Tag: Ronald Jones

A look at some of the second-round picks of the Jason Licht era

The Bucs hold the 45th pick in round two of the 2020 NFL Draft. Take a look at the players they’ve chosen during GM Jason Licht’s tenure.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got one of the prized tackles in this year’s class when they traded up a spot to No. 13 to select Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.

The pool-jumping Wirfs will be joining an offense that features the NFL’s best quarterback-tight-end combo and two of its best receivers. (No pressure of course, rookie.)

Heading into round two tonight, the Bucs and general manager Jason Licht may look to use the 45th pick to select one of the top-ranked running backs still on the board. The only back taken in round one was LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who went 32nd overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.

It wouldn’t be the first time since become general manager in 2014 that Licht has used a second-round pick on a running back, having done so back in 2018 on Ronald Jones (No. 38 overall). The jury remains out on Jones, although his sophomore campaign in 2019 inspires confidence. But a game-changing back like J.K. Dobbins or D’Andre Swift could open up the passing game even more for Brady and company.

Licht will need to make this selection carefully, because history has shown that when it comes to second-round picks, the Bucs GM has made a few duds.

Take a look at this gallery showing all 10 players drafted in the second round by Licht.

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What should the Bucs do with the 45th pick in Round 2?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found their offensive tackle in Tristan Wirfs. Now, they could turn to a running back in round two.

The Bucs fulfilled their round-one goal in last night’s NFL draft, coming away with one of this year’s top tackles in Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. The athletic big man will be tasked with helping to protect Tom Brady, who now has his favorite target Rob Gronkowski to throw to.

But, if the Bucs are really going all-in on a championship run with Brady, then they’d be wise to use their pick in round two (No. 45 overall) on a running back. Only one back went in the first round and that was LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, going No. 32 to the Chiefs.

Tampa Bay could be in a position to draft Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift or Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor. Brady needs more help than just Ronald Jones in the backfield. The Bucs finding the right running back would be the NFL’s version of Thanos finding the last infinity stone. I don’t think they’ll trade up to get one like they did tonight for Wirfs, who was the last remaining big tackle still on the board when the Bucs took him. Still, I expect Tampa Bay to go running back at 45 before turning their attention to defense in round three. It should be another exciting few rounds tonight.

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Don’t expect to see RB LeSean McCoy suiting up for the Bucs next season

Free agent RB LeSean McCoy is looking for a new team, but don’t expect to see him wind up in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers.

It’s no secret that the Buccaneers need help in their backfield, especially now that Tom Brady is under center. While the Bucs boast arguably the league’s best passing attack with wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, their run game leaves something to be desired. With Ronald Jones as the incumbent starter, Tampa Bay needs more help, especially since Peyton Barber bolted for the Redskins in free agency.

One running back on the market still looking for a home is LeSean McCoy, who was recently named to the NFL All-Decade Team. McCoy made a name for himself during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2009-2014, and even put up two 1,000-yard seasons during his four-year stint with the Buffalo Bills. Last season, the six-time Pro Bowler was a part of the Kansas City Chiefs team that wound up winning Super Bowl LIV, but his numbers were modest by his standards — 465 rushing and four touchdowns on just 101 carries.

McCoy will be 32 when the 2020 season rolls around, and despite the fact that he has logged over 11,000 rushing yards over the course of his illustrious career, the running back recently told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he feels he has more fuel left in the tank. “I really just want to play two more years,” McCoy said during the interview. “If it doesn’t go well, just let your body talk to you. My body feels fine.”

McCoy said he’s looking at a couple of teams right now, but given the restrictions with travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, he feels he’ll likely have to wait until after the draft before finding a new team. One of his stipulations is going to a winning franchise that has all the right pieces. While the Bucs certainly haven’t been a winning franchise over the past decade, the addition of Brady makes them a legit playoff contender.

So, would the Bucs consider adding McCoy to their backfield?

It seems unlikely for a few reasons. One, his age. The upcoming draft has depth at the running back position, and several mock drafts foresee the Bucs taking a back in the second or third round. Also, when McCoy was available for a trade back in the 2015 offseason, before the Eagles dealt him to the Bills, then-Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians declined to pursue the running back.

Arians may have been talking more about McCoy’s cap number than anything else. At the time, the running back had a cap hit of $10.25 million for the 2015 season, second-highest among running backs behind only Adrian Peterson. But, you have to imagine that if Arians really loved McCoy and what he could bring to the table, he would’ve tried to find a way to make it work.

Even though McCoy is available once again, the Bucs would be wise to invest in a young running back with a cap-friendly contract rather than pursue a veteran whose body has already been through the ringer. Tampa Bay is a passing team first and foremost, so while McCoy may still have something to offer, it doesn’t seem like the Bucs are the right place for him.

