One of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' biggest offseason additions must be a backup running back. Bucky Irving is entering 2026 as the clear RB1, but backups Sean Tucker and Rachaad White are free agents and, with the recent drama, are likely not going to be resigned.
That leaves a major hole in the backfield that must be filled through the draft or free agency.
The 2026 draft doesn't boast the elite stock of young running backs that came out of college in 2025 like TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Omarion Hampton, and others, but there are a few notable names.
The consensus running back one, Jeremiyah Love, will likely be gone by the time the Bucs first round selection rolls around, but they don't need someone of his stature anyway. The last thing Tampa Bay should do is draft a backup running back in the first round, unless Love falls to them, and they love him that much more than Irving.
A strong replacement for White could be Jonah Coleman, out of Washington. The 5'9'' 228-pound senior is a bulldozer and touchdown specialist. The running back scored 15 rushing touchdowns in 2025 and two more through the air.
Throughout his three prominent seasons in college, he averaged a staggering 5.7 yards per carry.
Most draft boards list him as a mid-second round pick, making him a perfect option to create a two-headed monster in Tampa Bay. His playstyle, coupled with Irving's speed and dynamic playmaking, would be an elite duo.
Another strong replacement for White is Kaytron Allen. The Senior out of Penn State rushed for 865+ yards all four seasons in college, and scored 15 touchdowns in 2025. Allen played all four seasons alongside Nicholas Singleton, another top running back prospect in this class.
The Buccaneers' must pair Bucky Irving with a strong talent in 2026
Despite Singleton seeing 120+ carries all four seasons, Allen still dominated under the radar. His draft combine will be important to understand his speed and size, but Allen would be another fantastic accompany to Irving.
Allen is expected to be drafted in the third round, a perfect spot for the Bucs to select him.
The final back we'll discuss is Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne. The senior spent all four seasons with the Demon Deacons, but really blossomed in the last two years. Since the start of 2024, Claiborne rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns.
His 4.8 yards per rush isn't elite, but he boasts strong size and speed. A projected fourth-round pick, Claiborne might be the most realistic guy the Buccaneers pick to couple with Irving if he's still available on day three.