Bucs Draft 2025 Preview + Bucs Greatest Bets: RB

Pewter Report analyzes the highest gamers within the 2025 NFL Draft with its place previews. Scott Reynolds continues the previews on the operating again place, providing a complete have a look at what the Bucs have and what they want within the backfield.

Bailey Adams then analyzes an in depth checklist of this yr’s high operating again prospects whereas Reynolds gives the annual Pewter Report Bucs Greatest Bets – the most certainly operating backs for Tampa Bay to pick in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Working Again

Bucs RBs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay has 4 operating backs underneath contract, together with three that might begin for a number of groups in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The fourth operating again is D.J. Williams, an undrafted free agent from Arizona who spent final yr on the observe squad. He’s an enormous, 6-foot, 225-pound again in case the Bucs want a banger. However in actuality, Tampa Bay’s operating again room is the envy of the league.

Irving, final yr’s fourth-round decide, was a rookie sensation who ran for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns with a 5.4-yard dashing common. He supplanted White because the workforce’s beginning operating again, however White brings unbelievable worth as a receiving again and a cross protector who can also be a really succesful runner. Irving is an elusive again with the power to slide tackles and break tackles, whereas White, who’s getting into a contract yr, is a glider with good velocity within the open area.

However Tucker is the workforce’s quickest and most explosive again. He got here on final yr in a 51-27 win at New Orleans in Week 6 when White was out and he topped 100 yards dashing for the primary time and scored two touchdowns en path to profitable NFC Offensive Participant of the Yr. He rushed for over 300 yards and averaged a team-high 6.2 yards per carry, whereas additionally being Tampa Bay’s greatest kick returner with an extended of 53 yards.

What The Bucs Want At Working Again

Tampa Bay has three starting-caliber backs in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. It’s very uncertain that the Bucs would draft a operating again this yr though White is getting into a contract yr. So if the workforce wished to draft a operating again it might be to basically exchange White within the 2026 season.

But with solely six draft picks, if the Bucs are going so as to add a rookie operating again it might seemingly be with an undrafted free agent.

Prime Working Backs In 2025 NFL Draft

*Essential Observe: These gamers are NOT listed within the order of Pewter Report’s rating for them. Slightly, the numbers are supplied to indicate you the tough order through which we count on them to come back off the board throughout the draft.

1. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty – Junior – 5-8 1/2, 211 – N/A

Absolutely the high operating again on this yr’s class, Jeanty was a runner-up for the 2024 Heisman Trophy after a season through which he ran for two,601 yards and 29 touchdowns whereas averaging just below 7.0 yards per carry. He was the driving pressure behind Boise State’s run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff, and his 2024 marketing campaign was fairly the observe as much as a 2023 season that noticed him run for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns whereas averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Jeanty is elusive and has distinctive burst, as evidenced by his 5 touchdowns of 70+ yards in 2024, which tied the single-season FBS report held by LaDainian Tomlinson. However there’s additionally some energy to Jeanty’s sport, which he makes use of properly along with his velocity and noteworthy imaginative and prescient. That led him to steer the nation with 1,970 yards after contact. Most of his receiving manufacturing got here in 2023 when he caught 43 passes for 569 yards and 5 scores, and he had a staggering 374 carries in 2024 and 750 over his three-year profession. However that workload received’t hold him from being a high decide within the first spherical.

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty Picture by: USA In the present day

2. North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton – Junior – 6-0, 221 – 4.46

Hampton is the consensus No. 2 again on this yr’s class, and he’s coming off a season that noticed him set a North Carolina report with 2,033 all-purpose yards. He ran for 1,500+ yards in back-to-back seasons, with 15 dashing touchdowns every year to provide him 36 over his three-year profession. Regardless of his 2023 quarterback, Drake Maye, transferring on and changing into a top-five decide final yr, Hampton nonetheless went on to have an even bigger yr in 2024 and ran for 100+ yards in 10 of the Tar Heels’ 12 video games.

At 6-foot, 221 kilos, Hampton has nice measurement and energy, and it interprets to the way in which he runs. He’s an aggressive, downhill runner with nice tackle-breaking means. His 1,222 yards after contact have been second behind solely Ashton Jeanty, and his 73 missed tackles pressured have been the sixth-most by any operating again within the nation, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus. His actions might be tight, which can restrict his means to create when the preliminary lane isn’t there. Nonetheless, Hampton might sneak into the again half of the primary spherical. If not, he’s an early second-rounder.

3. Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo – RS Senior – 5-9 1/2, 216 – 4.65

It looks as if opinions on Skattebo range fairly a bit. He doesn’t have nice velocity and takes a while to get going, which might damage him on the subsequent stage. Not solely that, however he’s a violent runner, which has its execs and cons. It does him numerous good, however he’s additionally taken fairly a pounding and the hits have added up. Ball safety issues (10 fumbles during the last three seasons) additionally damage his profile a bit. However then there’s the attention take a look at, which Skattebo passes. He has a compact, muscular construct and runs with numerous energy.

That energy led to manufacturing, first at Sacramento State after which at Arizona State. He ran for 520 yards and 6 touchdowns on 9.1 yards per carry at Sac State in 2021, then averaged 7.0 yards per carry in 2022 whereas dashing for 1,372 yards and 7 scores. From there, he transferred to Arizona State, the place he ran for 783 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2023 earlier than a 1,711-yard, 21-touchdown marketing campaign in 2024. His 170-yard, three-touchdown efficiency within the Massive XII title sport and 242 complete yards within the Faculty Soccer Playoff Quarterfinal made him a scorching identify, but it surely stays to be seen what vary he’ll fall in on draft weekend.

4. Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson – Junior – 6-1, 224 – 4.57

Based mostly on his construct, Johnson looks as if a bruiser kind of operating again. However there’s some velocity and finesse to his sport, as he makes cuts properly when he must and will get going shortly sufficient to be an issue for defenders. He had 1,060 yards after contact in 2024, and what was maybe much more spectacular was his ball safety. He didn’t fumble as soon as in his lone season as a starter at Iowa, and his robust, safe arms translate properly to his means as a cross catcher.

For a Hawkeye offense well-known for its struggles to attain factors, Johnson labored his method as much as stardom. In 2022, he ran for 779 yards and 6 touchdowns on 151 carries (5.2 avg.) earlier than being restricted in 2023 by a high-ankle sprain. After dashing for 463 yards and three touchdowns on 117 carries (4.0 avg.) that yr, he broke out in 2024 with 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries (6.4 avg.). Johnson is a Day 2 decide.

Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson Picture by: USA In the present day

5. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson – Senior – 5-10, 202 – 4.43

One half of the Nationwide Championship-winning backfield at Ohio State, Henderson had regular manufacturing over his 4 years with the Buckeyes. It began early, as he ran for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021 whereas averaging 6.8 yards per try. He handled some accidents in 2022 and 2023, although he nonetheless ran for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022 whereas totaling 926 yards and 11 touchdowns on the bottom in 2023. Then, within the workforce’s nationwide title season, he surpassed 1,000 yards once more, going for 1,016 and 10 touchdowns whereas averaging 7.1 yards per carry.

Henderson has a powerful construct and accelerates properly. He excels each as a runner and a pass-catcher, and his zero misplaced fumbles over the course of his collegiate profession is the stuff of goals for a operating backs coach. Plus, the truth that he put up the kind of manufacturing he did in 2024 whereas splitting carries with Quinshon Judkins will do quite a bit for him within the eyes of NFL personnel contemplating groups’ normal reliance on multi-running again dashing assaults.

6. Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins – Junior – 5-11, 221 – 4.48

Judkins was the opposite half of Ohio State’s title-winning dashing assault, working alongside TreVeyon Henderson in 2024 after transferring to Columbus from Ole Miss. Judkins is a three-time 1,000-yard rusher over each stops, first dashing for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Rebels in 2022 earlier than following up with a 1,158-yard, 15-touchdown season in 2023. Then, he transferred to Ohio State, the place he ran for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns on the way in which to the Buckeyes’ nationwide championship victory.

Judkins has good measurement and good burst for that measurement. It’s his energy and talent to tackle defenders that stands out, as he’s prepared to carry the contact to a defender and finishes his runs properly. He’s serviceable as a cross catcher, and whereas he’s decisive and fast along with his actions, he’s not probably the most explosive again. Judkins is probably going one other Day 2 decide.

7. Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson – Junior – 5-8, 199 – 4.42

Sampson was solely a one-year starter at Tennessee, so it took some ready on his half earlier than he might turn into the featured man for the Volunteers. However that persistence proved to be price it, as he posted a powerful 2024 season that launched him into the Day 2 dialog. He was tasked with 258 carries this previous season, and he turned them into 1,491 yards (5.8 avg.) and 22 touchdowns. He led the SEC in dashing, which earned him SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr and First Staff All-SEC honors.

Sampson is an electrical runner, with loads of chunk performs to indicate for it. He has a capability to create one thing out of nothing, which is able to serve him properly on the subsequent stage. And even when he wasn’t the lead again for the Vols, he nonetheless had a method of discovering the tip zone. He ran for six touchdowns on simply 58 carries in 2022 and located the tip zone a complete of eight instances on 106 carries and 17 catches in 2023. Then, along with his 22 touchdowns final yr, he completed with 36 complete touchdowns in 35 profession video games.

8. UCF RB RJ Harvey – Senior – 5-8, 205 – 4.40

Solely Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Tahj Brooks had extra dashing yards than Harvey did over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He ran for 1,416 yards and 16 touchdowns whereas averaging 6.3 yards per carry in 2023, then rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry in 2024. He additionally caught 39 passes for 505 yards and 4 touchdowns over these two seasons. And all of this manufacturing got here whereas UCF had no discernable passing sport, that means he was the point of interest of the Knights’ offense and nonetheless managed to do a complete lot of injury to Massive 12 defenses.

Harvey has a compact body and has work to do in cross safety, however it may be tough to do not forget that he was a quarterback his entire life and is just a few years into taking part in the operating again place. Regardless of studying on the fly at operating again, he reveals good persistence and a powerful make-you-miss means. He had 897 yards after contact final season whereas totaling 69 missed tackles pressured, and that adopted up a 2023 season through which he had 802 and 74, respectively. You possibly can’t argue with Harvey’s manufacturing, and his traits have earned him comparisons to Bucs operating again Bucky Irving throughout the pre-draft course of.

UCF RB RJ Harvey Picture by: USA In the present day

9. Miami RB Damien Martinez – Junior – 5-11 1/2, 217 – 4.51

A giant, highly effective runner, Martinez performs with a mix of each physicality and velocity. He takes numerous contact. however he’s nice with ball safety as evidenced by his zero fumbles over 159 carries for the Hurricanes in 2024. His body additionally offers him a very good foundation to work with by way of creating as a cross protector, however he didn’t get a complete lot of alternatives to indicate his pass-catching means with simply 32 catches over three years between Oregon State and Miami. His lack of particular groups expertise additionally stands out, as he could must step into that sort of position early in his profession as a projected mid-round decide.

Greater than something, it’s Martinez’s manufacturing throughout his two collegiate stops that stands out. He was practically a 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman All-American at Oregon State in 2022, operating for 982 yards and 7 touchdowns on 161 carries (6.1 avg.). He then ran for 1,185 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Beavers in 2023 earlier than transferring to Miami and placing up one other 1,000-yard marketing campaign. In 2024, he averaged 6.3 yards per stick with it his strategy to 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns.

10. Kansas State RB DJ Giddens – RS Junior – 6-0, 212 – 4.43

Giddens works his method via visitors extraordinarily properly. He has nice imaginative and prescient and good wiggle, which helps him thrive in house. He’ll get himself into bother by operating too upright and will face a actuality examine when dealing with NFL defenses consequently. It does assist that he has a stable observe report as a receiver, with 58 catches for 679 yards (11.7 avg.) and 4 touchdowns over three seasons at Okay-State. To not point out, his background as a grinder is clear, as he went from a zero-star recruit to a back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher for the Wildcats.

After operating for 518 yards and 6 touchdowns on 89 carries (5.8 avg.) in 2022, Giddens received a heavier workload in 2023 and ran for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns on 223 carries (5.5 avg.), along with his tape in opposition to UCF being a serious standout in that season. In opposition to the Knights, he ran 30 instances for 207 yards and 4 touchdowns whereas catching eight passes for one more 86 yards. Then, in 2024, he made it back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with a 1,343-yard, seven-touchdown marketing campaign, and that was even with no bowl sport, as he opted out of Okay-State’s Price Bowl win over Rutgers.

