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Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback Baker Mayfield is welcoming a new weapon on the team with open arms. The Buccaneers added depth and experience to their running back room in March, when they inked veteran tailback Kenneth Gainwell to a very friendly two-year, $14 million contract. Tampa Bay has Bucky Irving expected to lead the team’s ground attack in the 2026 NFL season, but the 27-year-old Gainwell appears to have the qualities that can elevate Tampa Bay’s rushing game in the eyes of Mayfield. “He is much more than a gadget guy,” Mayfield said, via Brianna Dix of Tampa Bay’s official website. “I have just been completely overwhelmed with the amount of talent that he has. I did not know until a little later in the spring more towards minicamp that he was a receiver going into college and was a slot receiver at Memphis. That explains why he is so smooth running routes.” Buccaneers’ Mayfield Views New Running Back Highly Mayfield seems to love having a veteran like Gainwell around, one who has been to the top of the league, having won a Super Bowl title before with the Philadelphia Eagles. “Then, just him in the run game, he stays true to his tracks and reads his blocks really well. I thought he has been a huge addition for us and is a spark to give Bucky a spell and obviously still have Tuck in there,” added Mayfield. “Josh Williams has had a great camp as well but KG is another guy that adds a veteran presence, a leader and a guy that leads by example and continues to help set the tone for us.” Gainwell spent his first four seasons in the NFL from 2021 to 2024 with the Eagles, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of the Memphis Tigers football program. In 2025, Gainwell left the City of Brotherly Love and played a season for the Pittsbrugh Steelers. With the Steelers, he rushed for 537 yards and five touchdowns on 114 carries and added 486 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 73 receptions and 85 targets across 17 games. Related content - Broncos Fans Get Good News After Concerning Training Camp Development - Giants’ Cam Skattebo Makes Surprising Admission Several Months After Gruesome Ankle Injury - Broncos’ Sean Payton Admits Seeing Everything He Needed From Potential Future Star - Travis Hunter’s ‘Fishing Mindset’ Is Fueling His Intense Competition With Rising Jaguars Teammate