Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign Kenneth Gainwell

The Buccaneers' two-year, $14M commitment to Kenneth Gainwell earns a C+ CVI, representing a fair market deal for a solid complementary back with proven versatility. At $7M AAV, Tampa Bay is paying above-average money for what amounts to a reliable change-of-pace option who can contribute in multiple facets — Gainwell's receiving skills and pass protection make him more valuable than his rushing numbers suggest, justifying the premium over typical backup running back contracts that hover in the $3-5M range. The $9.8M in guaranteed money provides reasonable security for Gainwell while keeping the Buccaneers' financial exposure manageable, though the structure does commit significant cap space to a player who likely won't be a featured back. The primary risk lies in paying starter-adjacent money for a player whose ceiling remains that of a high-end complementary piece, but Tampa Bay's offensive system has historically maximized versatile backs like this. This deal reflects the modern NFL's willingness to invest in multi-dimensional running backs who can stay on the field in passing situations, making it a sensible if unremarkable addition that addresses depth without breaking the bank or limiting future flexibility.