Buccaneers: Veteran free agents that are done in Tampa Bay
By Rob Leeds
A running back that doesn’t make the cut for the Buccaneers
Shady was an awesome signing for those who remember watching him dominate for the Eagles, but LeSean McCoy never reached a fraction of that level in Tampa. McCoy brought an immeasurable amount of leadership to a franchise that had next to no playoff experience and a young running back room, but his impact doesn’t justify the roster spot any longer.
If the Buccaneers didn’t already have three running backs on the roster for next season while eyeing a fourth in the draft, McCoy might have received an extension, but the Bucs don’t have the room.
Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette should remain the main contributors on the ground. Their dynamic during the regular season was both fun to watch and successful, so the Bucs should extend Fournette and keep this train chugging along.
In addition to the two lead men, Ke’Shawn Vaughn is still the forgotten man in Tampa, and the Bucs should prioritize keeping him over McCoy. Sure, Shady brings more as a leader, but Vaughn deserves more chances in 2021 after his limited use this past season.
Finally, the Bucs still need a consistent third-down option for Tom Brady, and McCoy never took control of that role. This was McCoy’s job to lose, and he lost it. The Buccaneers have a ton of options in the draft with hands to choose from, and that rookie should round out the four-man running back room for 2021.