"If I Were GM" - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers current struggles date all the way back to the beginning of the decade when they sent two first-round picks to the New York Jets for wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. Then, two years later, they sent their first two picks in the 2002 draft and their first round pick in 2003 to the Oakland Raiders for head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden brought Tampa Bay a Super Bowl title, but they have dug themselves a deep hole since then. Was mortgaging the future for a Super Bowl worth it? That’s the risk that General Managers in the NFL are faced with every year. Being able to win Super Bowls while also keeping the future in mind is what has made the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts so dominant over the past decade.

Tampa Bay made strides this season as one of the youngest teams in the league. With a rookie head coach and rookie starting quarterback, it was expected that it might be a long year for Tampa. However, Freeman proved to be a great pick in the first round last year and has shown that he is a player for the team to build around for the future. Despite going 3-13 in 2009, the future appears to be bright in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers own the third overall pick in the draft, and also own two second round picks, one coming from Chicago in exchange for defensive end Gaines Adams, who recently passed away. The Bucs also own a pick in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, as well as two in the seventh round. They traded their original fifth-rounder to Cleveland in the Kellen Winslow trade, but received New England’s fifth-round choice in exchange for tight end Alex Smith. The seventh-round pick they acquired was from Jacksonville for quarterback Luke McCown. With five of the first 99 picks in the draft, Tampa has a chance to add some key building blocks for the future. This offseason will be critical for the future of the team. Here is my position-by-position breakdown of the Buccaneers and how I’d address each need If I Were GM:

Quarterback – The Buccaneers are completely set at the quarterback position. Rookie Josh Freeman developed quicker than most expected and he will lead the team into the 2010 season. Backup Josh Johnson showed that he’s talent and is a capable backup. The Bucs could trade Johnson for a draft pick, but that’d force to them to acquire another backup quarterback for Freeman. Bringing in a veteran to mentor the young quarterback may be the best option, while acquiring an added pick for Johnson.

Running Back – The running back position is up in the air for Tampa Bay. Starter Cadillac Williams is a restricted free agent and figures to return, as most other teams in the league won’t give him the same value that the Buccaneers will, and I doubt that any other team will be looking to give up draft picks for

an injury-prone running back. Williams started all 16 games for Tampa and recorded career-highs in receiving yards with 219 and touchdowns with seven. At backup, Earnest Graham went down with a season-ending torn ligament in his right big toe. In addition to being injured, Graham just turned 30-years old and is due $3 million next season, all of which is a recipe to get cut. I’d be surprised if Graham was brought back. Whether it was because of his knee injury or because he never got a chance to get a firm grip on the starting job, Derrick Ward was a free agent bust in 2009 for Tampa. After signing a four-year, $17 million deal this past offseason, Ward only rushed for 414 yards and one touchdown on 115 carries in 2009. I’d expect to see the team bring him back; he still has a relatively cheap price tag and he has shown that he has the talent needed to carry a full load. From a draft stand-point, I’d look at a mid-round back to come in and develop behind the two veterans, with  the potential to take over as a starter in a couple of years. There are a few players who I think could fit this mold: LSU’s Charles Scott, USC’s Stafon Johnson, Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon, and Tulane’s Andre Anderson. Both Scott and Johnson have injuries that would allow for him to be brought along slowly and not be thrown right into the mix. Dixon is a talented player, but could go higher than the Bucs would like. Anderson is a bit of a sleeper and is following in the footsteps of Bears’ running back Matt Forte as the next Tulane running back to enter the draft. I think Scott would be a perfect fit for Tampa in the fifth-or-sixth round.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends – The wide receiver position is the one position that could receive the most attention from the Buccaneers this offseason. The predicament that the Bucs are in is this: their top wide receiver is Antonio Bryant and he is an unrestricted free agent. They would likely like to bring Bryant back, but he was an under-achiever this year and could command a lot of money on the open market; far more than the Bucs would like to spend. The problem is that Tampa Bay has absolutely no

one else to be a go-to receiver for Josh Freeman. They’d be fine to let Bryant go, but there is no one in the free agent market that they could sign to replace him without having to give up draft picks to acquire. Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin, Brandon Marshall, and Braylon Edwards are all attractive

options, but they would all command picks that Tampa can’t afford to give up. Tampa Bay must

upgrade their receiving core this offseason, but they may not be able to do it through free agency or trade. If I Were GM, I would let Bryant walk. Bryant played for $9.88 million this year after being franchised last year; catching just 39 passes for 600 yards and four touchdowns while making that much money is not something that Tampa Bay was happy about; add in Bryant’s attitude problems both currently and in the past, and it’s an easy decision to let him go. If I Were the GM, I’d be much more comfortable building my receiving core through the draft and with the young players already on the roster. With Maurice Stovall also being an unrestricted free agent, I’d also let him leave; he has been another under-achieving wideout. Stovall had the best year of his career in 2009, catching just 23 passes for 339 yards and one touchdown. Unless he is willing to sign a very cheap deal, then I don’t think it’d be worth bringing him back. Michael Clayton signed a new five-year deal last offseason, so he’s not going anywhere. I don’t see him being anything more than a No. 3 or No. 4 wideout for an elite-level team. Blowing up the receiving core and re-building it is the best option in Tampa. I’d look at cheap free agents like Kevin Walter in Houston and Nate Burleson in Seattle for immediate-impact players, and I’d look at early-round receivers like Demaryius Thomas from Georgia Tech, Dezmon Briscoe from Kansas, and Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati to build up the young talent. Rookie Sammie Stroughter is a nice option in the slot for the team. Trading down a few spots from No. 3 overall and taking Dez Bryant would be a move that I would be a big fan of. At tight end, Kellen Winslow has the position locked down, having been the team’s leading receiver this season. Winslow signed a six-year deal before the season, so he’s locked up for awhile. Backup Jerramy Stevens is signed for $1.425 million next year, an adequate amount for a No. 2 tight end.

