Bucs GM Jason Licht
As the clock ticks toward the eulogy for this Tampa Bay season, Joe wonders when Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and Team Glazer will turn toward stocking 2027 draft capital and freeing salary cap room for a new coaching regime.
Yes, the Bucs can still make the playoffs.
Joe also could start taking ballet lessons and embracing a vegan lifestyle. Highly unlikely.
Licht has a roster stocked with desirable talent. And as the Bucs march toward the NFL trade deadline, Tuesday, November 10, it will become smarter and smarter to trade a few of those pieces.
Joe would have no issue starting with Vita Vea.
First, Vea asked to be traded over the summer and he has a mighty fat contract. He’s a quality player, but is it realistic to think Vea will be on the field for the next Bucs Super Bowl winner? Of course not. Vea turns 32 in February. Grab a draft pick and help your next head coach.
Joe also would look at dealing linebacker Alex Anzalone. He played well yesterday but he’s 32 years old. If a contender has a linebacker injury, Joe could see Anzalone becoming in demand. (Joe wonders if Anzalone negotiated a no-trade clause into his contract.)
Contract-year edge rusher YaYa Diaby also should be considered. He turns 28 next season and it’s hard to believe the Bucs will want to pay him his market value. Take a draft pick and run.
The Bucs’ list of valuable players to trade is long. Joe won’t list them all here.
On offense, Joe would start shopping Sean Tucker and Kenny Gainwell. Shopping doesn’t mean a deal has to be made. It’s about planting the seeds of a future deal. Why would a non-contender need three established running backs?
If the Bucs don’t deal a couple of players and stock up on picks at the trade deadline, Joe will be very disappointed.