The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seek running back depth beyond Bucky Irving. Can Falcons' Tyler Allgeier realistically fill the void?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers no longer have running back depth beyond Bucky Irving.
It had been expected that the Bucs would keep Sean Tucker around, given that the 24-year-old was a restricted free agent.
The team let backup Sean Tucker become an unrestricted free agent, meaning that he’ll join veteran Rachaad White, who wrote a farewell address to Tampa not long after the season ended.
Of the 398 carries Bucs running backs had in 2025, White and Tucker accounted for 218, while Irving totaled 173.
Irving being Tampa’s only established back wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. When he’s healthy, Irving is one of the league’s better backs, as evidenced by him rushing for more than 1,100 yards as a rookie in 2024.
But Irving wasn’t the same player in 2025.
Injuries limited him to 10 games, and even when he was healthy enough to play, he was bothered by a shoulder that has since been surgically repaired, and it showed in his numbers (3.4 YPC, down from 5.4 the year before.)
So the expectation is that the Bucs will address their depth at running back, whether it would be in free agency or the draft.
A name that has inevitably been liked to Tampa Bay is Tyler Allgeier.
Because Allgeier will be an unrestricted free agent, because of his production and because of his familiarity with new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, NFL watchers will bring him up as an option for Tampa Bay, with the team's beat writer, Scott Smith, among those floating the idea.
Allgeier has played four NFL seasons, most recently in Robinson’s offense with the Atlanta Falcons.
His best season came as a rookie in 2022, when he eclipsed 1,000 yards and rushed for nearly five yards per carry.
Then the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson, who quickly became one of the league’s top backs.
As a result, Allgeier’s usage dropped from 210 carries in 2022 to 186 in 2023, then 137 in 2024 and 143 this past season.
Allgeier averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry in 2025, but had a career-high eight touchdowns, showcasing his ability to finish the job at the goal line, which would make him a complement to Irving, who is known for his speed.
The two factors to weigh when thinking about if Allgeier to the Bucs is realistic are 1) how much he’ll cost, and 2) whether he will be content as a backup.
Spotrac projects Allgeier’s 2026 salary to be $5.7 million, high for a running back.
Allgeier hasn’t publicly indicated he wants to be a starter somewhere, but if he does, Tampa probably isn’t the best place for him.
Irving is still Tampa’s No. 1 back, and there’s no indication that one down year will change that.
There are places where Allgeier would either be the starter or share a 50-50 workload.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t resign Kenneth Gainwell, that could be an option for Allgeier.
The Washington Commanders have three veteran backs that will be free agents.
If Allgeier wants to go for a Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos -- who came a game away from making it there -- could be an option, with Sean Payton being known to use two running backs.
On Tampa’s end, the Bucs have been known to get effective running backs on Day 3 of the draft, with Irving (fourth round) being the most recent example.
That would be the cheapest option, and maybe the one that makes the most sense.
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