Drafting A Running Back High May Be Needed
February 2nd, 2026
Still No. 1?
Let Joe be clear: Joe’s not anxious to push Bucky Irving down the roster. Or off the roster.
But there was an air of mystery that surrounded Bucky last year that was not tied to his injuries. Throw in the fact that Bucky simply didn’t get the job done on the field, Joe would not be scared to draft a running back on Day 2 of the draft.
Now it could be because of former Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. Maybe he didn’t know how to craft a run game. Maybe the Bucs couldn’t block because of injuries and, as a result, Bucky’s production dropped.
Well, the blocking excuse doesn’t hold water because backups Rachaad White and Sean Tucker ran better than Bucky. Those two guys ran behind the very same blockers as Bucky did.
The good news for Bucky is that new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson knows how to develop a run game. But here is the problem:
Last year White was both the Bucs’ second leading rusher (572 rushing yards) and had the second-most rushing touchdowns (4). White is gone. Well, not technically yet, but he already bid adios on social media mere hours after the season ended.
Since the Bucs have to add a running back and there are question marks with the team’s top runner, why not draft a guy on Day 2 of the draft?
Yes, of course, there’s always Tyler Allgeier.
February 2nd, 2026 at 12:11 am
I started thinking the same thing as soon as RW started let it be known he was probably gone. As much as we need pieces on defense, we definitely need to get some upgrades and depth for the RB room.
February 2nd, 2026 at 12:24 am
4/5 of our first 5 picks need to be front 7 players. Never a RB remotely early unless he’s truly remarkable and has 4.2-4.3 speed. Target speedy defensive players too. It’s a track meet.
February 2nd, 2026 at 12:30 am
Drafting one? yes. High? Absolutely not. RB & ILB we can find guys ready to contribute later in comparison to the more premium positions.
3rd at the earliest
February 2nd, 2026 at 12:50 am
no. SMDH. absolutely no
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:22 am
Drafting a RB is never needed.
We “hit” on Bucky and all we got was half a season of good running while letting a UDFA NFC player of the week rot on the bench. So wasteful.
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:39 am
Will be options in free agency. Allgaier knows the system and can play on all 3 downs.
Top 3 or 4 picks should all be defense. Then last couple can be RB and developmental line man
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:43 am
Probably someone like DEMOND CLAIBORNE from Wake Forest. He’ll probably go like 3rd round.
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:58 am
Tucker is a restricted FA so I believe they can retain him for around $3 Million.
Bucky will be fine but is not a starter.
We talk about Defense ONLY bit we need a TE and LG too.
We haven’t taken a RB in the first 2 rounds since Ronald Jones and that was a miss.
Not sure Licht is any good with that pick
Liam had a plan for Bucky. Let’s hope Zac R. knows what this is.
February 2nd, 2026 at 2:42 am
No RB below the 5th Rnd, way too many other needs
February 2nd, 2026 at 2:47 am
I see your point Joe but of our promising run game nobody including White/Tucker really lit it up. We had some dudes who looked good in camp last year. Wright in particular it seemed to me. Tucker gets more touches this year for sure.
I get it, but draft picks are gold, and as you said we don’t really know what the reason for it was…yet. Grizz would still be here if he was the answer. It was almost comical with the O line at times. Drafting/signing a competent guard to back up our starters sould be a better fix it seems to me. Maybe get Klein going? Coach Carberry? Jordan was not getting it done.
Go Bucs!
February 2nd, 2026 at 3:51 am
RUNNING BACK OPTIONS – 2026
Young FA Targets
* Breece Hall (24)
* Javonte Williams (25)
* Tyler Allgeier (25)
* Brian Robinson (26)
Draft Target
* Emmett Johnson (22) – 4th/5th Round Value
Projected Depth Chart
* Breece Hall (24) – Lead back, 3-down capability
* Bucky Irving (23) – Speed/receiving complement
* Sean Tucker (24) – Power/short-yardage specialist
* Emmett Johnson (22) – Developmental/rotational
February 2nd, 2026 at 6:01 am
In all fairness, check Bucky’s stats since his first start, game 16 in 2024, things changed for sure, and then the multiple injuries messed up his 2nd season
February 2nd, 2026 at 6:51 am
Tyler is a tough runner with attitude that never fumbles or gets injured and is excellent at short yardage=What we have not signed Tyler?
