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The 2017 NFL draft’s running back class sure is something. Three backs are almost certainly going to be picked in the first round: Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could pick whoever falls to them, though it’s not clear how they view their need at running back.
The latest report suggests that whatever happens with the Bucs, they won’t be picking Stanford’s McCaffrey, though. According to Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager, he’s a top 10 pick now.
Here's one for Wednesday night. Heard from multiple front office execs over last few days. Feeling is now Christian McCaffery goes Top 10.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 6, 2017
Well, that makes it easy for the Bucs: no Christian McCaffrey for them. That is, if this report is correct, which it may well not be. The weeks before the draft are filled with misleading and inaccurate reports, mostly because front office executives really like lying to reporters.
If McCaffrey’s gone, the Bucs could see Cook or Fournette fall to them. Or those two could be gone too, in which case we’re witnessing some weird resurgence of running back value.
Regardless of which back falls to them, though, the Bucs are more likely to go for a different position in the first round, taking a complementary back later on.