The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft to take running back Ronald Jones out of USC, hoping the former Trojan could provide some much needed stability and explosiveness in the backfield.
Two years in, and the jury is still out on Jones. His rookie campaign was a forgettable one as he had just 23 rushes for 44 yards and one touchdown in nine games. Last year was a major improvement as Jones rushed for 724 yards and six touchdowns, playing in all 16 games and starting nine. Still, the Bucs need more insurance at the position now that Tom Brady is under center.
Finding a dynamic back in next week’s NFL draft should be high on the Bucs’ list of priorities, right after offensive tackle, and Chris Trapasso over at CBS Sports thinks Tampa Bay will find both in the first two rounds.
In his two-round mock draft, Trapasso has the Bucs nabbing Georgia OT Andrew Thomas with the 14th pick, as most mocks seem to believe they’ll do. “The Buccaneers avoid the temptation to move up to pick a tackle and get a stud here to protect the right side for Tom Brady,” Trapasso said of the Thomas pick.
In round two, he has the Bucs grabbing Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who surprisingly is the third running back off the board in his mock, behind both Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin and D’Andre Swift of Georgia.
I think Tampa Bay would be happy to settle for Dobbins. The Ohio State star rushed for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Add that to an offense that includes Brady, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and the New Orleans Saints will be looking over their shoulder next season in the race for the division crown.
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