Kenneth Gainwell Big Contributor In Pass Game
March 10th, 2026
New Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell.
It appears that one of the minor moves the Bucs made yesterday could have a major impact.
(Before Joe gets hate-texts, a transaction for a non-starter is not a major move, sorry. And yeah, Joe’s still openly sour from yesterday’s moves and non-moves and has zero interest in pretending all is well.)
Does anyone really believe Bucky Irving isn’t the Bucs’ RB1? While he didn’t play like that last year, Joe’s chalking that up to a combination of Josh Grizzard perhaps not knowing how to scheme up a run game, injuries (duh) and that opposing defensive coordinators had all of last offseason to figure out how to stop Bucky.
Defensive coaches get paid, too, and the NFL is sort of a cat-and-mouse game. How well do folks adjust to adjustments?
But if the new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson wants to dink-and-dunk, the Bucs found a good receiving back.
Catching passes from Aaron Rodgers last year in Pittsburgh, Gainwell, for receiving backs who ran at least 150 routes (per NextGen Stats), put up solid numbers. And he was a YAC (yards after catch) monster.
Gainwell personally accounted for 23 first downs in the Steelers passing game. Rachaad White had 10.
When White stomped out of One Buc Palace, taking a leak on the shrubbery on his way out the door, his greatest trait was catching the ball. In that respect, Gainwell is a perfect replacement for White.
Kenneth Gainwell had the highest target rate (27.2%) among running backs who ran 150+ routes in 2025.
Gainwell had the 4th most catches (73) and the 5th most YAC (548) among that group while also posting the 4th-highest catch rate (min. 40 targets).@Buccaneers https://t.co/hhG9ocUGPz pic.twitter.com/m1I7ebwVLS
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 9, 2026
March 10th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Nice pick up, loved him with the Eagles… Reliable and has soft hands!!! Go Bucs
March 10th, 2026 at 9:06 am
> Expect Bucs to look for a 230-pound inside the tackles RB guy in 3-5 rounds, depending upon what linebackers are still available. First round: best DE rusher; second round: best available LB.
March 10th, 2026 at 9:09 am
This is definitely a minor move. This version of the Bucs looks like the last few versions: Maybe a shot at a division title but no chance of doing any major damage beyond that. With Bowles in charge and yet another new OC, why should we think any differently?
March 10th, 2026 at 9:13 am
Sounds like a certain 31 year old coming off a knee injury, Hendricksen, is looking for Jaelon Phillips/Danielle Hunter type money. That’s why no one has signed him yet. Give him that money but for 2 years (e.g. ~2/yr, $40M, 25M guaranteed).
March 10th, 2026 at 9:16 am
We get Trey today
March 10th, 2026 at 9:17 am
KC and NO signed RB1s which were the spots Love was mocked the most, if he’s still falls to 15, we better draft him he’s a beast
March 10th, 2026 at 9:17 am
There’s not much to hit on Kenneth Gainwell. He’s 5 foot 8 and 200 pounds of elbows, kneecaps, and muscle. He has a great burst and great hands. Will be a great addition to our team, there’s no doubt about that. If our starting offensive line is playing, there will be holes and he will find them. 🙂
March 10th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Most impressive thing about all this in regard to Gainwell, is that he put all this production up last year playing exactly 50% of Pittsburghs offensive reps. Granted, he was playing with Aaron Rodgers, in theory we should be able to put him to good enough use to squeeze w/e potential we can out of his skill set.
Still want to draft a bigger, more physical RB, but this signing would push the draft priority of that skill position down a bit.
March 10th, 2026 at 9:31 am
If FA comes to an end as it is now, I’ll be very disappointed it the Glazers, Licht, Bowles, and the whole damn thing. This is getting to the point of embarrassing gross.
March 10th, 2026 at 9:37 am
They haven’t restructured anyone, so there’s not much money
March 10th, 2026 at 9:39 am
So wtf are we doing. Plan is what. Because our team sucks rn and a draft will not fix this mess
March 10th, 2026 at 9:45 am
The plan is to suck so bad we finally fire Bowles Licht and Baker, draft a true franchise QB and hire Tomlin
March 10th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Where’s the Big Splash on the defensive side of the ball?
