Bucs’ Jason Licht Gets Slighted Heavily In GM Rankings

Bucs general manager Jason Licht has spent more than a decade building one of the NFL’s most stable rosters. But according to a recent set of rankings from Patrick Daugherty of NBC Sports, he’s still not even a top 10 general manager.

In the latest GM rankings released by NBC Sports, Licht came in at No. 12, a placement that raised eyebrows considering his resume and sustained success in Tampa Bay. The critique largely centered around his record without Tom Brady, noting that the Buccaneers haven’t reached elite win totals in the post-Brady era and have only one playoff victory without the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Jason Licht Not Ranked As A Top 10 GM Is Surprising…And Wrong

Here’s what Daugherty said about Jason Licht:

“Jason Licht has been on the job 12 years. The number of times he’s won more than 10 games without the greatest player in league history? Zero. In fact, Licht has one total playoff victory without Mr. Thomas Brady. Of course, it came three years ago immediately following TB12’s retirement. In fact, Licht has had his best non-Brady stretch since the GOAT hung up his cleats. The problem is, that “best stretch” has been nine, 10 and eight victories. Far from terrible.”

“Also far from inspiring, especially in the sleepy NFC South. There isn’t much reason to expect any near-term revelations. The defense is old and in need of a talent infusion. Admittedly, Rueben Bain is a good start there. Baker Mayfield is a credible option at quarterback, but not a 5-10 year solution. Coach Todd Bowles is solid but not winning any Xs and Os battles. Mike Evans is gone, Chris Godwin is aging … you get the picture. Licht needs something big to happen. Maybe Bain can be that player for 2026. But with another Brady not walking through that door, Licht needs several Bains to emerge, not just one.”

There are some valid points in this conversation, although to not have him in the top 10 is part of a stretch. There’s no doubt that the Bucs should probably have capitalized more from a down NFC South division. Yes, Licht had one season of more than 10 wins, but doesn’t he deserve credit for bringing Tom Brady in the first place?

Licht is the architect of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV roster and has continued to keep the team competitive even after Brady’s retirement. His ability to transition from a championship core into a new era — while still contending for division titles — is something few general managers have pulled off successfully. Shouldn’t he get credit for keeping the team afloat when Brady left and Baker Mayfield arrived?

The general manager in Tampa Bay has an item that many others don’t on this list: a Super Bowl ring.

Why The Criticism Of Jason Licht And Bucs Isn’t All Legitimate

While it’s completely fair to question Todd Bowles and the defensive struggles, the criticism over the offense is a bit puzzling. Baker Mayfield just turned 31, and to say he’s not a 5-10-year solution when quarterbacks play into their 40s these days doesn’t add up. It’s perfectly reasonable to suggest that Mayfield could be playing very well five years from now at age 36.

A reference was made to the wide receiver room with Chris Godwin Jr. aging, but fails to acknowledge that the Bucs have tons of young players waiting in the wings with Jalen McMillan going into year three, Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johson heading into year two, and Tampa Bay drafting Ted Hurst in the third round of this year’s draft. By the way, Egbuka was a finalist in voting for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors last year and should only develop more this season.

Compared to other rankings, the No. 12 slot feels even more questionable. Licht has been placed as high as the top 10 in other recent evaluations, reinforcing the idea that his body of work is widely respected across the league.

At the end of the day, Licht’s accomplishments stack up with just about anyone – a Super Bowl championship, multiple division titles and a roster that continues to evolve. If anything, being ranked outside the top 10 says more about the volatility of offseason lists than it does about the job he’s done in Tampa Bay.

And if the Bucs take another step forward this season, don’t be surprised if Licht quickly climbs back up where many believe he already belongs.