Doug Martin’s future with the Buccaneers is still up in the air

INDIANAPOLIS — If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make a decision about running back Doug Martin, it’s not coming soon.

Martin is suspended for the first three games of next season for violating the NFL’s drug policy. Last offseason, Martin signed a five-year deal worth $35.75 million with Tampa Bay, including $15 million in guaranteed money.

But part of the wording in Martin’s contract allows the Buccaneers to void the deal due to his substance abuse issues.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter and general manager Jason Licht said it’s an issue they will eventually address.

“We don’t have to make that decision right now,” Koetter said. “Doug did not have a good season as he did in 2015, and that was mainly due to injury. Doug’s under contract right now, and no decision has to be made on that right now. We don’t have to rush it.”

Beyond Martin, the Buccaneers have little at the position. The team used six different running backs last season, and finished 24th in the league in rushing. In 2015, Martin was a Pro Bowl selection, and Tampa Bay basically used only him and backup Charles Sims to finish fifth in the league in rushing. Sims is still under contract, but he had just 149 yards on 51 carries a season ago.

“We can just work through it as we go,” Koetter said. “That’s one of the things high on our list — what’s going to happen with our running back situation.”

If the Buccaneers do part ways with Martin, they’re doing so in a year where the NFL draft is loaded at running back. In the first round, they could target players like LSU’s Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook of Florida State, if they’re available. More likely, they could address the position later in the draft. Players like D’onta Foreman of Texas, Samaje Perine of Oklahoma, and Kareem Hunt of Toledo could be options in the middle of the draft.

Licht was quiet about his intentions at the position, but he did say the team has kept in touch with Martin while he’s gone through rehabilitation.

“There’s no point in coming out and saying what we want to do or plan on doing,” Licht said. “We’re going to let the process play out, and that’s good for both parties.”

For now, it’s a wait and see with Martin, who has made two Pro Bowls in his five seasons with the Buccaneers.

“I would just say that every position we have a question mark at is a high priority,” Koetter said. “We have more than one position where we’re not exactly sure how it’s going to shake out right now.”