Since taking over as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' general manager in 2014, Jason Licht has experienced everything from 5-win seasons to a Super Bowl title. To understand his approach to team building in recent years, we’re breaking down all trades, free agency signings, and draft classes from 2016 through 2024. From bold quarterback acquisitions to low-risk special teams adds, here's how Licht constructed one of the league’s most memorable roster transformations—and where some efforts fell short.
2016: Missed Opportunities and Defensive Bets
Trades: None
Free Agent Signings (10 total): Included CB Brent Grimes (2 yrs, $13.5M), G J.R. Sweezy (5 yrs, $32.5M), DE Robert Ayers (3 yrs, $21M).
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$66M total contract value, ~$26M guaranteed.
Draft Class:
CB Vernon Hargreaves (Rd 1) – Disappointing pick, not re-signed.
DE Noah Spence (Rd 2) – Flashed early, faded due to injuries.
K Roberto Aguayo (Rd 2) – Major miss, cut quickly.
LB Devante Bond, FB Dan Vitale – Minimal impact.
Assessment: A forgettable class overall, with few long-term contributors. Free agent Brent Grimes was a short-term bright spot.
2017: Growing Pains and Veteran Gambles
Trades: None
Free Agent Signings (13 total): Included DE Chris Baker (3 yrs, $15.75M), WR DeSean Jackson (3 yrs, ~$33.5M), K Nick Folk, and S J.J. Wilcox.
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$41M total contract value, ~$19M guaranteed.
Draft Class:
TE O.J. Howard (Rd 1) – Some impact, not re-signed.
S Justin Evans (Rd 2) – Limited impact, not re-signed.
WR Chris Godwin (Rd 3) – Major impact, re-signed.
LB Kendell Beckwith, RB Jeremy McNichols, DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu – Minimal impact.
Assessment: High-dollar veteran gambles like Jackson and Baker didn’t pan out, but this class delivered future star Chris Godwin—a major success.
2018: Free Agency Frenzy, Defense Reloaded
Trades: 2018 3rd-Round pick & 2018 4th-Round pick to NY Giants for Jason Pierre-Paul and 2018 4th-Round pick.
Free Agent Signings (22 total): Notable names include DE Vinny Curry (3 yrs, $23M), C Ryan Jensen (4 yrs, $42M), DE Mitch Unrein, DT Beau Allen, and K Chandler Catanzaro.
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$100M total contract value, ~$37M guaranteed.
Draft Class:
DT Vita Vea (Rd 1) – Major impact, re-signed.
RB Ronald Jones II – Moderate impact, not re-signed.
CBs M.J. Stewart, Carlton Davis – Davis re-signed, Stewart not.
WR Justin Watson – Depth role, not re-signed.
Assessment: Licht spent big to bolster both lines and secondary depth. While many signings didn’t last, Ryan Jensen and Vita Vea became cornerstones.
2019: Bargain Hits and Defensive Rebuild
Notable Trades: Acquired DE Jason Pierre-Paul.
Free Agent Signings (15 total): DE Shaq Barrett (1 yr, $4M), DT Ndamukong Suh(1y, $8M), WR Breshad Perriman(1yr, $4M),
LB Deone Bucannon(1yr, $2.5M), G Earl Watford(1yr, $870K).
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$18.5M total, ~$17M guaranteed.
Draft Class:
LB Devin White (Rd 1) – Major impact. Not re-signed beyond 5th-year option.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting(Rd 2) —Major impact. Not re-signed.
Jamel Dean(Rd 3) – Major impact. Re-signed to 4y-$52M deal after rookie contract
S Mike Edwards(Rd 3) – Moderate impact. Key role player. Not re-signed after rookie contract.
DE Anthony Nelson(Rd 4) —Moderate impact. Key role player. Re-signed to 2yr-$10M deal after rookie contract
K Matt Gay(Rd 5) – Low impact. Waived after 1 season.
WR Scotty Miller(Rd 6) Moderate impact. Limited role player. Not resigned after rookie contract expired.
Assessment: An outstanding year. Barrett exploded with a league-high sack total, and the secondary began to take shape with several starting-caliber defenders. Collectively, this group managed to upgrade, supplement, and replace so much of what was previously on the roster. Only one piece was missing after this haul of talent was assembled.
2020: Brady Arrives, Super Bowl Bound
Notable Trades: 2020 4th Round Pick to New England for TE Rob Gronkowski and 2020 7th Round Pick;
2020 1st Round(#14) and 4th Round(#117) to San Francisco for #13 Pick—-Selected Tristan Wirfs
Free Agent Signings (6 total): QB Tom Brady (2 yrs, $60M), OL Joe Haeg, re-signings of Suh and Barrett.
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$62.3M total, ~$33M guaranteed.
Draft Class:
OT Tristan Wirfs (Rd 1) – Major impact. Signed a 5yr, $140.6M extension before rookie deal expired.
S Antoine Winfield Jr. (Rd 2) – Major impact. Signed a 4yr, $84M extension.
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn(Rd 3) – Minimal impact, not re-signed. Started 1 game in 4 seasons.
WR Tyler Johnson(Rd 5) — Little impact. Largely, to no fault of his own, his development was shuttered once WR Antonio Brown was signed and favored by QB Tom Brady. Waived in 2022, and later returned to the practice squad where he was claimed by Houston.
DT Khalil Davis(Rd 6) —No impact. Appeared in 2 games in 2020. Waived in 2021.
LB Chapelle Russll(Rd 7) — No Impact. Appeared in 17 games on special teams. Waived in 2021.
RB Raymon Calais(Rd 7) No impact. Released before the 2020 season.
Assessment: This is the year everything changed. Brady’s arrival legitimized the roster, and the draft netted Wirfs and Winfield—both future stars.
