Los Angeles Rams should consider idea of Doug Martin joining team

Following his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Rams should at least consider the possibility of Doug Martin coming on board in 2018.

Despite Todd Gurley emerging as a serious MVP candidate last season as a member of the Los Angeles Rams after finishing with 2,093 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with 19 total touchdowns, the team may still end up adding another running back before the 2018 season. Between Malcolm Brown becoming a free agent to the uncertainty surrounding Lance Dunbar, the Rams have plenty to figure out over the next month or so when it comes to the position, leaving many to believe they could even start fresh with someone new through free agency or the NFL Draft.

Enter Doug Martin, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the announcement on Tuesday to part ways with the former first-round pick after six seasons. As bad as it sounds, the decision by the Buccaneers to move on from Martin really wasn’t that much of a surprise when looking at the money it would save the team (almost $7 million) in 2018 along with the fact that his production was way down compared to a few years ago (less than 500 rushing yards in four of the last five seasons).

Take this into consideration along with the numerous injuries he experienced along with a stint in drug rehab following a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, a clean start for both Martin and Tampa Bay seems like the best option for both parties. And even though most teams will want to steer clear of the possibility of the running back coming on board for the 2018 season, Los Angeles needs to at least consider the possibility.

Martin may not be the same effective running back from a few years ago, but when looking at how Sean McVay has established a reputation for getting the best out of most players, this could easily turn into a low risk, high reward for the Rams. Obviously, the addition of someone like Martin wouldn’t have an impact on the amount of playing time Gurley receives on a weekly basis, so why shouldn’t Los Angeles at least consider the possibility of giving Jared Goff another weapon to work with that can both run and catch the football?

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It was only three years ago in which Martin showed flashes of his rookie campaign after finishing the 2014 season with 1,673 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with seven trips into the end zone. At 29, Martin is at a point in his career where he may not have much playing time left before he has to call it a career, and at least by joining a team like the Rams, it would not only provide him with an opportunity to make an impact on McVay’s offense, but also give him a legitimate shot to be part of a team expected to be one of the early favorites in the NFC to make a run at the Super Bowl.