Short window?

Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter had a cool saying when the NFL trade deadline passed each season. And it seems to apply to the Bucs currently.

“Our guys are our guys,” Koetter would say. The suggestion was that it is highly unlikely a stud player can be found on the sidewalk late in an NFL season. So the Bucs will pretty much win and lose with who was on the roster.

Dan Pizzuta of The33rdTeam.com seems to think Koetter’s words could be used with the Bucs right now. And that makes them the slimy Saints.

With the financial commitments and age of some key players, the Buccaneers are kind of like the Saints in that they’re in with this version of the roster. Unlike the Saints, there is a bit more upside in those players.

This idea is sort of related to an article Joe typed last week about perception. The perception is, that the Bucs, while they did a good job of keeping their talent, what did they do to improve in free agency? Joe doesn’t think that question is unfair.

And Pizzuta seems to think the Bucs are in a win-now mode. Joe doesn’t fully disagree. Just look at the contracts.

Mike Evans is on a two-year deal. Baker Mayfield is on a three-year deal but there is a big-time get-out-of-jail card for the Bucs after the second year.

Lavonte David is on a one-year deal. Chris Godwin’s a free agent next spring. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is likely entering his final year of his contract (does anyone expect the Bucs to trigger his fifth-year option?).

So as you can see many critical puzzle pieces for the Bucs are on short-term deals. This is why Joe was so bananas for Haason Reddick. Sure, the Bucs could and maybe should draft another edge rusher, but rarely do rookie edge rushers make a difference. The Bucs need production now.

So yeah, Joe thinks the Bucs are beginning a two-year window. As a result, the future is now.