Running back Doug Martin will sign a five-year, $35.75 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers according to NFL Network media insider Ian Rapoport. The new deal will keep him in Tampa through the 2020 season. Martin had become an unrestricted free agent after his four-year rookie contract expired this year.
For the #Bucs and RB Doug Martin, it's a 5-year deal worth $35.75M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2016
Doug Martin To Re-Sign with Bucs for 5 Years
Martin experienced a career resurgence in 2015 after two straight seasons plagued by injuries. The 27-year-old finished as the league’s second-leading rusher behind the Vikings Adrian Peterson with 1,402 yards while also rushing for six touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career. He also became the first running back in Bucs history to be receive first-team All-Pro honors.
The Oakland, CA native burst onto the scene during his rookie season of 2012. He was named the starting running back during the preseason and it didn’t take long for him to repay the faith then head coach Greg Schiano had in him. Against his hometown Raiders in week nine, he would rush for 251 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-32 win.
Martin would finish the 2012 season with 1,454 rushing yards, a Buccaneers rookie record. The 5’9″, 223 pound running back would add 472 receiving yards, giving him a total of 1,926 on the year. That total ranks as the second best single season in terms of yards from scrimmage in franchise history. Only James Wilder had more, gaining 2,229 total yards back in 1984.
Before his time in Tampa, Martin had a successful college career at Boise State. It was there that he gained the nickname “Muscle Hamster” from his teammates. During his senior season, he would finish with 1.554 total yards and 18 touchdowns as the Broncos capped off a 12-1 season with a 56-24 route of Arizona State in the Maaco Bowl in Las Vegas. Martin was named game MVP after returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and adding 151 yards rushing with a score on the ground.
Martin was drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft where he was picked 31st by the Bucs.
