Pro Football Focus recently posted its list of the top-graded rookie running back seasons since 2020, with Irving’s 2024 season earning a place among the best performances of the past several years. PFF gave Irving a 90.8 overall grade during his first season in Tampa Bay, a mark that put him in rare company at the position.
Irving immediately became one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL Draft after Tampa Bay selected him in the fourth round out of Oregon. Despite beginning the season behind Rachaad White on the depth chart, Irving eventually forced his way into a larger role and finished with 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries. His 5.4 yards per carry set a Buccaneers single season franchise record, while his 1,514 yards from
scrimmage were the second most by a rookie in team history behind Doug Martin's 1,926 in 2012. Irving forced 76 missed tackles, the most among rookies, while his 37.1% missed-tackle rate led all NFL running backs. He also produced 609 yards after forcing missed tackles, trailing only Derrick Henry league-wide. Irving became the only running back that season to earn PFF grades of at least 90.0 as both a runner and receiver. Foot and shoulder injuries limited him to 10 games in 2025, when he rushed for 588 yards and averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. His overall PFF grade dropped from 90.8 to 67.8.
That makes Year 3 an important one for Irving. Tampa Bay has already seen what he can look like when healthy, and his rookie performance wasn't simply impressive by the standards of the franchise. PFF's latest graphic reinforces that it was one of the better rookie running back seasons of the modern era. The question now is whether Irving can put the injuries behind him and begin looking like that player again.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucky Irving's rookie season ranks second since 2020
