ESPN is already making noise about Kenny Gainwell’s fit in Tampa Bay, and the early read is a spicy one: the Buccaneers might have added more than just a useful No. 2 back behind Bucky Irving.
That’s saying something for a team whose offseason attention was largely spent reshaping the defense. Tampa Bay brought in veterans Alex Anzalone and A'Shawn Robinson, while Rueben Bain Jr. has the look of a future force off the edge. The rookie class also includes Josiah Trotter and Keionte Scott, two players the Bucs believe have the kind of tools that can grow into something bigger down the line.
But the offense got its own quiet upgrades, too. Even with Mike Evans gone, Tampa Bay found a sleeper in the draft in Ted Hurst. The tight end room also got a boost with Cade Otton back in the fold and LSU sixth-round pick Bauer Sharp added behind him.
The move that may end up mattering most, though, was bringing in Kenny Gainwell from the Pittsburgh Steelers to take over as the No. 2 option after Rachaad White’s departure. Gainwell, who was a favorite of legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers, is expected to handle the all-purpose work and be the main third-down and passing-down option.
And not everybody is viewing him as just a complementary piece.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated a bigger idea, suggesting there’s a real chance Gainwell could wind up as Tampa Bay’s best running back. Barnwell said, "Bucky Irving was also sidelined for two months by foot and shoulder injuries, and across his two stretches of active play, he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry.
Irving turned only 6.4% of his designed rush attempts into 10-plus yard gains, down from 13% as a rookie. The Bucs swapped out Rachaad White for Kenny Gainwell, who was wildly productive for the Steelers in a situational role, and there’s a chance that he is Tampa’s best back."
Using Irving’s injury-hit 2025 season instead of his 2024 production, when he ran for more than 1,100 yards and scored eight touchdowns, is a tough way to frame the comparison. Still, the point about Gainwell has some real weight behind it.
He’s shown he can do damage in the passing game, with big catches and the kind of open-field wiggle that makes defenders miss. The problem in Pittsburgh was simple: he never got enough chances. Tampa Bay may be the team that finally gives him a bigger stage, and with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and more skill talent around him, it’ll be worth watching how much room Gainwell gets to work with.
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Baker Mayfield Just Got Hit With Another Brutal National Snub
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The placement feels especially notable because Mayfield has stacked up well statistically in recent seasons and has helped keep Tampa Bay in the mix. For a quarterback who has become central to the teams identity, the bigger question now is whether the national view catches up before his next contract decision becomes part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]