Jason Licht is only throwing knockouts

[Fletch59]

Mike Evans and Taylor Swift In this offseason, before the 2024 campaign. Jason Licht has been throwing nothing but haymakers and undercuts, and they are dropping like flies at One Buc. The they that I speak of are items from the list of “must-do” priorities before the draft. Mainly, free agency matters. Remember back to a few weeks before the 2023 season when Evans and his agent set a contract deadline before the beginning of the season for an extension? Do you recall the feelings a lot of Bucs’ fans had in the pit of their stomachs as the deadline came and went? It was kind of a light gloom hanging over Buccaneer Nation. Many thought back then that “this might be it for Evans in Tampa.” Then, before it was announced that the cap was going up around 30 million dollars. It wasn’t looking good. It looked like somebody was going to get left out. It was all over the news, and the net that Evans wanted to listen to some offers from other teams. Could he be serious? Couldn’t blame him if he was; it’s his life. You and I know that while you can’t blame him, you actually can blame him. Fans want the players to be as big of a fan of the team as they are. First and foremost comes loyalty to the team. Oh, we all realize the business side of it all can get in the way. We don’t have to like it, though. It would be on the same level as betrayal, seeing Mike in a Chiefs Jersey kicking it with Taylor Swift before games. It just would have been too much to take. It would be like seeing the one who got away with another dude at the club, preventing anything like that from ever happening. Jason Licht keeps Evans a Buccaneer for life. Signing him to a 2-year, 52 million dollar deal. There was a collective sigh of relief from Bucs’ Nation as the news was released. Baker Mayfield goes from Carolina Castoff to a 100 million-dollar man. Once Evans signed, everyone thought it was just a formality that Mayfield would be right behind. Not so fast, Mayfield also wanted to hear how much other teams valued his services. What did his 2023 season translate to in hard cash? At least, that’s what was being said by many. A lot of fans had wondered how the Bucs could pay more for Baker Mayfield than Tom Brady over 3 seasons. It’s not like it was 5–10 years ago, either. While it’s true that Mayfield only won one more game than he lost. His numbers were strong; and the team did beat some teams that were favored over them. I think the team could have won a couple more that they were in most of the game, but let slip away. His crown jewels on the season were the Green Bay game (one of the best games played at Lambeau by an opposing quarterback ever) and the playoff game against Philly. I think the word that describes Mayfield is the same one it’s always been in the NFL: potential. He has the potential to have another strong season. He also has the potential to bomb. He did it once before, in his best season as a pro, before last season with the Browns. The following season, he fell completely apart. The 2024 season will be the true test of Mayfield as an NFL quarterback. One do-well-season doesn’t make a star. Two, back to back, then he will have made a statement. Mayfield’s story is a made-for-Hollywood affair. A feel-good tale of a man facing his own adversity and uphill climb on an unforgiving NFL Stage. Stay tuned. My fingers are crossed for season two of the Mayfield Endeavor in Tampa, where he will either whither or reinforce the faith that the team extended to him in the form of a hundred-million-dollar, three-year contract. Nobody wants this uplifting story to falter. I wish him nothing but the best. Hammering into place some crucial pieces While it’s certainly true that Mike Evans has been a bonified star and asset to the Buccaneers since his arrival. There is another player who also started in his rookie season and has been doing nothing but tearing it up all over the defensive side of the ball. Antoine Winfield Jr. has been an absolute force since arriving via the 2020 NFL Draft’s 45th overall pick. Had the rest of the league known what Jason Licht already believed? Winfield would have been a top 3 pick on day one. There are not many rookies that start from day one and lead by example all season long, culminating in a Super Bowl victory.  He is gifted and matured way beyond his years. The rest of the NFL took notice and were hoping Winfield would hit the open market. Across 17 regular-season games in 2023, the All-Pro safety recorded 122 tackles (76 solo), 6 sacks, 3 interceptions, 12 passes defensed, 6 forced fumbles, and 4 fumbles recovered. The ultra-talented second-generation NFL star, (Winfield Sr. played for 14 NFL seasons and at Ohio State U. was a consensus first-team All-American and Jim Thorpe award winner), Jr. was handed down all of his father’s genes and more. He is remodeling the position, redefining it from the cleats to the helmet. Keeping Winfield in pewter was a must-do priority. Again, Licht slipped between the ropes and jacked some jaw out cold. Licht used the General Manager’s best friend, The Franchise Tag (17.1 million), effectively allowing the team to retain Winfield for the 2024 season. This move also gives the team breathing room to work out what will be a major payday for the Safety in 2025. Look for something worth in the neighborhood of Evans money on up. If the Bucs don’t offer that much, other teams will, unquestioned. There are only a limited number of players in the NFL that are a sure thing, no questions asked, and Winfield is one. Welcome home, Mr. Whitehead, and the value of Jason Licht. Jason Licht set out to right a wrong a few days ago. He brought back a player that he let get away in 2022. With another knockout swing, he set the safety position golden by bringing back into the fold Jordan Whitehead, who played out a two-year deal with the Jets. In 2023, Whitehead had 97 total tackles, a half sack, and 4 interceptions, helping the Jets’ Defense to be one of the best in the league. Speaking of the best in the league, Jason Licht has got to be considered one of the very best in the business. This off-season has so far solidified that fact. If he’s still in form, come the April NFL Draft. If he can pull three hits, players, that can start and have an impact in their rookie seasons, he should be installed into the ring of honor immediately. His contract should be renewed and extended for as long as possible. And, he should be crowned king of Tampa. Mr. Licht has made some mistakes and some doozies, but the good completely outweighs them. The goal in Tampa is to build on what the team accomplished last season. Licht has kept the future Hall of Fame players at home. This includes Lavonte David, who is re-signed for one more go around before he hangs them up. The next step is to get better through the draft. The injection of talented youth added to keeping important free agents at home is the winning recipe. Jason Licht has been knocking out the task at hand. This draft carries a bit more weight than others because of its timing. To continue moving forward, some gems must be plucked from the coal. Players that become tomorrows must keep players in free agency. Go Bucs!! The post Jason Licht is only throwing knockouts appeared first on Bucs Life.

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