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Bucs could find value at running back on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could find an underrated running back in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Buccaneers’ offense was already one of the best in the league even before Tom Brady signed on to be their new quarterback. The bread and butter of Tampa’s offense last season was their passing attack, highlighted by wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, both of whom eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.

But their backfield was a different story. Tampa Bay ranked 24th in rushing last season, averaging just 95.1 yards per game on the ground. With Ronald Jones as the primary back now, the Bucs will need to find him some additional help, especially after Peyton Barber signed with the Redskins.

The NFL draft is likely the best place for the Bucs to find backfield support, but if they miss out on some big-name backs like D’Andre Swift or J.K. Dobbins, where could they turn? In Todd McShay’s running back rankings over at ESPN.com, he says Cam Akers of Florida State and Zack Moss of Utah could be great value finds for teams on Day 2 of the draft.

Per McShay:

“Akers is probably the most underrated running back in the class. And though he didn’t wow at the combine, Moss has power in his game, and his playing speed is a lot faster than his timed speed (4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis).”

Akers rushed for 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns last season at FSU, while Moss put up 1,416 rushing yards to go along with 15 touchdowns for the Utes. Tampa Bay would be happy to get even half that production from a rookie running back.

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Buccaneers in ‘Top 3’ landing spots for Melvin Gordon

On Monday, Michael Fabiano reported that the market for former Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has been narrowed down to just three teams: the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The way the chips have fallen …

On Monday, Michael Fabiano reported that the market for former Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has been narrowed down to just three teams: the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The way the chips have fallen since free agency has started, it would appear that the Falcons and Buccaneers would be the front runners, as the Dolphins signed Jordan Howard and the Falcons released their starting running back Devonta Freeman.

According to SpotTrac, Gordon’s market value is $8.3 million per year, which is feasible for the Buccaneers even with the reported contract for Brady at $30 million per year.

In 2019, Gordon held out of the first four games in his efforts to secure a long-term contract, which didn’t happen, ultimately spelling the end of his time in the Chargers backfield. In just 12 games, Gordon netted 612 rushing yards and 296 receiving yards. How does that stack up to the Buccaneers backfield in 2019? Ronald Jones played in all 16 games and tallied 724 yards on the ground and totaled 309 receiving yards.

Brady has always had the benefit of running backs that can catch the ball out of the backfield, and with 224 receptions in 67 career games, Gordon is a receiving threat.

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Former NFC South rival Devonta Freeman could be good fit for Buccaneers

The Bucs might be wise to bring in versatile former Atlanta Falcons tailback Devonta Freeman to bolster the backfield behind Ronald Jones.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans definitely are familiar with Devonta Freeman, who was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons, as the Buccaneers have seen a lot of Freeman over the past six seasons in the NFC South.

If the Buccaneers are looking to add depth at running back by bringing in a veteran who would ultimately be cheaper than a free agent such as Melvin Gordon, Freeman could be a good fit. Head coach Bruce Arians believes in Ronald Jones, who became the starting tailback last year in his second pro season, and I certainly wouldn’t anticipate the Buccaneers just giving up on Jones. But running back by committee might be the best option for Arians’ team. With Freeman, 28, showing signs of wear and tear over the past couple seasons, his asking price likely would be significantly less than Gordon, who is two years younger.

During his six seasons with the Falcons, Freeman rushed for 3,972 yards and caught 257 passes for 2,015 yards. Like Gordon, Freeman would provide a legitimate receiving threat out of the backfield for a team that sent wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to the Pro Bowl.

Although Freeman averaged just 3.6 yards per carry last season with the Falcons, he caught 59 passes for 410 yards. He caught four touchdown passes in 2019 and rushed for two more touchdowns.

Brady is reportedly going to earn upward of $30 million per year, and is still work to be done on the roster, such as re-signing free agent Ndamukong Suh. In the meantime, Freeman could be an affordable option to bolster the backfield behind Brady.

Report: Buccaneers one of the top landing spots for Derrick Henry

Could the NFL’s rushing leader from 2019, Derrick Henry, find a home in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers?

The NFL’s 2019 rushing champion, Derrick Henry, is set to become a free agent on March 18th, and while the Tennessee Titans are presumed as the favorites to retain their starting running back, Jordan Dajani at CBS Sports is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be the most popular landing spot outside of the Titans.

Notably, the Buccaneers struggled running the ball with Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber sharing the workload out of the backfield last season, only notching one game with a back exceeding the 100-yard mark, and that was Jones in the final game of the season. Collectively, Jones and Barber combined for 1,521 yards on the ground for the entire season. Henry, meanwhile, finished the 2019 season with 1,540 yards. So, it’s safe to say that if the Buccaneers are truly looking to upgrade at running back, Henry is on their radar.

