Feb. 12, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET
Can Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales turn a foe back into a friend?
FOX Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman has made his predictions on the landing spots for the league’s top 100 free agents of 2026. In at No. 70 on the list is Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White, who Auman links to Canales and Carolina.
He writes:
White, 27, is a versatile back who’s averaged just over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 50 catches a year in Tampa. He took a backseat to Bucky Irving and won’t be returning, but could be the lesser end of a nice 1-2 punch. The Bucs have lost enough offensive coordinators that he could follow any of them, from Dave Canales in Carolina to Liam Coen in Jacksonville and Josh Grizzard in Philadelphia. Anything over $5 million a year feels like too much — of 35 backs with 500-plus carries since 2022, he ranks 34th in yards/carry, ahead of only Kareem Hunt.
White’s most productive pro campaign came in 2023, when Canales served as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. He tallied career-highs in starts (17), attempts (272), rushing yards (990), rushing touchdowns (six), receptions (64) and receiving yards (549).
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The Panthers may have a spot for White behind starter Chuba Hubbard depending on the outlooks of fellow free-agent rusher Rico Dowdle and 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks. Dowdle seems likely to depart through the open market while Brooks remains on the road to recovery from his second ACL tear.
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