Jason Licht Reveals 3 Bucs Players He Can’t Wait To See In Pads

Bucs general manager Jason Licht joined the Pewter Report Podcast on Thursday and answered a multitude of questions about the team heading into the 2024 season. One of those questions that Licht provided some insight on was which under-the-radar players he was most excited to see in pads come training camp.

Last year, Pewter Report identified undrafted free agent Markees Watts, an outside linebacker out of Charlotte, as a player who created a buzz during the rookie mini-camp and the OTAs. Sure enough, when the pads came on in training camp, Watts showed enough to make the 53-man roster as the sixth outside linebacker. He even beat out sixth-round draft pick Jose Ramirez, who spent his rookie season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad.

Watts saw very little playing time on defense, but was a mainstay on special teams when he was active on game days. Yet he recorded a sack as a rookie and his hit on Titans quarterback Will Levis forced an interception by All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Watts also had the highest pass rush win rate for all edge rushers in Tampa Bay last year at 23.1% on just 27 pass rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr.and OLB Markees Watts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Watts shined last offseason, he apparently has done so again in the first week of OTAs in Tampa Bay. Although the Bucs have a suddenly crowded outside linebacker room full of competition with YaYa Diaby, Randy Gregory, Chris Braswell, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson and Ramirez, Watts is firmly in the mix for a roster spot in 2024, according to Licht.

“Markees is a one to keep an eye on,” Licht said. “He’s put on some really good weight, looks bigger and stronger, but still just cat-like quickness coming off the corner. And his bend and how low he plays to the ground is phenomenal.”

The 6-foot-1 Watts played last year at 246 pounds but is currently a few pounds heavier at over 250 pounds thanks to his offseason training.

Jason Licht Names 2 Bucs Skill Position Players, Too

But Markees Watts wasn’t the only name that Jason Licht mentioned when it came to players who caught his eye during the offseason program. The Bucs general manager also named two offensive players from last year’s rookie class in tight end Payne Durham and wide receiver Trey Palmer.

Bucs WRs Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins and TE Payne Durham – Photo by: USA Today

“Payne has looked like looks like he’s gained some quickness and some speed and some strength,” Licht said. “So I’m really excited to see him this year. And as you know, he made some phenomenal catches last year. I think he’s going to [step up].”

Durham, a fifth-round pick, was a seldom-used backup tight end last year, and contributed five catches for 58 yards, including a career-long 25-yarder against Jacksonville on Christmas Eve. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Durham also had an 18-yard reception against Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.

Licht also mentioned Palmer, who spent much of his rookie season as the team’s third wide receiver when Russell Gage was lost for the year in August with a torn ACL in training camp. Palmer, a sixth-round pick. Palmer caught 39 passes for 385 yards (9.9 avg.) and three touchdowns playing opposite Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. He also had three catches for 88 yards in the postseason, including a career-long 56-yard touchdown in the Wild Card win over the Eagles.

“Trey Palmer looks like he’s taking a little bit of a step up too,” Licht said. “Those are the guys I’m kind of excited to see progress here as we get in through training camp.”

Watch Bucs GM Jason Licht On The Pewter Report Podcast

To hear everything that Tampa Bay G.M. Jason Licht had to say about the current roster, check out his nearly hour-long appearance on Thursday’s Pewter Report Podcast by clicking the link below.

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