When it comes to making tough decisions during the NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t automatically exclude a player based on personality flaws or character concerns – at least not without serious consideration.
General Manager Jason Licht recently revealed in an appearance on The JP Peterson Show that the Buccaneers have a nuanced approach to evaluating players with less-than-ideal personalities.
“We have a long process of defining who we’re taking off [the draft board] and who we’re not,” Licht said.
“Now just because a guy, maybe people don’t like him, or he’s a d-bag or an a**hole, we’re not just going to automatically take them off.
“It’s got to affect their football character and it’s got to affect the team. There’s a lot of people that fit that description that are very good football players and maybe it works in their favor.”
Licht’s comments suggest that while negative personality traits like being a “d-bag” or an “a**hole” are noted, they don’t necessarily disqualify a player from consideration.
In fact, those traits might even work to a player’s advantage in some cases, particularly when it comes to the aggressive nature of the game.
“There’s a difference between a bad guy and an immature person, and we’ll take immature and help them develop,” Licht continued.
“But, you know, we just don’t want people that are going to affect the locker room in a negative way that affects the performance of others and the team.”
The Buccaneers GM emphasized that they are more concerned about how a player’s attitude and behavior might impact the team’s overall performance.
As long as a player’s personality issues don’t disrupt the locker room or hinder the team’s success, the talent they bring to the field can outweigh other considerations.
“We’ll take a guy that’s a little bit of a d-bag or an a**hole if they can get to the quarterback, for sure,” Licht said, reinforcing that football talent is still the top priority in Tampa Bay’s draft evaluations.
While Licht didn’t name any specific players, his comments paint a picture of a team that values on-field performance above off-field personality, as long as the player’s character doesn’t negatively affect the team dynamic.
It’s a stance that may ruffle some feathers, but it underscores the Buccaneers’ commitment to fielding a competitive team, even if that means occasionally bringing in a player who rubs others the wrong way.
What are your thoughts on Licht’s brutally honest comments???
