Buccaneers: 3 running back draft picks that can actually catch

Travis Etienne, Clemson Tigers, draft option for the Buccaneers(Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)
Travis Etienne, Clemson Tigers, draft option for the Buccaneers(Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Kenneth Gainwell, draft target for Buccaneers (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
Kenneth Gainwell, draft target for Buccaneers (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /

Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis

One of the most significant losses during this college football season is the multitude of talented players opting out of the season in favor of preparing for the draft. These players are justified in their decision-making, but it has still taken numerous exciting players out of the Saturday rotation that would have been very fun to watch.

More from The Pewter Plank

Memphis’ Kenneth Gainwell is undoubtedly one of these players, and his absence from the Tigers has been felt to start the season.

After a phenomenal 2019 season that should have been good enough on its own to get Gainwell into the NFL, the two-year player at Memphis is using this time to focus on getting ready for the NFL.

The easiest and most trusted way to evaluate a college player is their tape, and Gainwell has an extremely impressive resume. This does not mean that Gainwell is an automatic fit in the NFL, but it shows that he is capable of doing what the Buccaneers need, rather than being a “projected fit” (how well has that worked out with Ke’Shawn Vaughn)?

Gainwell has lined up at wide receiver and running back while with Memphis, and his 57 receptions during this time show that he should be more than fine catching passes out of the backfield.

The Buccaneers’ best bet is to find a running back in a middle round to maximize value for the pick, and Kenneth Gainwell should be the perfect options for the team to invest in.