Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht aims to enhance the backfield, and Texas star running back Jonathon Brooks could be a good fit.
“We love Chase [Edmonds] and obviously Rachaad [White], but we’re looking for another running back to be in the competition there to carry some of the load,” Licht stated to reporters on Tuesday at the annual NFL league meeting in Orlando.
Edmonds and White only totaled 1,169 rushing yards and six touchdowns combined in 2023. The Buccaneers could pick up Brooks after the first round even though Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema considers him the top back in the draft.
“Brooks is an ideal blend of size, speed, strength and agility,” Sikkema wrote. “Though limited in snap totals, he has good vision in both gap and zone run schemes. If he can get back to form following his torn ACL, he has all the goods to be a starting running back in the NFL.”
Emerging from the shadow of Bijan Robinsonlast season, Brooks ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for 2023. His season ended in November 2023 when he tore his ACL against TCU.
Jonathon Brooks Expects Full Recovery by Training Camp
Brooks anticipates being fully recovered in time for the NFL season. He said as much during an interview at the NFL Combine in February.
“I’m weeks into my recovery, so I’m just starting to get to running,” Brooks told reporters. “Expected timeline is training camp. July 1 or the start of training camp.”
Brooks had played sparingly behind Robinson before 2023 with just 340 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. The Buccaneers, who passed on Robinson last year, have been at the bottom of the league in running the ball since 2022.
After parting ways with Leonard Fournette following the 2021 season, Tampa Bay has not found a feature back in White or Edmunds. The Buccaneers also lacked depth last season as no other running back surpassed 100 yards for the entire year.
Jonathon Brooks Compared to Former All-Pro Back
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Brooks to former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. The former All-Pro and Pro Bowler racked up 7,563 yards and 44 touchdowns in 11 seasons.
“The comparison of Brooks to former Longhorn Jamaal Charles might feel lazy to some, but he has similar size and traits as a runner. Brooks’ limited collegiate carries could be seen as a balancing agent against the fact he’s coming off an ACL tear,” Zierlein wrote.
“He’s agile and smooth working from cut to cut and is likely to improve his feel for reading blocks and setting up defenders as he gains experience,” Zierlein added. “Brooks has the wiggle and know-how to create yardage in tight quarters or in space but is efficient finishing runs when it’s time.”
Tampa Bay didn’t have that last season as White and Edmonds both averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Brooks averaged 6.2 yards for his collegiate career at Texas.
“He has good burst but can be a little hesitant to punch the gas between the tackles until he sees clear points of entry, and he isn’t a physical run finisher,” Zierlein wrote. “Brooks is a runner on an upward trajectory. He’s a good pass catcher with three-down potential who should fit nicely as an early starter for zone-heavy teams.”
