Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, Sean Tucker And Sharing The Rock
March 20th, 2026
Sharing carries in 2026?
Is Bucky Irving still the Bucs’ No. 1 back?
If you trust the figures from OverTheCap.com — Joe was told by an NFL suit at the combine with intimate knowledge of capology to be very careful taking those figures as Gospel — new Bucs running back/special teams stud Kenneth Gainwell counts $7 million against the cap.
That’s almost as much as Luke Goedeke, more than Zyon McCollum and more than Cade Otton, all starters.
It is because of this Matthew Berry of NBC/Rotoworld isn’t so sure Bucky Irving will be the Bucs’ No. 1 back this year. Or at least, Bucky may not be a bellcow back.
Berry types that the Bucs didn’t bring in Gainwell, or bring back Sean Tucker, just to sit on the pine and suck Gatorade on gamedays.
The Buccaneers went out and signed Kenneth Gainwell coming off a season in which he set career highs in touches (187) and scrimmage yards (1,023), on his way to finishing top five among RBs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. You don’t get a guy performing that well to not play him. Gainwell’s pass-catching ability is the biggest concern for Bucky Irving’s fantasy prospects.
And in addition to signing Gainwell, the Bucs also brought back Sean Tucker who finished last season as their preferred goal-line option.
During Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s sitdown this week with select media, he noted that Bucs new special teams coach Danny Smith, late of the Steelers, was heavy panting for Licht to sign Gainwell, who played special teams with the Steelers as well.
Perhaps the Bucs are spooked by Bucky’s injuries? He sure missed a lot of time with a bad shoulder and some other bumps and bruises.
But Berry does have a valid point: You don’t bring in Gainwell and bring back Tucker just as backups and special teams dudes.