By Blessing 
Remember when the Detroit Lions had one of the NFL’s most electric offenses and a winning record in 2022? Despite their success, they didn’t sit back. Instead, they doubled down, using early draft capital on running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round and tight end Sam LaPorta in the second.
Talk about adding firepower.
That bold move paid off. Those two rookies were instant-impact players who helped elevate Detroit’s offense even further. By the following season, they were averaging 33 points per game on their way to an impressive 15-win campaign.
It’s a compelling reminder—sometimes even a good offense needs more fuel.
That’s worth keeping in mind now, especially after Buccaneers general manager and Ring of Honor member Jason Licht hinted that Tampa Bay could be looking to add some juice on offense in this year’s NFL Draft. During a recent chat on WDAE Radio, Licht acknowledged the Bucs have offensive needs heading into April.
But, as always with draft season, it’s not just about what’s said—it’s how it’s said. Licht’s tone was particularly candid when discussing how the team approaches its draft board.
“If you try to stack your [draft] board by the needs of your team, what you end up doing, and speaking from experience, you end up pushing up players that don’t belong in the higher rounds up,” Licht explained. “And you end up taking them because you have that need. And you’re kicking yourself later when you cut [them] after a year or two — that you wish you would have taken the other player.”
Classic draft-season smokescreen? Possibly. Maybe Licht is leaning back with a grin, cigar in hand, enjoying the annual game of misdirection all general managers play this time of year.
Still, Licht didn’t shy away when asked about which positions in this year’s draft class offer the most depth—especially when it comes to the trenches.
“It’s deep at running back but we’re pretty good there (laughs),” he said. “It’s a very deep group [in the draft] at running back. You know, there’s a lot of depth at interior defensive line, which would be good to—” he paused, seemingly catching himself. “You know, it’s always good to have great depth and be able to sub in waves [on] that defensive line. And we’ve seen that in recent years in the Super Bowl; the Eagles had unbelievable depth at defensive line this year.”
Reading between the lines, Licht might have his eye on fortifying the middle of his defense. With veteran defensive tackle Vita Vea hitting 30 and not known for high snap counts, and with Calijah Kancey missing time last season, defensive line depth could be a quiet priority.
Then again, it all comes down to picking the right guy.
“It’s just about making sure you take the right player,” Licht said simply.
And with the draft fast approaching, the intrigue only builds.