Jason Licht has mastered what plenty of NFL general managers could never grasp and it’s helped the Buccaneers roster for 12 years
Most of the talk about roster-building is centered around free agency and the draft. Well, there’s another known, but lesser-heralded strategy that Jason Licht has really figured out during his time with the Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolled to a preseason Week 1 victory on Friday night, but the biggest takeaway wasn’t the final score.
Two undrafted free agent rookies stole the show, and their performances are the latest evidence that general manager Jason Licht has a legitimate gift for finding UDFA talent that sticks on the Buccaneers’ roster. Cornerback Ayden Garnes out of Virginia and outside linebacker Jack Pyburn out of Florida put on a clinic, and while I hate this saying, it’s time to give Licht and his front office their flowers.
Garnes lived up to the training camp hype with a pick-6 and a couple of other standout plays, including a tackle for loss. Pyburn led the Buccaneers with two sacks. Both players flashed a strong ability to make big plays, regardless of the competition.
On a quick side note: go watch both of their post-practice press conference interviews from Monday. You talk about wanting to run through a brick wall? Those two have the kind of energy and mindset that gets you fired up about the direction of their potential contributions to the Buccaneers.
Jason Licht’s UDFA-Buccaneers pipeline has been elite for over a decade
Those two performances shouldn’t surprise anyone who has been paying attention to Jason Licht’s track record since he took over in as Buccaneers GM.
It all started in 2014 with Cameron Brate, who eventually finished second among all Buccaneers tight ends in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Then came Adam Humphries, who parlayed his success into a four-year, $36 million deal with the Tennessee Titans in 2019. Peyton Barber followed in 2016 and led the team in rushing in 2018 with over 800 yards and five touchdowns. Three straight years, three starters. That’s remarkable for undrafted players.
Flash forward to 2022 and the hits keep coming. Deven Thompkins carved out a nice gadget role at receiver and returned kicks during his two years in Tampa Bay. The 2023 class, though, is where things really took off. Five players from that single UDFA group made meaningful contributions. Long snapper Evan Deckers is still the team’s guy at the position. Running back Sean Tucker has shown over the past two seasons that he can carry a game or two if needed. His performance against the Bills last year (140 total yards and three touchdowns on 21 touches) is exactly the type of showing that makes you want to give an RB3 more touches.
Christian Izien stepped right in with two interceptions in his first two NFL games, including a crucial pick of Kirk Cousins in the 2023 opener in Minnesota. He was the Swiss Army knife of the defensive backfield for a few years, playing inside, outside, and safety before earning a new opportunity with the Detroit Lions.
Kaevon Merriweather started some games and provided solid depth over a couple of years, and Luke Haggard is still on the team fighting for a backup role on the interior offensive line. Five contributors from one UDFA class. The chances of pulling that off are incredibly low, but Licht found a way.
The 2024 class added more names. Kam Johnson is finding his footing as a receiver and showed real pop as a returner last year. Rashad Wisdom has been a depth guy since his arrival.
2025 UDFA Benjamin Chukwuma started two games and looks like the Buccaneers’ swing tackle of the future. John Bullock made the 53-man roster, spent some time with the Indianapolis Colts, and returned. JJ Roberts unfortunately got hurt during last year’s camp but returned to practice on Monday, and Licht himself said a few months ago that Roberts is a guy to watch.
Coach Todd Bowles even spoke about it recently, praising how the front office finds the right talent and the right mindset for what Tampa Bay wants to do. That’s the common thread here. These aren’t Pro Bowlers, and no one expects them to be. But when you can reach that far into the barrel and consistently pull out serviceable contributors who end up starting games, you have to tip your cap.
Now add Garnes, Pyburn, and even Caden Fordham to the mix. Bowles said on Monday that Fordham really stood out to him on Friday night and had a heck of a game. Keep your eyes on these UDFA rookies, because their status could look very different come Week 1.
