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Buccaneers: 2018 NFL Draft Needs

By Zach Sauers

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan dressed as the Grinch watches from the stands during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan dressed as the Grinch watches from the stands during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 26: Doug Martin #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 26: Doug Martin #22 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Running Back

Say it ain’t so. Doug Martin is still Doug Martin.

Throughout his six year career Martin has had a successful two seasons. Injury prone and injury plagued Martin just has not seen the holes that his line has been able to open for him.

If I would have wrote this article months ago, I would have blamed the offensive line fully for the issues that Martin has had. That all ended when second year undrafted running back Peyton Barber burst onto the scene this season.

Throughout these last three games where Barber has received a majority of the workload, he has managed an impressive 4.43 yards per carry. That is also without star offensive lineman Ali Marpet and veteran Demar Dotson.

After this season, Martin will still have three years left of a five year $35,750,000 contract. Best part about it is that he has no guaranteed money left sine he violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Create some cap room and move on.

Doug Martin’s time in Tampa Bay is finished.

He will look just fine in black and silver.

Players to keep an eye on: Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Damien Harris 

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