February 2nd, 2026 at 7:22 am
Tyler Allgeier would be the perfect complement. I do like Hall but he is going to be 3x the price.
February 2nd, 2026 at 7:26 am
If Styles is gone when we pick and there’s no DT alone in a tier we covet, trade down. Could try to trade down one of two second round picks too.
February 2nd, 2026 at 8:09 am
I would prefer to sign Allgeier and not use a draft pick on a running back.
February 2nd, 2026 at 8:18 am
They got Bucky in what round? 3rd? No, no high draft picks for the offense unless it’s OL. It should be defense heavy rounds 1-3. Prime Emmett Smith couldn’t help this team win more, the defense needs as much help as it can get.
February 2nd, 2026 at 9:01 am
No RB in rds 1-4. Focus on Edge, ILB, and DT3 in the early rounds.
In FA, go ILB, Edge, DT3, and backup guard.
February 2nd, 2026 at 9:25 am
“Tucker is a restricted FA so I believe they can retain him for around $3 Million.“
He can get offers from other teams, all we have is the right to match. That $3M is good and bad, because someone can easily offer double to lure him out, but it’d be hilarious if Licht puts a 1st/2nd round tender on him to stop that from happening.
Keeping Tucker is partly why I want to see ZacRob get some of that outside zone all the McVay guys are steeped in. Tree may be McVay, but the roots are Mike Shanahan and that means, there’s going to be some outside zone which with Tuckers ability, could lead to fireworks
February 2nd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Absolutely not. No team can run the ball north when both guards can not support it.
February 2nd, 2026 at 9:34 am
Joe always wants a new RB.
But no. Defense. Defense. Defense.
If we want the defensevto get better quickly, then spend the who draft on it.
Save offense for Free Agency.
February 2nd, 2026 at 9:35 am
We have out guards, they were on IR.
February 2nd, 2026 at 10:09 am
Not if we sign Tyler from Atl.
I do like Kaytrin Allen though. Probably a 4 or 5 rounder.
February 2nd, 2026 at 10:18 am
Not a significant need. I think Bucky bounces back, but if not him and tucker can split reps and be fine. Sure take a 6th or 7th rounder or UDFA but we need help elsewhere much more.
February 2nd, 2026 at 10:19 am
He played half a season through multiple injuries with a incompitent offensive coordinator……… No need to draft a running back between bucky and sean tucker were set.
February 2nd, 2026 at 10:28 am
I would like to hear White’s opinion of what went on with this team after the Bye Week. I believe he would give a good straight answer after he is signed by another team.
Is Baker The Problem?
Is Bowles The Problem?
Was Grizz way over his head?
Does Bucky have Mental Issues?
Is Licht Full of Crap?
Why can’t the Bucs stay healthy?
Would he love to eat catching balls out of the backfield with a Bowles schemed Defense?
Are these too honest of questions to get honest answers from an X Bucs player?
February 2nd, 2026 at 10:34 am
Algiers would be an upgrade.
February 2nd, 2026 at 10:54 am
Our defensive talent is so sparse I would draft BPA for defense in every round other than maybe another backup OG.
February 2nd, 2026 at 11:09 am
DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE………………..No more Egbuka’s………..Want all D……Sign a free agent OG……Last year’s 3rd stringers need not apply.
February 2nd, 2026 at 11:22 am
Great discussion, but I guess I’ll be the first to say that we’re gonna miss Rachaad White. Bucky & Tuck are both breakaway threats (more-so than Rachaad has been). A large part of each of their running yards has been from runs that are 10 yds or more (explosive runs). Not so much though with White (more of a ‘Steady Eddy’ type of RB).
