The Bucs 2024 NFL Draft class is going to be remembered as one that allowed the Bucs to maintain excellence on offense despite the growing age of it’s stars. Players like Graham Barton and Jalen McMillan emerged as quality starters down the stretch, but one pick from the class stood out above the rest.
Bucky Irving was drafted in the fourth round but made a monumental impact, and the PFWA took notice of it.
On Tuesday, the PFWA announced their selections for their All-Rookie team, and the Bucs running back made the team in his position. Irving led all rookies in rushing yards (1,122) and rushing touchdowns (8) and was able to average 5.4 yards per carry as well.
Per the Bucs in a press release, his 5.4 yards per carry was the third-highest mark in NFL history among rookies with at least 200 rushing attempts in a season, trailing only Adrian Peterson (5.6 in 2007) and Clinton Portis (5.5 in 2002). That is not bad company to have in terms of the NFL and his storied history. Much like Peterson and Portis, Irving is likely to become the leader of his team’s backfield and should be able to handle a larger workload year over year.
The future is very bright in Tampa Bay on offense with Irving leading things there alongside Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans.