GENERAL MANAGER JASON LICHT

(Opening Statement)

"First, I want to start off, before the draft – I've said in the past – I want to [give a] shoutout to the scouts, especially the ones that are on the road year-round and sacrificing all the time from their families. I don't feel too sorry for them because they love this. This is like their Super Bowl every year. But, all the work that they put in, from the scouting assistants to everybody in the scouting office…we couldn't do it without them."

(On the signing of OLB Randy Gregory)

"We were just looking for some depth there, however it turns out. I think he even answered that he didn't have his [mind] set on being a starter. He just wants to contribute. He has to earn it. We wanted some depth there, but it's not going to affect how we approach the draft. We could always use a higher-end pass rusher – I think every team can. It's not going to affect the way we approach it."

(On how he evaluates positions that are supposedly "deeper" than other positions)

"I guess when you feel certain positions are deeper, you feel maybe if you have a higher pick, maybe that's a position of need but you can maybe take another position because you can still get one later on in the draft. But, at the end of the day, you still want to take the best player – the player that you had the best feel for, especially collectively as a group. You wouldn't want to pass on a player, regardless of position, if you have a lot of love for him – knowing even if that's a deep position. None of us know – we don't have a crystal ball here. You can feel like a position is deep and then you can look back on it three years from now and maybe it wasn't so deep. It's just the way it works. You try to do your best to minimize the risk. We have to rank them somehow. We just take the best player, usually at a position that you feel is a need, and we have a lot of needs."

(On what qualities he looks for in offensive linemen, especially ones that he is considering moving to a different position)

"I learned long ago that it's not as easy as people think. Some people think, 'Just move a guy inside and it'll work out.' The guy, first of all, has to be tough. He has to be able to have a lot of reactive athleticism because bullets are flying a lot quicker inside. You have people coming at you from different directions, as opposed to just coming off the edge. You have to be instinctive, smart, tough; you have to be able to bend, you have to be able to anchor, you have to have some stoutness, you have to be able to play with your cleats in the ground. There's a lot of things that go into it."

(On how much more difficult it is to pick at the end of the first round)

"I would say that the biggest challenge, at least for me, is you're trying to target who might be there. We say this all the time – we say it to all the prospects that are coming in and visiting – no one knows how this is going to go. If somebody is telling you they know where you're going, they're lying. Only one team, right now, knows who they're taking, probably – and maybe they don't. Right now, we have five to seven guys we think might be there. Then you start kind of falling in love with them and you're like, 'Okay, one of these guys is going to be there, and we're going to be so happy.' Then, there's the chance that none of them are. I think that's the hardest part about picking down there late."

(On how many players were left on his list when the Buccaneers were picking at No. 19 and selected DL Calijah Kancey last year)

"Calijah – and we were happy with that."

(On if there's such a thing as an "easier" or "harder" draft depending on the team's needs)

"It's the same. We want to kick ass every year in the draft. There are some years you're going to depend on them a little bit more, like we did last year. We're going to depend on this class, too. We're hoping to get some players that can come in and contribute and help us right away, like last year with Calijah [Kancey], and Yaya [Diaby], and Cody [Mauch] and Trey [Palmer]. We're hoping for that. It doesn't always work out that way – sometimes it takes a little bit longer. I think every year the patience from the fans and from everybody gets a little bit [thinner]. They want players to become All-Pros by their second game and it used to be that it would take two years. We also want the players to contribute right away. But, I think every year, you kind of approach it the same in that you're trying to get the right guys."

(On when draft day trades start to materialize)

"In the past, our trade ups and trade downs, we've started that process typically around now. We are too, right now. You don't want to make rash decisions – at least I don't – on draft day…emotional decisions that can come back and bite you. You want to be as clear minded as you can when you're putting that together. We've got a big chart [that] has a certain number of players…If you've got three players remaining and you're 10 picks out – all of those types of things. It depends on what players are available, too. We kind of have a pretty good feel going into the draft. I'd say around pick 20, we'll know if we want to start attempting to move up or not. I would say right now, I like the thought of the way I really have a lot of trust in my staff – both the coaching staff and the scouting staff – and how we've been operating. Those picks seem pretty important to me, right now."

(On if he is able to project when there's going to be a run on players from a certain position)

"It usually happens on the fly. It usually starts happening during the draft. Like I said, you can't predict. You can kind of guess what teams are going to pick… we have a little bit better success knowing what positions teams are going to go after and not necessarily the specific player, after the first round. You kind of have to do that on the fly. You start to realize it on the fly. After three receivers go, you know that it's probably going to start going. If everybody thinks that there are six high-caliber receivers, the next three are probably going to go pretty quick."

(On the team's biggest need)

"We have a lot. And that's okay, to have a lot of needs. I think it's a good thing, actually. We came very close to going to the NFC Championship Game last year and we still signed our guys back and we still have a lot of needs. I think that shows that if we do this right, pretty soon, the next couple of years – or even this year – [we] could be competing. I always like the trenches, and I think we need help in both trenches."

(On if there are areas of evaluation that he feels much more comfortable with now compared to his first handful of drafts)

"Yeah. We've had a lot of stability here with my staff. I think more stability than any other team, in terms of people staying here – which is a great thing. We all know each other very well. I think we've done a great job – I've done a better job, myself, as well – of going after the right kind of guy and avoiding the temptation to go after the talent and not necessarily the whole person. I think we've done a great job – my staff has done a great job of identifying that with our character grade. We put a lot of stock into that. When you see players getting in trouble, suspended, whatever, I'll look it up and, yep, we had a 'do not touch' grade on them. It's been phenomenal in that regard."

(On if there's an update on the contract situations of S Antoine Winfield Jr. or LT Tristan Wirfs)

"We've had really good discussions there. Once again, it's like the same thing when we were at the combine talking about Baker [Mayfield] and Mike [Evans] and Lavonte [David]. We really want them here, we want them here long term, I think they want to be here long term. We've had a good track record with getting things done. I feel pretty good about things getting done."

(On depth at the wide receiver position)

"It's another position that you can't have too many of those. I think [Offensive Coordinator] Liam [Coen] can find a way to use a lot of very good receivers and playmakers… We really like Trey [Palmer] and we like what 'Rock' (Rakim Jarrett) was showing before he got injured last year. Like I said, it's another position that I would consider a need and you can't fill them all right now in the draft, but we'd love to get one."

(On the state of the cornerback position)

"If there's a great cornerback that's sitting there and he's staring us in the face and he's clearly a better player than what we have at other positions, it would be hard to resist."

(On if the kick returner position is going to be of greater importance with the recent rule changes)

"Yeah, for sure. It's going to become kind of more of an offensive play, almost, with the way that teams are going to scheme it. None of us really know exactly how it's going to look, because we haven't done it yet, but we have a thought of what it's going to be like. We've had a lot of discussions about it. It's going to put a premium on that type of returner, whether it's a punt returner or a kick returner. Like I said, it's going to be kind of an offensive play. Those special teams, special plays, special players – shoutout to [Twitch streamer] Sketch – we're going to put an emphasis on that."

(On if quarterback is a position that the team looks at every year in the NFL Draft)

"We look at all of the quarterbacks. We spend a lot of time looking at the quarterbacks. I would never say that we wouldn't take a quarterback because you could take one and be glad that you did at some point. Now, we like our room right now, but we will take a look at all of them, or we already have. It's a little bit top heavy this year, but there is always that instance if we like somebody, and like I said, if we think he's better than the other positions on the board that we would consider."

(On what qualities he looks for in draft prospects)

"Leaders, but leaders that can come in a lot of different shapes and forms. He doesn't have to be an alpha-leader. Guys that are passionate about the game, guys that are resilient and that can deal with adversity – we have a lot of those guys."

(On if he has any draft-day superstitions or routines that he follows every year)

"It's funny – on draft day, like on Thursday, we typically – the whole staff – don't get in here until later because it's a late night. I've had people ask, 'What are you doing? Are you on the phone?' No, I'm blowing leaves off of my pool deck and walking the dog. The hay is in the barn, per se, so you kind of want to relax a little bit before you come in here and start the day. I like to go for a long walk and I always kind of clear my head that day a little bit longer than normal… sometimes with the dog."

(On if Zoom meetings have played a large and positive role in the draft process)

"Yeah, 1,000%. It's been a big resource for us, and it has for other teams, too. It's always good to see somebody face to face and talk to them. That's always the best way, I think, but Zoom… I can walk through the halls right now any day here in this process and our coaches are Zooming with a different player, or our scouts, or together usually. We just get a lot more information. We gather a lot more information and get a feel for the players."

