Nobody actually expected this. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned in the card for Mar’Keise "Bucky" Irving with the 125th pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the "experts" had questions. Lots of them. He was too small, they said. He wasn't fast enough, the stopwatches claimed.
The NFL Combine in Indianapolis is usually where dreams are polished, but for Irving, it felt like a funeral. He weighed in at 192 pounds and then proceeded to run a 4.55-second 40-yard dash. In the world of NFL scouting, if you're under 200 pounds, you better run in the 4.3s or 4.4s. A 4.55? That's "slow" for a guy that size. His vertical jump was a measly 29.5 inches. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was a 2.11 out of 10.
Draft analysts looked at those numbers and basically shrugged him off. They saw a "rotational gadget player." They saw a "satellite back" who couldn't handle a heavy workload.
They were dead wrong.
The Bucky Irving NFL Draft Narrative vs. Reality
Scouts often get blinded by the "Underwear Olympics." They love height, weight, and speed. But you can't measure heart, and you definitely can't measure whatever the heck Irving has in his ankles. At Oregon and Minnesota, Bucky was a human pinball. He didn't just run; he vibrated through defenders.
Honestly, his college tape was elite. Over three seasons, he averaged 6.2 yards per carry. That isn't just "good block following." That’s vision. He was the focal point of the Ducks' offense, catching 56 passes in 2023 alone. When the Bucky Irving NFL Draft stock started sliding, it was because people valued the 40-yard dash more than the 1,180 rushing yards he just put up in the Pac-12.
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Why the Buccaneers took the gamble
Tampa Bay had the worst rushing attack in the league for two straight years. They were desperate. Rachaad White was a great receiver, but they needed a "dirty work" back who didn't actually look like a dirty work back.
Todd Bowles and the Bucs' front office saw a kid who had survived more than most. Bucky’s father passed when he was two. His grandmother died the very day he got his scholarship offer from Minnesota. His brother was lost to gun violence. When you've faced that, a 250-pound linebacker isn't scary.
Breaking the "Small Back" Myth
The biggest knock on Irving was that he’d crumble under NFL contact. He’s 5'9". Most NFL linebackers look like they eat 5'9" guys for breakfast. But Irving has this weird, low center of gravity. He’s like a bowling ball made of muscle and spite.
Instead of running around people, he often runs through them.
- Missed Tackle Rate: In his rookie year (2024), he led all NFL backs with a 35.8% missed tackle rate (minimum 150 touches).
- Efficiency: He averaged 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie. Only Adrian Peterson and Clinton Portis had better numbers as rookies with over 200 carries.
- The "Trash" Factor: Analysts now say he "thrives in the trash." This basically means when the play breaks down and there's a pile of bodies, Bucky somehow squirts out the other side for six yards.
What the scouts missed
They missed the contact balance. If you hit Bucky Irving high, he just keeps spinning. If you hit him low, he’s already smaller than you, so you're basically diving at grass. He forced 91 missed tackles in 2024. That’s not a "rotational back" stat. That’s a superstar stat.
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Is he a fluke or a future All-Pro?
The 2024 season wasn't just a flash in the pan. He finished with 1,122 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. He added nearly 400 yards in the air. For a fourth-round pick, that’s insane value. Most fourth-rounders are lucky to be on the active roster by Week 8.
But there are still skeptics.
People point to his 2025 starts (where he has struggled at times with a 3.4 YPC average through late 2025) as proof that the league has "caught up" to him. They say teams are now stacking the box because they know he’s the primary threat.
But you've gotta look at the context. The Bucs' offensive line has dealt with injuries, and Baker Mayfield hasn't had Mike Evans and Chris Godwin healthy at the same time for long stretches. When the passing game isn't threatening, every run is an uphill battle.
Bucky is still the same guy. He still leads the league in "wow" plays where he turns a four-yard loss into a three-yard gain.
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Comparing him to the greats
Scouts compared him to James White before the draft. That was a lazy comparison based on height. James White was a pure receiving back. Bucky is more like a mini-Marshawn Lynch with the feet of a salsa dancer. He’s unique.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Dynasty Managers
If you're following the Bucky Irving NFL Draft trajectory—whether for your favorite team or your fantasy roster—here is the reality on the ground as of 2026.
Don't sell high on the "slump" talk. People see the 3.4 yards per carry in 2025 and panic. Don't. His advanced metrics—yards after contact and forced missed tackles—are still in the top 10% of the league. The volume is there, and Tampa clearly trusts him more than Rachaad White in the red zone now. He had 14 carries inside the five-yard line in 2024. That’s elite usage.
Watch the offensive line moves. The Bucs are slated to pick 15th in the 2026 draft. If they grab an interior lineman like a high-end guard or center, Bucky’s value rockets. He needs that initial crease. Once he's at the second level, he's untouchable, but he's currently getting hit in the backfield more than almost any other starter.
Value the receiving floor. Bucky is a lock for 45-55 catches a year. In modern football, that makes him "matchup proof." Even if the Bucs are losing by 20, he's on the field catching swing passes and turning them into highlight reels.
The "too small, too slow" era of Bucky Irving scouting is officially over. He proved that the stopwatch doesn't play football—players do. If you're looking for the next great "undersized" back to dominate the next half-decade, you're looking at the guy in the #7 jersey in Tampa.
Next Steps for You
- Analyze the Bucs' 2026 Draft: Keep an eye on whether Tampa Bay invests in a "power" back to pair with Irving, or if they continue to let him be the bellcow.
- Check the Injury Reports: Irving's style is physical. His "back injury" in late 2024 was a warning sign. Monitor his practice participation closely as the 2026 season approaches.
- Review All-Rookie History: Compare Irving's 1,514 scrimmage yards to other recent breakout backs like Jahmyr Gibbs to see if his trajectory matches a "Year 3 Leap" candidate.