Much has been made and assumed about the current Buccaneers running back room, from the future of Ronald Jones III and free agent-to-be Peyton Barber to when the team could select a back in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Tuesday’s press conferences with Bruce Arians and Jason Licht added some clarity to the Bucs offseason plans at the position, including qualities the team may be looking to add to their current group. Several comments about Ronald Jones indicated the team likes him as a pure runner and are excited about his growth this past season, but he still has room to continue to improve.

“I don’t think there is any doubt (on if Jones can carry the load),” Arians said. “He needs to continue to improve as a receiver and as a pass blocker, but running the football – he’s solid.

Bucs RB Ronald Jones II – Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images

While Jones definitely can continue to make strides in pass protection and even as a route runner to be a more diverse threat in the Bucs offense (perhaps split out wide or in the slot more often), he did take steps in the right direction even last season. Jones caught 31 of 40 targets for 309 yards and 12 first downs, including averaging 10 yards per catch, which ranked 4th in the league among running backs with at least 20 catches.

“We think he’s got tremendous talent still,” Licht said. “He made huge strides, obviously, coming from a rookie year that he’d like to forget to having 1,000 yards combined. I think he’s still scratching the surface and he’s getting better and better. Some players develop quickly and some players still need a little bit of time. We saw the difference in his confidence last year just the way he carried himself, not just on the field but in the building too, and we’re expecting him to be even better this year.”

Still, it remains likely that the Bucs will address the running back position at some point in the draft, quite possibly even on day two. I asked Arians about the traits and skills he focuses on when scouting running backs, and his answer was telling.

“For me, you can see them all run, I want to see them catch,” Arians said. “College football right now – they don’t do a lot of pass blocking, so that’s always a big step for them. Can they be a receiver? That separates guys from having to come off the field.

“I’ve had Christian Okoye, who led the league in rushing, but he never played third down. Edgerrin James never came off the field. Marshall Faulk never came off the field. For me, I’m looking for that type of guy – a David Johnson type of guy. I can’t use his name (because Johnson is not yet a free agent), but that skill set.”

As much as the Bucs like Jones, there is no question that this is not what his skill set offers the team, at least right now. To me, it suggests not only is the team interested in drafting a running back who can assist in the passing game, maybe split out wide/in the slot and pass protect, but that they also aren’t satisfied with what they are getting out of the current room.

LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Photo by: Getty Images

Now that doesn’t mean they’ll go for a running back in the second round, but there will certainly be plenty of backs capable of contributing in the passing game early in their NFL careers. LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire is sure to generate interest, as an outstanding pass protector who caught 55 balls for 453 yards and a score this past season, working both from the slot and from the backfield.

Georgia’s D’Andre Swift could be another option at No. 45. The junior caught 73 passes for 666 yards and five touchdowns during his three seasons at Georgia, often showing the ability to run a more diverse route tree and be a play-maker with the ball in his hands.

A semi-sneaky option, if he’s still available, is Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor. One of the junior’s biggest knocks heading into the 2019 season was his lack of impact as a receiver with just 16 career catches, but Taylor’s 26 grabs for 252 yards and five scores last year did something to alleviate the concerns. He also might be the best pure rusher in the draft, and certainly has the size the Bucs prefer at the position.

There really aren’t receiving concerns with many of the top backs in this year’s draft, at least in terms of opportunity and production. Along with Swift, Edwards-Helaire and Taylor, J.K. Dobbins, Zack Moss and Cam Akers have all produced as receivers, which could indicate a level of depth in the class that will push the Bucs interest into Day 3.

Georgia RB D’Andre Swift – Photo by: Getty Images

A couple of potential targets to keep in mind for the team outside of the top 100: Memphis’ Antonio Gibson and Florida’s Lamical Perine. Gibson had 38 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns this past season, playing a hybrid running back and receiver role for the Tigers. It’s unclear what position will be his best in the NFL, but his diversity could be a major strength moving forward.

Perine has snagged 72 passes over four years at Florida, and 40 of those came last year, with five going for touchdowns. He’s not as dynamic as Gibson, but Perine is a better, tougher runner between the tackles who can also factor in the passing game if the Bucs decide to wait to address the position later in the draft.

Wednesday’s interview sessions (8:00 – 11:00 am EST) with the running backs should continue to help determine who the team might be interested in from the 2020 class.