Doug Martin: Tampa Bay Buccaneers pay big to retain RB

Doug Martin agreed to a five-year, $35.75 million contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just hours before the running back could have bolted in free agency.

Martin was the second-leading rusher in the NFL in 2015. The Buccaneers declined a fifth-year option on his contract that would have paid Martin more than $15 million, but Martin gets the same amount in guarantees to stick with the team that drafted him in the first round.

With incentives, the contract would approach the total value of the five-year deal DeMarco Murray signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015.

Martin had 1,402 yards rushing and 271 yards on 32 receptions as a vital crutch for rookie quarterback Jameis Winston last season.

First-year head coach Dirk Koetter said the offense will evolve this season -- Koetter was offensive coordinator in 2015 -- but remain a run-first scheme.

Last season was a bounceback year for Martin, the 31st overall pick in 2012 who had 1,454 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns and caught 49 passes for 472 yards and one touchdown as a rookie but fell off dramatically in 2013 -- when he was limited to six games landed on injured reserve to undergo shoulder surgery -- and 2014. He played in only 11 games in 2014 because of ankle and knee injuries.