11. Kansas RB Devin Neal – Senior – 5-11, 213 – 4.58

Neal is yet one more standout in a 2025 Draft class stuffed with proficient Massive 12 operating backs. He was a four-year starter for Kansas, first operating for 707 yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries (4.8 avg.) in 2021 earlier than three straight 1,000-yard campaigns to complete his tenure with the Jayhawks. He ran for 1,090 yards in 2022, 1,280 in 2023 and 1,266 in 2024, ending his spectacular profession in Lawrence with 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns on 760 carries (5.7 avg.). He had back-to-back 16-rushing landing seasons in 2023 and 2024, too, so he’s no stranger to the tip zone.

Neal runs with good imaginative and prescient, and whereas he’s not a speedster, he has good stop-start means and shows good persistence to let operating lanes develop. He additionally had solely two fumbles over his remaining 502 carries at Kansas, which operating again coaches on the subsequent stage will love. The place Neal wants work is along with his cross safety, as he was up and down in that division throughout his faculty profession. And whereas his persistence as a runner is usually a plus, he can generally be too affected person, one thing he’ll must rein in in opposition to sooner NFL defenses.

12. Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten – Senior – 5-9, 206 – 4.32

The quickest operating again on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix, Tuten did quite a bit for his inventory with a 4.32-second 40-yard sprint in Indy. He’s a shorter again at 5-foot-9, however he’s constructed properly with the body he has. That, mixed along with his blazing velocity, earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks Record,” and that strains up with what you’ll be able to see on tape. When he can discover house on the skin, he’s an enormous play ready to occur. It additionally helps that he has particular groups expertise (and success), with a 23.8-yards-per-kick-return common in faculty and two return touchdowns.

Tuten started his profession at North Carolina A&T, the place he broke out as a sophomore in 2022 with 1,363 dashing yards and 13 touchdowns whereas averaging 6.6 yards per carry. From there, he transferred to Virginia Tech, the place he was a two-year starter. After operating for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns on 5.0 yards per carry in 2023, he completed his collegiate profession with a 2024 season that noticed him run for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per try. Tuten additionally caught 91 passes for 892 yards and 9 touchdowns over his four-year profession.

Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten Picture by: USA In the present day

The Greatest Of The Relaxation

13. Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II – Junior – 6-1, 226 – 4.61

Gordon’s inventory has plummeted from the place it was after the 2023 season. Probably the greatest operating backs in faculty soccer throughout the 2023 marketing campaign, his 2024 started with a DUI and what adopted was a comparatively disappointing follow-up to his All-American sophomore season. After operating for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023, he ran for 880 and 13 in 2024. His 21 carries of 20+ yards in 2023 fell to 6 such carries final yr, too. Total, he has a very good construct and spectacular open-field burst, however he can run too upright and is overly affected person at instances.

14. Texas RB Jaydon Blue – Junior – 5-9, 195 – 4.38

One other one of many quickest backs on this yr’s draft class, Blue ran a 4.38-second 40-yard sprint in Indianapolis, which trailed solely Bhayshul Tuten’s 4.32. Caught behind Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks in his first two seasons at Texas, Blue broke out with 1,098 complete yards within the Longhorns’ 2024 run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. He ran for 730 yards and eight touchdowns whereas hauling in 42 passes for 368 yards and one other six touchdowns. He’s an explosive participant, however his physique kind will restrict his ceiling within the NFL. Regardless, he’ll be a productive cog in a multi-back system.

15. Georgia RB Trevor Etienne – Junior – 5-9, 198 – 4.42

Trevor Etienne, the brother of Jaguars operating again Travis Etienne, started his profession at Florida, the place he had back-to-back 700+ yard seasons earlier than transferring to rival Georgia in 2024. With the Bulldogs, he ran for 609 yards and 9 touchdowns on 122 carries (5.0 avg.). He handled a rib harm late within the 2024 season, and that coupled with a suspension for the season opener as a consequence of reckless driving and underage possession of alcohol prices (later dismissed after he pleaded no contest) restricted his manufacturing throughout his lone season in Athens.

Georgia RB Trevor Etienne Picture by: USA In the present day

16. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai – RS Senior – 5-8, 211 – 4.60

By the tip of his Rutgers profession, Monangai trailed solely Ray Rice for probably the most dashing yards in program historical past. He ran for 3,221 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and dashing for 27 touchdowns, together with 13 in 2024. He has fast ft and makes use of his smaller stature properly, slipping via blockers and discovering house to work with. A two-time workforce captain, Monangai is reliable and proved he might deal with workhorse duties. He had zero fumbles in his profession, and whereas he wasn’t requested to do quite a bit as a receiver, he confirmed dependable arms when referred to as upon.

