Read-Option: Pick Your Running Back

This week’s read-option question actually branches off into a few answers.

First off, what do you think of the idea of the Bucs going after Pittsburgh Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell? Do you think it’s plausible? Do you even think it’s a smart move? Tampa Bay will certainly be close to the cap line, if not a little bit over in the luxury tax if they were to acquire a player like Bell for a price like the one we mentioned. But, isn’t it worth it? Isn’t this why you built your cap so healthy? I mean, keeping your own guys is great, but the Bucs weren’t good last year (shocker). You have the money to make some splashes.

The second part is sort of a branch off of the first and a bit into our Barkley review. How do you feel about dumping all that money in a position that seems to be as fickle as the running back one? Is it better just to draft a rookie and try to get a feature back to play on a rookie contract? Look at Dalvin Cook and Kareem Hunt and Alvin Kamara – none of those guys were drafted in the first round. Should the Bucs run their chances with a rookie?

And, if so, should that rookie be Penn State’s Saquon Barkley if he’s there at No. 7? Do you think the concerns in the clips we discussed are real, or do you think this is me overthinking it – you can be honest, I don’t have thin skin, nor do I have the answers about the future, so I don’t mind.

Bell, Evans and a trench player at No. 7?

Evans, more cap space and Barkley in the draft?

Let’s hear what you think should be done about the Bucs running back group.