Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback Baker Mayfield stated that he felt "disrespected" by the contract offers on the table from the organization, which, based on all reports from top NFL insiders, were below the expected pay rate for the Bucs signal caller.
But while Mayfield may feel disrespected by the Bucs organization at the bargaining table, he actually isn't the Bucs player who has the most reasons to feel aggrieved this summer by the media and even many fans.
Franchise running back Bucky Irving was one of the best players in his position just two years ago, averaging well north of five yards per carry and 8 total rushing touchdowns while clearing 1,100 yards as the No. 1 guy in the Tampa Bay backfield. On paper, he looks like the best Bucs running back since Doug Martin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has been written off
Unfortunately for Irving, he had an injury-riddled 2025 season, plodding his way to under 600 rushing yards and well under four yards per carry as he was outplayed by healthier power back Sean Tucker in the second half of the season.
With the Buccaneers landing Kenny Gainwell from the Pittsburgh Steelers in an underrated free agency coup at Aaron Rodgers's expense, there are many in the media who are speculating that Irving's starting job could be under fire or that Gainwell will be the 1B to Irving's 1A in a backfield that is more of a tandem.
Bucky Irving has to be looking at all this talk and seething. Because he was one of the top running backs in the entire NFL as a rookie and only suffered in his sophomore season through no fault of his own. He was going through a difficult time mentally and physically, and instead of receiving full support from the fans, there are people out there who already want to replace him.
That is disrespect on a bigger level than a few millions here or there that Baker Mayfield is 100 percent going to get in 2027 anyway, unless he implodes and as a terrible season - in which case he wouldn't deserve the money anyway.
Meanwhile, Irving is being written off as a 24-year-old third-year pro. But just like Baker Mayfield, Bucky is at his best when there are more doubters than believers, and he can use the disrespect to fuel a career year in the 2026 season.
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