Memphis running back Antonio Gibson is one of the best pass-catching backs in this upcoming draft and would be an excellent fit for the Buccaneers.
Antonio Gibson hasn’t gotten the most coverage leading up to the draft, but his stock has steadily risen over the last month. Gibson was predominantly a receiver while at Memphis, but a transition to running back could occur in the NFL.
In 2019, Gibson had 38 receptions for 735 yards and 33 rushes for 369 yards along with 12 total touchdowns. Gibson didn’t receive a ton of opportunities, but he made the most of his chances and averaged an impressive 15.5 yards per touch during his final season.
Antonio Gibson was also able to put together an impressive combine performance. He posted a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and put his pass-catching prowess on display in the individual drills.
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The Buccaneers could immediately use these talents on their team to support Tom Brady in 2020.
Tampa Bay fell short with running back pass-catchers in 2019 and will need to rectify this before Tom Brady plays his first snaps with the team. Brady leaned heavily on check-down passes while at New England, and Tampa Bay will want to make this an option for the veteran quarterback.
Antonio Gibson is a better pass-catcher than he is a runner, but he still brings a level of speed and explosiveness that will lend themselves to being a great runner at the NFL level.
The Buccaneers could find their best fit in Gibson primarily due to his mid-round availability. The former Memphis running back could make a late Day 2 appearance that lends itself to efficiency when drafting a running back.
The Bucs don’t need to replace Ronald Jones; they need to compliment him with a back from one of the middle rounds. By doing this, Tampa Bay will use their draft capital efficiently by not over-drafting for a position that should never get focused on early in the draft.
Antonio Gibson is a superb fit for the Buccaneers as a third-down running back who can also be a significant change of pace runner when called to do so.