Buccaneers 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Jameis Winston departs
By Rob Leeds
The fifth-round pick in this mock draft is one that you will likely start to see gain much more traction: A.J. Dillon.
The Buccaneers are in dire need of a backup running back for Ronald Jones in 2020. It would make little sense for the Bucs to draft a running back in any of the early rounds as they already have Jones who has proved that he can succeed when given touches.
The case also remains that Rojo became a great receiving back for the Buccaneers posting 31 receptions on 40 total targets for 342 yards in 2019. The Bucs don’t need to replace Jones with a high round pick, they just have to give him a more diverse change of pace backup.
This is where A.J. Dillon comes in. While Ronald Jones could be a great all-around running back he lacks one thing that Dillon has plenty of; size. A.J. Dillon is 6’0” 250 pounds and plays running back. For those of you who don’t watch ACC football and are just now learning about Dillon, you read that right.
Dillon was a wrecking ball for Boston College for his three years there and in his senior year, he posted 1,685 rushing yards on 318 carries (5.3 yards per carry) to go along with 14 touchdowns.
A.J. Dillon would be a monster between the tackles for the Buccaneers and could even be worked in on 22 personnel sets (two running backs and two tight ends) in place of the much smaller Dare Ogunbowale or for Vita Vea.
A.J. Dillon would be used far better in these sets and could also play the fullback role for the Buccaneers who have no one to play the position. Dillon could be one of the best short-yardage backs in the NFL and could serve as a more substantial change of pace for Rojo than Peyton Barber.