Buccaneers: RB Cam Akers could be a mid-round gem
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be looking to address the running game in the offseason and Florida State RB Cam Akers could be the answer.
There are several decisions looming for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 offseason and one of them will be addressing the running game.
For the third-straight season, the Buccaneers were one of the NFL’s worst teams in terms of rushing offense and are in need of adding a talented running back to join Ronald Jones II this offseason.
While there may be some options in free-agency, the Buccaneers will certainly explore potential options in the NFL Draft. One of those ‘diamonds in the ruff’ could be an in-state product.
Florida State RB Cam Akers is currently being projected as 2-3 round draft pick and that would be an absolute steal when you look at his talent and skill level.
Akers is a hard-runner who is able to get down field and explode when he finds a hole in the defense. In addition to be a speedy and explosive runner, he is also one of the better pass-protectors in this draft and has made steady improvements in his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Honestly, if Akers played for Clemson, Ohio State or Alabama, he’d likely be one of the top 2 or 3 running backs in the draft. But he had the unfortunate problem of playing for a down Florida State team with one of the worst offensive lines in the Power-5.
Despite playing behind an incompetent line, Akers rushed 231 times for 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns during his junior season.
Given a solid offensive line in front of him and the right system, he could prove to be a force at the next level. Akers would have just that if he ended up in Tampa Bay.
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He wouldn’t have to be a guy that carries the ball 25-30 times a game. Instead, he could spell Jones II and provide an explosive option in the running game, while also being a solid pass-protector. Akers would be an absolute steal in the third round and certainly needs to be looked at more in-depth by the Buccaneers as we head into the spring.