Buccaneers Rework RB Sean Tucker’s Deal

Retained on an RFA tender in March, Sean Tucker is back for another year as the Buccaneers’ third-string running back. RFA tenders being nonguaranteed brought some uncertainty, however, but the Bucs want him on their roster.

Tucker agreed to rework his deal ahead of his fourth Bucs season, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine, who notes a pay cut in exchange for guarantees will commence. Tucker was tied to a $3.52MM RFA tender, but that came nonguaranteed. He is now attached to a guaranteed $2.5MM salary that, per Laine, includes incentives.

Despite his role as a third-stringer, Tucker has made some notable contributions on offense. The Bucs played much of last season without Bucky Irving, and Tucker ended up scoring seven rushing touchdowns while teaming with Rachaad White. The latter signed with the Commanders in March, but the Bucs brought in Kenneth Gainwell to pair with Irving. Tampa Bay still has Tucker in its plans, though, and this guarantee bump illustrates it.

A former star at Syracuse, Tucker was undrafted in 2023 but has made a mark on the team that acquired him. Tucker boasts two 100-yard games in his Bucs career, tallying 136 in a 2024 win over the Saints and 106 in a loss to the Bills last season. Irving battled multiple injuries last season, and was still recovering from shoulder surgery deep into the offseason. Having Tucker around as insurance — in a season featuring Todd Bowles on a hot seat — certainly makes sense through this lens, and Tampa Bay would need to eat $2.5MM in dead money if it circled back and waived Tucker.

The fourth-year back will be a free agent at season’s end. Considering Irving and Gainwell are signed through 2027, Tucker could be an interesting name on the ’27 FA market.