Where’s the Big Splash on the offensive side of the ball?
I don’t see any improvement on this team
They have lost a lot more than their gains
March 10th, 2026 at 9:51 am
While Bucky is our RB1 he just is not a RB1. He could be a good change-of-pace or a gimmick or even a 10-12 touch a game player but we tried him at feature back and saw how he was wanting.
In other news we now can see that White really was a JAG. Nothing against him, and a shame he wasn’t better used. But he was average and he is replaceable.
March 10th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Hey Joe, how does Kenneth Gainwell compare to the man he is replacing? Rishard White. He is a lot smaller and White had a lot of value as a blocker in the passing game.
Meanwhile, looks like more of a replacement for Bucky Irving. Are the Bucs looking to trade Bucky?
Can Gainwell block effectively? If not, letting Rashard White walk and resigning. Poor blocking tight end Cade Otten will severely hurt the bucks pass blocking and run blocking next year
March 10th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Carolina is killing it.
Wish we had their FA.
I like Gainwell though.
March 10th, 2026 at 9:59 am
Scotty I think you’re on it, he’s wanted big money for a few years but he has to realize that he’s coming off being hurt. Get a prove it healthy 1-2 year deal and go from there. I know these guys, in their minds, feel like they can still bring it but the proof is in the pudding.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:01 am
I didn’t think there was much in the way of FA’s this year and some of these contracts being handed out are insane for who the teams are getting. I am still hopeful the Bucs can bring in Hendrickson, Lloyd, who I think is the best LB in FA this year beside Edmonds and maybe a CB.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:03 am
Sooooo what the hell are they actually doing to improve this team?
March 10th, 2026 at 10:05 am
3rd and 28 may also be why Rachaad White vacated the premises. Kenny was not here to witness that debacle but he will be present for future versions. Wonder where he signs next when his contract is up in Tampa?
March 10th, 2026 at 10:06 am
Never mind about Lloyd
March 10th, 2026 at 10:12 am
BillyBucco, who is going to run the ball for Carolina? They have Hubbard and that is about it. Dowdle took coin to become Gainwell’s replacement in Pitt. Carolina does have that second round RB from Texas (I think) but he looks like an injury prone bust. I think there is a reason Carolina in 4th in the division odds, plus they get to play all the first place teams next year, when it was the Bucs everyone pointed that out, now that Carolina has the tougher schedule, the chicken littles of Buc Fandom kind of ignore that fact. My prediction: 9 wins takes the division and the only team I would eliminate early is the ATL with their QB situation in flux and no first round draft pick (wasted by Rah on a guy who would have got along well with Jeremy Stevens) and not much cap room.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Someone needs to come up with a “3rd and 28” marketing plan that includes t-shirts with Mike Evans/Todd Bowles likeness on them. I beleive we were in creamsicles for that game against the Fowlclowns.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Jack Burton Mercer: I like how Rachaad had the stones to tell the world that in his humble opinion Bowles should not have been the defensive play caller. If you think about it, he probably also saw first hand how Todd decided to “interject” himself into the offensive side of the game and make suggestions to Grizz, probably came up with that idiotic gameplan in Carolina where they thought they had to run the ball 35 times….. I wish Rachadd well wherever he ends up, he certainly burned his bridges on the way out of Tampa. I wonder if that hurt his value on the FA market as some might not know the whole story and make Rachaad out to be a not so great teammate although he was until Bowles ran the team into the ground last year and Rachaad spoke up when no one else would.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:20 am
Scotty, I wish the Bucs would retire those ****ing creamsicle jerseys. The Bucs won in the white in Seattle so, lets run with those on throwback weekend but the creamsicles are a curse. Retire them and send them down to Key West where Bucco Bruce is already retired with his “partner”, maybe Bowles can join them.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Gainwell’s best comp. is Bucky Irving. Anzalone is the next Barrett Ruud. Bright Licht reverting to his pre-Arians/Brady Days/Daze…where his teams won 1 out of every 3 games…eclipsing Dominik’s record of futility.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:26 am
We’ll never know but would be interesting to see how much $$$ Glazers saved/lost by not firing Bowles/signing Mike and how much ticket sales plummet this year?
