Buccaneers Round Table: Mid-Season Tampa Bay Draft Decision

Brian DeFeo

While the Buccaneers were a team full of expectations and high hopes this season has been a massive disappointment so far.

The Buccaneers currently sit at 2-5 and if the draft was today they would have the fifth pick. While the defense is in need of a major upgrade, the Bucs can still use more pieces on both sides of the ball.

While I feel the top of the draft is going to take the quarterbacks, the best player in this draft class is Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.

While running back is not the biggest need for the Buccaneers, they can finally have a guy they can use on every down.

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Doug Martin has had his severe ups and downs and will be entering next season at 29 years old, or the twilight of most running backs’ careers. He is still under contract, but the Buccaneers could finally move on from Charles Sims.

Barkley has better hands than Sims and can still effectively run the ball every down. Through eight games this season has 1,650 all-purpose yards and fifteen touchdowns. This includes two returns and one passing touchdown.

Previously, Barkley has been recorded in the 4.38 40-yard dash time frame, and at 230 pounds Barkley is a horse. He has recently received comparisons to guys like Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, and Matt Forte.

While the Buccaneers pass rush and secondary have been excruciating to watch this season the offense just put up three points. The addition of Barkley would give the offense a two-headed monster in the backfield and a dynamic kick returner.

Saquon Barkley is a generational running back and would be my selection right now.