The Versatility of Kenneth Gainwell
March 23rd, 2026
Strategy.
Sometimes, the road map is right in front of your face.
Teams don’t spend $9 million in guaranteed money and $14 million total on a two-year contract for a dude to sit on the bench and eat sunflower seeds.
With Bucky Irving reportedly healthy, what is new Bucs running back Kenneth Gainwell supposed to do?
Matthew Berry of NBC thinks Gainwell will at least split snaps with Irving. However, former NFL safety and current Chicagoland High School coach Matt Bowen, typing for BSPN, thinks Gainwell is a more versatile Bucky and the Bucs can use Gainwell lined up as a receiver, too.
What he brings: A change-of-pace runner, Gainwell caught a career-high 73 passes last season and was vital on third downs for Pittsburgh. He produces on backfield releases and can even draw positive matchups when flexed from the formation. Gainwell would fit a backfield rotation that caters to his dual-threat traits.
Bucky hasn’t been elite in the red zone. So Joe can easily see Gainwell on the field in the red zone. He’s not a tell, either, since he can catch as easily as he can run. That’s a good red zone weapon.
Along with bringing back Sean Tucker, the Bucs have a deep stable of backs if they stay injury-free.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:18 am
Gainwells’ value goes after 2nd down. By comparison, the first 2 years of his career Bucky hasn’t been relied upon much as a 3rd/late-down RB.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:38 am
I bet we’ll see both of them on the field together quite a bit.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:46 am
We’ll see lol…
remember seeing a ton of reports/articles saying RW1 was versatile and he could be used in the slot as a WR lol….
GO BUCS!!!!
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:53 am
New OC and Gainwell has some moves that White never had. Not really sure how he’ll be used but gives the offense a lot of options along with Bucky and Tucker. Really surprised he rates out as a better blocker than White given his size.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:04 am
Pairing Bucky and Gainwell seems like a match made in heaven.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:30 am
I think this was a savvy move by the Bucs, bordering on really smart, to get Gainwell.
Both backs are similar in skills – – meaning (IMO) that when one gets hurt, the game plan or playbook won’t change that much.
I’m still excited about Pony package – the 2-back set with Buck N Gain both in backfield. Defenses won’t have a clue run or pass, and then, as the article alluded to, all the options of flexing 1 to the slot or in motion. Heck, they could even go 5-wide by flexing both RB’s out, then motioning 1 or both back in.
I think the signing was “really smart” becuz it gives the OC many, many possibilities without yielding a tell.
Excited to see what a competent OC can do with these 2.