Over 25 years in the past “They forgot about Dre”. In 2026, they could have forgotten about Buck-ay. The collective NFL world is actually down on the third 12 months operating again after a disappointing sophomore season. Professional Soccer Focus simply launched their operating again rankings forward of the 2026 season and Irving finally ends up on the south facet of the halfway level amongst NFL starters.
Professional Soccer Focus Ranks Bucs RB Bucky Irving seventeenth
Irving’s struggles with accidents and effectiveness are nicely documented. And it appears Professional Soccer Focus has him tumbling down their listing of the very best backs within the NFL. They’ve him seventeenth total simply behind Dallas’ Javonte Williams and Cincinnati’s Chase Brown.
Authors Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick had this to say about Tampa Bay’s proficient runner.
“Primarily due to injury, Irving suffered a letdown in 2025 after a spectacular rookie season that saw him rush for over 1,100 yards. His 3.4 yards-per-carry mark was the lowest among running backs with at least 100 carries. Yet Irving still managed to make an impact as a receiver, tallying 1.49 yards per route run, eighth-best among qualified running backs. The third-year pro will be looking for a major bounce-back in 2026.”
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: IMAGN Photographs – Nathan Ray Seebeck
This was a far cry from his eighth place rating final 12 months. At the moment, former Pewter Reporter author Trevor Sikkema wrote, “Irving was sensational as a rookie. He didn’t fairly have the quantity stats of different operating backs on this listing’s vary, however his effectivity scores had been that of a top-10 again.
He earned a 90.0 PFF speeding grade with 62 compelled missed tackles and led the NFL with 3.93 yards after contact per try (amongst operating backs with at the least 150 carries). He additionally posted a 90.2 PFF receiving grade, the second-highest mark on the place.”
League Resolution Makers Agree
This rating matches a latest annual ballot that ESPN author Jeremy Fowler does of NFL executives, coaches and scouts who actual resolution makers worth. That listing which contains a composite prime ten at every place group together with honorable mentions who miss the minimize however nonetheless garner votes. Irving is totally lacking from an inventory that noticed 20 different backs receiving votes.
On that very same listing in 2025 he was the primary again to overlook the highest 10. Fowler’s remark from an nameless NFL coordinator at the moment was, “Combination of speed, quicks and contact balance. Heck of a runner. Rarely goes down on first contact.”
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: IMAGN Photographs – Sam Navarro
That a part of his recreation eroded considerably in 2025. His yards after contact per carry declined by over 40% whereas his missed tackles compelled price slipped from 25.4% in 2024 to 17.9% final season. With out elite straight-line velocity it was his skill to remain on his ft by means of contact that made him so particular at Oregon and through his rookie season. With out that talent he profiles rather more as a change-of-pace, third down again. As Wasserman and Chadwick observe, regardless of his accidents he nonetheless carried out nicely as a pass-catcher final 12 months. His 1.49 yards per route run in 2025 remained near the 1.62 mark he posted the 12 months prior.
Irving’s skilled profession so far has been a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde journey. He seems wholesome once more, which feeds the hope that 2026 appears extra like 2024 than 2025. However well being alone might not settle it. If the contact stability eroded mechanically slightly than merely from enjoying damage, getting again to full energy doesn’t routinely restore the trait that made him. That’s the true story right here. Was his regression in 2025 fueled solely by well being points? Compelled missed tackles and yards after contact aren’t steady metrics 12 months over 12 months. There’s an actual likelihood that his 2024 was a highwater mark for his profession.
Tampa Bay might have additionally hedged their wager on Irving whereas framing the transfer as a complementary one. They gave a powerful contract to Kenny Gainwell this offseason to take some load off of Irving’s plate. However Gainwell’s skillset is much like that of Irving’s as a shifty receiving again who could make defenders miss in area and create large performs.
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
If Irving’s struggles proceed to start out the 2026 season, it isn’t a far-fetched concept that offensive coordinator Zac Robinson may flip to a Gainwell-led backfield with Irving working because the “1B” to Gainwell’s lead again.
