Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht appeared on the Pewter Report podcast on Thursday to answer a variety of questions regarding the team heading into the 2024 season. One of the questions Licht answered was which under-the-radar player he’s most excited to see put on the pads come training camp.
Last year, Pewter Report identified undrafted free agent Marquise Watts. Watts was the outside linebacker out of Charlotte who garnered buzz during rookie minicamp and OTAs. Sure enough, once he put on the pads in training camp, Watts showed enough to earn a spot on 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 little playing time on defense but was a mainstay on special teams on his game days, but still recorded a sack as a rookie and forced an interception by All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. on a hit on Titans quarterback Will Revis. Watts had the best pass-rush win percentage of any Tampa Bay edge rusher last year at 23.1% on just 27 pass-rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Buccaneers FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and OLB Marquise Watts – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Watts shined last offseason and looked to shine again in Week 1 of OTAs with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers suddenly have a crowded outside linebacker position with competition from Yaya Diaby, Randy Gregory, Chris Braswell, Joe Tryon Soyinka, Anthony Nelson and Ramirez, but Licht said Watts is a sure bet to make the 2024 roster.
“Marquise is one to watch,” Richt said, “He’s put on a lot of weight and looks bigger and stronger, but he’s quick as a cat coming out of the corners, and his bending and low to the ground are phenomenal.”
The 6-foot-1 Watts played at 246 pounds last year, but thanks to offseason training he’s now put on a few pounds and is north of 250 pounds.
Jason Licht also named two Buccaneers skill position players.
But Mark Watts wasn’t the only player Jason Licht named as having his eye on during the offseason program. The Buccaneers general manager also named two offensive players from last year’s rookie class, tight end Payne Durham and wide receiver. Trey Palmer.
Buccaneers WRs Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins, TE Payne Durham – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“Payne seems to have developed quickness, speed and strength,” Licht said. “So I’m really excited about what he’s done this year. And, you know, he made some phenomenal catches last year. [step up]. “
Durham, a fifth-round pick, was a backup tight end who was barely used last year, but he caught five passes for 58 yards, including the longest of his career, a 25-yarder, on Christmas Eve against Jacksonville. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Durham also caught an 18-yard pass in the first round of the playoffs against Philadelphia.
Licht also spoke about Palmer, who spent most of his rookie season as the team’s third wide receiver, due to the absence of Russell Gage, who tore his ACL during training camp in August. Palmer, a sixth-round pick, had 39 catches for 385 yards (9.9 average) and three touchdowns while playing opposite Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. He also had three catches for 88 yards in the postseason, including a 56-yard touchdown run that was the longest of his career, in the Wild Card win over the Eagles.
“Trey Palmer seems to be developing a little bit as well,” Licht said. “It’s going to be exciting to watch those guys develop as training camp goes on.”
Listen to Buccaneers GM Jason Licht on the Pewter Report podcast
To hear everything Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht had to say about the current roster, click the link below to check out his nearly hour-long appearance on Thursday’s Pewter Report podcast.
