Opinion: It’s Wide Receiver or Bust for the Buccaneers in Round One
Option 2: Dalvin Cook
Ok, we all know who Dalvin Cook is, and we all know how electric he can be.
There are two problems with this scenario though, and one is named Doug Martin.
I get it, he popped hot for Aderall and is rumored to be a big-time “Molly” user. The one time you don’t want to see your running back rolling is in the Tampa night life, I get it, but let’s not act like he murdered a child here.
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The man made a mistake, and while it certainly doesn’t add to the aesthetics of it his problems came to a head one-year into a big contract, it’s the first he’s made to this point.
Currently, the running back is still on the roster, and until he’s not he is the best thing the Buccaneers have in their backfield.
No, I haven’t forgotten the three games he’ll miss at the beginning of next year, but if you’re suggesting the team drafts a first-round running back to plug a three-game hole then I’m afraid our time here is up and you’ll have to leave.
I don’t know what the future holds for Martin and Tampa, but I imagine Jason Licht is interested to see how his time in treatment goes before making any rash decisions, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a contract re-negotiation isn’t underway shortly including some random testing clauses in there as a security blanket.
Now let’s talk about Mr. Cook.
The young man is talented, there’s no arguing the fact, but is he really first-round talented? Understand, while Ezekiel Elliott may have run the paint off the field in Jerry’s World this season, he did it behind an All-Pro caliber line. No, not lineman, the entire line.
The Bucs simply don’t have the front-five they have in Big-D and they aren’t getting it any time soon, so a running back who needs holes to open for him will not be as flashy as Zeke was in Dallas this year.
Now, get him some space and a line to part the defense, and the Florida State stud will make ESPN’s Top-10 all year long. Again, that line doesn’t exist in the Bay, at least not yet.
Cook would sell jersey’s, but at the end of the day, it’s just not a pick worth taking while Martin is still around.