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Bucs failed to trade for Robert Quinn or Michael Bennett, but that doesn’t mean 2018 is lost

Bucs general manager Jason Licht knows the No. 1 job is to improve the Bucs pass rush and he hasn't been able to swing a deal so far but free agency and the draft beckons
 
Published March 9, 2018|Updated March 10, 2018

TAMPA  — The bright bulb of the NFL never dims, even with the new league year, the start of free agency and the draft still looming. Perhaps that's why, with each trade that some other team makes for a defensive lineman, Bucs general manager Jason Licht gets walloped on social media.

Licht is well aware that the Bucs biggest job this off-season is improving the Bucs' anemic pass rush, which had a league-worst 22 sacks in 2017.

So when the Rams dealt Robert Quinn to Miami and the Seahawks shipped Michael Bennett to the Eagles for mid to low-round picks, well, it's legitimate to question if the Bucs were caught napping.

Even Gerald McCoy chimed in on Twitter: "Welp, there goes Robert Quinn.''

This is not to make excuses for anyone, but if reports are accurate, the Bucs were interested in both players. Each team has to place a value in terms of draft picks and/or players they are willing to part with for any particular player.

Quinn, 27, has 62.5 sacks in his career. The Dolphins dealt their fourth and sixth-round picks for Quinn and the Rams' sixth-rounder. That's known as a sweetener. For the Bucs to swap sixth-rounders, they would move down 18 spots.

That may not have been a deal-breaker. But another thing to remember is that only the Rams could decide where Quinn was headed. It's possible, for example, given similar offers, they preferred he not go to an NFC team.

In the case of the 32-year-old Bennett, he was traded to the Eagles for a fifth-round pick and receiver Marcus Johnson. ESPN reported that the Bucs, Patriots, Browns and Falcons were "in the running" for Bennett.

Again, who knows why the Seahawks took the Eagles' offer. Perhaps getting a receiver was important. More likely, given what Bennett has done for the Seahawks, they may have given him a choice of two teams.

Remember, Bennett was allowed to walk after leading the Bucs with nine sacks in 2012 for a one-year, $5 million contract from Seattle. Then general manager Mark Dominik wanted to create a starting job for Da'Quan Bowers. Who knows what feelings he has about the Bucs organization?

The point is this: Unless you have all the information, it's hard to evaluate the effort.

Also, Bucs fans may want to remember that free agency doesn't officially begin until 4 p.m. March 14. Then there is the draft, where Licht will undoubtedly attempt to improve the defense and find help for McCoy.

NEW APPROACH? Free agency hasn't always been kind to the Bucs under Licht. For every player such as punter Bryan Anger, there's been a disappointment or two such as Chris Baker.

Licht says determining the player with the right production has been the easy part. The problem is knowing how they will fit in the locker room.

"The players that I've missed on in the past, it hasn't been the player, it's been the person,'' Licht said. "So we just want to make sure and incorporate as many things as we can to make sure we're getting the best person we can as well.''

A GOOD FITZ FOR THE BUCS: The decision to re-sign quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick before the start of free agency may seem like a hasty one, especially considering a fertile market at that position that will likely include players such as Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and even Mike Glennon, the former Bucs backup who will be released by the Bears.

So why lock up the 35-year-old Fitzpatrick? The Bucs believe he is good for Jameis Winston, a sage veteran who is comfortable in his No. 2 role and can help the Bucs starter mature. He's also likely cheaper than Glennon will be. He enables the Bucs to remain committed to exploring what Ryan Griffin can do, and that would be a little harder with Glennon or another quarterback.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Bucs' focus on free agency will be retaining their core of young players. Receiver Mike Evans just got a five-year, $82.5 million extension. Linebacker Kwon Alexander, left tackle Donovan Smith, center Ali Marpet and even restricted free agents such as tight end Cameron Brate and receiver Adam Humphries all are due for extensions.

It's not likely the Bucs will jump out for any big-salaried free agents. Overall, this is not a great group of players once the real list is known Wednesday.

The Bucs appear committed to trying to re-sign cornerback Brent Grimes. A defensive tackle such as the Falcons' Dontari Poe, who finished with 39 tackles and 2.5 sacks and could go for $8 million to $10 million per year. Another possibility would be Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.