Took a deeper look at their stats over these past 2 seasons, looking at ‘explosive runs’ (runs of 10 yds or more), at ‘negative runs’ (anything less than 0 yds), and what I’d call ‘normal runs’ (anything from 0 – 9 yds). For 2024 here’s what each of our RBs got overall …
o White: 16 games – 144 carries – 613 yds – 4.3 YPC – 3 TD
o Irving: 17 games – 207 carries – 1122 yds – 5.4 YPC – 8 TD
o Tucker: 17 games – 50 carries – 308 yds – 6.2 YPC – 2 TD
Excellent year rushing for all of them actually, but the numbers are a little deceiving, until you look deeper at ‘explosive runs’ and ‘negative runs’. The vast majority of running plays (80%) are ‘normal runs’ (0-9 yds). The 2024 YPC average for each of our 3 RBs was almost identical (3.6 – 3.8 YPC for all 3 RBs) in terms of their ‘normal runs’…
o White: 16 games
– 12 explosive runs for 226 yds (18.8 YPC)
– 16 negative runs for -34 yds (-2.1 YPC)
– 116 normal runs for 421 yds (3.6 YPC).
o Irving: 17 games
– 28 explosive runs for 560 yds (20.0 YPC)
– 14 negative runs for -32 yds (-2.3 YPC)
– 165 normal runs for 594 yds (3.6 YPC).
o Tucker: 17 games
– 9 explosive runs for 163 yds (18.1 YPC)
– 2 negative runs for -2 yds (-1.0 YPC)
– 39 normal runs for 147 yds (3.8 YPC).
The stats changed considerably in 2025 however (injuries to the RBs & OLine was surely a factor, as was having a new OC, even though all 3 were running behind the same OLine & had the same OC). Here’s what our 3 RBs got overall for 2025 rushing …
o White: 16 games – 132 carries – 572 yds – 4.3 YPC – 4 TD
o Irving: 10 games – 173 carries – 588 yds – 3.4 YPC – 1 TD
o Tucker: 17 games – 86 carries – 320 yds – 3.7 YPC – 7 TD
Big difference for Irving & Tucker from their 2024 stats, but little difference for White. Interestingly though when you dig down and separate out the explosive runs & negative runs, something interesting pops out.
o White: 17 games
– 13 explosive runs for 189 yds (14.5 YPC)
– 5 negative runs for -20 yds (-4.0 YPC)
– 114 normal runs for 403 yds (3.5 YPC).
o Irving: 10 games
– 10 explosive runs for 147 yds (14.7 YPC)
– 21 negative runs for -53 yds (-2.5 YPC)
– 142 normal runs for 478 yds (3.4 YPC).
o Tucker: 17 games
– 7 explosive runs for 127 yds (18.1 YPC)
– 9 negative runs for -18 yds (-2.0 YPC)
– 70 normal runs for 147 yds (3.0 YPC).
Bucky had a LOT few explosive runs in 2025 (10) than he had in 2024 (28). Interestingly though, if you just focus on their ‘normal runs’ it turns out that our 3 RBs performed (stats-wise) pretty much the same over these past 2 years.
And if you look at their stats for the 2 years (totals), looks to me like there’s not a gigantic difference between the 3 of them in terms of overall performance, TDs scored included.
o White: 33 games – 276 carries – 1185 yds – 4.3 YPC – 7 TD
o Irving: 27 games – 380 carries – 1780 yds – 4.5 YPC – 9 TD
o Tucker: 34 games – 136 carries – 628 yds – 4.6 YPC – 9 TD
February 2nd, 2026 at 11:45 am
Forget Allegier, the 49rs have targeted him. Licht won’t get him cheap so that means Licht doesn’t get him.
February 2nd, 2026 at 12:06 pm
DR, couldn’t agree more. White is a stud. Don’t know how we messed that one up. I’m worried about the head space Bucky is living in. Maybe he’ll get it together this year. Fingers crossed.
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:17 pm
BucsfaninOregon … ‘Forget Allegier, the 49rs have targeted him’.
Bucs shouldn’t draft another RB this year; we’ve already got 2 young ones in the stable. What we need is a more experienced RB who’s still got a lot of tread on his tires.
Tyler Allgeier (5’10” & 225 lbs) a great possibility IMO, since he’s still young (25) and sports a 4.3 YPC average over his 4-year career PLUS a 88.5% catch percentage. A tad slow for a starting RB (4.60 in the 40), but his size makes up for that.
