Potential options at running back for Buccaneers in 2020

Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 07: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs for a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during BIG Ten Football Championship Game2 at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 07: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs for a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during BIG Ten Football Championship Game2 at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

DeAndre Swift is generally considered to be the best running back in this group and would likely be off the board before the Buccaneers could use the pick.

Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are by most metrics the best running backs in the draft after Swift. All three of these players will likely command a high-round pick and all have the potential to eventually replace Jones.

The Bucs should probably not spend their higher picks on these players, but all three are very talented and could play a role in improving the run game.

Jonathan Taylor is the best potentially-available candidate by far as he is the best mix between talent and athleticism. Taylor ran a blazing 4.39-second 40-yard dash and is great between the tackles as seen in college along with being a competent pass-catcher.

Cam Akers is similar to Taylor in that he has the measurable talent and would eventually replace Ronald Jones as the starter. Akers was by far the best player on one of the worst FSU teams ever and basically carried the team to victories single-handedly on more than one occasion.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is one of the most intriguing options from this group as he is generally considered to be the most talented in the passing game while not being the fastest. CEH is mostly associated with lateral quickness rather than straight-line speed and could serve as an interesting option for the Bucs.

While the top three running backs are the ones that receive the most buzz, the Buccaneers stand to gain the most by drafting a running back in one of the later rounds.