RB Bucky Irving named Bucs’ biggest sleeper pick from 2024 NFL draft
The 2024 NFL draft landed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a handful of talented prospects who should all have the opportunity to make the roster and have an impact on the team this season, but one pick in particular could be the biggest gem of the class.
Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire recently made his selections for each NFL team’s biggest sleeper pick in this year’s draft, and running back Bucky Irving was his choice for the Bucs.
A fourth-round pick out of Oregon, Irving is expected to be Tampa Bay’s new change-of-pace back to spell starter Rachaad White, and Farrar thinks the Bucs landed a bargain with what he brings to the table:
Last season, the 5-foot-9, 192-pound Irving ran the ball 186 times, gaining 1.192 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. Irving may be short, but he’s not small — he forced 69 missed tackles last season, and that was just as much about power as it was about elusiveness. He also had 18 runs of 15-plus yards for 470 yards. In addition, Irving caught 55 passes on 61 targets for 395 yards and two touchdowns, so he can be deployed in a lot of different ways.
While many expected the Bucs to target a bigger, more powerful back in the draft to pair with White, Irving’s ability to make defenders miss in multiple ways could end up having a similar impact, despite his smaller frame.
Even if White maintains his hold on the lion’s share of the touches in Tampa Bay’s offense, Irving could still make a big impact as a rookie by making the most of his opportunities on all three downs.
QB Baker Mayfield
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
QB Kyle Trask
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
QB John Wolford
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Rachaad White
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Bucky Irving
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Chase Edmonds
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
RB Sean Tucker
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
WR Mike Evans
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Chris Godwin
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Trey Palmer
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Jalen McMillan
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Deven Thompkins
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
WR Rakim Jarrett
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
TE Cade Otton
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
TE Payne Durham
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
TE Ko Kieft
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
TE Devin Culp
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 04: Devin Culp #83 of the Washington Huskies looks on before the…
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 04: Devin Culp #83 of the Washington Huskies looks on before the game against the Montana Grizzlies at Husky Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OT Tristan Wirfs
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
G Sua Opeta
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OL Graham Barton
Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
G Cody Mauch
(Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OT Luke Goedeke
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OL Robert Hainsey
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OL Ben Bredeson
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OT Brandon Walton
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OT Justin Skule
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
G Elijah Klein
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Yaya Diaby
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Chris Braswell
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Randy Gregory
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
OLB Anthony Nelson
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Vita Vea
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Calijah Kancey
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Logan Hall
Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Will Gholston
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DL Greg Gaines
Nov 5, 2023Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports; Houston, Texas, USA;Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) passes as…
Nov 5, 2023Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports; Houston, Texas, USA;Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) passes as he is pressured from Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Greg Gaines (96) in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
LB Lavonte David
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
LB SirVocea Dennis
Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Share this
image
gallery
LB K.J. Britt
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
LB J.J. Russell
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
CB Jamel Dean
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
CB Zyon McCollum
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
CB Christian Izien
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
CB Bryce Hall
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
CB Tavierre Thomas
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
(Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
S Jordan Whitehead
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DB Tykee Smith
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
DB Josh Hayes
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
K Chase McLaughlin
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Share this
image
gallery
P Jake Camarda
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery
LS Zach Triner
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Share this
image
gallery