Bucs' Bucky Irving Superb Rookie Season Leads To Major Shake-Up

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found a real gem in running back Bucky Irving as he took the league by storm in his rookie season.

Irving started the year behind Rachaad White, and offensive coordinator Liam Coen used the pair in tandem with Sean Tucker. But the longer the season went, the better Bucky got, and the more it became apparent that he was the clear No. 1 guy.

That brings us to this offseason, and Bucky will no doubt lead the room under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, which leaves White, who is in the last year of his rookie deal, in a tough spot.

And ESPN thinks he could be a cut candidate.

"The Buccaneers enter free agency with only $2.2 million in cap space," ESPN writes. "They need to make some room and one way to do it is to say goodbye to White. The running back is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Buccaneers can cut him for $3.3 million in cap savings with less than $250,000 in dead money."

The move would free up some funds, and it could also see Tucker, who was productive in his short spells last year, take the step up and be Bucky's backup.

Irving totaled 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns behind Baker Mayfield, and he looks to have a clear runway for the starting role and an even bigger offensive role if White is, in fact, moved on.

It is a testament to Irving's production that the Buccaneers could even think about this as an option, but such was his 2024 efforts, he deserves to be the leading man.

And that leaves White as the odd man out.