The Tampa Buccaneers finished in last place in the NFC South division for the second consecutive year, but their offense saw much improvement, as they finished the 2015 regular season with the fifth best offense in the NFL in terms of yards per game. The Buccaneers have decided to move forward with that offense and have since name offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter the next head coach.
While rookie quarterback Jameis Winston deserves much of the credit for the improved play in the Buccaneers offense this past season, there is no doubt that running back Doug Martin was also a big factor in their success. The Buccaneers finished with a 6-10 record this past season, but despite the losing record, Martin and Winston showed that this team could have a strong future.
While Martin and Winston showed a strong connection in the Buccaneers' offense last season, the talented running back may not return next season. Martin was the second leading rusher in the NFL last season with 1,402 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 223-pound running back was a dual threat out of the backfield, as he recorded 33 receptions for 271 yards.
The Buccaneers running back becomes a unrestricted free agent in March and will test the market, according Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Martin "is hoping to hit the jackpot" after a tremendous season this past year, but Tampa Bay doesn't seem completely ready to let him go.
Reports had surfaced that contract talks were underway at the end of January, but it looks as though there is a divide between the two regarding a contract, as nothing looks like it will get done before the March 9 deadline. "We've had great discussions, and I think it's pretty mutual he'd like to be here and we'd like to have him," general manager Jason Licht said, via The Tampa Bay Times. "We'll have to see how it goes."
Martin will likely garner plenty of interest on the free agent market, as he just turned 27 years old and has proven to be a force in the league. The will be some talented running backs on the free agent market with Dolphins' Lamar Miller, Jets' Chris Ivory, and Bears running back Matt Forte, who has already confirmed that the Bears will not resign him this offseason.
The Buccaneers have the fifth-most salary cap in the league this offseason but are focused on building there team from the ground up through the draft and do not want to overpay for any one player, according to Stroud. Martin will likely be one of the big free agents to watch this offseason, as he could land a large contract with a new team in 2016.