Offensive Line – Tampa Bay’s offensive line is a work-in-progress. Left tackle Donald Penn is a restricted free agent and the team appears to be concerned that his weight has gotten higher than it should. While they could use an upgrade, this may not be the offseason to do it. Using the third-overall pick on a defensive player is a must, especially with no elite left tackle prospect. I’d bring back Penn for a cheap deal, if possible. Left guard Jeremy Zuttah was a bit of a disappointment in 2009 and they could likely upgrade this position in free agency. Jeff Faine was brought in to Tampa in 2008 because he’s one of the better centers in the NFL; he’s a player they should build around on the line. On the right side, Davin Joseph is entering a contract year at guard and Jeremy Trueblood will be a restricted free agent this offseason. With needs at receiver and on defense, staying put with the offensive line, while also adding depth may be the best option for the Buccaneers. Any tackle they bring in through free agency or trade would command draft picks, so that isn’t a likely option.

Defensive Line – The Buccaneers owned the worst run defense in the NFL this season, meaning changes in the front seven are sure to be coming. The Bucs could use a defensive tackle as bad as anyone in the league, yet with the third pick in the draft, they aren’t guaranteed one of the top two prospects (Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy). One option for Tampa Bay, which I would consider seriously, is to offer to the St. Louis Rams a package of picks and possibly players that would allow for them to switch first round picks so that Tampa Bay can move to first overall to draft Suh. Tampa needs a disruptive force on the interior of their defensive line, both to defend the run and to rush the passer. There isn’t a better prospect for this than Suh. If I Were GM, I’d look into replacing both Chris Hovan and Ryan Sims, the two starters from this past season. Roy Miller was drafted out of Texas last year and could likely take over one starting spot, specifically at the one-technique, if Suh or McCoy were drafted to play the three-technique. One way or another, they must upgrade the tackle position. Ryan Pickett and Fred Robbins are two players to consider in free agency. At end, Stylez White and Jimmy Wilkerson each had six sacks (White had 6.5), and each can be brought back as players capable of starting. Kyle Moore, Michael Bennett, and Tim Crowder are all young players to develop behind them. One player to keep an eye on is Julius Peppers who is an unrestricted free agent; he could sign with Tampa Bay, who own some of the most salary cap space in the league. It may be a long shot, but it’s still something that they need to consider. In the draft, I’d consider bringing in another mid-round prospect to develop.

Linebackers – The Bucs’ young linebackers did a nice job of stepping up the fill the shoes of departed veterans Derrick Brooks and Cato June. Both Geno Hayes and Quincy Black were second-and-third respectively in tackles on the team, and they are both players for the team to build around on defense. At middle linebacker, Barrett Ruud, the team’s leading tackler with 142, is a restricted free agent and must be brought back. Assuming he is given a high tender, there won’t be many teams that will be interested in trading for him. If I Were GM, locking Ruud up for the next 5+ years would be one of my top priorities this offseason. Outside of adding depth, the linebacker core should be set for the next few years.

Defensive Backs – The secondary is where we can get our hands dirty with Tampa Bay. With the third pick in the draft, Tampa is assured of landing one of Suh, McCoy, and Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Likely the next top playmaker at the safety position in the NFL, Berry brings outstanding instincts and playmaking ability to the NFL. Pairing him with Tanard Jackson in the secondary would give the Bucs two of the top young safeties in the NFL. Berry would take the spot of Sabby Piscitelli who struggled as a starter this year. At cornerback, Aqib Talib is an all-pro in the making opposite veteran Ronde Barber. The Bucs need to start looking for replacements for Barber, as he could be heading to retirement soon. Adding a young cornerback to develop behind him early in the draft could be a good move.

Overall – The Buccaneers 2010 offseason is going to revolve around what they do in the draft and what free agents they are going to sign with their large amount of salary cap space. Bringing in a big free agent or two would do a lot to help this young team out. The decision of whether to trade up for Ndamukong Suh, or sit tight and take Eric Berry is one that they have to make as well. If it were me, I’d trade up for Suh, assuming I got a good deal for it. They can’t afford to give up too much, especially when Berry could bring so much to their defense. The Bucs are a re-building team, but this offseason could propel them into the future if they make the right moves.

Projected Draft Class for Tampa Bay:

1st Round - Eric Berry S Tennessee

2nd Round - Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech

2nd Round (from Chicago) - Dan Williams DT Tennessee

3rd Round - Greg Hardy DE Ole Miss

4th Round - Akwasi Owusu-Ansah CB Indiana (PA)

5th Round (from New England) - Ciron Black OT LSU

6th Round - Carlton Mitchell WR South Florida

7th Round - Corey Peters DT Kentucky

7th Round (from Jacksonville) - Rahim Alem DE LSU