Buccaneers: How to Replace the Production of Vincent Jackson

Some Outside Options

With Vincent Jackson on the IR, where can the Bucs find a boost for their wide receivers?

For the second straight season an injury to Vincent Jackson has put the Bucs in a difficult spot. The team gambled in the off-season on the aging V-Jax in hopes that they could hold off drafting a receiver for another year. That gamble has failed, so now what?

At this point, pickings from outside the organization are slim. There simply aren’t many talented guys walking the street that can come in, pick up Dirk Koetter’s playbook, and be effective on Sunday. Roddy White is a name that’s been tossed around for obvious reasons, but his days of being effective are long behind him and it’s not a stretch to say that Louis Murphy and Russell Shepard are better options.

Kenny Bell who is already familiar with the offense could be scooped from the Ravens’ practice squad, but that feels like a long-shot. Aaron Dobson is another name that jumps to mind, formerly a 2nd round pick of the New England Patriots. Dobson is a free agent now and his physical talent could draw the Buccaneers interest.

The players most likely to replace Vincent Jackson are in-house however. Adam Humphries, Cecil Shorts, Russell Shepard and Louis Murphy are all going to be called upon to fill the void left by V-Jax, and the trajectory of the Bucs’ offense depends on them being effective.