Heading into this year’s NFL Combine during the first week of March, former Syracuse RB Sean Tucker was given fourth and fifth-round grades from teams Pro Football Network spoke with about the rookie runner.
However, due to a heart condition discovered during a physical taken that week in Indianapolis, Tucker wound up not being drafted, and there were questions as to whether or not he would be cleared to play this season.
Where Sean Tucker Fits on the Buccaneers’ RB Depth Chart
One college scouting source from an AFC team, who turned in a fourth-round grade, said Tucker “has outstanding straight-line speed but runs a little upright and probably fits in as No. 2 at our level.”
Players given fourth-round grades by teams are generally seen as high-end backups or low-end starters, according to the scouting source.
The good news is Tucker would wind up eventually being cleared medically to practice by the Buccaneers medical staff, and he signed a three-year deal worth $2.7 million with $155,000 fully guaranteed. And $150,000 of his $750,000 salary this season is fully guaranteed.
The guaranteed amount, which is strong for an undrafted free agent, clearly shows the confidence that the Buccaneers front office has in Tucker to add something to the running back room.
Word around the team is that Tucker, from the very start of training camp, steadily improved, and he easily won a roster spot.
And someone who had watched him closely in training camp has seen Tucker’s talent on display.
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“Juice. Youth. This is a young man’s game. You get that young, hungry rookie back,” new offensive coordinator Dave Canales said late last month after being asked during a media session about what Tucker brings to the team’s offense.
“We’ve had a ton of them in Seattle, and he’s the next one up,” Canales added. “Rachaad [White] is obviously young, too. He’s lively, and it feels like he’s making more than what’s there on checkdowns, on runs. I’m excited about what he’s going to bring to us.”
On Monday, Canales, who is calling plays for the first time in his coaching career, was asked if he prefers using multiple backs and who he considers to be No. 2 on the depth chart.
“It’s by committee. I think [RBs coach] Skip [Peete] has done this everywhere he has been going way back to the Oakland Raiders. He had Tyrone Wheatley, and he had a bunch of other guys.
“And then, of course, more recently in Dallas, he had Zeke [Ezekiel Elliott] and Tony Pollard, so I know he is going to use guys. I don’t feel like we’re in as unique of a situation as Dallas, where you have two really top-tier backs.”
While White is the clear starter, Canales knows the other players on the depth chart bring something to the table.
“I think we have a really fantastic back [White], and I think we have a bunch of good backs, so I think they can kind of platoon that. I think there’s more to learn about just how we use Rachaad on third down, and [are] there other guys who can have a role, [who] can do some of the same things?
“Chase [Edmonds], I know, can do some of the pass game stuff where I feel like Sneak [fourth-year RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn] and Sean have a lot of value on first and second down as runners, but so does Chase. There is still a lot of stuff that I’m really not sure about to get the full complement of who [our] backfield is in a game-type of situation.
“You’d love to see to have the freshest back in — I do know that.”
Tucker was listed by the team as No. 2 on the depth chart for this week’s game against the host Minnesota Vikings, but those are unofficial.