The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are way out of things this season and next year Doug Martin and Vincent Jackson could be trade targets, as the Bucs may clean house and teams like the Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns. NY Giants or Miami Dolphins could be interested in those players after the season.
The Buccaneers have struggled mightily this year and at the trade deadline both Jackson and martin came up in trade rumors. While neither player was moved, the team may look at making deals in the offseason, as Martin looks to be a shell of the player he was as a rookie, while Jackson is making a ton of money. One reason the Buccaneers may look at making deal is that they have other players emerging at the positions, as Mike Evans, Bobby Rainey and Charles Sims have stepped up this season.
According to ESPN.com, the Buccaneers were willing to listen to offers for Martin at the trade deadline and Adam Schefter reported that they could continue that in the offseason. The Browns got rid of Ben Tate and while they like Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West, the team will need some more depth at the position. The Browns have a number of draft picks heading into next season and they could use one of those to buy low on Martin.
The Browns also have cap space and could make a move on Jackson, while the Raiders also will have money to spend and could look at making a move. Martin was injured last season and he has been in and out of the lineup once again this year. Martin rushed for over 1400 yards as a rookie and had 11 touchdowns, but since that season he has been averaging just three yards per carry in the 12 games he has played and the Bucs could be ready to move on. The team has Sims and Rainey along with some other young backs and they may try and get a draft pick for Martin.
The Browns may be in position to make some moves after the season, as they have a decision to make on Brian Hoyer and once that is done, things could fall into place around him. The team has to decide whether he is the long term option and if he leads the team to the playoffs, the Browns likely will sign him back. Johnny Manziel is waiting in the wings and that could make it very tough for the Browns to decide what to do, especially if Hoyer asks for a decent amount of money.
Making the situation more difficult is the fact that the league has a number of teams that could be interested in Hoyer as a starting QB. According to Pro Football Talk, the Texans, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans could be interested, while the Raiders, NY Jets and Buffalo Bills also could be in the market for a new starter.
The Browns are in position to make the playoffs this season and this is the first time in years the franchise has even sniffed the postseason. Getting Josh Gordon back has helped the offense and down the line the team could look at adding more to that roster.
