Hours before the start of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a new one-year deal for running back Charles Sims, a player they drafted four years ago.
A third-round pick in 2014, Sims became a free agent in March as his rookie contract expired. He is one of seven unrestricted or potential unrestricted free agents from the 2017 squad who has returned for the 2018 season, joining defensive end Will Clarke, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, guard Adam Gettis, cornerback Brent Grimes, guard Evan Smith and safety Keith Tandy.
Sims (6-0, 211) was the fifth pick in the third round of the 2014 draft, selected 69th overall. The Buccaneers began that draft by selecting wide receiver Mike Evans seventh overall in the first round. Coincidentally, Tampa Bay is due to pick seventh in the 2018 draft on Thursday night.
In his first four seasons with the Buccaneers, Sims played in 47 games with two starts. He recorded 958 yards and two touchdowns on 245 carries, averaging 3.9 yards per tote. Sims is a gifted pass-catcher out of the backfield, snaring 129 passes for 1,190 yards and six more touchdowns, and he has been most productive as an NFL back in a third-down, complementary role.
Sims' best season came in 2015, when he played in all 16 games and contributed 1,090 combined rushing and receiving yards while scoring four of his eight career touchdowns. He and Doug Martin were the only pair of running back teammates to each crack 1,000 yards from scrimmage that season.
The return of Sims adds depth to a Buccaneer backfield that was a little low on numbers following the February release of Martin. Peyton Barber and Jacquizz Rodgers return from the 2017 team, as well, and the team signed first-year player Dalton Crossan in February, but there are no other tailbacks on the roster. Even with Sims back in the fold, the Buccaneers could choose to address the position in this weekend's draft.
