NFL Free Agency: Rashad Jennings belongs in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay can still use an upgrade in the backfield, which could come in the form of former Giant Rashad Jennings through NFL free agency
Doug Martin is atop the backfield depth chart for the Bucs at the moment. However, he hasn’t been exactly eye-popping since his outstanding rookie campaign, and remains suspended for PED use last year. The Bucs need a veteran presence behind Jameis Winston, and soon.
For Tampa Bay, Jameis Winston is clearly the franchise quarterback and he has the keys to the Bucs’ future. Mike Evans has established himself as one of the league’s premier pass-catchers, helping Winston rise to stardom while becoming the clear star of the offense. Tight end Cameron Brate also had himself one heck of a coming out party in 2016.
As if that wasn’t enough, Tampa Bay bolstered their aerial attack even further this offseason. The front office went out and inked DeSean Jackson to a multi-year deal. The former Washington Redskin and Philadelphia Eagle is one of the NFL’s best deep threats, and gives Winston one heck of a second option behind Evans.
Another splash came on draft night with their first round pick O.J. Howard. A product of Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, Howard will likely slide into the first team offense and create a dominant tag-team with Cameron Brate.
In the middle rounds, the Buccaneers snagged Penn State’s Chris Godwin to compete for the third receiver slot. Godwin was a dynamic playmaker for the Nittany Lions last season, ending his college career with a magnificent showing at the Rose Bowl. Winston now has two, maybe three new prime targets to propel the offense to new heights in 2017.
Winston now has two, maybe three new prime targets to propel the offense to new heights in 2017.
However, since Winston came out of Florida State, he hasn’t really had much of a running game to assist him. Doug Martin has been around but he’s had his issues and his time with the team may be coming to an end sooner rather than later. Behind Martin on the depth chart are Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers who haven’t proven themselves as much more than change of pace backs. The other backs behind Rodgers and Sims won’t be seeing the field much barring injury.
The other backs behind Rodgers and Sims won’t be seeing the field much barring injury.
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A talented veteran could give Winston some much-needed help on the ground. The free agent crop has pretty much dried up, with the exception of two backs: Rashad Jennings and James Starks. Starks hasn’t been great as a lead dog in the backfield, making him an unattractive option to a team needing someone capable of being the top guy.
The former Packer Starks hasn’t been great as a lead dog in the backfield, making him an unattractive option to a team needing someone capable of being the top guy.
Jennings has shown he can take on the top role. He was pretty good with the Oakland Raiders and more recently, the New York Giants. However, his cap hit and the presence of a young Paul Perkins sent Jennings packing. To this day, he remains unsigned. Tampa Bay can, and should, change that.
With Jennings, teams know that his abilities are not game changing but they are definitely serviceable. He protects the ball, only fumbling seven times (losing four) in his seven-year career. His best season came just two years ago in 2015, where he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 10.2 yards per catch en route to 863 yards on the ground.
While those are not elite numbers, he is capable of taking pressure off of Winston, something the young passer hasn’t had the luxury of experiencing in his short career. Jennings would presumably be a short-term answer, likely one or two seasons. However, it would give the Bucs some time to find a long-term answer at the position through the NFL Draft.
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More importantly, it gives Tampa Bay the chance to compete right now. After finishing 9-7 and barely missing out on the playoffs in 2016, the offense as a whole has changed. The dynamic receiving options have gone from just Evans and Brate to Evans, Jackson, Godwin, Howard and Brate.
All of that will be limited if there’s nobody to hand the ball off to. Jennings could be that guy and having Rodgers and Sims as a change of pace options behind him could work out quite well.