If Doug Martin sees the Tampa Bay Buccaneers using a fifth-round pick to select a running back as a threat to his job, he’s not showing it.
Tampa Bay used the No. 162 pick to select Boise State running back Jeremy McNichols. As is expected, McNichols was excited and shared his excitement on Twitter.
GOD IS GOOD. Been dreaming about this moment since I was in elementary school!!!!!! GO BUCS!!
— Jeremy McNichols (@JeremyMcNichols) April 29, 2017
Martin — himself a former Boise State running back — welcomed McNichols to the roster.
https://twitter.com/DougMartin22/status/858409541834334209
Martin is coming off of his worst season. He played in only eight games and rushed for less than three yards per carry, by far his worst total as a pro.
Martin seemingly fell out of favor with the Tampa Bay organization in 2016. Prior to the final game of that season, he was suspended for a failed drug test, which you can read about here. The suspension will spill over into the first three games of the 2017 season.
That will certainly give McNichols and all of the other backs on the team a chance to thrive.