Bucs GM Jason Licht On Jordan Whitehead’s Departure: “I Was Improper”

Bucs CB Jordan Whitehead – Picture courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht not too long ago joined the Free Cannons Podcast and spoke about a variety of matters. Among the many many matters mentioned Licht was requested about his emotions on the group reuniting with security Jordan Whitehead. The Bucs signed Whitehead to a two-year, $9 million contract this offseason after Whitehead spent the earlier two years in New York with the Jets.

In a second of utmost candor Licht mentioned, “With Jordan, it was a Mea culpa. We had to attract the road in some unspecified time in the future. And I made a mistake. I’m glad we received him again. It was a mistake that I regretted the minute we let him stroll. Fortunately, I had an opportunity to get him again. And no one’s happier than him, [safeties coach] Nick Rapone, [head coach] Todd Bowles, myself. He’s going to make a huge impact for us this yr.”

Jordan Whitehead Huge Half Of Bucs Tremendous Bowl Success

After Jason Licht drafted Jordan Whitehead within the fourth spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft, the previous Pitt Panther ascended to the beginning lineup by his second season. In 2020 Whitehead had his greatest season to that time in his profession, grading out from the soccer grading web site Professional Soccer Focus with a 66.3 total grade and 63.7 protection grade. Whitehead completed his rookie contract with the Bucs with an excellent higher season in 2021 with a 74.9 total grade and 72.2 protection grade.

Whitehead paired with Antoine Winfield Jr. to create among the finest security tandems within the NFL and the Bucs secondary that he was an enormous a part of helped shut down Kansas Metropolis’s vaunted passing assault within the Tremendous Bowl that yr, stopping them from scoring a single landing. Whitehead recorded two tackles and was not focused in protection.

After amassing 292 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, two sacks, 5 interceptions, 25 passes defensed, two compelled fumbles, and two fumbles recovered Whitehead and the Bucs have been unable to return to an settlement on a second contract and the protection departed in free company. He signed a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the New York Jets.

Bucs Security Play Struggled After Whitehead

Tampa Bay initially tried to fill the void Jordan Whitehead left with an inner promotion, pushing Mike Edwards from a rotational position to the beginning security spot reverse Antoine Winfield Jr. in 2022. Edwards contributed 82 tackles, one sack, three passes defensed and two interceptions. The hope from the group was that whereas Edwards would quit among the hard-hitting imposing presence that Whitehead supplied in favor of extra turnovers. However that didn’t fairly come to fruition as Edwards’ interception complete did not eclipse Whitehead’s in every of the earlier two seasons.

Edwards would additionally depart Tampa Bay for Kansas Metropolis following the 2022 season. After a yr during which neither Keanu Neal nor Logan Ryan proved to be higher than Edwards, the Bucs tried to herald an under-the-radar free agent in Ryan Neal final yr. The outcomes of that acquisition have been disappointing as Neal struggled mightily and finally was changed within the beginning lineup by a rotation of Kaevon Merriweather, Dee Delaney and Zyon McCollum.

After watching a secondary that has struggled at occasions since his departure whereas concurrently seeing Whitehead thrive as part of among the finest defenses within the NFL, Licht had an opportunity this low season to rectify a self-admitted mistake and convey dwelling his Tremendous Bowl security. With a flooded security market that included Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, Xavier McKinney, Kevin Byard and Geno Stone Licht was ready to take action at a lowered price-tag that Tampa Bay might afford.