Breece Hall (5’11” & 217 lbs) is a little better fit for us though. He’s even younger (24) and has a 4.5 YPC average over his 4-year career. His catch percentage (75.2%) isn’t as good as Allgeier’s, but he was playing for the Jets. And he’s considerably faster (4.39 in the 40) than most RBs … and LBs). And his vertical (40″) is off the charts.
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Bonzai … ‘Defense. Defense. Defense. If we want the defense to get better quickly, then spend the who draft on it. Save offense for Free Agency.’
Agree 100% Bonzai, with 1 slight variation. Starters usually come from Rnds 1-4, and that should be ALL defense this year. With those 4 picks we should be talking 1 Edge, 2 LB and 1 DT (which position gets drafted where should be BPA in those 3 categories when we pick).
With our other 3 picks we need to improve our DEPTH (big time). That should include 1 more CB &1 more Safety on defense, plus an OLineman to develop. Personally I’d cut Klein loose (he’ll never start for us, so no sense wasting the offensive snaps). We should have our 5 starting OLinemen back healthy by Training Camp, plus I’d keep Chukwuma (he intrigues me).
The place we really need to focus though is FREE AGENCY. We need to be waving Bye-Bye to quite a few players, and quite a few of those should be starters & key rotational players. Replacing them with known quality players can only be done predominantly via free agency.
February 2nd, 2026 at 1:49 pm
“The place we really need to focus though is FREE AGENCY.“
We’re only projected to have $14M-$27M of cap space this upcoming new league year, we can’t go shopping like some think without a few restructures.
“DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE………………..No more Egbuka’s………..Want all D……Sign a free agent OG……Last year’s 3rd stringers need not apply.“
Yea, let’s not plan for the future and draft a player 16 spots ahead of where he was drafted, Mr.Emmanwori
Stick to the Baker glazing, you’re mind can’t bend around team building lol
February 2nd, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Jerimayah Love is truly a generational running back in the Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton class. Whoever gets Love will have instant offense. He won’t be around at 15 ;but if he miraculously is, I would forgive Licht for passing on a defender.
February 2nd, 2026 at 5:29 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch … ‘We’re only projected to have $14M-$27M of cap space this upcoming new league year’.
I agree that’s what Spotrac shows, but that’s only because of the time of year we’re in. In other words, they take the worst case BEFORE the team starts ‘adjusting’.
The projected 2026 adjusted Bucs salary CAP is $318.0 mil. Spotrac shows us with 52 players under contract for an active roster CAP hit of $304.2 mil, leaving us with basically $14 mil to play with. BUT … the Top-7 players (Mayfield, Wirfs, Godwin, Winfield, Goedeke, Vea, McCollum) are costing us $210.2 mil in terms of CAP hits. IOW over 69% of that $304 mil charge. Once the Bucs’ management starts reworking contracts, that’ll come down A BUNCH.
Plus included in those 52 players under contract are quite a few who’ll never make the active roster. And yet right now their ‘cost’ is counting against our active roster (Top-51 is what really counts). So there’ll be a lot of savings there as well.
We’re actually in excellent shape to make some deals going forward, but only IF that’s what Jason Licht chooses to do. And in particular because our 2026 Dead CAP is only $253,922 (it was $50.9 MIL in 2025, $62.5 MIL in 2024, and $81.6 MIL in 2023). We spent the last 3 years working with some bargain-basement talent that was cheap so that we could pay back all that Dead CAP post-haste.
February 2nd, 2026 at 6:45 pm
WarrenBrooksLoser,
Emmanworri and Carson Scwessinger were great picks wherever they were drafted. The idea is to draft great football players. That’s a concept that you are too dense to absorb. Drafting great players is “planning for the future.” Heard you scored 7 on the Wunderlich. You get 5 just for spelling your name correctly. I have encouraged Joe to introduce a competency requirement to post here. I am sure this would exclude you.
February 2nd, 2026 at 6:59 pm
They would be morons to draft a RB in the second or third round
February 2nd, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Sick of hearing about offense. Defense is what needs to be addressed first then special teams. They were both horrible last year. Full gear practices, stretch before and after and drink plenty of fluids. Fuggin training camp injuries happen every year
February 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Dean isn’t still on the roster, is he?