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How a quarterback handles being under pressure can be the difference between winning and losing.
If he is forced into taking sacks or throwing the ball away all game, the offense will be stuck in neutral and even the most promising drives will stall out.
But if he can find a way to turn those negative plays into positive ones, the offense will flourish. To do so, a quarterback needs a reliable player who he can dump the ball off to with the defense in his face.
Luckily for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they have two of the NFL's best pass-catchers under pressure.
According to PFF, Tampa's top two running backs, Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, ranked among the best safety-blanket receivers in the league last season.
Gainwell has long been one of the best receiving running backs in the NFL. Given a larger role in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, he set a career high with 73 receptions. According to PFF, 16 of Gainwell's catches came while QB Aaron Rodgers was under pressure.
"With Aaron Rodgers recording the fifth-fastest time to throw (2.58) in the NFL this past season, it comes as no surprise that a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield like Gainwell would be the benefactor. His 16 receptions when the defense generated pressure more than doubled any other Steeler. With Gainwell having signed with the Buccaneers this offseason, that could spell trouble for Rodgers and the Steelers in 2026 as they seek a consistent pass-game replacement."
As good as Gainwell was catching passes under pressure for the Steelers, Irving may have been even better for the Bucs. Although he missed seven games with injuries, Irving was still one of the most effective receivers in the league under pressure.
"Despite being limited to just 10 games in 2025, Irving was undoubtedly one of the most efficient pass-catchers in the NFL out of the backfield. Although his sample was limited, the second-year back stood as the only qualifying player to post over 3.1 yards per route run and a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted on plays in which pressure arrived. What made Irving so dangerous in pressure situations was his ability after the catch, where he generated an NFL-leading 204 yards."
Not many teams are as well-equipped to handle pressure as the Bucs in 2026.
With an offensive line that should be one of the best in the NFL, defenses should have a hard enough time getting pressure on QB Baker Mayfield.
Even if a defense can get pressure on Mayfield, Tampa has not only one, but two, of the very best security pass-catchers under pressure in the NFL.
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Continue reading...
If he is forced into taking sacks or throwing the ball away all game, the offense will be stuck in neutral and even the most promising drives will stall out.
But if he can find a way to turn those negative plays into positive ones, the offense will flourish. To do so, a quarterback needs a reliable player who he can dump the ball off to with the defense in his face.
Luckily for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they have two of the NFL's best pass-catchers under pressure.
According to PFF, Tampa's top two running backs, Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, ranked among the best safety-blanket receivers in the league last season.
Kenneth Gainwell
Gainwell has long been one of the best receiving running backs in the NFL. Given a larger role in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, he set a career high with 73 receptions. According to PFF, 16 of Gainwell's catches came while QB Aaron Rodgers was under pressure.
"With Aaron Rodgers recording the fifth-fastest time to throw (2.58) in the NFL this past season, it comes as no surprise that a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield like Gainwell would be the benefactor. His 16 receptions when the defense generated pressure more than doubled any other Steeler. With Gainwell having signed with the Buccaneers this offseason, that could spell trouble for Rodgers and the Steelers in 2026 as they seek a consistent pass-game replacement."
Bucky Irving
As good as Gainwell was catching passes under pressure for the Steelers, Irving may have been even better for the Bucs. Although he missed seven games with injuries, Irving was still one of the most effective receivers in the league under pressure.
"Despite being limited to just 10 games in 2025, Irving was undoubtedly one of the most efficient pass-catchers in the NFL out of the backfield. Although his sample was limited, the second-year back stood as the only qualifying player to post over 3.1 yards per route run and a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted on plays in which pressure arrived. What made Irving so dangerous in pressure situations was his ability after the catch, where he generated an NFL-leading 204 yards."
Final Thoughts
Not many teams are as well-equipped to handle pressure as the Bucs in 2026.
With an offensive line that should be one of the best in the NFL, defenses should have a hard enough time getting pressure on QB Baker Mayfield.
Even if a defense can get pressure on Mayfield, Tampa has not only one, but two, of the very best security pass-catchers under pressure in the NFL.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
