3 trade targets for the Buccaneers before the 2020 NFL Draft

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Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears, potential trade target for the Buccaneers (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Tom Brady loves throwing to running backs more than most other quarterbacks in the NFL. Brady had 166 attempted throws to running backs out of 613 total attempts in 2019. Brady’s 27% of total passes thrown to running backs was higher than Jameis Winston’s total of 18%, with only 113 out of 626 targeting running backs.

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The Buccaneers have to upgrade their pass-catchers out of the backfield if they want to put Brady in the best position to succeed. The draft is one way the team could go, but trading for Tarik Cohen is a much safer decision.

Tarik Cohen was one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL in 2018, making the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro with 71 receptions for 725 yards and eight touchdowns.

Matt Nagy’s luck ran out in 2019, and the Bears’ offense collapsed, but this only makes Cohen more attainable for the Bucs. Chicago was starting to use David Montgomery more towards the end of the season, and Cohen could eventually see his touches dry up.

Tampa Bay still has Ronald Jones on the roster, and the addition of another pure runner in the draft like D’Andre Swift or Jonathan Taylor would be a waste. Neither player has the pass-catching prowess that the Bucs need with their next running back.

Trading for Cohen would give the Buccaneers a proven target for Tom Brady who can sustain 100 targets in a season without all of the question marks of a rookie.

Tampa Bay could then let Tarik Cohen step into the third-down role, keep Ronald Jones in on early downs, and then draft a bruiser like AJ Dillon to complete a very talented and diverse running back room.

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