Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM on D.J. Humphries: Arizona Cardinals have ‘got a great future there with him’
May 12, 2015, 10:29 AM | Updated: 10:29 am
Jason Licht was named the general manager of the Tampa Buccaneers on January 21, 2014.
Before that he was the director of player personnel and then the vice president for personnel in Arizona with the Cardinals.
So he knows a little bit about the team’s troubles in trying to build an offensive line.
Of course, the last couple years has seen the team’s front five undergo a considerable transformation, with pricey free agent additions as well as top draft picks making up most of the group.
The most recent addition, rookie D.J. Humphries out of Florida, is someone Licht says Arizona will be happy with.
“We had him up there now,” he said when asked where the Bucs had Humphries, who went 24th overall to the Cardinals in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. “The Cardinals got a great player.
“Steve (Keim) and Bruce (Arians) and Goody (offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin) and the scouts there, they know what they’re looking at. This guy has got great feet. Thought he’s the most athletic, if not, very close to being the most athletic lineman in the draft. You’ve got a great future there with him.”
Humphries was one of 24 tackles selected over the course of the three-day draft, and the fifth to be taken following Brandon Scherff (Washington Redskins), Ereck Flowers (New York Giants), Andrus Peat (New Orleans Saints) and Cedric Ogbuehi (Cincinnati Bengals).
The Cardinals have said the plan is to have Humphries, who played left tackle in college, compete at right tackle. Fourth-year pro Bobby Massie started every game there last season, though the 6-foot-5, 307-pound Humphries said he is ready to step in and contribute right now.