explosive linebacker out of LSU who displayed truly rare speed and athleticism for his position. At the time, drafting White filled a massive need for the Bucs following the departure of another LSU linebacker, Kwon Alexander, who left the Buccaneers in free agency.
After an impressive rookie season in 2019, White played a huge role in the Bucs' 2020 Super Bowl victory. White notched 27 tackles, two interceptions, and two timely fumble recoveries during the Bucs' historic playoff run. In White's first two seasons, he posted 231 total tackles,11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries, along with an interception and he looked poised to be one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
He was recognized by his peers as the 28th best player in the league by the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2021 list, voted by players and coaches. He also was named to the Associated Press All-Pro second team in 2020.
After his first two seasons though, the honeymoon phase of White's tenure was over. White began to receive criticism for his inconsistencies as a defender. Though he certainly excelled as a blitzer, his struggles in pass coverage and questionable effort at times became an issue. Eventually, White was benched last season and reduced to a rotational role, being replaced as the starter by K.J. Britt.
Additionally, Devin White requested a trade last offseason and took to social media to voice his frustrations, hoping to leverage the team into giving him a new contract or trade him, but the Bucs did neither, forcing him to play out what was eventually an underwhelming final season in Tampa Bay. This turned a large portion of the fanbase to become frustrated with White both on and off the field.
It is important to recognize White's importance to the franchise, despite the disappointing end to his Bucs' career. He was a great draft pick by Jason Licht and his contributions were crucial to helping the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV. White signed a one-year deal this offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles, who believe their defensive scheme can help unlock White's full potential.
3. Vita Vea, DT/Washington - 2018 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 12
The selection of Vita Vea was met with criticism at the time from many fans, as the team had massive holes in the secondary, coming off a season where the team finished dead last in passing defense. Many fans hoped Jason Licht would take advantage of a strong safety class, headlined by Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James.
Originally the Bucs had the seventh overall pick but traded it to the Buffalo Bills who moved up in pursuit of their quarterback, Josh Allen. Tampa Bay then held the No. 12 pick from Buffalo, and the Miami Dolphins had already selected Minkah Fitzpatrick. Derwin James became the expected pick for the Bucs, as he would fill a huge need at safety and also played at Florida State University, so many local Bucs fans had already seen him dominate on the collegiate level and developed an affinity for him.
Licht would eventually address the secondary heavily, just not in the first round. He added cornerbacks M.J. Stewart and Carlton Davis in the second round and selected Jordan Whitehead in the fourth round.
Instead, Licht drafted Vita Vea, the massive defensive tackle from the University of Washington with the twelfth overall pick. Licht was aiming to strengthen the trenches, hoping Vea help strengthen the team's rushing defense as well as take on double teams to make life easier for the pass rushers.
The gamble paid off in a big way for the Bucs' rushing defense, as evidenced by the improvement in the Buccaneers' defensive rankings. Over the past few seasons, the Bucs finished No. 23 in rushing defense and No. 24 finish in 2018, Vea's rookie season. In 2019, the Bucs added Ndamukong Suh to replace Gerald McCoy, hoping Suh could help bring a needed edge that the defensive line was missing.
Under Suh's tutelage, Vea and the Bucs' rushing defense took off and haven't looked back. The Bucs finished with the league's best rushing defense in both 2019 and 2020 followed up by another strong effort in 2021 where the team finished third in the category. In 2023, the team once again finished as one of the top five rushing defenses in terms of yards allowed.
The addition of Vita Vea in the 2018 NFL Draft has a direct correlation to the Bucs becoming one of the league's best rushing defenses year after year, and Licht deserves a ton of credit for his decision to trust his philosophy and invest in the defensive line.
2. Tristan Wirfs, OT/Iowa - 2020 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 13
In the 2020 NFL Draft, Licht traded a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers, to move up just one spot and select Tristan Wirfs, an offensive tackle from the University of Iowa. The 21-year-old rookie faced a tough task upon entering the league: block for the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady.
Wirfs was up for the challenge, having a superb season that landed him recognition from Pro Football Focus with second-team All-Pro honors en route to helping the Bucs win Super Bowl 55 over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Based on his current career trajectory, it is not a stretch to say Tristan Wirfs will likely go down as the best offensive lineman in Buccaneers history and could potentially earn a spot in Canton. Wirfs was named to the Associated Press All-Pro teams in both 2021 and 2022 and was also voted into the Pro Bowl by fans and his peers in both seasons.
In 2023, the Buccaneers asked Wirfs to embrace a new challenge- switch from right tackle to left tackle as well as take on a new leadership role as a first-time team captain. Per usual, Wirfs was up for the challenge. He continued his dominance at his new position and once again earned a Pro Bowl nod for the third consecutive season.
At just 25 years old, Wirfs already has created an impressive list of accolades for himself and is considered one of the elite offensive linemen in today's league. His rookie contract is set to expire following the 2024 season, and it shouldn't be surprising when Jason Licht makes him one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in NFL history, and Wirfs deserves every penny.
Licht hit a home run drafting Wirfs in 2020, securing a perennial All-Pro player as the anchor of his offensive line for years to come.
1. Mike Evans, WR/Texas A&M - 2014 NFL Draft - Round 1, Pick 7
The bar was set extremely high with Jason Licht's first draft choice.
When the Bucs drafted Mike Evans with the seventh pick of the 2014 NFL Draft they didn't just fill a need at wide receiver; they landed a player who would go on to become a surefire Hall of Famer and the best offensive player in Buccaneers history. He would also have a massive impact on the local community and become one of the fanbase's most beloved players of all time.
Evans has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in ten consecutive seasons to open his career, breaking an NFL record previously held by Randy Moss, who opened his career with six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
The overall record for consecutive 1,000-yard seasons is held by Jerry Rice with 11, and Evans has a chance to tie that record in the 2024 NFL season and further solidify his legacy as one of the best wide receivers of all time.
Production aside, Evans has also been a blessing for the organization due to his team-first mentality and leadership. For much of Evans' career, the Buccaneers were dysfunctional and non-competitive, but Evans remained a consummate professional through it all. There have been many cases of dominant receivers demanding the ball and having a negative impact on team chemistry-especially in the midst of subpar quarterback play like Evans dealt with at times, but Evans continued to be a leader and prioritize the team over himself during these tough stretches.
Last season during a tense negotiation process, Evans could've taken inspiration from some of his peers across the league and held out from team activities to leverage the Bucs into giving him a new contract, but instead he avoided the distraction and had one of the best seasons of his career in order to earn the contract he was seeking.
"[Mike Evans] is the epitome of what you want in a draft pick, and he set the standard," Jason Licht said at Mike Evans' press conference. "Every year, you want the first-round pick to set the standard for the class and Mike set the standard for me. I have been chasing that standard for my staff every year."
Evans shows no signs of slowing down, as he is coming off a season where he received Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, and tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions. Licht's selection of Mike Evans continues to pay off a decade later, as Evans continues to be the face of the organization both on and off the field.