TAMPA, Fla. – Without bringing in any big-name players this offseason, Bucs GM Jason Licht feels the team is better now than last year’s squad and so much better than it was at this time last year.
“A lot better than last offseason,” Licht said. “Knowing what this team is capable of and we were getting better and better as we went longer in the season, so it’s not like we’re staying status quo. I think the players we have are going to get better. The team is gonna be better and add some youth during the draft. So I’m really excited.”
Licht wanted to make sure that he signed his core free agents, including Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Lavonte David, and Antoine Winfield Jr. He recently signed kicker Chase McGloughlin to a new deal and brought back safety Jordan Whitehead.
Tampa Bay is looking to garner their fourth straight NFC South title, with the Atlanta Falcons being picked by many to dethrone the Bucs. Licht says, fine, bring it on.
“I like being the underdog,” Licht said. “This team likes being the underdog, and I like keeping the receipts.”
Yes, Licht likes doing this.
At the NFL Combine, Licht called out Sports Illustrated reporter Connor Orr in person to let him know that he remembered Orr picking the Bucs to only win two games last year. Orr actually took it well, telling Licht that he would tell his boss, and his boss would get a kick out of it.
Licht sees a lot of talent in the first couple of rounds of the NFL Draft but wouldn’t tip his cap as to what direction they may go in. After doing this for so long, he has learned what not to do.
“Patience because you start to fall in love with a lot of players,” Licht said. At one point, you think you have an opportunity to get, but then the league kind of catches up to ya, and you realize you’re not gonna get ’em,” Licht said. “You kind of have to resist it sometimes. You don’t wanna give up your draft to just go after one guy. We think there are a lot of players we’re pretty excited about.”
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