Pre-Free Agency 2023

[captain stone]

They managed to make it to “a little below average” pre-injury IMO. Which is probably good enough if you have a cerebral QB, good receivers and a good stable of backs.

Yep, just not a lot of room for error if the wall starts springing a leak...

 

[Patsgofor4]

In fairness, he tore his ACL in college (in a TD celebration of all things) but it was his freshman year. Also, it was his right knee.

In New England, he injured his left knee in summer camp, and that's the knee they operated on, and he was never the same.

The final nail in Mitchell’s career coffin was that Irish klutz James O’Shaughnessy falling into the back of his bad knee during a preseason game.

 

[Real fan 02]

The final nail in Mitchell’s career coffin was that Irish klutz James O’Shaughnessy falling into the back of his bad knee during a preseason game.

I commend you on your memory I would have never thought of that play! Dominique easy is another player who was drafted injured, who actually played well when he was on the field..

There was a period where BB was drafting talented, but guys with known injury history..

 

[TheRainMaker]

Dominique easy is another player who was drafted injured, who actually played well when he was on the field..

He was actually pretty ineffective which was why he was cut. His injury history, attitude and play on field wasn't worth the hassle.

Akiem Hicks was lowballed because Bill thought he could lean on Easley. Horrible move.

 

[Patsgofor4]

This is going to make life very difficult for the Bucs this offseason. Bill needs to call his former underling Jason Licht and ask about the availability of some of his vets with big cap numbers. Salary cap benefits are much greater for a post-June 1 trade.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Tampa Bay Buccaneers salary cap, contracts, bonus money, dead money, and cap savings for every player

overthecap.com

Also, still think that the Mason trade was a steal for the Bucs?

 

[mgteich]

IMO he was moved to safety to help shore-up FS…bend but don’t break.

Wiki…

Year 1 “McCourty was named a First-team All-Pro by the Sporting News and Second-team All-Pro by The Associated Press.”

That is not good enough for our posters.

 

[Real fan 02]

He was actually pretty ineffective which was why he was cut. His injury history, attitude and play on field wasn't worth the hassle.

Akiem Hicks was lowballed because Bill thought he could lean on Easley. Horrible move.

Really? I thought Easley was pretty good.. I saw him do nothing but pressure the QB whenever he was out there.. however your right attitude may have been an issue.. Hicks was a heck of a player.. didn't we trade for Hicks? I believe it was more of his as you said attitude and unavailability that got him cut.. he was a talented player.. however he had knee issues going back to college

 

[Patsgofor4]

Really? I thought Easley was pretty good.. I saw him do nothing but pressure the QB whenever he was out there.. however your right attitude may have been an issue.. Hicks was a heck of a player.. didn't we trade for Hicks? I believe it was more of his as you said attitude and unavailability that got him cut.. he was a talented player.. however he had knee issues going back to college

Played well for the Rams for one year then tore his ACL again and that was it for his career..

 

[Real fan 02]

That is not good enough for our posters.

McCourty was great at safety! We still were bend but don't break, however we were a better D overall with McCourty on the back end!

 

[Real fan 02]

This is going to make life very difficult for the Bucs this offseason. Bill needs to call his former underling Jason Licht and ask about the availability of some of his vets with big cap numbers. Salary cap benefits are much greater for a post-June 1 trade.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Tampa Bay Buccaneers salary cap, contracts, bonus money, dead money, and cap savings for every player

overthecap.com

Also, still think that the Mason trade was a steal for the Bucs?

Great information! If you could pick 2 players on offense and defense that could immediately help us who would it be?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Akiem Hicks was lowballed because Bill thought he could lean on Easley. Horrible move.

I am not sure why we didnt pay A Hicks, but we should have.

 

[Real fan 02]

I am not sure why we didnt pay A Hicks, but we should have.

Yes another FA blunder that should have never happened.. guy was a force on the defensive front..

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Great information! If you could pick 2 players on offense and defense that could immediately help us who would it be?

Some people like Godwin, but again I am not a guy that likes signing guys after ACLs, although ACLs due work out OK more times than not. Vita Vea at $10M has to be #1 on the list.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yes another FA blunder that should have never happened.. guy was a force on the defensive front..

Every team makes blunders in FA. It is normal and usual. This was a one of only a few IMO. Seymour leaving hurt, but he is back. Colvin was injured so that never worked out. Law leaving was OK. Remember everyone screaming about Revis going back to the JETE? That was a brilliant non-signing.

 

[Toofy]

Every team makes blunders in FA. It is normal and usual. This was a one of only a few IMO. Seymour leaving hurt, but he is back. Colvin was injured so that never worked out. Law leaving was OK. Remember everyone screaming about Revis going back to the JETE? That was a brilliant non-signing.

Agree. Our drafting has been above average sans WR and 2nd round DBs outside of dugger .

The lack of dynamic playmakers and average returns from our free agents makes us yearn to have that one stud receiver or tight end or corner who can make heads turn .

We were pampered with Gronk, Edelman, white and welker for a long duration. Now we have nobody close . Hence the hope that somebody would turn out to be diamond in rough . So naturally that gets translated to unrealistic expectations from draft . Maybe we need one real bad season to draft in top 10 and get a playmaker.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Great information! If you could pick 2 players on offense and defense that could immediately help us who would it be?

