Drafting running backs highly has been a debate in the league in recent years. This trend, to some extent, took a reversal in the 2023 NFL Draft, as both Texas’ Bijan Robinson (No. 8) and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs (No.12) were taken in the top half of the first round. The reason for the debate is that plenty of backs have been taken later in the draft, or not drafted at all, and have found success in the NFL. The Bucs are hoping Sean Tucker can be one of those undrafted free agent stars in Tampa Bay.

Going back to 2010, Tampa Bay has discovered two undrafted backs and found surplus value. LeGarrette Blount (2010) and Peyton Barber (2016) both carved out roles with the team, with Blount even having a 1,000-yard rookie season. Other notable backs in this timespan include Austin Ekeler (2017), Phillip Lindsay (2018), and James Robinson (2020).

In what was a deep running back class at the position in 2023, could another name be added to these respective lists? The Bucs hope it’s Tucker, Tampa Bay’s newest addition to the running back room.

Sean Tucker Put Up Very Good Stats At Syracuse

Sean Tucker put up big numbers and an impressive highlight reel in the past two seasons at Syracuse. He was seen as a Top 10 college running back prospect and had a mid-round grade entering the draft process. Here’s a look at his rushing numbers from his time with the Orange:

2020: 137 attempts, 626 yards, 4.6 avg., 4 TDs

2021: 246 attempts, 1,496 yards, 6.1 avg., 12 TDs

2022: 206 attempts, 1,060 yards, 5.1 avg., 11 TDs

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: USA Today

Of note, he set Syracuse’s single-season rushing record in 2021, and after just three seasons, he ranks third on Syracuse’s all-time career rushing record list with 3,182 yards.

Not only did he have elite production at Syracuse, but at 5-foot-9, 207 pounds, he is compact and explosive. These were noted strengths of Tucker, who Pewter Report’s J.C. Allen profiled in his undrafted free agent analysis. This is what he listed as being Tucker’s strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths: A former track star, Tucker possesses very good speed and vision as a runner. He is patient at the line of scrimmage, sees a hole and hits it, and displays good contact balance. He’s a capable receiver out of the backfield and makes crisp cuts with the ball in his hands as a one-cut runner.

Weaknesses: While he put up 29 reps at his pro day he isn’t a powerful rusher and isn’t going to run over defenders. He will also need to make significant strides as a pass blocker if he wants to see the field early on in his career. He might be limited to just first and second downs initially.

Ultimately, what led to Tucker being undrafted was his medical background. Because of this, he neither participated at the NFL Scouting Combine nor at Syracuse’s Pro Day. It was later determined to be an undisclosed heart condition.

While this led to him not being drafted, the Bucs have taken a chance on him as an undrafted free agent. When he’s cleared medically later this summer, he has the potential to make the roster and slot in right behind Rachaad White if he successfully climbs the depth chart.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn has failed to take the role of a secondary back in his Bucs’ tenure, while Chase Edmonds was signed to a one-year deal to fill the room. Patrick Laird remains on deck to round out the depth chart, but he was on the practice squad for most of last season.

The Bucs put a substantial investment into Tucker, hoping that it pays off. The $155,000 they guaranteed to him is actually a higher bonus than what Edmonds, a veteran, got upon signing ($152,500).

From what new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales said about him this week, it is clear that Tucker is thought of highly and has a great chance to trade in the orange for red and pewter.

Bucs OC Dave Canales: “[Sean Tucker] Reminds Me Of Thomas Rawls”

Syracuse RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: USA Today

Having worked in Seattle for 13 years, Dave Canales knows a thing or two about successful running backs. He saw firsthand the dominance of Marshawn Lynch in his “Beast Mode” days.

In 2015, Lynch’s reign as one of the league’s top rushers ended and he would not be the same after his yearlong retirement in 2016. Still, the team continued to find success with unheralded backs.

Thomas Rawls and Chris Carson were the two most prominent examples. In 2015, Rawls, an undrafted free agent, filled in Lynch and had 830 rushing yards on 147 carries, which equated to a league-leading 5.6 yards per carry.

After he was injured and fell out of the picture, Carson followed. The seventh-round pick had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and had a productive career in Seattle.

Seeing how they were able to emerge in the backfield, Canales sees similar traits in Tucker.

“Sean Tucker from Syracuse – fantastic runner – he reminds me of Thomas Rawls, who played great for us for a while,” Canales said. “But he has that physical run style that we loved that we’re going to love here – he’s going to bring a little punch and attitude to what we do.”

Can Tucker be the latest story of an undrafted running back establishing himself in the NFL? Coming down to Tampa Bay, he may just have the best chance to once he gets medically cleared.