Roughly a month ago running back didn’t seem to be a major, immediate need for the Bucs. But that all changed quickly.

When it was learned Bucs running back Doug Martin was popped for using a banned PED and subsequently suspended, draft talk quickly changed from wide receiver to running back for Bucs fans.

Last week in a Facebook Live chat, former Jets linebackers coach and pro player personnel director Pat Kirwan, a former Bucs scout and current SiriusXM NFL Radio talking head, fielded a question about Doug Martin.

Pimping his fantastic website, RealFootballNetwork.com, Kirwan not only suggested Martin’s trade value is virtually zero, he believes it is a very real possibility that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht washes his hands of Martin, who by his positive PED test voided his guaranteed $7 million contract for 2017.

“Sorry Doug, but here’s what’s going to happen to you: You are going to get released, most likely,” Kirwan said. “Why? Well, [your] team doesn’t want to take a second chance with you. But most importantly that contract you signed is big. Who wants to trade for that contract? “I would say if Doug gets a clean bill of health and his club gets convinced — that being Tampa — that he can still play, he will be there. But I think he will be released. I don’t think he will have trade value. Unless you want to take a sixth or a seventh [round pick], and see if he passes all of your tests and see if he gets through summer camp and all of that. His value has gone right down the drain.”

As Joe has stated, it is not etched in stone that Martin is gone. Joe suspects the Bucs might try to rework his deal to, say, a team-friendly $1 million for 2017 plus performance incentives.

This much is clear to Joe: The Bucs will not be banking on Martin being a feature back any longer.

To see Kirwan’s entire Facebook Live chat about all things NFL, click the white arrow below.