Guided By The Licht Part 1: Bucs Draft Picks
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Let’s take a look at this team that has been guided by current Bucs GM Jason Licht since 2014.
Tampa Bay’s 2014 NFL Draft Picks: Mike Evans(Bucs), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Jags), Charles Sims (FA), Kadeem Edwards (FA), Kevin Pamphile (Titans), and Robert Herron (IA). The only player from Tampa Bay’s 2014 NFL Draft class who is still with Tampa Bay is Mike Evans. Therefore, everybody in this draft class except for Evans is a bust. Evans is a great player, but any blind Joe Schmoe could have picked Mike Evans, it was that obvious of a decision. (3 fa) 1 team 2 nfl)
Tampa Bay’s 2015 NFL Draft Picks: Jameis Winston (Bucs), Donovan Smith (Bucs), Ali Marpet (Bucs), Kwon Alexander (49ers), Kenny Bell (Salt Lake Stallions AAF), Kaelin Clay (Salt Lake Stallions AAF), and Joey Iosefa (IA). Winston, Smith, and Marpet are still with the Bucs. Alexander, Bell, Clay, and Iosefa are not. I think Winston, Smith, and Marpet were a hit. They are the only players from the Bucs 2015 draft class who are still currently on the team while Bell, Clay, and Iosefa aren’t and are busts. I don’t think that Alexander was either a hit nor a bust. Many Bucs fans also believe that Smith is a bust. There are even mixed feelings among Bucs fans when it comes to Winston. I support Winston.
Tampa Bay’s 2016 NFL Draft Picks: Vernon Hargreaves III (Bucs), Noah Spence (Bucs), Roberto Aguayo (IA), Ryan Smith (Bucs), Caleb Benenoch (Bucs), Devante Bond (Bucs), and Dan Vitale (FA). Hargreaves, Spence, Smith, Benenoch, and Bond are still with the Bucs. Aguayo and Vitale are not. In my opinion, Aguayo, Benenoch and Bond and Vitale are busts. The statuses of either hit or bust for Hargreaves, Spence, and Smith are still up in the air. Hargreaves was the right pick when it comes to what position the Bucs needed at the time, but I would have gone with another one of the top corners in that draft.
Tampa Bay’s 2017 NFL Draft Picks: O.J. Howard (Bucs), Justin Evans (Bucs), Chris Godwin (Bucs), Kendell Beckwith (Bucs), Jeremy McNichols (Titans), and Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (Bucs). In my opinion, I believe Howard and Godwin are hits. I like the Howard pick. My opinion of Justin Evans is still up in the air. I believe he was a good pick, but he is not yet a hit or a bust so far. Everybody in this draft class except for McNichols are still with the Bucs. Beckwith’s future status is still up in the air because of his injury from the car wreck he was in that could be career ending.
Tampa Bay’s 2018 NFL Draft Picks: Vita Vea (Bucs), Ronald Jones II (Bucs), M.J. Stewart (Bucs), Carlton Davis (Bucs), Alex Cappa (Bucs), Jordan Whitehead (Bucs), Justin Watson (Bucs), and Jack Cichy (Bucs). Everybody in this draft class is still with Tampa Bay. In my opinion, the only bust in this draft class is Ronald Jones, while everybody else in the class has a chance to be very solid players. I still would have selected Derwin James over Vita Vea if I were the GM.
Since Licht came to Tampa he’s drafted 34 players, 22 remain on the team 4 are guaranteed starters at this point, 3 are FA, 5 are inactive or not playing in the NFL anymore, and 4 are currently on other rosters.
I believe that Jason Licht has to hit a home run on every pick in this year in order to keep his job after the 2019-2020 season. I’m hoping for the best. Go Bucs.
