The Jason Licht era enters year four in Tampa, as this will be the 4th year that Licht has been in charge of the Buccaneers draft. Licht came on board in January of 2014 as GM coming rom Arizona. How Suceesful has Jason Licht been in drafting players for the this Bucs team? Let’s take a look.
2014 saw the Bucs draft WR Mike Evans with their number one pick. Evans has gone on to become a bona-a-fide pro bowl WR and will go down as the greatest WR in Bucs history. TE Austin Seferian Jenkins was picked in the second round and was cut by the Bucs this past season after a DUI Arrest.
RB Charles Sims was selected that year in round three. Sims has proven to be a very good receiver out of the backfield, and when healthy adds another dimension to the Bucs offense. In the fifth round, the Bucs took Kevin Pamphile who currently starts at LG.
In 20i5 the Bucs selected their franchise QB Jameis Winston from FSU. Winston has already set numerous Bucs passing records in only 2 seasons. No one works harder than Jameis and I am confidant that he will bring a championship to Tampa. It’s just a matter of time. The Bucs also added two starters to the OL in RT Donavon Smith and G Ali Marpet who will move to center this year,
The Bucs also added LB Kwon Alexander who has the potential to a pro bowl linebacker. Not only is Alexander a great leader on the field, but is also becoming a good locker room leader.
In 2016 The Bucs picked up another 3 starters in DB Vernon Hargraves, DE Noah Spence, and K Roberto Aguayo. The Bucs also added depth for the offensive line picking up G Caleb Benenoch in the fifth round and DB Ryan Smyth in the fourth round.
So the Licht era has produced by all counts 10 starters. Mike Evans and Jameis Winston have a chance to really be special and have outstanding careers. Licht has also added a lot of depth players thru the draft that have been able to contribute when their number is called.
The biggest blunder of the Licht era so far has been the trade up in the second round last year to acquire K Roberto Aguayo
Aguayo missed several easy kicks that cost the Bucs at least two games in 2016. Licht himself is secong guessing himself for that pick.
Overall, I would definately give Jason Licht an A+ so far in his tenure as Bucs GM. Licht has proven that he has a good feel for picking the right players for this Bucs team. The Bucs have improved dramatically under his leadership going from 2-14 in 2014, to 9-7 in 2016 and narrowing missing a playoff spot. Licht has done a great job of building through the draft and I expect that to continue on Thursday night as the Bucs continue to get ready for the 2017 season.
