The Pewter Plank
FanSided

How the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should utilize remaining cap space

By Cory Kinnan

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 06: Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on September 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 06: Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on September 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 18: Running back Duke Johnson #29 of the Cleveland Browns against the Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 18, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Broncos defeated Browns 26-23. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 18: Running back Duke Johnson #29 of the Cleveland Browns against the Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 18, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Broncos defeated Browns 26-23. (Photo by Andrew Weber/Getty Images) /

Trade for Duke Johnson Jr. or sign Jay Ajayi

Last season, the Buccaneers had a completely terrible rushing attack, averaging less than four yards per carry between Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones. It was an especially abysmal year for Jones who, after being selected in the top 40 of the 2018 NFL Draft, ran for less than 50 yards as a rookie.

Barber re-signed a one-year deal to run it back with the Buccaneers, and the team chose not to draft another back in this year’s draft. This means they will predominantly rely on Barber and Jones again in 2019. Adding another running back to the group would not be a bad idea for the Buccaneers to consider on the heels of training camp.

Duke Johnson has been disgruntled with the Cleveland Browns this offseason after seeing his touches this season disintegrate and after they added embattled running back Kareem Hunt to their roster. He has requested a trade and has already fired an agent who could not make that happen and the Buccaneers have been named a team to watch in the Johnson sweepstakes.

On the free agent market still sits the young, but often injured Pro Bowl running back Jay Ajayi. Should the Buccaneers take a chance on the former 1,000 yard rusher who will be just 27 this year, Ajayi could pay out huge dividends as well.

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