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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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 29: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 29: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins in action against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The final place that the Buccaneers could find a potential pairing or replacement for Ronald Jones is via free agency.

The clear free agents that are about to receive a massive payday are Derrick Henry and Melvin Gordon.

Henry was one of the best running backs in the NFL in 2019 and the Buccaneers would have to throw mountains of money at him to get him to come to Tampa Bay in 2020. Henry is better than Jones in almost every way but it would be costly to make this work.

Melvin Gordon will also enter free agency and had his moments as a dominant back in the league but will also be expensive. Gordon would be an excellent dual-threat option for the Buccaneers if his price was a fraction of what it will be.

While the previous options have been somewhat outlandish, Lamar Miller and Chris Thompson are both free agents that the Buccaneers could viably go after.

Lamar Miller would be a perfect, albeit expensive replacement for Peyton Barber as a power back. Miller would challenge Jones for the starting spot but a split between these two would be better than the duo from 2019.

Chris Thompson would be a great third-down back for the Buccaneers to bring in if they wanted to move on from Dare Ogunbowale. Thompson has enough NFL experience to be a great leader and has been one of the best receiving backs in the league during his career.

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