ESPN has huge doubts over 1 Buccaneers position group

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a focus of the offseason due to Mike Evans leaving the franchise and going to the San Francisco 49ers.

But what he has left behind isn't all bad.

Baker Mayfield still has plenty of weapons at receiver, and he still has Bucky Irving as his starting running back. So, the cupboard isn't exactly bare.

But with Rachaad White moving on in free agency, Tampa Bay had an opening, and it was one they filled with Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell.

And it isn't a move that ESPN's Ben Solak likes too much.

“The Gainwell addition,” Solak wrote. “Bucky Irving was banged up for much of 2025, and the Buccaneers should be careful with his workload. But can Gainwell be an 18-plus-touch player if Irving misses a month? The Buccaneers did retain Sean Tucker, but three-headed backfields exist more in theory than in practice.

“I think Irving's electric talent is maximized in more of a 50-50 split, and I'm not sure that's achievable with the current group.”

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Is Bucs RB room that bad?

On face value, no, as with Irving and Gainwell, that is a decent enough one-two combination.

Both are good runners, but also quality receivers as well.

But as Solak points out, both are on the smaller side physically. Will that matter? Time will tell, but the Buccaneers have more than enough weapons in the passing game to allow Irving and Gainwell some good looks running the football.

Tampa got Gainwell for a reason, and it will be interesting to see how he is used alongside Irving and Sean Tucker.

Do the Buccaneers still have a three-headed monster at running back? On paper, there's potential for it.

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