If you believe even HALF of what is given in this report, then the risk is worth it.
I don't put much stock into reports that try to explain/excuse why someone is not getting on the field. The only fact is that despite all his talent and potential he is not used at all by the Bucs this year and didn't have any big year so far in his career on a NFL field. That shines brighter than anything people wrote about him years ago in a draft piece.
Note I am not saying he doesn't have talent and whatnot. To me what we have seen against in other pros in his first 2.5 years outweighs any projections or talk of potential
severely. It has been 3 NFL camps for him so it doesn't matter much to me where he was drafted or anything before really. Even if Arians has no space for him as a target if he really were that good in blocking he'd play at least those snaps. Something is not right and even though a lot want to pretend it is just the Bucs being idiots I doubt that it is that easy.
And if it did matter I would wonder why Howard seemed to have exactly the same issues in college where Alabama under Saban refused too go to him much.
And if you believe just half of what was in that report you have to ask the 2 questions, WHY hasn't he lived up to the potential? And is it HIS fault? If Saban confirmed to BB his potential, than I'd contend that the QB was a problem and now the TE averse HC isn't helping either.
Who knows. I am sure BB talked Howard extensively with Saban through the draft process and knows all there is to know about him. I somehow considerably doubt that everything about the Bucs situation is someone else's fault. Why does everyone automatically assume that every player is hard working and absolutely committed.
Has Williams given you a SINGLE reason to believe that he couldn't be a productive part of this secondary from what he's shown during preseason AND in his few brief chances so far?
Jackson and Williams are completely different players filling different roles. Just look at their body type and the resulting differences in speed. Taking JC Jackson away just removes flexibility when we play against teams with quick and shifty receivers (e.g. Chiefs).
I would not give up Jackson straight for Howard and it would take a e.g. 3rd from the Bucs in ADDITION to Howard for me to even start considering this. Jackson is too valuable and there is not much replacement for his skillset on our roster. It is really him and JJones.
As I said before the highest I go with Howard if early picks are the expectation is swapping our first with their second and then some day 3 pick to sweeten the deal. And that is not because of his "potential" but because of his cost controlled rookie deal.
