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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed their new general manager Jason Licht to a four-year deal, with a fifth-year team option, according to Adam Schefter. That's identical to Lovie Smith's reported contract length, which means their destinies are likely married going forward. As we've continually said, the key to this structure working will be the working relationship between Smith and Licht.
Interestingly, Mike Jurecki was told last week that Licht would only take a job if it was the right fit. The Miami Dolphins also interviewed Licht, and it appears that Licht felt the Bucs presented a better opportunity -- or perhaps he was never offered the Miami job in the first place. Tough to say.
Regardless, Licht has a lot of work to do. He'll have to make personnel decisions, evaluate the roster, free agency class and draft prospects, all the while evaluating the members of his front office. Usually hirings and firings in front office don't start until after the draft. One person he could lose prematurely would be Dennis Hickey, director of player personnel, who interviewed for the Miami Dolphins' general manager job last week.
