Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Five options to replace Doug Martin in 2018 NFL Draft

Projection: Round 3
Age: 21 (2/24/1996)
Height & Weight: 6’0″ & 234 pounds
Season Statistics: 244 attempts, 1,475 yards, 16 touchdowns; 14 receptions, 164 yards

No prospect has been more consistently overlooked during the 2018 NFL Draft process than Oregon Ducks star Royce Freeman. Freeman is No. 7 on the NCAA’s all-time rushing yards list, but some fear his slight 2017 regression is a sign that he’ll struggle at the next level.

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do their homework, however, they’ll realize that Freeman endured a change in scheme and system—and he still managed to produce a monster season.

Freeman’s primary appeal is the powerful frame that he chiseled out over his time with the Ducks. He can fight off arm tackles with relative ease, muscle his way through tight running lanes, and use his vision in the open field to turn it into something bigger.

Freeman still has issues that he needs to address, but a strong and athletic running back who knows how to follow his blockers will always have a place in the NFL.

The appeal for Tampa Bay is that it could potentially select Freeman in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Under those circumstances, it could address its abhorrent pass rush, inconsistent secondary, or questionable offensive line during the first two rounds.

Thus, while Freeman may not be top five running back on many boards—mine might differ—finding him in Round 3 could provide enough bang for Tampa Bay’s buck.