The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be a sneaky Jadan Baugh team looking ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft
The Buccaneers have Bucky Irving, but a lack of size and durability concerns in the backfield could push Tampa Bay toward a power back early.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not scream running back need at first glance, but a closer look at the backfield reveals a sneaky hole that the 2027 NFL Draft could fill.
Bucky Irving has been impressive early in his career, and there is no denying his talent. The problem is durability and size, two factors that could push the Buccaneers toward investing a meaningful draft pick in a power running back.
Bucky Irving is great, but the caveats matter
Irving runs tough for his size. That phrase matters, though, because the caveat is always there.
He’s a smaller back who dealt with a brutal injury situation last season, and the durability concerns have followed him into this year. He could be one of the best RB2s in the league, and that might actually be the ideal role for him long term.
Pairing him with a bigger, more physical lead back would take pressure off Irving and extend his career.
Is Tampa Bay a Jadan Baugh team?
It might sound like a stretch, but it is not as wild as it seems.
If the Buccaneers are picking around 15th and find themselves out of range for one of the top pass catchers on their board, pivoting to a running back like Florida’s Jadan Baugh could reshape Tampa Bay’s entire offensive identity. Baugh is a 230-pound behemoth who can pound the rock and protect a quarterback from taking unnecessary hits.
Keeping Baugh in the state of Florida would be fun, too.
Picture a backfield with Baugh as the lead back, Irving as RB2, and Kenny Gainwell as the true third-down option. That is a three-headed group with size, speed, and versatility. The Buccaneers need more power in the backfield, and Ball would provide exactly that.
A mid-round alternative exists
If Tampa Bay doesn’t want to spend a mid-first-round pick on a running back, there is another path.
BYU’s LJ Martin could be a target in the second or third round, offering some of that same size and physicality without the premium draft capital. That route makes sense if a top pass catcher falls or if the Buccaneers find better value elsewhere in the first round.
Regardless of the route, the need is real. Tampa Bay’s backfield could use a bigger, more durable complement to Irving, and the 2027 NFL Draft class has options to address it.
