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Buccaneers Round Table: Offensive Keep, Trade, and Release

By David Harrison

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes his way to the field with teammates before the start of an NFL football game against the New York Giants on October 1, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes his way to the field with teammates before the start of an NFL football game against the New York Giants on October 1, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball in the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball in the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Ren Daxt

This weeks round table question we breathe some life back into a classic. Keep one player, trade one player and release one player.

Our choices: Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and Doug Martin.

I’m going to start with the easiest decision. Cut Doug Martin.

Martins’ age takes him out of the running for a trade or be considered to keep on the team. Factor in the devaluation of the running back position in the NFL. Martin almost cuts himself. Coach wants to see you and bring your playbook.

Now here is where it gets interesting. One would think that one would keep Winston and trade Evans. Given that you can’t win a Super Bowl without an MVP type player under center, but I have another idea and in the long run it could work out better for the Buccaneers.

It would be hard to find a football fan that doesn’t think Mike Evans is a Top-5 wide receiver, but how much is that worth to another team?

Must Read: First Quarter Team Awards

Wide receiver is the deepest top-tier skill position in the league. Think about; it top-tier wide outs dot almost every NFL roster. The Bucs could get a first round pick for a talent like Evans, but not much more. Then what do the Bucs do with that extra first round pick? Draft a new number one wide out? So in the interest getting back more than you give in a trade, Mike Evans stays.

So that leaves the Bucs with trading Jameis Winston.

Best case scenario, trade him to Cleveland Browns. The Browns own three of the Top-35 picks in next years draft. Take all of those and their 2019 first round pick and you have a deal.

2018 has a strong quarterback class coming into the NFL. Cleveland is one of three teams that have yet to record a victory this season and are the odds on favorite to have the first pick in the next draft.

This will give the Buccaneers the pick of the litter, so to speak, securing their new franchise quarterback.

The Bucs will still have two more first-round picks as well as the top pick in the second round.

Here they can select edge rusher, corner back and a running back filling all their big roster needs. Also, the Bucs will have their own second round pick in 2018 and two more first rounder in 2019.

As silly as it may have sounded at first. Trading Jameis Winston is the best move to further secure the Buccaneers upward trajectory.

Thanks for reading.

You can follow me on Twitter @Ren_Daxt, I’m always down to talk Bucs football.

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