Tag: Jason Licht

Bucs GM Jason Licht broke an 11-year streak with 2024 draft class

Jason Licht did something this weekend that he’s never done in 11 years as the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jason Licht has done many things during his tenure as general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but one thing he had never done was get through an entire NFL draft without making a single trade.

That streak ended this past weekend, as Licht and the Bucs went all seven rounds without moving in either direction from any of their seven selections.

One of their picks was acquired via trade, but that was a predraft deal with the Detroit Lions for cornerback Carlton Davis III, which netted the Bucs an extra selection late in the third round.

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Bucs GM Jason Licht reacts to Falcons picking Michael Penix Jr. in 1st round

One of the Bucs’ division rivals made the most shocking pick of the first round Thursday night

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waited to make their top selection in the 2024 NFL draft at No. 26 overall Thursday night, one of their division rivals delivered the biggest surprise of the first round.

The Atlanta Falcons spent the No. 8 overall pick on Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., despite having just signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency last month.

Speaking to the media after the Bucs picked Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton, general manager Jason Licht gave his thoughts on the Falcons’ shocking selection.

“I’m sure that they have their reason for it, which I can see,” Licht said. “It’s good long-term planning there. If you hit on him, you’ve got the future with you. I totally understood it. I didn’t think that it was a crazy move whatsoever. I thought somebody was going to probably do that with him.”

Penix was definitely one of the best quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, but he turns 24 years old next month, and has a long history of serious injuries from earlier in his career at Indiana. Drafting an older quarterback who has dealt with injuries in the past as a succession plan for a high-priced, 36-year-old veteran coming off a torn Achilles seemed like an odd decision by Atlanta.

Licht was clearly happy the Bucs got their man in Barton, and he might also be pleased that the Falcons’ top pick isn’t likely to make an immediate impact this season unless Cousins struggles or sustains another serious injury.

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WATCH: Bucs GM Jason Licht breaks down 1st-round pick Graham Barton

Hear what Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had to say about drafting Graham Barton in the first round

The newest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton, who was chosen with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Shortly after the selection was made, Bucs general manager Jason Licht met with the media to discuss the pick.

Watch the video above to see everything Licht had to say about his latest draft choice.

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Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht said Bucs were ‘crossing our fingers’ for Graham Barton

“We were crossing our fingers that he would make it to us,” Tampa Bay’s general manager said after the Buccaneers drafted Graham Barton.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht seemed quite pleased with Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton on Thursday night.

Licht and Tampa Bay made the former Blue Devil the 26th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and the team had its eyes on him the entire night.

“To be honest with you, the whole time, we were crossing our fingers that he would make it to us,” Licht said after the pick. “And he did.”

Licht also confirmed that Tampa Bay saw Barton as a center. He would replace franchise legend Ryan Jensen, who started Super Bowl LV three seasons ago and retired in February.

The leader of the Buccaneers front office didn’t rule out other spots, however, praising the versatility Barton was known for within draft circles.

“Center, but he can play guard,” Licht said. “He did a pretty damn good job playing tackle, too.”

Barton became the eighth Blue Devil picked in the first round of the NFL draft and the third since 1987.

Could the Bucs dip into this year’s loaded WR class?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might not be able to resist adding another dynamic pass-catcher in the 2024 NFL draft

The 2024 NFL draft features one of the deepest and most talented wide receiver classes in recent memory, with three elite prospects at the top, and a loaded second tier that could end up putting double-digit pass-catchers among the top 50 selections.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have one of the NFL’s best receiver tandems in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as some promising young talent behind them, but that won’t necessarily stop them from dipping into this year’s rare crop of talent at the position.

“It’s another position that you can’t have too many of those,” Licht said during his annual predraft press conference. “I think [Offensive Coordinator] Liam [Coen] can find a way to use a lot of very good receivers and playmakers… We really like Trey [Palmer] and we like what ‘Rock’ (Rakim Jarrett) was showing before he got injured last year. Like I said, it’s another position that I would consider a need and you can’t fill them all right now in the draft, but we’d love to get one.”

The Bucs currently have four top-100 picks in this year’s draft, and though there are more pressing needs elsewhere on both sides of the ball, it wouldn’t be shocking if they use one of them to add another dynamic receiver to their offense.

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Yes, Jason Licht reads your mock drafts

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht admits to perusing NFL draft projections from the media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht is just like the rest of us.

Yep, this time of year, even the top personnel executive for an actual NFL team is scrolling through mock drafts.

“Yeah, I’m not going to lie,” Licht said when asked if he reads the plentiful predraft projections from various media outlets. “You just kind of want to see in general where guys may be. Somebody is talking to somebody that is putting the mock draft together, so you like to think that there is something there, but you never rely on it.”

