In less than two weeks, the NFL trade deadline will approach, and for a team like Tampa Bay, it will be a crucial deciding factor. The club has clear weaknesses, such as the ground game, but is still good enough to win its division. In the upcoming days, expect to hear more and more trade speculations involving the Buccaneers.

One feasible thought comes from a guy who knows a bit about running backs himself: Maurice Jones-Drew, a three-time Pro Bowl back for the Jaguars who now is an analyst for NFL.com.

Jones-Drew suggests the Bucs “inquire” about Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss

“With Moss headed for free agency after this season, trading him now could allow the Colts to recoup some draft capital to reinforce the roster in 2024,” MJD wrote. “I could also see the Bucs or Bears, who are thin in the backfield, inquiring about Moss.”

Zack Moss an Ideal Bucs Trade Rumor Subject

Moss has 466 yards rushing this season, and four touchdowns with another 110 yards receiving and a touchdown in the passing game. His 4.9 yards per carry are impressive, especially when compared with Tampa’s output, and makes him a prime candidate for a Bucs trade rumor.

As we know, Tampa is last in the NFL in yards per carry, at 3.0. The Bucs rank 29^th

in rushing yardage (394 through five games), and have just one rushing touchdown to their credit. Rachaad White is the primary back, and he has less than half the yardage of Moss—232 yards on 70 attempts this season, an average of 3.3 yards per carry.

, who played well to start the year in place of Jonathan Taylor, who was holding out for a new deal. But now, with Taylor back on a new, four-year, $42 million contract, Moss could be had on the trade market.

White is only 32nd in NFL yards but is 22nd in carries.

Todd Bowles, the coach, stated in a press conference that the running game simply needs patience. He was plainly reticent to comment on trade rumors this week regarding the Buccaneers.

According to Bowles’ quote from the Buccaneers transcript, “It will be a work in progress.” “If we focus on it too much, they’ll take it away, and we’ll have to toss it away. So there are a lot of cat and mouse situations. You have to toss it a little bit harder when you fall behind. Although we weren’t as far behind, we were still playing some close games. It will evolve into what we anticipate it to.

Zack Moss Would Be Affordable

But a guy like Moss would be tempting, a good fit for a Bucs trade rumor. He is still on his rookie deal—just $1.2 million on the cap hit—and with the Colts likely rebuilding without quarterback Anthony Richardson on hand, the Bucs might be wise to deal away a pick to bring him in.

More from MJD on Moss: “His 93.2 rush yards per game across five games this season more than doubles his output in any of his first three pro seasons, and he’s already equaled his previous season high in scrimmage yards (576). Now, though, with Taylor healthy (and, having signed a three-year, $42 million extension, presumably happy), this is the perfect chance for general manager Chris Ballard to sell high on Moss.”