5 replacements for Doug Martin in Tampa Bay by Connor Gomer 9h ago
After the Buccaneers decided to decline a fifth year option on Doug Martin’s contract, who might be the best replacement for him at running back?Doug Martin showed an extreme amount of promise during his rookie year, running for over 1,400 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. Unfortunately, injuries and a lack of production have plagued the first round pick in the 2012 draft since then. The Bucs just can’t trust their muscle hamster anymore, which is why they decided to decline on the 2016 option on Doug Martin’s contract.Martin still sits atop the Bucs running back position on the depth chart, but paying him over 5 million dollars for a diminished roll would be unwise. Martin hasn’t exceeded over 500 yards these past two seasons and has a combined 3 touchdowns during this time. Not exactly the slump the Buccaneers were hoping for, which is a main reason for them pulling the trigger on the contract extension for the running back.This would leave a void for the Bucs in 2016 at the position, which is dissapointing considering their high profile number one overall draft pick in Jameis Winston and the hopes the Bucs have for him. Winston is one of those rare talents who has the ability to win now if the supporting cast surrounds him. So the Bucs are going to have to replace him before the 2016 off season is over.Here are five options the Bucs could jump on if the opportunity arises for them.
Matt AsiataMatt Asiata is going to be a free agent after this season is over. If it wasn’t for the suspension of Adrian Peterson during the 2014 season, we wouldn’t even know who this kid was. But during Peterson’s absence, Asiata shared carries with Jerick Mckinnon and flourished behind the Vikings excellent offensive line.He finished with 570 yards on 130 carries. He proved that he is a viable option at running back, and maybe if given a full time assignment he could be a could player for the Bucs in the future.The only problem with Asiata is he hasn’t really been a go-to-guy for any NFL team. There are so many more running backs that are free agents who are established in this league and are known to be able to produce. Maybe if the Bucs sign him along with a veteran running back Asiata could fall into his own. But by himself, it could cause disappointment and frustration for the Bucs.
Bobby RaineyBobby Rainey finally got his chance to prove to the NFL that he can run for serious yards last year as Doug Martin was injured and failed to produce. Rainey became an option out of the backfield and even on short screen passes that did help with the struggling Bucs offense. His 406 rushing and 315 receiving yards will only increase as his career goes on and his responsibilities increase.Much like Asiata, Rainey is definitely one of those guys who will have to be paired with a veteran running back. But thinking there are many of those guys around next year in free agency, the Bucs can probably get someone for cheap. And if Rainey’s production continues to produce as the Bucs organization adds more offensive weapons beside him, they could have found their next premier running back, just at a huge discount.The Bucs obviously have more areas to cover besides just running back. Keeping Rainey at the discounted price he comes with allows them to focus on those other areas while having a solid back who will produce consistent numbers. He isn’t going to go out there and rush for 1,500 yards and 10 plus touchdowns, but he might do 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns in the backfield. Pair that with a veteran and it seems like the Bucs are set at running back for 2016.
Reggie BushReggie Bush has had as many ups and downs in his career as anyone. From winning the Heisman at USC, to being the most hyped up draft selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, and then dealing with a plethora of injuries and production problems, Bush isn’t exactly the safest running back in the pool of free agents in 2016.However, he does have the ability to produce like he has in Detroit and Miami in years past. He is getting up there in age at 30 years old and the shelf life for NFL running backs isn’t favorable to those above the 30 year mark. But if the Bucs share his carries with a young back and limit the number of times he is used in pass protection, Bush could stay injury free and get back to making linebackers miss tackles and sprinting for those big gains he was so accustomed to at one point in his career.This will all depend if Bush can stay healthy during the 2014-15 season though. Bush did miss a large amount of time in the 2014 season, which made his production limited. So if he can stay healthy, put up decent numbers, and be ready to move teams, he could be Tampa Bay’s go to guy in 2016.
Matt ForteMatt Forte has been one of the best backs in the NFL since starting his career with the Chicago Bears in 2008. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in every year with the Bears with the exception of two (929 and 997). His 41 career touchdowns rank 11th among active players and even though he is pushing 30 he might still have a bunch left in the tank.The good news for the Bucs is that the Bears most likely will not hang on to Forte despite him being so efficient for them. If the Bears do well and Jay Cutler finally does what he is capable of in Chicago, there will be no reason to sign a huge contract for someone who is on the wrong side of 30. If the Bears decide to blow up their team because they don’t do well this year, they will want to acquire a young running back to go along with their other skill position players who are in their lower 20s (Alshon Jeffrey and Kevin White).If the Bucs want a guy who is going to run hard, put up solid stats, and find the end zone more often than most people in the NFl, then they should look no further. Forte is still an excellent back, and if they want someone who is established in the NFL already, there is no reason not to jump the gun and sign Forte to a 2 or 3 year deal.
Alfred MorrisThe most sought after running back in the 2016 free agency sweepstakes will be Alfred Morris. He is coming off his rookie contract with a team who failed to put the guys around him who will help him succeed. Nonetheless, Morris was one of the few bright spots on the Redskins this past year, and if they don’t start making moves fast to retain him, he will most likely go elsewhere to take his nearly 4,000 career yards and 28 touchdowns.That place he goes could very well be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Pairing him with a dynamic player like Jameis Winston could be the best thing for both players career. We saw how amazing Morris was behind RGIII when the read option was working like a charm. The Bucs acquisition of Morris could recreate that, just with a quarterback who will most likely be more consistent.For these reasons, Morris should be the most sought after replacement for Doug Martin come 2016. He is the youngest and best running back available next year, and the Bucs are a young team who is thirsty for a talent like Morris. It seems like a match made in heaven in Tampa Bay.link
