[Basel]

The fact that Doug Martin signed a five-year deal with Tampa Bay on Monday was not necessarily huge news — the new slotting system for paying draft picks has made it easier to get guys under contract. But getting Martin inked now gives the Buccaneers a clear path to one of their big goals this offseason: Turning their first-round pick into a focal point on offense.

Tampa Bay jumped up to No. 31 in April’s draft to nab Martin, giving up second- and fourth-round picks in the process. That’s not a move you’d undertake for a project pick. New head coach Greg Schiano clearly coveted Martin as an impact player.

The reasoning behind it was obvious: Schiano wants the run game to be a huge component of Tampa Bay’s offensive attack, and the team did not have the type of depth at running back to implement that.

The incumbent at that position, LeGarrette Blount, managed just 781 yards in 14 games last season, and he frequently appeared indecisive with the ball in his hands. Tampa Bay’s only experienced returning runner behind Blount was Mossis Madu, who had all of 15 carries last season.

Enter Martin. Worst-case scenario, he’ll provide an option to spell Blount in the backfield; best-case, he takes the No. 1 job and … well … runs with it.

“He and LeGarrette can really be a great team,” Schiano said last month after Round 1 of the draft wrapped up. “In this league, I don’t think you can do it with one back, you need two.

“(Martin) is a three-down back, he can pass-protect, he can catch the football. He can do it all.”

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