The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' selection with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft presents a number of options, including possibly selecting a running back. One player who could be available then is Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.

Could the Bucs select him? And if so, how would they use him? A number of teams believe he's more of an offensive 'weapon' rather than an every-down back. Head coach Dirk Koetter believes he's capable of more than that.

"I think most teams are probably looking at him as a weapon, but Stanford definitely used him as an every-down back and Stanford is not a spread team," Koetter told reporters at the NFL owners meetings. "Not last year, but the year before, I think he had over 300 touches. They were using him as an 'I' back and their main running play was power, old-school power. He's shown that he can do that."

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The Bucs will be without Doug Martin for the first three games of the season because of a suspension for performance-enhancing substances that he began serving at the end of last season. Martin is more of a traditional running back who gets a lot of work in between the tackles, and plays the important role of setting up their play-action. Whoever replaces him for those first three games, whether it be Jacquizz Rodgers or a draft pick, needs to be able to do that.

"Typically you're not looking at a guy who's 200 pounds as that guy. Even if you're gonna use him on first and second downs, you don't have to use him on every first and second down," Koetter said of McCaffrey. "I think teams are looking at him as a weapon and as a guy -- he put on a clinic running routes at the combine -- that was versus air but, but as a route runner, kick returner and can do everything as a running back."

Koetter added, "Obviously people are talking highly about him and they should be. His college production is outstanding."

In three seasons at Stanford, McCaffrey combined for 5,128 scrimmage yards (rushing and receiving), second only to Florida State's Dalvin Cook among Power 5 players. In 2016, he led the NCAA in all-purpose yards (211.6 yards per game). His 1,206 receiving yards during his career were fifth-most among Power 5 running backs, and he averaged 12.2 yards per reception, seventh among running backs.

By all accounts, McCaffrey has very good hands and can function well in space. But as Koetter indicated, he could serve as a traditional running back. Although when you look at his numbers, it wouldn't be wise to pigeon-hole him -- that's not where he shines.

McCaffrey averaged 4.91 yards per rush on inside runs in 2016 and 5.18 for his college career. By comparison, Rams running back Todd Gurley had 8.05 yards per carry on inside runs in 2013 and 2014 at Georgia, the most in college football. Oklahoma's Joe Mixon (2015-16) averaged 6.98 (7th) and Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott (2014-15) averaged 6.84 (10th) at Ohio State.

McCaffrey's 6.34 yards per rushing attempt in 2016 was 25th among Power 5 running backs, although it is more than what Texas' D'Onta Foreman (6.28) and Cook (6.13) produced. Against bigger, stronger competition, McCaffrey might have some challenges running inside, or would really need a strong offensive line.

ESPN's Mike Rodak contributed to this report.