Jason Licht Has A Message For His Critics

Through the first week of free agency the Bucs have done a tremendous job in building their roster with important re-signings and a solution to the quarterback position. Credit to the Bucs front office of Jason Licht, Mike Greenberg and Jacqueline Davidson for navigation through tough obstacles.

Tampa Bay had to first get cap compliant after being $56 million over the cap. Even after getting under, the Bucs still didn’t have a ton of money to spend and yet they were able to re-sign cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Lavonte David at lower prices than expected, while also re-signing outside linebacker Anthony Nelson and adding Baker Mayfield at quarterback.

At a press conference to discuss the re-signings of Dean and Nelson, Licht was able to show his appreciation to the staff around him for what they’ve accomplished so far.

“I could talk all day about how proud I am of the team we have,” Licht said. “Mike Greenberg, Jacquie, the whole front office – John [Spytek], everybody. We’ve been working on this plan for a long time. There were really tough decisions, but I have a lot of confidence in these people. There were a lot of challenges and we were able to get through it. Kind of, sort of coming through the back end of it now. Never once did we ever think that we not going to be a good team this year.

“We have a lot of good players. Players entering their prime. Players in their prime. Players that haven’t even scratched the surface of their prime. It’s the same situation that drew Tom Brady to want to come sign here. It’s a very similar team. And we’re not done. We’re going to have some more [signings]. We have to do a little – we have to make some more reasonable signings right now because of where we’re at. But sometimes you get your best deals and you get your best players – contributors – from that.”

Jason Licht Has Message For Those That Doubt Him

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I was confident that we would be able to put our best foot forward. And I was confident that they wanted to be here,” Licht said. “I knew that because of the coaching staff that we have, the front office that we have, and the players that we have.

The fact that the Bucs have core pieces intact with their recent moves and adding another quarterback to the mix in a competition to be the starer sets Tampa Bay up well next season. It’s wide open in the NFC South as the Bucs look to make the postseason for a fourth season in a row.

“It’s a great feeling,” Licht said. “For all the challenges that we had going into this offseason, yesterday and today – it’s a great day to see that people still believe in the vision that we have and the ability that we have as a football team to still compete for this division.”