GRONK is a Buccaneer, What's Next For Tampa?

This is truly the most bizarre timeline.

Tom Brady is a Buccaneer. Gronk is a Buccaneer. Meanwhile the Patriots would be starting Jarett Stidham and Ryan Izzo at QB and TE if the season started tomorrow.

On one hand, the Patriots had no other option. Gronk was never going to play for them, and they managed to get a modest return for the veteran. But my condolences to Patriots fans, many of which have got to be asking themselves why this reunion couldn't have happened in New England.

But for Bucs fans, this has got to be exhilarating. Maybe it won't work. Maybe it'll all blow it up in their face. Maybe Gronk and Brady are too old and washed up to be successful in 2020. But the entire Tampa Bay franchise has adopted the attitude Head Coach Bruce Arians has always preached.

"No Risk It, No Biscuit."

I've never seen a team attack a Super Bowl window this aggressively. They clearly saw the team's potential this past season. The 2019 Buccaneers were a team about 10 Jameis Winston turnovers from a playoff spot. And when the opportunity to bring Brady in was put on their plate, Licht and Arians dialed up a deep shot. They attacked.

And now, depending on how Draft Night goes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have to be considered a legitimate favorite in the NFC.

So what needs to happen next?

Either Restructure Gronk's contract, or trade OJ Howard

With the trade for Gronk, the Bucs have absorbed Gronk's $10 million cap hit. That leaves them less than $4 million left in cap space, which is not even enough to sign their draft class as it stands.

A restructure on the 31-year-old tight end makes sense, but they are lacking leverage. Gronk has no reason to restructure, unless he's really dead set on getting Brady another Super Bowl rather than his own financial gain. Maybe he'll give the Bucs a discount, but I think it's unlikely.

This leaves OJ Howard. OJ was reportedly already on the trade block before the Gronk move, and you have to imagine he'll be a major target now. He's got some solid trade value being a recent 1st round pick; and even with a down season in 2019, Howard has produced at the NFL level.

Especially with a lackluster Tight End class, and the relative difficulty of getting a rookie Tight End to produce in their first year, the trade market for Howard could be lucrative. Ironically enough, New England makes a ton of sense to trade for Howard. Another team to watch could be Indianapolis, which lacks draft capital but traditionally likes 2-TE sets and is a bit starved for quality offensive play makers outside of Jack Doyle and TY Hilton.

Double Down. Make the move for an OT

There's no time for patience. There's no time for building for the future. You're building a contender RIGHT NOW. And the biggest remaining hole on the roster is protecting Brady's blindside. And the only way to guarantee that you grab a starting quality tackle is to continue to stay aggressive and make the move up.

It's beginning to look less and less likely by the moment that one of the Top 4 Offensive Tackles will be available by pick #14 for Tampa Bay. And while the quartet of Jedrick WIlls, Tristian Wirfs, Andrew Thomas, and Mekhi Becton are considered Day 1 starters, the drop off to the rest of the class is pretty steep. Arizona at #8 and Jacksonville at #9 are their best shot for finding a trade partner, as both appear to be open to the possibility at the right price. The draft slot also makes sense, as it guarantees they get out in front of the tackle-needy Browns and Jets at pick #10 and #11 respectively.

Draft a Dynamic Running Back

The offensive skill talent in Tampa is elite at every position except Running Back, where Ronald Jones has proven to be a rotational option at best. They need a runner capable of being an offensive focal point and complementary piece depending on the situation.

Assuming they can hang on to their second round pick in their trade negotiations, there are premier players at the position that will be available at #45. The prohibitive favorite should be Deandre Swift from Georgia, who's receiving ability out of the backfield makes for a perfect fit for Brady, but might not be on the board at #45. FSU homers like myself are rooting for a guy like Cam Akers, who showed incredible ability and toughness behind the worst OL in College Football his past two seasons, and may have the highest upside of the bunch.

My guy for the Bucs at #45 though? Jonathan Taylor from Wisconsin. The guy is the best pure runner in this draft, and a dynamic receiver out of the backfield even if he's not as polished as a guy like Swift. He's an unbelievable talent, who's only real red flag is long term durability. Taylor had a whopping 926 carries in his three years for the Badgers, and scouts worry about whether there's still tread on his tires.

But we don't care about his longevity remember? Tampa wants a Super Bowl THIS YEAR.

Who cares if Jonathan Taylor can barely walk by the time he reaches his second contract? You're in it to win it NOW. He's the most complete player available for the next two seasons, and that's what your drafting for. Everything else after that is gravy.

Final Thoughts:

I'm excited for Bucs fans. It is going to be absolutely crippling if the franchise doesn't cash out after sliding all their chips in for 2020, but how many teams of milquetoast franchises wouldn't take the opportunity in front of the Bucs right now. This team is either gonna shine bright, or crash and burn; but I promise you its never going to be boring.

Shoot your shot Tampa. In the words of your Head Coach:

"No Risk It, No Biscuit"