BY IRA KAUFMAN

The overseeer of five drafts as general manager of the Buccaneers, Jason Licht has been rewarded by ownership with a contract for a sixth season.

Multiple sources confirm that Licht now has a deal in place to remain with Tampa Bay at least through 2019.

At the NFL owners meetings in March, Bucs co-owner Joel Glazer lauded the infusion of young talent Licht has stockpiled.

“I think one of the positive signs in any situation is re-signing your own players,” Glazer said. “And when you start getting on a trend that you’re re-signing your own players, that means you are drafting well. If you’re drafting well, generally that means you’re going to start having success.

“So you saw Cameron Brate and Mike Evans [re-signed]. We got a couple of young guys with contracts that are coming up that we know we’re going to want to keep. So that to me is the most positive sign of, you know, what’s happening with the general manager.”

Licht, 47, replaced Mark Dominik as GM in 2014, a few weeks after Lovie Smith was named head coach. In his first draft as head of football operations, Licht selected Evans, who has posted at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four pro seasons.

In 2015, the Bucs drafted four starters — Jameis Winston, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet and Kwon Alexander. When Lovie Smith was dismissed at the end of that season, the Glazers entrusted Licht to oversee the head coaching search and Dirk Koetter was promoted from offensive coordinator.

The 2017 haul includes O.J. Howard, Justin Evans, Chris Godwin and Kendell Beckwith. All four played prominent roles as rookies.

“Jason Licht was a big influence in my career,” says Lions GM Bob Quinn, who worked with Licht in New England. “What Jason instilled in me was hard work, continuing to look for different attributes of a player, whether they can fit your scheme or not. When he got his opportunity as a GM, I knew he would be successful.”

Now in his 40th year covering the NFL, Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in the Tampa Bay area. He scored a full-time seat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters in July of 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays at 5 p.m. during football season. Also a TV star, see Ira now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday NFL show and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, tennis, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.