The Buccaneers have placed the restricted free agent tender on RB Sean Tucker, according to The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported last week that the Bucs would not use the tender on Tucker, which would have sent him to the open market. But Tampa is now set to pay Tucker $3.52 million on a one-year deal. Tucker can still negotiate with other teams, but the Bucs would have the right to match any offer.
We'll see if Tucker draws interest from any other teams, but he'll very likely end up back with the Buccaneers this season.
Tucker has teased fantasy managers with a couple of big games over the last two seasons: 192 total yards and two TDs vs. the Saints in 2024 and 140 total yards and three TDs vs. the Bills this past season.
But he's been unable to carve out a consistently meaningful volume, reaching double-digit carries in just two other games.
He did, however, take on a goal-line role last year, leading the Bucs with 11 carries inside the five-yard line. That alone isn't enough to make Tucker a standalone fantasy option. But he could certainly impact the rest of Tampa Bay's backfield.
The Bucs are presumably losing RB Rachaad White this offseason but have added RB Kenneth Gainwell and re-signed Tucker. Both guys are threats to RB Bucky Irving's high-value touches: Gainwell on passing downs and Tucker at the goal line.
It's worth noting that Irving did not see a single carry inside the five-yard line last year. That followed a 2024 rookie season that saw him convert just four of 13 carries inside the five into TDs.
We'll be keeping a close eye on Tampa Bay's backfield this summer. But Irving can't be considered more than a mid-range RB2 for now.
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