5 cheap free agent running backs the Buccaneers could sign
By Rob Leeds
James Wilder Jr.
One of the best names to pursue first is a very familiar name. Bucs fans are very familiar with James Wilder Sr. setting the all-time Buccaneer rushing record, and having his son on the team could be poetic.
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Upon realizing that the Bucs would be without Leonard Fournette, Wilder Jr. tweeted out to the Buccaneers that he was interested in a tryout, and now, the match could be a perfect fit for both parties.
While Wilder Jr. has spent the majority of his career in the CFL, his highlight tape impresses easily and shows that Wilder has something to contribute to the Buccaneers across multiple levels of the offense.
If you haven’t seen Wilder Jr. play before, here is the highlight tape for the CFL Grey Cup winner and 2014 BCS National Champion.
Speed and quickness are two of the skills that stand out immediately, but one part of Wilder’s game that could make him a threatening NFL back is his incredible balance. There are numerous instances in that video where Wilder is hit, regains his balance, doesn’t go down, and then continues running after the initial hit.
This style of play is comparable to the likes of Alvin Kamara, but Wilder is also able to bring impressive size at 233 pounds that could help with a transition to the NFL.
The Bucs should at least give Wilder a tryout, and the cheap price tag as a free agent and upside related to talent could make this the perfect pairing.