Round 3 (From Titans): Miami RB Mark Walton – 5-10, 202 – 4.50 – Junior

The Bucs do something they have never done under general manager Jason Licht. They trade away a future premium draft pick to help the current year’s draft. In this case, Licht calls up Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson, his good friend and Tampa Bay’s former director of player personnel, and surrenders the Bucs’ second-round pick next year in 2019 for the Titans’ third-round pick, the 89th overall pick, this year.

Licht’s thinking is that the Bucs will rebound this season and that next year’s 2019 second-round pick will be much closer to the 57th overall pick, where a playoff team like Tennessee is picking, than the 38th pick, which is where Tampa Bay is selecting this year in the second round. It’s a big gamble, but there are two things to consider.

First, after solidifying the secondary with the selections of Florida State strong safety Derwin James and UCF cornerback in the first two rounds, the Bucs desperately need a running back to team with Peyton Barber to improve one of the league’s worst rushing attacks from a year ago. And second, Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter must turn the Bucs’ ship around this year in order to remain in Tampa Bay in 2019. Why would Licht want to risk coming up short this season by leaving all the draft bullets in the chamber in 2019 for the next general manager to enjoy?

Keep in mind that the Bucs might be able to acquire a second-round pick next year by trading defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who will be 31 next year, and is on the books for $13 million. Tampa Bay may need that cap room for Jameis Winston’s contract extension as the Bucs’ quarterback is scheduled to have a $20.922 million cap charge next year due to his fifth-year option.

Licht showed a sense of urgency earlier this season by trading his third-round pick to the New York Giants for Jason Pierre-Paul to address the need for an edge rusher. This move shows the same level of urgency to get the Bucs’ better, and spending a future second-round pick on a starting-caliber running back that is capable of putting points on the scoreboard is a worthwhile investment. Licht knows that Koetter’s talented offense is capable of putting up 400 yards on a weekly basis, but in the NFL you win and get into the playoffs when it comes in the form of 250 yards passing and 150 yards rushing rather than 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing per game, which is what it has been over the past two years in Tampa Bay.

Miami RB Mark Walton – Photo courtesy of Univ. of Miami

With rushers like LSU’s Derrius Guice, Georgia’s Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, USC’s Ronald Jones II, Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson and San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny off the board, the number of good running backs is dwindling, so it’s time for Licht to make a move. While North Carolina State’s Nyheim Hines is considered due to his 4.38 speed, his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his return ability on special teams, at 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, Walton has a bigger frame and better tackle-breaking ability, which is needed at the NFL level.

Walton’s game is reminiscent of Kareem Hunt, who was another third-round running back the Bucs liked. He can slip tackles, break tackles, catch the ball and break off long gains, evidenced by 11 plays of 30 yards or more at Miami, including a pair of touchdown runs over 80 yards in just a little over two years worth of playing time.

After rushing for nine touchdowns and nearly 500 yards as a freshman, Walton emerged as the Hurricanes’ starting running back as a sophomore in 2016 where he rushed for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He opened the season with three straight 100-yard rushing days, including 155 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries (9.1 avg.) against Florida Atlantic. Walton had another three-game stretch with 100 yards rushing, including 120 yards and three TDs on 19 carries (6.3 avg.) in a 27-13 road win against a very rugged North Carolina State defensive front.

Walton’s junior season got off to a roaring start with 148 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries (9.3 avg.) in a 41-13 win over Bethune-Cookman. The Miami native suffered a serious ankle injury while rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries (18.5 avg.) in a 52-30 come-from-behind win over Toledo. Walton played through the injury the next week in a 31-6 win over Duke where he rushed for 51 on 17 carries (3.0 avg.) and caught four passes for 79 yards.

In the next game, a 24-20 win at Florida State, Walton hobbled for 25 yards on 12 carries before having to leave the game. His ankle was getting worse as the season progressed and he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery.

Walton’s Miami Career Rushing Stats
2017: 56 carries for 428 yards (7.6 avg.) with 3 TDs and a long of 82 yards
2016: 209 carries for 1,117 yards (5.3 avg.) with 14 TDs and a long of 80 yards
2015: 129 carries for 450 yards (3.5 avg.) with 9 TDs and a long of 27 yards

Walton’s Miami Career Receiving Stats
2017: 7 catches for 91 yards (13.0 avg.) with 0 TDs and a long of 39 yards
2016: 27 catches for 240 yards (8.9 avg.) with 1 TD and a long of 30 yards
2015: 22 catches for 293 yards (13.3 avg.) with 1 TD and a long of 41 yards

Walton’s Miami Career Kick Return Stats
2017: 1 returns for 4 yards (4.0 avg.) with 0 TDs and a long of 4 yards
2015: 19 returns for 300 yards (24.4 avg.) with 0 TDs and a long of 32 yards

Walton, who had a private workout for the Buccaneers, was healthy enough to return to action for the NFL Scouting Combine, but ran a disappointing 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash, while benching 18 reps of 225 pounds. Walton made amends for the slow time at Miami’s pro day where he shaved off a tenth of a second, running a 4.5 time that is closer to his playing speed on tape.

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,” Walton said at his pro day. “I went through a phase just sitting on my couch at home, thinking, ‘Man, am I playing again?’ I couldn’t even move my ankle … but getting back in the groove of football, it just made me love the game even more. It was something I really love and it was taken away from me for a moment.”

That’s the type of toughness and attitude that Licht likes in his Buccaneers football players. Walton, who elected to forego his eligibility for his senior season, said that draft day is going to be emotional for him after coming back from his serious ankle injury.

“I’m gonna cry,” Walton said. “It’s going to feel great, but some tears are going to be shed.”

PewterReport.com has consistently had Tampa Bay drafting two running backs in the Bucs’ 7-Round Mock Drafts this spring, and that could happen. But this year’s running back class is so deep that the Bucs will likely be able to add another talented runner an undrafted free agent. Keep an eye on Fordham’s Chase Edmonds and Florida State’s Ryan Green after the draft. Edmonds was a prolific FCS runner and was featured in a recent edition of SR’s Fab 5. Green was a highly recruited running back that was stuck behind Dalvin Cook and Cam Akers on the depth chart.

Click below to view Tampa Bay’s fourth-round pick in 2018.