With the Buccaneers’ offensive additions this offseason, there’s a lot of excitement to see how much Tampa Bay can improve heading into the 2024 season, including yet another new offensive system. Many of those new players are from the rookie draft class, including offensive lineman Graham Burton, wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Bucky Irving.
Along with Irving, it was the final rookie drafted that garnered a lot of buzz throughout the offseason about how he would contribute to Tampa Bay’s offense. Over at NFL.com, Adam Rank gave a full rundown of the Buccaneers, and it was none other than Irving that he named as the player to buy stock for this season in fantasy football.
Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
“Get Bucky Irving wherever you want,” Rank wrote. “I know Raichard White was fourth among running backs with 1,539 scrimmage yards last season, but I think it’s just a matter of time before a rookie takes his spot. Irving, a fourth-round pick, led Oregon in 2023 with 1,180 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He’s also a good receiver out of the backfield.”
Please check All articles from Rank And his opinion on the Buccaneers’ performance this year.
Praise for Buccaneers running back Irving has been growing since the draft.
Many have been fans of Irving for a long time. Trevor Sikkema, a Pro Football Focus and Pewter Report alumnus I was obsessed with Irving. Even before he joined the Buccaneers, Sikkema said on the Pewter Report podcast that Irving was his favorite player to draft.
“I really like Bucky Irving,” Sikkema says. “I know he’s undersized. I know he hasn’t done particularly well on athletic tests, but PFF has two go-to metrics to help distinguish running backs and ball carriers from the offensive line in front of them. It’s an age-old question, because it’s like, ‘This guy has a lot of rushing yards, a lot of rushing touchdowns and a healthy number of yards per carry.’
“Well, is it just the offensive line in front of him? Is it him? What’s going on? A good way to judge that separately, regardless of what the offensive line in front of him is, good or bad, is the number of forced tackles missed per attempt, because that tells you if you’re getting past guys when you’re in a situation where you have the ability to get past them. Bucky Irving’s is incredibly high.”
Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Rachad White already likes Irving, even though they play the same position and are competing for playing time, and he understands how the two will impact the Buccaneers’ offensive success this season.
“Bucky does a great job of competing first and learning second,” White said of his rookie teammate. “They (running backs) are all great and want to understand the game better. We talk a lot. We have a good relationship, so that’s big. I think he brings a playmaker.” [ability] And in this offense, the more playmakers we have, the better. That would be huge. A one-two punch would be good.”
Irving has responded to the positive reactions from White and the rest of the running backs. He’s already benefited from their leadership since entering the NFL. As the season progresses, the Buccaneers will determine what role Irving will take. He comes into the team with the right attitude, to do whatever will best help the team win.