17. SMU RB Brashard Smith – Senior – 5-10, 194 – 4.39

Smith is a transformed extensive receiver who has spectacular lengthy velocity. He had 19 performs of 20+ yards in 2024, which ranked high 5 amongst FBS operating backs. His velocity and pure really feel for locating house additionally makes him a very good match as a return man, which he has expertise with. He averaged 24.4 yards per kick return in faculty and had a 98-yard return landing to his identify. After modest manufacturing as a receiver in his three years at Miami, Smith ran for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns after transitioning to operating again for SMU in 2024.

18. Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter – Senior – 5-9, 204 – 4.44

Hunter is a dense again who’s a weight-room stud, and that reveals on tape. He’s a troublesome man to carry down, one thing his SEC-leading 6.4 yards per carry speaks to. He has points in cross safety and a few ball safety points popped up infrequently, however Hunter is a man who has performed numerous soccer over his four-year profession with the Tigers. He ran for 593, 668 and 909 yards in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, earlier than breaking out with a 1,201-yard marketing campaign in 2024.

19. Oregon RB Jordan James – Junior – 5-9 1/2, 205 – 4.51

James, who performed with Bucs operating again Bucky Irving at Oregon, is constructed low to the bottom and makes use of that to his benefit along with his operating fashion. He has good imaginative and prescient and runs with numerous toughness, although his make-you-miss means might be spotty. He labored properly as a complement to Irving in 2023, then proved a lot able to being the lead again in 2024 with 233 carries for 1,267 yards (5.4 avg.) and 15 touchdowns. He completed with 31 dashing touchdowns over three years with the Geese.

Oregon RB Jordan James Picture by: USA In the present day

20. Texas Tech RB Tahj Brooks – RS Senior – 5-9, 214 – 4.52

There’s a entire lot of tread on Brooks’ tires, one thing that may be checked out in a constructive gentle or with a extra detrimental spin. Over 5 years in Lubbock, he totaled 879 carries, together with 290 in 2023 and 286 in 2024. Nevertheless it’s not possible to argue in opposition to his manufacturing, as he ran for 1,541 yards in 2023 and 1,505 in 2024 whereas totaling 4,560 over 5 seasons with the Pink Raiders. His contact stability and total sturdiness are large pluses, and whereas he’s not a pure velocity again, he’ll be a very good change-of-pace again in some workforce’s operating again room.

Bucs Greatest Bets – By Scott Reynolds

Rounds 1-3: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo

The Bucs are the envy of the league with three very proficient operating backs in Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. The one argument one might make about presumably drafting a operating again could be that White is getting into a contract yr. But Tampa Bay seems like Tucker has the potential to be a starter within the league. Consequently, the Bucs solely met with a handful of operating backs on the NFL Scouting Mix – and all have been casual visits. Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo was one in every of them.

Drafting a operating again on Day 3 makes extra sense for Tampa Bay, but when the Bucs are enamored with Skattebo they’ll seemingly have pull the set off within the third spherical. Skattebo is a bowling ball of a runner at 5-9, 219 kilos. He breaks tackles and confirmed loads of make-you-miss means final yr dashing for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs whereas averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He additionally caught 45 passes for 605 yards (13.4 avg.) and three TDs. Think about how enjoyable of an addition Skattebo could be to the Bucs backfield?

Rounds 4-7: Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten

Virginia Tech’s Bayshul Tuten had an amazing exhibiting on the NFL Scouting Mix that actually upped his inventory. Considered as a late Day 3 prospect earlier than going to Indianapolis, Tuten blazed a 4.32 time within the 40-yard sprint and proved to be the quickest again on the Mix. That included an extremely quick 1.49 10-yard cut up. Then he posted a 40.5-inch vertical soar and a 10-foot, 10-inch broad soar to indicate how explosive of a again he’s. Tuten ran for two,022 yards (5.7 avg.) and 25 touchdowns over his two seasons at Virginia Tech.

Tuten has a pleasant mixture of velocity and energy with good arms and likewise returns kicks. He had a 94-yard landing and a 99-yard landing in 2023 as a junior. It’s uncertain that the Bucs draft a operating again with Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. However including a multi-dimensional again like Tuten on Day 3 may very well be tempting if the workforce has addressed its wants defensively early within the draft.