How will Chase Edmonds fit with Buccaneers?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued to add to its depth chart, but what is the team getting after signing running back Chase Edmonds?

It’s been a rather thrilling start to the new league year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been quietly putting together a fantastic offseason.

First, the team re-signed cornerback Jamel Dean, who looked like a goner in free agency. Lavonte David also looked like he was poised to leave, but the Bucs managed to also re-sign him.

With two massive pieces of the defense back, Jason Licht began adding new pieces. Baker Mayfield was signed to a low-risk, high-upside deal that will challenge Kyle Trask to earn the starting job rather than simply be handed it. Licht also brought back Anthony Nelson and Aaron Stinne, two lesser-known but insanely valuable players who could have a big impact next season.

All of this came after a bleak shadow was cast over offseason predictions, based largely on the fact that the Bucs had little money to play with and a $55 million salary cap situation to figure out.

Despite this, all of those moves were made and the front office apparently isn’t done. On Thursday the Bucs signed running back Chase Edmonds in an effort to reverse course from what the backfield looked like last season.

Buccaneers depth chart: Where does Chase Edmonds fit?

For all of the offensive woes the team endured last year, perhaps no unit suffered more than the running backs. Tampa Bay’s run game was near the bottom of the league and was easily the worst part of a disappointing offense last season.

Needless to say, moves were made in direct response to the struggles.

Dave Canales was hired as offensive coordinator to replace Byron Leftwich and one of his first moves was made to improve the run game. Canales hired Skip Peete to be his running backs coach, who was in Dallas last year getting the most out of Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard.

Similar production is expected out of Peete in Tampa Bay, which is good news for Rachaad White who is assuming RB1 duties next season. With Leonard Fournette gone, White is now the top back, and Peete will work to unlock more of the flash he showed last season despite how bad things went.

Edmonds will likely fill the role Fournette vacated, although roles could be reversed. Fournette was a burly cannonball runner for the Bucs, but White’s physique closely mirrors Fournette’s (White is 6’0″, 210Ibs, and Fournette is 6’0″, 228lbs).

Edmonds is shorter and lighter than White, which makes him the perfect compliment to the type of back White might evolve into this season under Peete’s tutelage.

This is just a projection, but here’s what the Buccaneers depth chart will probably look like after signing Edmonds:

• RB1: Rachaad White
• RB2: Chase Edmonds
• RB3: Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Everything suggests that the Bucs really like Vaughn, so the signing of Edmonds shouldn’t be seen as a sign that he’s on his way out. A backfield of White/Edmonds/Vaughn is pretty solid, and that’s before Skip Peete works his magic with the crew.

Chase Edmonds contract with the Buccaneers

The exact details of Edmonds deal with the Bucs haven’t been released, but we do know that it’s a one-year deal.