2021: Keep the Band Together
Notable Trades: None
Free Agent Signings (5 total): Re-signed DE Shaq Barrett (4 yrs, $72M), Suh(1yr, $9M), Gronkowski(1yr, $8M), Fournette(1yr, $3.2M).
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$96M total, ~$62M guaranteed.
Draft Class:
EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Rd 1) – Moderate impact.
QB Kyle Trask(Rd 2) – Little to no impact. Signed a second contract despite having never started a game.
OL Robert Hainsey(Rd 3) – Little impact. Didn’t play a snap until his 3rd year; Started all 17 games. Left after rookie contract expired.
WR Jaelon Darden(Rd 4)— Very little impact. Earned a role as a kick returner, but never developed as a big threat. Released after 2 seasons.
LB K.J. Britt(Rd 5) —Little impact. Started 4 games in his 3rd season and 11 games in his 4th and final season.
DB Chris Wilcox(Rd 7)— Didn’t make the team.
LB Grant Suard(Rd 7)— No impact. Appeared in 17 games on special teams in 2021. Traded for a 2023 6th Round Pick in 2022.
Assessment: With Brady still under center, Licht focused on retaining key pieces. The continuity helped, though some pricey deals didn’t age well. While many loved the thought of keeping the same formula that won the Super Bowl, it meant that, essentially, the team didn’t actually get better from a talent perspective.
2022: Veteran Fill-Ins Amid Cap Constraints
Notable Trades: 2022 5th-Round draft pick to New England for G Shaq Mason($1.1M/ $3M Cap Hit)
Free Agent Signings (6 total): DE Akiem Hicks(1yr, $8M), WR Russell Gage (3 yrs, $30M), WR Julio Jones(1yr, $6M), S Logan Ryan(1yr, $1.1M), TE Kyle Rudolph(1yr, $2M).
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$49.9M total.
Draft Class:
OL Luke Goedeke (Rd 2) , TE Cade Otton(Rd 4) – Starters, significant impact. Expected to be extended beyond rookie contracts.
DL Logan Hall (Rd 2), RB Rachaad White (Rd 3) – Both earned starter roles with solid contributions. While Hall may remain a starter throughout the 2025 season, White lost his spot as the talent pool was upgraded.
CB Zyon McCollum(Rd 5)-Worked his way into a full-time starting role in his 3rd year after filling in during his first two seasons. He’s shown that he belongs in the NFL as he’s one of the League’s top players in passes defended(breakups). Whether that’s enough for him to keep his starting role or not is one of the bigger questions heading into the 2025 season.
P Jake Camarda(Rd 4)- This is a case that needs to be studied. In his rookie year, he was one of the most outstanding rookies the BUCS have seen in recent years at any position. By his third season, his performance fell off a cliff, unlike anything I can remember. He was released with four games left in the 2024 season.
Assessment: This collection of free agent signings was a terrible look for Jason Licht’s track record. Even before injuries were a part of the story, talent assessment was highly questionable. Whether it was the lateral move from Ndamukong Suh to the more costly Akiem Hicks or the confusing decision to sign Russell Gage to such an expensive contract while paying both Evans and Godwin WR1 money, it was an ugly outcome for anyone who wanted to praise Licht for his team-building prowess.
The draft class produced some really foundational pieces in Goedeke and Cade Otton, as well as possible long-time role players in White and Hall.
2023: Rebuilding on a Budget
Notable Trades: None
Free Agent Signings (6 total): QB Baker Mayfield (1 yr, $4M), S Ryan Neal(1yr,$1.2M), K Chase McLaughlin (3 yrs, $12.3M), RB Chase Edmonds(1yr, $1.5M).
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$18M total.
Draft Class:
DT Calijah Kancey (Rd 1), OG Cody Mauch (Rd 2), EDGE YaYa Diaby (Rd 3)—1st year starters
WR Trey Palmer(Rd 6)—Solid, but limited WR who found lots of playing opportunities early, but will have to fight for a roster spot from now on.
LB SirVocea Dennis(Rd 5) –Showed lots of upside, especially when compared to the more experienced starter Kenny Britt. Injuries have taken lots of opportunities from him so far, but he still has a chance to earn a starting role.
Assessment: Mayfield showed that he could not only exist on a winning team but also be a catalyst. McLaughlin proved to be one of the most reliable special teams players in recent memory. Two years in, Kancey and Mauch look like foundational players on their respective sides of the ball.
2024: Early Signs and High Hopes
Notable Trades: None.
Free Agent Signings: OL Ben Bredeson(1 yr, $3M), DL Earnest Brown(1 yr, $930,278), OLB Randy Gregory(1yr, $3M), CB Bryce Hall(1yr, $1.1M), OL Lorenz Metz(1yr, $795K), G Sua Opeta(1yr, $1.3M), WR Sterling Shepard(1yr, $1.2M), CB Tavierre Thomas(1yr, $1.5M), WR Cody Thompson(1yr, $985K), S Jordan Whitehead(2yr, $9M)
Money Spent on Non-Drafted Players: ~$19M total
Draft Class:
C Graham Barton (Rd 1), WR Jalen McMillan (Rd 3), S Tykee Smith (Rd 3), RB Bucky Irving (Rd 4)— Immediate impact players
OLB Chris Braswell(Rd 2) TE Devin Culp(Rd 7)—Showed flashes of promise
G Elijah Klein(Rd 6)—No playing time to assess
Assessment: Four high-impact rookies and flashes of hope for two others from the draft class. Hard to ask anything more. By the numbers, free agency was a bit of a disappointment, seeing as how only two of the ten signees made a real impact. Much of that was due to injuries, not necessarily to poor play.