100% agree with Vea being the dream addition.

Godwin would be my 2nd choice. Post ACL players aren’t nearly as scary in 2023 and he already put up big number his first year back, even though he likely was back to full strength.

Other options have warts…

White would be a great addition but it he plays well in his 5th yr option season in 2023 he is going to want a contract that eclipses the one that Smith got from the Ravens, and I’m not wild about paying an inside linebacker that type of money.

Barrett never matched his breakout season (19.5 sacks) and is now coming off of an Achilles repair.

Davis is overpaid.

Evans would obviously be the Pats most talented WR but for some reason he scares me more than Godwin does. Going to be 30 next season, had a inconsistent 2022.

I like Jensen but I like Andrews too I’d be very surprised if they dealt him, because they’ll need him to help out their young QB, if they don’t go the veteran route.

They are likely to cut Donovan Smith. He is an interesting guy if/when they do, depending upon his salary requests, because he’s still only 29 and his performance issues in 2022 were in part injury-related

In terms of their guys with small cap numbers, Winfield is an obvious choice but they will likely try to sign him to an extension in the 2024 off-season, when their salary cap situation will be much more favorable.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

WIRFS!!!

 

[Real fan 02]

100% agree with Vea being the dream addition.

Godwin would be my 2nd choice. Post ACL players aren’t nearly as scary in 2023 and he already put up big number his first year back, even though he likely was back to full strength.

Other options have warts…

White would be a great addition but it he plays well in his 5th yr option season in 2023 he is going to want a contract that eclipses the one that Smith got from the Ravens, and I’m not wild about paying an inside linebacker that type of money.

Barrett never matched his breakout season (19.5 sacks) and is now coming off of an Achilles repair.

Davis is overpaid.

Evans would obviously be the Pats most talented WR but for some reason he scares me more than Godwin does. Going to be 30 next season, had a inconsistent 2022.

I like Jensen but I like Andrews too I’d be very surprised if they dealt him, because they’ll need him to help out their young QB, if they don’t go the veteran route.

They are likely to cut Donovan Smith. He is an interesting guy if/when they do, depending upon his salary requests, because he’s still only 29 and his performance issues in 2022 were in part injury-related

In terms of their guys with small cap numbers, Winfield is an obvious choice but they will likely try to sign him to an extension in the 2024 off-season, when their salary cap situation will be much more favorable.

You sure you not a GM lol excellent material .

I'd absolutely agree vita is the obvious choice he make our D line menacing especially against the run.. Godwin heck of a player, But your right he's been injury prone.. Mike Evans is awesome when he's on.. only thing is he dissappears for long stretches..

For veteran depth I'd take one of thier corners I believe all those guys are 6'1 at least.. Devin white still young and is a great player, but as you stated will want to get paid..

We need to add some depth on the O line, so Donovan Smith would be a nice addition.. so as for me I'd go with vita on the defense line, Donovan Smith on offensive line..

WR Evans I guess on offense reluctantly
Whitehead at safety if he's available..?

 

[Real fan 02]

Every team makes blunders in FA. It is normal and usual. This was a one of only a few IMO. Seymour leaving hurt, but he is back. Colvin was injured so that never worked out. Law leaving was OK. Remember everyone screaming about Revis going back to the JETE? That was a brilliant non-signing.

At those periods of time when we had those guys we were either coming off championship seasons or not to far removed from the last one..

Ty law even said himself he'd wish he has handled things differently, but he felt he wasn't valued as he should have.. we retain law we definitely get another championship in 06...

Seymour was hurt as you stated.. Colvin was great his first fee season, but never was the same player after the hip injury

Hicks, in 2014 I have to say we had a deep, athletic, fast front that got after the passer.. Hicks was definitely a playmaker besides vince..

Yeah revis packed it in after he got paid and his ring..

 

[patfanken]

If we have the space for at least one first day FA, it would be the DT from DC, DRon Payne. Next to Barmore and with Godcheax and guy there for run stopping, you'd have the makings of a VERY dangerous pass rush with Judon Wise and Uche coming from the outside. Perhaps one of the best in the league.

If I could get him and resign JJones, Peppers, McMillan, Cardona, Harris, and McDermott and maybe Wilson. I think our choice is going to keep Meyers or Jones. I don't see keep both and if I had to choose I'd keep Jones.

THEN in the draft I'd go CB, WR, OT with my first 3 picks and go from there. At 14 you will likely get a top 3 CB prospect with a good combination of speed and size. Then with Mills and Jack Jones you'd have 3 guys you'd be happy to have in boundary coverage and have JJones concentrating in the slot and be solid depth on the outside. Assuming DMac is retiring, I'd move Phillips to the FS (or Mills might be a choice) hand have Bledsoe, Dugger, and Peppers playing the inside roles

At 46, in the mocks I've seen you will still likely have a choice of a very good OT prospect or a very good WR prospect. There were also a number of solid TE prospects at 46 as well.

We have a lot of picks this year 5 in the first 4 rounds IIRC and 5 in the last 3. (I've see both 10 and 11 used as the number of pick we have) At any rate we will be well set up to do some serious dumpster diving in this year's draft.