As free agency fast approaches, it appears increasingly likely that Doug Martin will have the opportunity to test the open market for the first time in his NFL career.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Martin's representation were unable to close the gap in recent contract negotiations, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
While Tampa Bay would certainly still have an opportunity to re-sign Martin after he becomes a free agent, it's unclear whether the team would be willing to keep up with the bidding process that takes place at that point.
Coming off his most productive season since a standout rookie campaign in 2012, the 27-year-old will almost certainly be the most highly coveted back available.
Martin finished the 2015 campaign with an impressive 1,402 rushing yards, second only to Adrian Peterson among the NFL's leaders.