The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be back on the rise sooner rather than later, thanks to their 2012 NFL Draft where they had a pair of first round picks in running back Doug Martin and safety Mark Barron. Martin rose up the depth chart and surpassed LeGarrette Blount to be named the starting running back, and by doing so he has not put himself in position to be mentioned in the conversation for rookie of the year.
Martin still has to compete with a pair of quarterbacks in the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III and the Indianpolis Colts' Andrew Luck for the award. Unless Martin has an unbelievable season he likely will not win the rookie of the year award, but Martin will still be one of the best rookies in the league this season.
As for Barron he also is expected to be one of the best defensive rookie, as he came in second place in SB Nation's blogger preseason awards with 17 percent of the vote. Barron was only behind the Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
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