The Bucs didn’t land Professional Bowl edge rusher Trey Hendrickson in free company – and for a second, it stung.
However as common supervisor Jason Licht revealed throughout his Tuesday look on The Pat McAfee Present, that miss may very nicely have reshaped Tampa Bay’s offseason for the higher. After feeling “dejected” within the quick aftermath, Licht now sees a ripple impact that led on to the arrival of rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., a participant the group views as a possible “game wrecker.”
Jason Licht Shares That The Bucs Had been In Trey Hendrickson
Heading into the Bucs offseason, loads of dots related the workforce to Trey Hendrickson.
Ravens DE Trey Hendrickson – Photograph by: IMAGN Pictures
It was extra than simply typical hypothesis. The veteran go rusher checked a number of packing containers – from his constant double-digit sack manufacturing to his familiarity with the state of Florida, being born in Orlando, rising up in Apopka, to starring collegiately at Florida Atlantic College and sustaining ties to the state. Hendrickson’s match greater than made sense on paper, particularly given Tampa Bay’s clear want for a confirmed edge presence. Which is why, as Jason Licht later admitted, the workforce’s curiosity in Hendrickson was not smoke.
It was actual – till the NFL offseason took a unique flip with one commerce that didn’t occur triggering a league-wide ripple impact.
“Going back to free agency, when the Raiders and Ravens [Maxx Crosby] trade didn’t work out, I think that in some way helped us a little bit,” Licht stated. “I used to be a bit of afraid that if the Raiders made that commerce, [general manager John] Spytek and I are very shut. He was taunting me a bit of bit, ‘Hey, we’re sitting proper in entrance of you, and I do know what you want.’
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
“Then Crosby goes back to the Raiders, and the Ravens are sitting there again with their pick, and I know they love their edge rushers, too. That had me nervous. They took Vega [Ioane], which is an awesome pick… Maybe the fact that the Raiders signed [Tyler] Linderbaum helped us get Rueben, so we’re all trying to help each other out here. Especially the people that are good friends, so thanks, Spytek.”
With that commerce falling via, Baltimore pivoted from Crosby to Hendrickson, swooping in to signal the 31-year-old to a four-year, $112 million cope with $60 million assured. That led to them passing up on Bain to handle the inside offensive line, however that was not all that Licht needed to say about it, as he went on to volunteer extra unprompted info.
“Hendrickson being signed by the Ravens – we were in on that a little bit,” Licht added. “Felt a little bit dejected at first, but now maybe it worked in our favor. Not saying Rueben’s better than Hendrickson, but I’m saying now we got our draft pick that we’re all excited about. Everybody is excited about the shiny new toy.”
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. Is “A Problem, Not A Prototype”
With Rueben Bain Jr. falling to No. 15 with different groups, together with the Ravens, deciding to go in a unique route, he landed proper within the Bucs’ lap.
Bucs OLB Rueben Bain Jr. – Photograph by: IMAGN Pictures – Sam Navarro
Jason Licht advised Pat McAfee that he waited about 15-20 seconds to see if any commerce gives would are available in earlier than he couldn’t assist himself and despatched the decide in. After being requested about Bain’s brief arms and in the event that they have been seen as any sort of deterrent, Licht shared why he was greater than comfy taking a participant who does match the everyday mould of an outdoor go rusher.
“Everybody’s got a prototype,” Licht stated. “And we kind of viewed him as a problem, not a prototype… We just saw him as a game wrecker at the college level. He still has to prove himself at our level; we’re excited to get started. If you can’t play with short arms, then obviously, the tackles in the ACC, Big Ten, and the playoffs they played in didn’t get that memo.”
“Everybody’s got a prototype. And we kind of viewed him as a problem, not a prototype. … We just saw him as a game wrecker.”
From the onset, Bain’s position offers him the possibility to be a key difference-maker alongside the entrance seven. He’s anticipated to be the workforce’s No. 2 go rusher behind Yaya Diaby, and people two paired with defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey create a promising go speeding quartet heading into the season.
The Bucs confirmed final season that – at their full potential – they will compete with the cream of the crop within the NFC.
Beginning 6-2 showcased the workforce’s capacity and resilience to play via accidents early on earlier than the downward spiral started. Nothing went proper within the second half of the season, however Licht nonetheless believes this squad can flip it round and get again to a Tremendous Bowl trajectory.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and GM Jason Licht – Photograph by: Scott Reynolds/PR
“Well, knock on wood, we have to stay healthy on offense,” Licht stated. “Proper now, we’re trying superb there. I feel after we’re wholesome, we’ve got one of many higher offensive traces within the league. Very, very proud of that. Final yr, we went via a variety of accidents alongside the offensive line, had a variety of completely different mixtures there with each tackles being damage, Cody Mauch being out many of the yr, Ben Bredeson being damage in some unspecified time in the future. Graham Barton, our heart, was the one one which performed each [snap] on the complete offense.
“To have that offensive line, to get that run game going again, and then keeping Baker [Mayfield] healthy, that’s going to make a huge difference.”
Ought to the offense get again to its high-scoring methods, a lot of the workforce’s success will hinge on the strides made defensively. Bain will play a giant half in that equation, however so too will the returns of Kancey, outdoors linebacker David Walker, and the entire new signings and draft picks.
“Last year when we lost Calijah, that was huge,” Licht added. “We lost a rookie who we were expecting some really good things for the whole year [in Walker], and now with the additions we have made. We kind of made a bit of a concerted effort to add to that defense, get our pass rush going, and bring in some versatile pieces that Todd likes to use in blitz packages. It was one of those drafts where we were able to accomplish the things we wanted, which made me feel very good at the end.”
Tampa Bay didn’t land the confirmed veteran go rusher they explored signing in Hendrickson. They did stroll away from the 2026 NFL Draft with a participant they view as disruptive, ascending, and able to reshaping a defensive entrance.
Internally, there is no such thing as a debate over how every part performed out.
The Bucs fell in need of touchdown Trey Hendrickson.
In Rueben Bain Jr., they might have discovered one thing extra.
