While recent discussions have celebrated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' on-field success to an extent, it's not uncommon for the critical contributions of general manager Jason Licht and the front office to be overlooked. Licht, responsible for assembling key talent and building a winning culture, played a pivotal role in the team's Super Bowl LV journey. His strategic decisions in both drafting and free agency, along with a cohesive front office have set the stage for Tampa Bay’s success.
The Athletic recently revealed a list compiled by 40 league insiders, ranking the Top 10 NFL front offices.
Article can be found here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5777310/2024/09/26/nfl-front-office-rankings/
As follows, here are the top front offices they have listed:
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Detroit Lions
6. Green Bay Packers
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Los Angeles Rams
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
4 reasons why the Buccaneers' front office was robbed of worthy recognition and belongs on the list:
The Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory showcases the excellence of Licht and Co., who created a championship-worthy team by mixing Hall of Fame veterans with fresh, young talent.
Only two listed teams have more recent Super Bowl victories than Tampa Bay. Half of the teams on the list haven't been to the Super Bowl in 11+ seasons.
Drafting Players
The Buccaneers’ front office has made some stellar draft picks over the years, including Licht’s first pick as general manager, wide receiver Mike Evans. Some of the Bucs' best draft picks in franchise history come in recent years:
- Tristan Wirfs, 2020 draft (Round 1, Pick 13): One of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, who played a pivotal role in Super Bowl LV.
- Antoine Winfield Jr., 2020 draft (Round 2, Pick 45): Widely regarded as the NFL’s top safety, he has proven to be an absolute steal and is a proven leader defensively.
- Chris Godwin, 2017 draft (Round 3, Pick 84): Often overshadowed by Evans, Godwin has proven time and time again why he should be treated as a WR1, finishing over 1000 yards receiving in four of the last five seasons.
- Vita Vea, 2018 draft (Round 1, Pick 12): A dominant piece for the Bucs’ defensive line who has been outstanding throughout his career.
- Jordan Whitehead, 2018 draft (Round 4, Pick 117): A late pick, but a good one. Whitehead was a key contributor to the Super Bowl run and is known for his versatility and playmaking abilities.
Free Agent/offseason Acquisitions
Tampa Bay's front office is credited with signing and trading for important players, many of which have directly led to instant success.
- Tom Brady: Brady's arrival transformed the Buccaneers into Super Bowl contenders, bringing veteran leadership, postseason expertise, and a winning mentality that propelled the team to a championship.
- Rob Gronkowski: Gronkowski, a close friend and former teammate of Tom Brady, greatly enhanced the Buccaneers' offense during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
- Shaquil Barrett: Barrett became one of the top edge rushers in the league after joining the Buccaneers, leading the league in sacks in 2019.
- Ndamukong Suh: Signed in March 2019, he provided experience and strength on the defensive line, contributing to both run defense and pass rush.
- Leonard Fournette: Fournette joined the Buccaneers in September 2020 and became an important part of the offense after being released by the Jaguars. He was effective as a runner and a pass catcher for Brady. In the 2020 playoffs, he rushed for over 300 yards, playing a key role in their Super Bowl LV run.
- Jason Pierre-Paul: Joined the Buccaneers in 2018 and became an important part of their defense. His experience and leadership made him vital to the
team's success.
- Baker Mayfield: Finding Brady's successor was key to the Bucs' success. Licht did just that with the addition of Mayfield in 2023.
These are just some of the many important moves that this front office has made, all of which have been crucial to the continuing success of the franchise.
Cap Space Management/Retaining Key Players
Licht and the Bucs’ front office have proven to be masterminds in managing the cap and retaining their top players. Evans, Godwin, and Lavonte David have all been with the team for a long time and have only played for Tampa Bay.
After the retirement of Tom Brady following the 2022 season, the Buccaneers had to eat a significant $35.1 million in dead cap. They saw something in Mayfield and signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract. Mayfield, counted out by most of the league, led the Bucs to yet another NFC South crown and a Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
After losing a close matchup to the Detroit Lions, the Bucs had many notable players heading to free agency, but they managed to get all of the following deals done before the start of the 2024 season:
- Mike Evans: two-year, $52M
- Baker Mayfield: three-year, $100M
- Lavonte David: one-year, $9M
- Tristan Wirfs: five-year, $140M
- Antoine Winfield Jr.: four-year, $84.1M
All of these players have been staples of this recent success, and to top it all off, Tampa Bay brought Jordan Whitehead back on a two-year, $9M deal, after leaving for the New York Jets following the 2021 season.
Licht has been key to the team's success through smart drafting, strategic signings, and excellent cap management. Despite being overlooked, their work has built a championship team and secured core players, positioning the Bucs for continued success.
