“Trying To Keep That Core” – JoeBucsFan.com – Tampa Bay Bucs Blog, Buccaneers News

Inside the mind of Bucs GM Jason Licht.

The Buccaneers’ next moves — and loads are coming — will be driven by general manager Jason Licht and, if you believe Sage Ira Kaufman, Team Glazer.

So how will Licht lean with a looming quarterback question and negative salary cap room in the tens of millions of dollars and many in-house free agents?

Perhaps the answer is in front of Bucs fans faces. Licht’s right-hand man, cap guru and respected front office honcho Mike Greenberg, offered insight during his recent visit to the Buccaneers Radio Network.

Greenberg talked about the Licht way and what has Greenberg glowing with pride.

“Just being able to keep your own core because that’s really the goal — is to draft well and develop and keep your own homegrown talent. And if that’s the case, you would never have to necessarily go into free agency … ” Greenberg said. “So that’s probably the thing I’m most proud of because it’s a reflection of how Jason really wants to do it here and how he wants to build a team.”

Well, if Licht wants to roll like that, then perhaps a different light is shining on the futures of defensive backs free agents Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards, all part of Licht’s heralded 2019 draft class.

Licht probably wants to find a way to keep them, and surely Todd Bowles doesn’t want to toss four years of development. Also, it feels illogical to gut the defense of your defensive-guru head coach. Still, Licht and Greenberg are somewhat handcuffed by the salary cap.

Joe suspects Licht is strong enough to not let ego get in the way when it comes to his desires to keep homegrown players. But Greenberg did say “trying to keep that core” is a priority.