March 10th, 2026 at 10:31 am
“Does anyone really believe Bucky Irving isn’t the Bucs’ RB1? While he didn’t play like that last year, Joe’s chalking that up to a combination of Josh Grizzard perhaps not knowing how to scheme up a run game, injuries (duh) and that opposing defensive coordinators had all of last offseason to figure out how to stop Bucky.”
You failed to mention the extremely injured offensive line, missing our best guard for the whole season. I guarantee you that played into are running game sucking.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:32 am
The Glazers are banking on Manchester United
That’s their cash money cow, their personal ATM
The Yucs are Man U little known Step-Bro
For every dollar they spend on the Bucs
They spend 20 on Manchester United
March 10th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Manchester United are tied for third in the EPL Table
They are in prime position to compete in the Champions League next season
I guarantee you they spend big this off-season
They probably make Michael Carrick permanent manager
Their worldwide fanbase is excited
March 10th, 2026 at 10:52 am
Reality check regarding FA.
1. Evans left because he wanted to leave. Bucs offered more, so it had nothing to do with bring cheap or Mike taking the brst offer. Wish him well.
2. This FA class just wasn’t very good. People saying “Carolina killed it”, is hilarious. What they did was grossly overpay for a decent edge rusher who is on this 3rd team in 4 years.
3. Over paying for 2nd tier FAs usually never works out well.
If they can land Hendrickson, on a deal that won’t screw this team cap wise in 2 years, would be great. But over paying just to satisfy the fan base, isn’t the smart play. Id love to have him..id love to have had Oweh as well. But if the Bucs do clean house after this season, ill be much happier to be in good cap shape, than having to cut players the new staff doesn’t want and be stuck in rebuild mode for years.
March 10th, 2026 at 10:59 am
Trade for unused AJ Brown. THAT will help the passing game. Ship CG12 and next years 2nd. Howie wants him out of Philly.
March 10th, 2026 at 11:01 am
You know it’s a sad day in BucLand when people get their panties wet over signing a 3rd down back.
Simple fact – no player with better options wants to play for Temu Tony Dungy.
March 10th, 2026 at 11:10 am
I don’t think Pittsburgh lets good runners get away. I don’t think the Bucs have handled their recent three runners very well in terms of opportunities (the departed White and Tucker) or effectiveness (Irving overworked inside). Gainwell’s high number of targets/receptions may be the result of Rodgers’ dumping and defensive’ indifference. Last season the Bucs had enough smurf receivers. He might be a good kick returner, though. Pretty expensive, though.
March 10th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Interesting.
Oh, BTW, Gainwell is said to be an excellent blocker.
March 10th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Why do we keep going offense for years now we need Defense damnit man..
March 10th, 2026 at 11:42 am
One of the best prop bets the second half of last years was the over on KG’s receptions as well as the over on his receiving yards!!
March 10th, 2026 at 11:43 am
He will end up not making a bit of difference, nor would anyone else brought in at this point .
Meanwhile, Mikey will have his best season of his career.
Go Niners.
March 10th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Bucky isn’t a #1 back. He’s good enough, just not big enough. He’ll never hold up to a 17 game season plus playoffs. He’s better as a change of pace back after the defense wears down. Gainwell is almost the same, so I don’t get the move. Bucs need a bruiser back in the worst way.
March 10th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
I’d rather have had White back – but Gainwell is a very good back-up, as stated a very good receiver. I read from the Joe’s he’s a good pass blocker, I don’t know about that aspect but I’ll take their word for it – but I do know White was an exceptional blocker for a RB, and that is where I fear he’s going to be missed, as he many times bailed out TEs and backup offensive linemen when they’d get beat. Hopefully Gainwell can do as well.
March 10th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Hodad Says:
March 10th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Bucky isn’t a #1 back. He’s good enough, just not big enough.
———-
Replace Bucky with Dunn, and you have every moronic comment of that era as well.
BTW, Bucky is actually bigger than Dunn was.
March 10th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
licht dumpster diving again!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!