Bucs 2020 NFL Draft: Mock draft for Tom Brady at quarterback
By Rob Leeds
The fourth round is where the Buccaneers are finally allowed to start looking at running backs in this mock even though this still feels a little high.
Tom Brady needs a running back that he can check down to like James White and while Ronald Jones can be that player, Antonio Gibson would be an excellent replacement for White.
Gibson is a unique player in that he can line up at running back and wide receiver, and while he has mostly played at wide receiver in college, this would work in the favor of the Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers do not need a three-down running back but rather an option for Tom Brady to check down to consistently while passing. Gibson would be the type of player that can sustain getting six or seven targets a game from Brady and wouldn’t be inept in the run game as a replacement for Rojo.
Many fans (and some analysts) are quick to pencil the Buccaneers in for one of the more recognizable running backs like the previously-mentioned CEH or Jonathan Taylor, and this is somewhat confusing based on the success that Jones found in his timeshare with Peyton Barber in 2019.
Just for context, Jones averaged more yards per carry than free agents Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon in 2019. The Bucs shouldn’t be so quick to find another player to split carries at running back when Jones has the clear potential to be a 1,000-yard player.
Antonio Gibson has a unique amount of versatility that he would bring to the Buccaneers and would be a stellar sixth receiving option for Tom Brady, rounding out the five mentioned tight ends and wide receivers.