The Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to add some talent to their backfield this offseason, and the 2020 NFL draft afforded them the perfect opportunity to do just that.
The Bucs used their third-round pick on Vanderbilt RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who has the pass-catching potential to be an effective back in Year 1. But the Bucs weren’t done there. In round seven, with their final pick at No. 245, Tampa Bay went with Louisiana RB Raymond Calais.
Welcome to Tampa Bay, Raymond Calais! đź‘‹#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/JEQNPBBb6u
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 25, 2020
We đź‘€ you, @king_calais #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/bBerjxDq7u
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) April 26, 2020
Even though Calais is a seventh-rounder, that doesn’t mean the Bucs don’t see a bright future for him. In fact, Bruce Arians had some strong praise for Calais shortly after he was drafted.
HC Bruce Arians calls 7th-round RB Raymond Calais a "joystick." Says he's a running back/receiver/kick returner and somebody he's going to enjoy finding a role for.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) April 25, 2020
Bruce Arians says RB Raymond Calais can go out and play wide receiver and would be a mismatch there. Called Calais a much smaller but faster version of David Johnson.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) April 25, 2020
Comparing Calais to Johnson is a big compliment given that Arians saw and worked with Johnson up close during their time together with the Cardinals. It’ll be interesting to see how the backfield workload is handled next season, but it’s clear the Bucs have talent and depth to work with.
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