Licht probably gets far more insight from his sources throughout the league that he’s likely to garner from a random mock draft, but he particularly enjoys the media projections that connect the Bucs with a player they’re not actually targeting in real life.

“Sometimes,” Licht said when asked about seeing the same player mocked to the Bucs over and over. “When it’s the guy that we’re not targeting, I love to see it.”

What about when a mock draft does have the name the Bucs are actually going after in the first round?

“We do what we can to make sure that name isn’t on there again, you know,” Licht said with a hearty laugh.

So, keep churning out those mock drafts, folks. At least one general manager is getting a kick out of them, one way or another.

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Stability breeds improvement, sustained success for Bucs’ draft process

During Jason Licht’s tenure as general manager, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have leaned on continuity to help make consistent improvements

The early years of Jason Licht’s tenure as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ general manager had a few hits, but far more misses in the NFL draft.

That has changed in a big way in more recent offseasons, as Licht and his front office team have built a perennial contender that’s looking for a fourth straight NFC South title and a fifth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

How have the Bucs made such marked improvement with their draft results over Licht’s tenure?

The GM credits his staff, and the continuity throughout that group, as the biggest reason for their growth in building a consistent winner.

“We’ve had a lot of stability here with my staff,” Licht said at his annual predraft press conference. “I think more stability than any other team, in terms of people staying here – which is a great thing. We all know each other very well. I think we’ve done a great job – I’ve done a better job, myself, as well – of going after the right kind of guy and avoiding the temptation to go after the talent and not necessarily the whole person. I think we’ve done a great job – my staff has done a great job of identifying that with our character grade. We put a lot of stock into that. When you see players getting in trouble, suspended, whatever, I’ll look it up and, yep, we had a ‘do not touch’ grade on them. It’s been phenomenal in that regard.”

Licht’s all-star team that includes Mike Greenberg, John Spytek, Mike Biehl, Rob McCartney, and Jacqueline Davidson (among others) has clearly developed a cohesive process, culture and philosophy that has led to the on-field results Bucs fans have enjoyed over the past half-decade.

Don’t be surprised if it continues next week with the 2024 NFL draft.

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Signing Randy Gregory won’t impact Bucs’ draft plans

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added some much-needed experience last week when they signed veteran outside linebacker Randy Gregory to a one-year deal in free agency, but his arrival won’t keep the Bucs from investing premium draft resources at the …

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added some much-needed experience last week when they signed veteran outside linebacker Randy Gregory to a one-year deal in free agency, but his arrival won’t keep the Bucs from investing premium draft resources at the position.

Speaking to the media Thursday at his annual predraft press conference, Bucs general manager Jason Licht made it clear that Gregory was brought it to bolster their depth for the time being, and wouldn’t impact their draft strategy when it comes to targeting more help on the edge of the defensive front.

“We were just looking for some depth there, however it turns out,” Licht said. “I think he even answered that he didn’t have his [mind] set on being a starter. He just wants to contribute. He has to earn it. We wanted some depth there, but it’s not going to affect how we approach the draft. We could always use a higher-end pass rusher – I think every team can. It’s not going to affect the way we approach it.”

Gregory will replace the experience the Bucs lost when they cut Shaq Barrett earlier this offseason, giving an otherwise young position group a valuable veteran to learn from. But don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay still invests a high pick in another high-upside edge defender who could potentially push for a starting job right away.

If the Bucs want to go that route in the first round, Florida State’s Jared Verse or UCLA’s Laiatu Latu would be the prize picks, while Penn State’s Chop Robinson could also be in the mix. On Day 2, the Bucs could target the likes of Alabama’s Chris Braswell, Washington’s Bralen Trice, Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland, or Penn State’s Adisa Isaac.

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WATCH: Bucs GM Jason Licht’s predraft press conference

Check out everything Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had to say ahead of the 2024 NFL draft

We’re two weeks away from the 2024 NFL draft, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht took some time Thursday to break down his team’s strategy heading into this year’s three-day event.

Licht fielded questions from the local media at his annual predraft press conference, discussing the Bucs’ biggest needs, where they see the strengths and weaknesses of this year’s draft class, and many other topics.

Watch the video above to see everything Licht had to say Thursday.

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Bucs GM Jason Licht talks new offseason additions

Hear what Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has to say about the team’s new additions in free agency

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the majority of their energy this offseason re-signing their own free agents, but they still made a handful of outside additions that could have a big impact on their 2024 roster.

From bringing back a familiar face in safety Jordan Whitehead, to bolstering the offensive line and the secondary with multiple veterans who bring experienced depth to those units, the Bucs were methodical in their approach to adding new players in free agency.

At the NFL’s recent league meetings in Orlando, Bucs general manager Jason Licht spoke with the media on a wide range of topics, including the new additions the team is bringing in for the upcoming 2024 campaign:

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