Buccaneers: Demetric Felton revolutionizes RB position in Tampa

The Buccaneers need a player like Demetric Felton.

There are plenty of big-name running backs tied to the Buccaneers in the 2021 NFL Draft, but most of the players not named Demetric Felton are wrong for Tampa. The Bucs need a dramatic improvement in an area that struggled greatly in 2020, and Felton could be the best option to fix it.

The running backs for the Buccaneers in 2020 were good, not great. Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones, and Ke’shawn Vaughn flashed at moments, but it’s hard to be a great back in the NFL if you can’t catch.

As the NFL transitions to offenses that get the ball to their running backs out of the backfield to make plays more often, the Bucs have shot themselves in the foot by killing these plays before they even start. A screen pass should be the easiest ball to catch in the NFL, yet even these were dropped by the Bucs at a startling rate last season.

Demetric Felton solves problems for the Buccaneers

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With the viable free-agent market quickly drying up, the draft is the obvious place to find a tried and tested third-down running back. Demetric Felton fits that role perfectly.

While many fans should be familiar with Kenneth Gainwell and his explosive skillset, Felton is an extremely similar option without the unbelievable college stats. If Gainwell is off the board, and he should rise quickly in the coming weeks as one of the best backs in the class, Felton is the next best option.

A player that could line up in the slot and the backfield would be forward-thinking addition by the Bucs. Tampa could free up a roster spot by virtue of talent by having a player that can line up at either spot without a drop-off in production, but the advantages don’t stop there.

In addition to space, a running back-receiver hybrid brings so much to the table from an offensive standpoint. Bigger than the average receiver but smaller than the average running back is not a bad spot to be. Linebackers don’t have the speed to cover a player like this, and corners don’t generally have the size to contend with them either. There are clearly some disadvantages to these types of players, such as running up the middle, but they are invaluable when used correctly.

Felton could easily bulk up in the offseason and be a five to six catch player in the current offense. Brady would get his new James White, but a more athletic James White that can run better routes.

The possibilities with a player like Felton are endless, and he would serve in the supplemental role much better than Travis Etienne, Najee Harris, and Javonte Williams.

Drafting Harris saves the Buccaneers draft capital, gives them a player with a higher ceiling in their offense, and gives them one more year to give Ke’Shawn Vaughn a proper evaluation. Remember him and his non-existent rookie season?

Felton has the talent and the production to be a revolutionary player for the Buccaneers; it’s just on the front office to make the right decision when the pressure is on.

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