The legend of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht takes many forms.
The 2025 free agency siren goes off in 24 days and former Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis, a Bucs Super Bowl champ and a Licht 2018 second-round draft pick, is going to get a fat new contract somehwere.
Lots of former Licht draft picks are making money around the league.
Another Bucs Super Bowl-winning corner drafted in 2019, Sean Murphy-Bunting, is entering Year 2 of his fancy three-year deal with the Cardinals. He’s well-liked in Arizona, where he had a strong second half of last season that included three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Late last year, Murphy-Bunting was asked by Cardinals team media to talk about the “secret sauce” that makes a Super Bowl winner. It’s an obsession in Arizona, where they’ve never brought home Lombardi trophy.
SMB had a very Bucs-Bowles sounding answer.
“The secret sauce I would say is staying together. You gotta stay together. You gotta win when it matters. … November, December, January, playoff football, you gotta be on the same page,” Murphy-Bunting said. “The camaraderie goes a long way. And just being able to show up every single day and work and know what you’re working for. Not getting complacent with it, and just kind of understanding it’s always bigger than you.”
Todd Bowles and current Bucs players put a lot of team success on the camaraderie SMB mentioned. Players will say it’s what kept the Bucs together through the traditional Bowles-Bucs midseason lull that ends with a quality run and a division title.
That unity also is a reason Joe thinks the Bucs often turn back to former players in times of need. And it’s why Joe thinks versatile safety Mike Edwards returning (again) in free agency this year along with Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett is very much on Licht’s mind.
