As the 2024 season kicked off, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aimed to revamp their rushing offense, which had ranked as the NFL’s worst over the previous two years. The team pinned its hopes on Rachaad White’s continued growth, supplemented by contributions from a rookie draft pick selected in the fourth round.
The team had modest expectations for Bucky Irving, anticipating limited involvement in the offense and a potential boost to special teams.
However, behind a retooled Buccaneers’ line, Irving made a surprising ascent to the top of the depth chart. He enjoyed a breakout rookie campaign, rushing for over 1,000 yards and accumulating 1,514 total yards from scrimmage, while scoring eight touchdowns.
Despite maintaining a pass-oriented approach under coordinator Liam Coen, with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and Mike Evans as the top receiver, Bucky Irving still managed to make a significant impact in his rookie season. His impressive performance helped propel the Buccaneers to a top-five ranking in rushing offense.
As the 2024 season drew to a close, Bucky Irving’s impressive performance made him increasingly difficult to overlook. His standout rookie campaign earned him a well-deserved spot on PFF’s list of the Top 101 Players of 2024. Initially ranked at No. 58, Irving’s inclusion was a testament to his rapid rise to prominence.
“Irving was phenomenal in his rookie season. The fourth-round pick from Oregon was the only back in the league who posted 90.0-plus PFF grades both as a runner and as a receiver. His 90.8 overall grade was fourth in the league among running backs as well.”
PFF Continued,
“Despite finishing with the 10th most catches among tailbacks (47), Irving broke the second-most tackles after the catch (20). That elite contact balance translated over to his rushing ability as well, as he led the league with four yards after contact per attempt.”
On a national level, however, other remarkable rookie performances drew more attention, particularly that of Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who spearheaded his team’s impressive run to the NFC Championship, somewhat eclipsing the accomplishments of Irving and other standout rookies from the 2024 class.
Despite being overshadowed by other rookies, Irving’s inclusion on the list solidified his status as one of the league’s top performers in his debut season. Now, heading into his sophomore year, the expectations are heightened: Irving will be tasked with building upon his impressive rookie campaign and helping the Buccaneers maintain their position as one of the NFL’s most formidable offenses.
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