(On if Zoom has also helped with building relationships to later on sign undrafted free agents, in addition to the draft selections)

"Yeah, for sure. We try to do as much of that as we can. When the draft is over it becomes a free for all and it's like you're on the New York [Stock] Exchange. I think it does help a little bit to form relationships because everybody likes to have a little bit of a relationship and feels better going somewhere when they've talked to people there."

(On if it complicates the draft process when you're trying to evaluate positions in which the players currently on the roster are still very young in their careers)

"I don't think so. I know where you're coming from there, but I don't really think so. I think when we all recognize somebody that we think is clearly better than what we have… one of the things I love about Todd [Bowles] and his staff is that they're not afraid to coach up a rookie and put him out there. We saw that last year. It's very comforting as a GM to know that your coaching staff loves the challenge of getting rookies ready to go."

(On if he ever looks at any mock drafts)

"Yeah, I'm not going to lie. You just kind of want to see in general where guys may be. Somebody is talking to somebody that is putting the mock draft together, so you like to think that there is something there, but you never rely on it."

(On if he typically sees the same names mocked to his team over and over)

"Sometimes. When it's the guy that we're not targeting, I love to see it."

(On what if a player the team is targeting keeps appearing in mock drafts to the Buccaneers)
"We do what we can to make sure that name isn't on there again, you know [laughs]?"

(On what official visits entail)

"Well, they'll come in and they will meet with the trainer. They've done their physicals for the most part – sometimes there are things that we want to check up on a little bit. They'll meet with [Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance] Bobby [Slater] and the training staff for 30 minutes, then they'll meet with [Vice President of Player Engagement] Duke [Preston] and his staff for 30 minutes. Then, they'll meet with myself, [Assistant General Manager] John Spytek, [Director of Player Personnel] Mike Biehl and [Director of Player Personnel] Rob McCartney and then our scouts in a separate session for 30 minutes. Then they'll meet with the coaches for a little bit longer and have lunch. We all want to make them feel comfortable. We want to get them loose and see their true colors, their true personality. Everybody has different ways. Sometimes Duke will give them some kind of a riddle to solve or will play some kind of a game with them – something just to see how competitive they are. I think overall they always leave here having a good day. We just want to loosen them up and see what their true personality is."

(On getting all of the various opinion on each player together)

"We have a very large spreadsheet with everybody's opinion of [how] everybody is, including the interns that drive them to the airport and back. Sometimes those are the best ones."

(On balancing having a proven running back in Rachaad White and still feeling like the team could upgrade the room in the draft)

"I will just say this… I think if we feel that we need to upgrade the room or the running game, not necessarily the player but just the running game, we can't be afraid to take another player. I think if we had two Rachaads, we'd find a way to use two Rachaads. But I understand what you mean – you kind of want one to balance the other. You want good football players and you can't be afraid to tell your player, 'Hey, you're great, but if [we] have another you, we can spell you.' We've got to also have insurance. There are always injuries that come into account. I think one thing we've learned, or I've learned, in the 2020-21 seasons is that we had a lot of great depth. We had a lot of players that could step in when we had injuries. You can't have enough good depth."

(On balancing production versus potential in the first two rounds)

"I think with all players we don't necessarily… I mean, you look at the stats. They're good to look at, but you look at just the raw skill and potential. They're all raw at this point. There are very few that are just the complete product. I think you just have to look at the potential for all of them. We have ways of grading other than production."

(On how good this quarterback class is at the top)

"It's an interesting question because right now I can tell you that it's a really good class. I really like them. But then you go back 10 years, and I said the same thing about another class and only one of them worked out. What makes it kind of fun, and at the same time is challenging, is that there are so many factors that go into it – the city that they go to, the coaching staff, the players around them, just what is going on with that player's life at the time. Do they play right away, or do they sit? There are so many factors that go into whether a quarterback succeeds. I mean, we saw Baker [Mayfield] have a great year early in his career and then come here and revive himself. It's interesting. If anybody can ever nail it and figured it out, then they're going to be a wealthy person."

(On balancing the future versus the present, like for example at the inside linebacker position)

"There are probably a few positions like that, but you can't fill them all. You can't fill all the needs with the draft. We only have so many picks. You have post-draft, you have trades… we will be adding players in August and September, and throughout the year. Last year, we took 'Voss' (SirVocea Dennis) and we really like 'Voss.' We think 'Voss' has a really bright future, so we took some steps to hopefully take care of that [need] in the future, but I'm hoping Lavonte [David] plays another seven years, to be honest with you."

(On if he has seen the movie Draft Day)

"I've seen it a lot, yeah."

-BUCCANEERS-