SR’s 2023 Bucs Draft Insider

Texas running back Bijan Robinson has been mocked to the Bucs at No. 19 for months now. And with Robinson telling Dan Patrick that one of the two teams he’s visited before the draft was Tampa Bay, the idea is not completely far-fetched. The Bucs parted ways with Leonard Fournette and have a pair of unproven third-round running backs in Rachaad White and Ke’Shawn Vaughn on the roster, in addition to newcomer Chase Edmonds. Tampa Bay needs another back, and Robinson is clearly the best one in this draft.

While drafting running backs in the first round typically isn’t great value, there is an exception for generational backs – especially later in the first round. Yet, there is only one ball to go around, and to justify taking Robinson in the first round means he’ll have to be the workhouse back in Tampa Bay. That means that general manager Jason Licht will have essentially wasted two third-round picks on White and Vaughn, who would be backup running backs.

For that reason alone, I don’t see that happening. There’s no way Licht would invest three premium picks (Day 1 or Day 2) at running back.

As for Robinson, look for him to go to the Falcons at No. 8, the Eagles at No. 10, the Texans at No. 12 or for the Cowboys to trade up from No. 26 for him. I just don’t see Robinson lasting until the 19th pick.

When Will The Bucs Draft A Running Back?

Now that offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is gone and Dave Canales has arrived, the Bucs are certainly more committed to running the ball. But with the departure of starting left tackle Donovan Smith, starting right guard Shaq Mason and swing tackle Josh Wells, fortifying the offensive line, especially at offensive tackle, is more of a priority. Without a rock-solid offensive line opening up holes, no running back is going to have success – not even Bijan Robinson.

The Bucs don’t need to spend a first-round pick on a running back – either Robinson or Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who was also in for a Top 30 visit. So, when will Tampa Bay select another running back to round out its depth chart? Remember, general manager Jason Licht has used three third-round picks on running backs in his nine drafts in Tampa Bay – Charles Sims (2014), Ke’Shawn Vaughn (2020) and Rachaad White (2022).

So don’t rule out the third round, especially if the Bucs address greater needs like offensive tackle and outside linebacker in the first two rounds. The Bucs have brought in three backs who could be selected in the third round, including UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet, Texas’ Roschon Johnson and Illinois’ Chase Brown. Tampa Bay is looking for a physical angry runner, and as talented as Robinson is, Charbonnet might be just as good at the next level due to his insane power and tackle-breaking ability.

See for yourself in the clip below.