The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several key offseason decisions to make at various positions. Perhaps one of the most intriguing ones comes at the running back position. With Rachaad White set to hit free agency and Bucky Irving coming back from a serious shoulder injury, the Bucs’ RB room could look very different come next season.
Therefore, a lot of pundits around the NFL believe that the Bucs will have to address those concerns quickly. According to Greg Auman of Fox Sports, one way the Bucs could solve their problems at the position is by poaching a talented running back from their division rivals.
A Divisional Steal Could Solve Tampa Bay’s Backfield Questions
While Tyler Allgeier has somewhat taken a back seat to Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, should he sign with the Bucs as Auman predicts, he would certainly have the chance to be a feature back. After all, he is a former 1,000 yard rusher and a decent receiving threat as well.
Being a former linebacker in college has also really helped develop Allgeier’s more physical rushing style as evidenced by his 4.3 career yards per carry and 719 rushing yards per season. he may not be flashy like Robinson, but he can certainly get the job done. Also, reuniting with a familiar face could help.
“Could he land with former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in Tampa? His 18 career touchdowns show that coaches can trust him near the goal line”, Auman wrote of the possibility of the pair reuniting again. If they do, expect Robinson to utilize Allgeier’s abilities in goal line packages and short yardage situations.
Insurance Policy for an Uncertain Future at Running Back
Another reason why the Bucs could want the insurance of a player such as Allgeier is because they may not know what they will be getting in Bucky Irving after a injury plagued season saw a regression in his numbers. His rushing yards over expected were well below average, and he only managed 3.4 yards per carry last season, which was unexpected for a player of his caliber.
It also potentially showed the blueprint of what could happen if Irving gets consistently overworked. At his size, he can’t consistently get 30 carries per game and expect to have a full bill of health. That is why a player like Allgeier, who is just as physical, can take the load off of his shoulders.
One of the most impressive stats in terms of Allgeier’s consistency is that across 676 rushing attempts and 61 catches, he has not fumbled the ball once in his entire career. Having that type of player in the backfield, especially late in games is a boon for Robinson and this offense. Irving won’t have to take as many touches late in games to close teams out and Allgeier would simply ensure that the Bucs won’t turn the ball over.
Add in the fact that his 1.8 million dollar salary is one of the cheapest on the open market and this feels like a no brainer addition for the Bucs to solve one of their more unique problems at running back.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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