The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not get enough credit for what they have built at running back, but Pro Football Focus just put a spotlight on exactly why that room matters. In its look at the NFL’s best pass-catchers under pressure during the 2025 season, PFF singled out both Bucky Irving and new Buccaneers back Kenneth Gainwell for giving quarterbacks a steady answer when the pocket starts to break down.
That kind of recognition says plenty about where Tampa Bay can hurt defenses. This backfield is not just about carries between the tackles. It can also change the shape of the passing game.
Irving’s 2025 season was interrupted by injuries, but the flashes he showed still made the point clear. When he was on the field and getting chances as a receiver, he looked like one of the league’s most dangerous backs in space. He can shake defenders, turn a simple throw into a bigger gain, and give Baker Mayfield another option when plays get messy.
What stood out about Irving as a rookie was his vision and burst as a runner. Now, his receiving value could become just as important. In a league where defenses are obsessed with taking away explosives, a back who can create after the catch gives an offense a real edge.
Gainwell brings a different kind of value to the mix. During his time with the Steelers, he drew praise for how dependable he was as a pass catcher, especially when quarterbacks were under pressure. He can work against linebackers and serve as a trustworthy outlet, which gives Tampa Bay another layer in the passing game.
The Buccaneers needed to reshape the position after the departure of Rachaad White, and Irving plus Gainwell gives them a blend of styles that fits together well. Irving offers the big-play juice. Gainwell brings consistency and experience as a receiving threat.
With Tampa Bay expected to lean on a younger offensive core, this duo could wind up playing a bigger role than plenty of people expect. If both stay healthy, the Buccaneers have a chance to field one of the league’s toughest backfields to handle in the passing game.
In Other News...
Bucs Suddenly Have One Linebacker Facing A Brutal Camp Fight
SirVocea Dennis entered the offseason looking like a player with a chance to settle in as part of Tampa Bays linebacker future, but the room around him has changed quickly. The Buccaneers added Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom, then brought in rookie Josiah Trotter, giving the middle of the defense a much deeper and more competitive feel than it had before.
Dennis did enough last season as a full-time starter to stay in the conversation, especially with his tackle production, but his work in coverage left plenty of questions. Training camp now looms as the real test for him, because he will need to show he can clean up those issues and hold off the new wave of competition if he wants to keep his place in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Tight End Enters Camp With His Future Suddenly At Stake
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The concern is that Durham has not made enough of an impact to feel secure, and the numbers around his usage have trended the wrong way after a stronger second season. Even in the area where he is supposed to help most, the fit has not clearly translated to better results for the run game, leaving him to prove in camp and preseason that he still belongs in Tampa Bays plans. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Face One Brutal Post Evans Post David Reality
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Bleacher Reports latest outlook suggests the Buccaneers are not headed for the bottom of the NFC South despite all that turnover, with the Falcons projected to land there instead. For Tampa Bay, the bigger issue is not whether the roster has talent, but whether the front office has done enough to keep the post-Evans, post-David transition from becoming a full-on slide. [Read more 🡒]