GENERAL MANAGER JASON LICHT

(On the addition of OLB Haason Reddick)

"Well, first of all, [we're] really excited to have him. He's a really unique player. He's got a lot to prove; he's very hungry. I really enjoyed the conversations we've had since we signed him. He's going to play to try to get another bite at the apple, which I like. He's really excited to help the young guys. He's talked about that – being a leader and all those things. So that's always going to help. I'm just excited what he can do for all the young guys – for Yaya [Diaby], for Calijah [Kancey], for Vita [Vea], [Chris] Braswell [Jr.]. All those guys will benefit from him."

(On if Reddick's 2024 season caused him any hesitation from a character standpoint)

"Not from a character standpoint. Every situation is different, there's a story behind everything. I think it's behind him, and in some ways, I was kind of excited. It gave us an opportunity to potentially get great value. I'm rooting for him to have a great year."

(On if Licht spoke with Philadelphia Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman about Reddick)

"That's fair. Howie is one of my best friends, so that's fair."

(On if signing Reddick changes the team's mindset about potentially drafting an edge rusher in the first round)

"I don't know if it changes the mindset there. We've got a few players – a handful of players like we do every year – that we think could be there at [pick number] 19, including edge rushers. I think we're going to stick to, what's the best player? And if it happens to be an edge rusher, it's an edge rusher."

(On if second-year DB Tykee Smith might be moved from the nickel cornerback position to safety in 2025)

"It's definitely something [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles] has talked about. You know, you don't want to load up a rookie with too much, and I think Tykee having a year under his belt can handle a lot more. It just kind of depends on how the construction of the roster continues here after the draft, but it could be a possibility."

(On Tykee Smith wanting to be on the field more)

"He's definitely wired the right way. He wants to play all the time. So do a lot of our young players – and older players – but our young players, that's a quality that we like in them. They want to do whatever they can to get on the field as much as they can."

(On the cornerback position and what's available in the draft)

"It's a pretty good draft there, throughout the entire draft. We'll see how it falls to us, but we could use some help there, whether it's depth – whatever it is, we could use some help there."

(On Tampa Bay's defense only intercepting seven passes in 2024)

"Trust me, there's nothing [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles] wants more than…One of the things he wants is more interceptions."

(On CB Jamel Dean)

"So, Jamel, he's had some injuries the last couple years. He was a really good player not too long ago. He has high expectations for himself, we have high expectations for him, and we feel good about Jamel."

(On the possibility of bringing back OLB Shaquil Barrett)

"Oh, [we] love Shaq. We'll have to see how things go here. We want to give him fair opportunity to give him the best shot to play a little bit. We'll have to see how that goes. We'll keep monitoring that, but Shaq is always going to be a Buc."

(On Tampa Bay's new Director of Football Research Zach Beistline)

"It's something [Head Coach] Todd [Bowles] stressed, that he wanted to have somebody to assist him in that role. It's a full-time role. He's done it for a while. He's got a great reputation. He's also got a great background in analytics; he'll work with [Vice President of Football Research] Jackie [Davidson] on that end, but on game day, working for Todd. We're just excited. That process has already started. It's not as easy as some people think. It's a full-time job – putting scenarios together, talking through them. It's fun."

(On re-signing QB Kyle Trask)

"Because we really like Kyle. We know Kyle better than anybody. A couple years ago, there was a quarterback battle, and he did very well. Just because he doesn't have the experience doesn't necessarily mean that he's not the right person. Some quarterbacks that have experience getting thrown into the fire because the starter went down, they get a lot of money because they have the experience. It doesn't necessarily mean they played well. Kyle just hasn't had the game-time experience. I think if he ever did, we'd be talking a different situation. We're very excited about him and glad that he's back with us."

(on how important it was to re-sign G Ben Bredeson for the sake of continuity on the offensive line)

"Huge. I've said a million times it feels like, but that room is the most important room in the building, for everybody. For football side, business side, everybody – jobs are on the line, and when that offensive line room is jelling and playing well, we all thrive. He fits in well with them. He's a great leader, he's a great person, he's a great teammate and he's a good player. [We are] very excited to have him back."

(On how intrigued he is by what third-year LB SirVocea Dennis can do when healthy)

"Super intrigued. That was a big blow to us, bigger than a lot of people knew, when he wasn't able to play for us last year, because he was really coming on. I think he's a very good starting linebacker in this league, and I think we've got the issue resolved and he's ready to go."

(on what the team has seen from Dennis on the field)

"He's very explosive, he's fast, he's instinctive. He's got a quick trigger. He's an instinctual player, both in the run game [and] the pass game. Very, very smart."

(On if it's fair to say this year's draft would be heavier on defense for the Buccaneers)

"Yeah, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Yes, suffice to say that, but the draft falls and there's going to be a lot of curveballs that happen…But yes."

(On how he feels about Tampa Bay's cornerback position)

"Good. I think we've made improvements and we're in a better place than we were last year."

(On how he feels about the "tush push" play and the effort to ban it)

"I'll probably refrain from giving my opinion, but I'll say, hey, kudos to them. They've mastered it, they're very good at it. We happened to stop it…once. Kudos to them."

(On how Head Coach Todd Bowles has helped new offensive coordinators succeed)

"It's very comforting. He's got a plan to bring Josh [Grizzard] along during OTAs – call-it periods, give him all the experience he needs. Todd has really put a lot of thought into this. He did the same thing when we hired Dave [Canales]. I think Josh is wired the right way. He's excited. He's ready to take advantage of the opportunity. It's going to be a lot of fun to work with him. It already is, but I'm expecting big things."

(On if he would he think twice about trading down in the NFL Draft if the Buccaneers' preferred players are gone)

"No, not at all. It depends who's there and how many players we still like in that next tier, but, no. I've done it before. I always enjoy doing that because I like the picks. But recently it just has worked out that there's just been a player that we really liked, like Graham [Barton] last year. But no, it's always going to be an opportunity and something that we think about, to do that."

(On if the Buccaneers might be interested in drafting a receiver even with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan back)

"It certainly could be. It certainly could be – it depends. But it wouldn't be a bad idea. Mike could play another three years, Chris could play another five years, who knows? You know how it is in the league now, explosive offenses are…we've had a lot of success with that."

(On if Tampa Bay's work in free agency has given the team experienced options if starters get hurt)

"Yeah, that was the goal that we had, to try to do that. We got some good play out of our tight ends down the stretch, too. Bucky [Irving] came on the stage; Rachaad [White], we still think he's a very, very good player; Sean Tucker…I'm just excited to get things going."

(On how comfortable he is with the reserves behind the offensive line starters)

"Good. Very good. I love O-linemen, though. If there's one there…we've got our eye on a few. That doesn't take away from what I feel about the guys that we currently have, but I feel very good about our offensive line right now."

(On the depth at the defensive tackle position and this draft having some good prospects)

"It does, and we've seen good teams recently that play in waves. You want to keep the guys fresh. It's like watching what Jon Cooper does with the [Tampa Bay] Lightning. It can be to your advantage to have as many good defensive linemen as possible."

(On what it means to be here for the Buccaneers' 50th season)

"It's awesome that I'm here for that. There were times I thought I'd make it to the 44th season, so it's awesome to be a part of it. I'm really looking forward to watching how this [unfolds]. It's really cool to be a part of it."

(On what led him to be the one to break the news of the re-signing of WR Sterling Shepard)

"It's become an annual tradition for my front office and I, at the end of that first week of free agency where we're all beat up and spent, to take a couple hours and go out on the water, and for me to sign somebody there and break the news. It was John Wolford last year, and Sterling was the beneficiary this year."

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