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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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JACKSONVILLE, FL – AUGUST 17: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempts a pass during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on August 17, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – AUGUST 17: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempts a pass during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on August 17, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Bailey Adams

This is one of the toughest questions I’ve ever had to answer.

The only easy answer is to let Doug Martin walk. He is a valuable part of the offense right now, but he doesn’t have a long-term future with the team. Not only that, but the running back position isn’t what it once was. More-and-more teams are going with the committee approach. And at this stage in his career, it’s not likely the Bucs would get too much in a trade for #22.

The really tough question here is what to do about Jameis Winston and Mike Evans.

I was leaning toward keeping Evans and trading Winston, but I had a change of heart. Originally, I thought Evans was the guy to keep because he is legitimately a top-three receiver in the NFL.

Those aren’t easy to come by, so if he stayed in Tampa Bay, whichever quarterback came in to replace Winston would have an elite target. But the Jameis fan in me is prevailing.

Quarterback is the most important position in football and franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. The Bucs know this all too well. And now, they finally have one.

If Tampa Bay decided to trade him away, who knows how soon it would be able to find a capable replacement. Evans, like I said, is a top-tier receiver. The return that the Bucs could get for him in a trade would be monumental. So, for my final answer:

Keep- Jameis Winston      Trade- Mike Evans      Release- Doug Martin

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