Takeaways from Jason Licht’s Press Conference at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

It is no secret that the Buccaneers are fast approaching an imperative draft that will dictate the team’s long-term aspirations. In an ideal scenario, the goal for any franchise is to draft well, develop well and re-sign the players that have been productive. However, reality often fosters a different outcome. The Bucs are currently $55 million over the cap and have 23 pending unrestricted free agents, including cornerback Jamel Dean, safety Mike Edwards, wide receiver Scotty Miller, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson – all of which became success stories for the Buccaneers. With the cap limitations, Tampa Bay will not be able to retain all of them. Every year, all 32 teams in the NFL have hits and misses among their draft selections. With the Bucs’ cap constraints entering 2023, drafting well is critical, garnering a “fun challenge” for Tampa Bay’s personnel department. Jason Licht offered his thoughts on the pressure ahead in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“It is going to be a very important draft. I wouldn’t say we go into any draft less ambitious to do well than you do others, so that has not changed but the challenge is out there for us. I have talked to all of our staff, and this is actually going to be a fun challenge. Right now, we can do some bargain shopping and we really have to nail the draft and try to find starters in different areas of the draft, which we think we can. This is the kind of stuff that gets the juices flowing for my staff right now.”

Tom Brady may have become synonymous with the term “ageless wonder,” however, many are forgetting the consistency and longevity of inside linebacker Lavonte David. The 33-year-old has repeatedly been underrated in the league but continues to play at a high level. In 2022, David graded as the No. 3 off-ball linebacker in the NFL per Pro Football Focus. On 96% of the Bucs’ defensive snaps in 2022, David accumulated 124 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and five passes defensed. His pursuit to the flat and quickness out of breaks, combined with his reaction skills, allowed him to meet players where they ultimately would be on screens, dump-offs, outside zone runs or jet sweeps. During his tenure, he established himself as one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL. Jason Licht gave the team’s longtime cornerstone defender his praise and voiced his desire to see David back in a Bucs’ jersey in 2023.

“He is one of the…