Offers fans inside look at drafting.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has made quite a name for himself when it comes to the draft. And it’s well-documented that Licht puts a very high value on character.
Joe has pointed this out before, but Dan Pompei of _The Athletic_ also referenced this as well in [his fantastic feature](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6538680/2025/08/12/buccaneers-gm-jason-licht-character/) on Licht that was published this week. That the guys Licht has taken off his draft board for being a-holes or scumbags, he hands the file to Team Glazer a few days before the draft, so there are no surprises to the family that cuts the checks at One Buc Palace.
Licht explained to Pompei why he has developed little to no tolerance for bad eggs.
> Players with a criminal history are easily identified and disqualified. Finding players who lack passion for the game is more of an art, but no less important.
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> “The high draft picks who don’t make it are the ones who don’t work hard,” Licht says. “They don’t listen to coaching. And they don’t do the little things they are supposed to do.”
Licht explained to Pompei that in draft meetings that take place months before the draft, even before a current regular season is completed, he listens closely to his staff.
Licht believes that listening to his staff and in particular, the area scouts who do all the digging on the background of players and know the players the best, is one of his top formulas for building a good draft class.
If you haven’t read Pompei’s feature on Licht, it is about as close to a must-read for Bucs fans as there is. The fact Pompei typed the article is icing on the cake.