Henry’s projected market value from Sportrac is around 4-years at $55.3 million with an average yearly salary of $13.8 million. While an upgrade at running back could be nice, and Jones has shown flashes of being a very solid running back in the league, the Buccaneers have a lot to focus on when it comes to free agency. Coach Bruce Arians has said that he wants to keep the entire defense together, and that the possibility of doing so is ‘“very realisitic.” Jameis Winston will also be a free agent, although Arians has said that he, and the team, already know what they are doing at the QB position.

Since the franchise tagging period has opened, as expected, the Buccaneers have not placed the franchise tag on Winston, and if the organization cannot work out a long-term deal with Shaquil Barrett, he will most likely be the recipient of that franchise tag. The tagging period started on February 27th and will close on March 12th.

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Why the Bucs’ backfield is ‘ready for a redo’

See why NFL.com believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in need of an upgrade at running back this offseason.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had one of the league’s most high-powered offenses again in 2019, averaging 28.6 points per game, tied for third-most in the NFL. Much of the Bucs’ offensive success can be attributed to their passing game, with star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin carrying the bulk of the load.

As fun as it is to see Tampa Bay air it out time and again, the fact remains that their backfield is a major area of weakness. The addition of a dual-threat running back who can run and catch would add a new dimension to this offense, and likely take some pressure off the quarterback, whoever that may be in 2020. Jeremy Bergman over at Around the NFL wrote about Tampa Bay’s strange backfield, and why they are in need of an upgrade this offseason.

Per Bergman:

“One of the league’s strangest backfields is ready for a re-do. Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay’s leading rusher from 2018, is hitting free agency, leaving 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones to front the Buccaneers’ backfield. RoJo enjoyed a sophomore bump last year (203 touches, 1,033 yards from scrimmage) and looked good doing it, but the 22-year-old isn’t ready to shoulder the load. Tampa Bay should be active in free agency and the draft’s early goings in its search for a pass-catching back, like Chris Thompson, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jonathan Taylor or potentially even David Johnson, if Bruce Arians’ old bell-cow were to become available.”

Jones had his first-career 100-yard rushing game in Week 17’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons to close out the 2019 season. A high second-round pick in 2018, Jones hasn’t lived up to his billing yet. In fact, Todd McShay predicted in his post-combine mock draft that the Bucs would use the 14th pick in April’s draft to take Georgia standout running back D’Andre Swift.

Tampa Bay could certainly use help in the backfield. We’ll just have to wait and see whether the team makes upgrading the position a priority come free agency or the draft.

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Todd McShay’s post-combine mock draft has Bucs taking an SEC star running back

See who Todd McShay likes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the 14th spot in his latest 2020 NFL mock draft.

With the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine in the books, teams can now focus on their draft boards and upcoming pro days in anticipation of April’s NFL draft.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the 14th pick in the draft, and in his first mock draft post-combine, Daniel Jeremiah over at NFL.com liked LSU edge K’Lavon Chaisson going to Tampa Bay. Today, Todd McShay over at ESPN released his post-combine mock draft, and he has a surprising and exciting pick at 14. McShay believes the Bucs will draft Georgia star running back D’Andre Swift.

Per McShay:

“Swift is explosive, and while Ronald Jones II looked good at moments in 2019, the Bucs could use some explosion in the run game. Hand him the ball, and watch him make one cut and turn on his 4.48 40 speed. Tampa Bay was bottom-third in rushing last season and ranked 17th in receptions by running backs. Swift, one of the best pass-catching RBs in the class, would help in both areas. But keep an eye on QB and edge rusher too. If Jameis Winston doesn’t return and Love or Herbert slide, this could be a good landing spot. And with all of the Bucs’ potential losses to their pass rush, reaching for someone such as LSU defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson here could be in play.”

That would certainly be a major get for the Bucs and an upgrade at the running back position. While second-year RB Ronald Jones performed admirably last season, it took until Week 17 for him to have his first-career 100-yard game for the Bucs. Jones, the former second-round pick, is still young, but Swift has playmaker written all over him. The Georgia Bulldog had 1,218 rushing yards on 196 carries to go along with seven touchdowns in 2019.

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Twitter reacts to Ronald Jones’ fumble

That’s certainly not how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to start today’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. After Atlanta went up 7-0 on their opening drive, the Bucs got the ball and immediately turned it over on the first play. The surprising …

That’s certainly not how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to start today’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

After Atlanta went up 7-0 on their opening drive, the Bucs got the ball and immediately turned it over on the first play.

The surprising part? It wasn’t Jameis Winston at fault this time, but rather running back Ronald Jones.

See what fans on Twitter had to say.