A hard and uncomfortable look to the future

Truth Hurts — Pulling No Punches

I hate to write stories like this. At times, however, it becomes necessary to give readers a broader perspective on where we have been and how that connects to where we are headed.

There has been a flurry of activity on the Bucs’ social media since the pitiful loss to Raheem Morris’s Falcons. Much of the blame has been directed at the defense, Todd Bowles, and/or Baker Mayfield. In reality, none of those three is truly to blame.

Have I gotten your attention? Are you wondering what I’ve been smoking? Hear me out. The blame should be centered squarely at One Buc Place—specifically, the office of General Manager Jason Licht. That is also where the scouting department resides. Simply put, the Buccaneers are not very good at drafting defensive talent.

Inability to Identify and Draft Defensive Stars

You may want to be sitting down for these next facts. We all know the defense is devoid of star power, save for Winfield, David, and Vea to a lesser degree. Let’s take a look at some sobering realities.

When was the last time the Bucs drafted anything close to a shutdown corner? That would be roughly 17 years ago, when they selected Aqib Talib. When was the last time the Bucs drafted a star defensive end or edge rusher? Try 50 years ago—Leroy Selmon.

Aside from the star defensive players on the first Super Bowl team, the Bucs have been atrocious at best when it comes to drafting on that side of the ball. Most of the team’s recent defensive stars have been free-agent acquisitions: Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaq Barrett, Ndamukong Suh, and Kevin Minter, to name a few. In fact, a significant number of the franchise’s best defensive players over the years were free agents. You can add Simeon Rice and Hardy Nickerson to that list as well.

As a franchise, the Buccaneers have struggled mightily to identify and select defensive stars. The lone exception was during the Sam Wyche era. That stretch produced many of the household names now enshrined in the Ring of Honor—Warren Sapp, Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, and Santana Dotson. The decision-makers during that period figured it out and assembled what many consider the greatest defense of all time.

It is not just the defense, either. It is no coincidence that both Super Bowl–winning quarterbacks were free agents.

Just Not Very Good at It

This issue spans decades: different general managers, different head coaches, and two different owners. Yet most share the same flaw. The Buccaneers organization has been terrible at drafting. They simply are not very good at it.

Jason Licht has had a few gems, and he deserves credit for that. Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr., Bucky Irving, Emeka Egbuka, and several others were unquestionably strong picks. The problem is that only one of them plays defense.

The Glazers need to either find a new general manager or bring in someone far better at talent evaluation to work alongside Licht. Unfortunately, the recent contract extension given to Licht suggests more of the same for the foreseeable future.

Staring Down a Very Long Rebuild

We may be staring at a rebuild that could last another seven to ten years unless Licht successfully fills the massive holes on defense through free agency. The draft is the fastest and most cost-effective way to turn a team around, but for the Bucs, it seems like a foreign language they cannot understand.

When Licht drafted Egbuka in this year’s draft, most Bucs fans sat jaw-dropped in front of their televisions. We all knew defensive talent was desperately needed. Licht generally knows offensive talent, and with no clear, can’t-miss defensive prospects on the board, he went with the obvious pick—one who may eventually replace Mike Evans.

The shortest path back to defensive strength, in my opinion, is to remove the person who cannot consistently draft on that side of the ball. Bring in a proven evaluator who understands talent on both sides, or completely overhaul the scouting department from top to bottom. Either way, something must be done before the next draft. This team cannot afford another year of coming away with little or no defensive help. Didn’t most fans see this predicament coming?

I know I did.

Go Bucs.