The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the teams that were able to improve on the defensive line during the NFL Draft. While there have been a lot of rumors and speculation about edge rushers, the Bucs found a way to improve their own by drafting one in the first round. Let’s take a closer look at how one general manager discussed that things could have gone very differently if some decisions around the league had changed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM discusses how the Maxx Crosby trade situation helped his team
Jasonn Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht discussed how the team was impacted by the almost-trade between the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens for Maxx Crosby. The Bucs were also interested in a pass-rusher, selecting Rueben Bain with the 15th pick, but things could’ve played out differently if the trade had gone through.
“Then I think going back to free agency when, you know, the Raiders-Ravens trade didn’t work out, I think that in some way I’d like to think helped us a little bit. I was a little afraid if the Raiders made that trade, Spytek, he and I are very close, he was taunting me a little bit… And then, you know, Crosby goes back to the Raiders, then the Ravens are sitting there again with their pick, and I know they love their edge rushers, too, so that had me nervous.
“They took Vega, which is an awesome pick, you know, they need offensive linemen. Maybe the fact that the Raiders signed Lindbaum helped us get Rueben. We’re all trying to help each other out here, especially the people that are good friends, so thanks, Spytek.”
Licht would also mention that they were considering a move for Hendrickson before the deal with the Baltimore Ravens, but instead opted to wait until the NFL Draft. It would have been interesting to see if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still were able to get Bain in the first round if the Hendrickson trade wound up going through.