Buccaneers: Travis Etienne gives Tom Brady needed weapon in NFL Draft

What a run by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past six weeks en-route to their second Super Bowl Championship. Almost immediately after the Bucs bounced the Chiefs to capture the Lombardi Trophy, the focus on the 2021 NFL Draft began.

Free agency begins in almost a month and the Draft is less than three months away. The Bucs will do what they can to retain the services of their key free agents: Lavonte David, Chris Godwin, Shaquill Barrett, and more. A couple of other free agents that I do not see them bringing back are in the running back group including LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette.

Fournette had a great playoff run but unfortunately, his better days are behind him after a great career at LSU and first three years in the league in Jacksonville.

How the Buccaneers can fill RB void

To fill that spot to compliment the ground and pound run game of Ronald Jones II, the Buccaneers should draft Travis Etienne out of Clemson in the first round.

Etienne was ultra explosive and productive in his decorated college career. As a Tiger he ran for 4952 yards with 70 rushing touchdowns. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield was also a big component of the success of future Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence at Clemson. As a junior and senior at Clemson he caught a combined 85 passes for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns.

That security blanket that he provided Lawrence is exactly what Tom Brady needs. In the Super Bowl you saw a couple of routes up the middle of the field to Fournette and some swing passes to Jones. Believe me there was some great plays by those two but Etienne is a home run threat on those type of plays, something that is missing from Tampa’s offense.

Remember, Shady McCoy in Philadelphia and his ability to make plays out of the backfield for the Eagles? Well that is what Etienne could be like those guys as far as a role but be much more athletic and better hands.

In New England, Brady used the likes of Rex Burkhead, Danny Woodhead, James White, and Dion Lewis to be the playmakers out of the backfield to complement the throw game with Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and others.

Etienne a great fit for Arians and Leftwich

In Bruce Arians’ and Byron Leftwich’s offense, it is key to have a running back that is not only a force on the ground but through the air. Their offense made David Johnson in Arizona look like an all-time great, in 2016 he was a First-team All-Pro selection with 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns. Over 40 percent of Johnson’s yards that year were through the air.

Could Etienne be the next David Johnson? Oh yes and much more because of the ability he has to stay healthy and contribute to special teams for Tampa. Etienne never missed a game for Clemson including each of the last four College Football Playoffs.

The only knock I would have on Etienne which isn’t a big one because he only struggled with it for one season at Clemson would be fumbling. Fumbling is ultimately what cost Ronald Jones his carries and role toward the end of the season and playoffs. As a senior, Etienne had four fumbles which is twice as many he had his first three years as a Tiger.

Last year I was praying for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to be available to the Buccaneers in the early second round to trade up for but ultimately he went to the Chiefs. I wanted him in Tampa to help give Brady a safety valve and because of his playmaking ability on the edge. This year at pick 32, I can see Tampa trading up a few spots to land Etienne, maybe attach a third or future fourth rounder to the swap.

Joe Marino of The Draft Network gives his outlook on the Clemson running back:

"“His burst and contact balance make him a big-play back that is capable of taking it the distance from any part of the field. While he’s an explosive back, Etienne is disciplined and doesn’t try to do too much and put his team in bad positions. He’s grown wonderfully as a receiver and is a nightmare matchup for linebackers in coverage. The primary area of concern for Etienne is inconsistent results in pass protection. His tape reveals too many instances where he is tardy to diagnose pressure schemes and lacks the technique needed to consistently execute blocks in pass protection.”"

Drafting Etienne will not only extend the career of Brady in Tampa but will also relieve some pressure on the tight ends to make short-yardage plays. It will be interesting to see where the running back lands in April’s draft, he could go anywhere from the low 20’s to the early second round.