While recent discussions have celebrated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' on-field success to an extent, it's not uncommon for the critical contributions of general manager Jason Licht and the front office to be overlooked. Licht, responsible for assembling key talent and building a winning culture, played a pivotal role in the team's Super Bowl LV journey. His strategic decisions in both drafting and free agency, along with a cohesive front office have set the stage for Tampa Bay’s success.
The Athletic recently revealed a list compiled by 40 league insiders, ranking the Top 10 NFL front offices.
Article can be found here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5777310/2024/09/26/nfl-front-office-rankings/
As follows, here are the top front offices they have listed:
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Detroit Lions
6. Green Bay Packers
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Los Angeles Rams
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
4 reasons why the Buccaneers' front office was robbed of worthy recognition and belongs on the list:
The Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory showcases the excellence of Licht and Co., who created a championship-worthy team by mixing Hall of Fame veterans with fresh, young talent.
Only two listed teams have more recent Super Bowl victories than Tampa Bay. Half of the teams on the list haven't been to the Super Bowl in 11+ seasons.
Drafting Players
The Buccaneers’ front office has made some stellar draft picks over the years, including Licht’s first pick as general manager, wide receiver Mike Evans. Some of the Bucs' best draft picks in franchise history come in recent years:
- Tristan Wirfs, 2020 draft (Round 1, Pick 13): One of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, who played a pivotal role in Super Bowl LV.
- Antoine Winfield Jr., 2020 draft (Round 2, Pick 45): Widely regarded as the NFL’s top safety, he has proven to be an absolute steal and is a proven leader defensively.
- Chris Godwin, 2017 draft (Round 3, Pick 84): Often overshadowed by Evans, Godwin has proven time and time again why he should be treated as a WR1, finishing over 1000 yards receiving in four of the last five seasons.
- Vita Vea, 2018 draft (Round 1, Pick 12): A dominant piece for the Bucs’ defensive line who has been outstanding throughout his career.
- Jordan Whitehead, 2018 draft (Round 4, Pick 117): A late pick, but a good one. Whitehead was a key contributor to the Super Bowl run and is known for his versatility and playmaking abilities.
Free Agent/offseason Acquisitions
Tampa Bay's front office is credited with signing and trading for important players, many of which have directly led to instant success.
- Tom Brady: Brady's arrival transformed the Buccaneers into Super Bowl contenders, bringing veteran leadership, postseason expertise, and a winning mentality that propelled the team to a championship.
- Rob Gronkowski: Gronkowski, a close friend and former teammate of Tom Brady, greatly enhanced the Buccaneers' offense during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
- Shaquil Barrett: Barrett became one of the top edge rushers in the league after joining the Buccaneers, leading the league in sacks in 2019.
- Ndamukong Suh: Signed in March 2019, he provided experience and strength on the defensive line, contributing to both run defense and pass rush.
- Leonard Fournette: Fournette joined the Buccaneers in September 2020 and became an important part of the offense after being released by the Jaguars. He was effective as a runner and a pass catcher for Brady. In the 2020 playoffs, he rushed for over 300 yards, playing a key role in their Super Bowl LV run.
- Jason Pierre-Paul: Joined the Buccaneers in 2018 and became an important part of their defense. His experience and leadership made him vital to the
team's success.
- Baker Mayfield: Finding Brady's successor was key to the Bucs' success. Licht did just that with the addition of Mayfield in 2023.
These are just some of the many important moves that this front office has made, all of which have been crucial to the continuing success of the franchise.
Cap Space Management/Retaining Key Players
Licht and the Bucs’ front office have proven to be masterminds in managing the cap and retaining their top players. Evans, Godwin, and Lavonte David have all been with the team for a long time and have only played for Tampa Bay.
After the retirement of Tom Brady following the 2022 season, the Buccaneers had to eat a significant $35.1 million in dead cap. They saw something in Mayfield and signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract. Mayfield, counted out by most of the league, led the Bucs to yet another NFC South crown and a Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
After losing a close matchup to the Detroit Lions, the Bucs had many notable players heading to free agency, but they managed to get all of the following deals done before the start of the 2024 season:
- Mike Evans: two-year, $52M
- Baker Mayfield: three-year, $100M
- Lavonte David: one-year, $9M
- Tristan Wirfs: five-year, $140M
- Antoine Winfield Jr.: four-year, $84.1M
All of these players have been staples of this recent success, and to top it all off, Tampa Bay brought Jordan Whitehead back on a two-year, $9M deal, after leaving for the New York Jets following the 2021 season.
Licht has been key to the team's success through smart drafting, strategic signings, and excellent cap management. Despite being overlooked, their work has built a championship team and secured core players, positioning the Bucs for continued success.
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