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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into 2025 thinking they had not only a strong offensive line — maybe elite — but that they also had 1 of the NFL’s best running back duos in starter Bucky Irving and veteran backup Rachaad White.
Reality proved to be much different.
Irving spent the season injured and struggling to find his groove, and White had to take most of the punishment behind an injury-riddled offensive line. The end result saw White, arguably the NFL’s top backup running back, signing with the Washington Commanders on a 1-year, $2 million free-agent contract.
For the Commanders, that might end up being their best move of the offseason — Pro Football Focus singled out his contract as 1 of their “Most Favorite” free agent deals in the 2026 cycle.
“White signed with the Commanders on a very cheap contract, as he will make just $2 million across one season,” PFF’s Zolton Buday wrote. “He was an above-average running back throughout his career in Tampa Bay, sidelined only because of the emergence of Bucky Irving. The Arizona State product had a limited role in 2025, but he shone on his way to an 87.2 PFF rushing grade, which ranked fourth among all running backs.”
Rachaad White Lost Tons of Money in 2025
White’s frustration with his role in Tampa Bay’s offense came to a head by the end of a disappointing 2025 season in which the Buccaneers went 8-9 overall and missed the playoffs for the 1st time since 2019.
Almost immediately following the season, White took to social media to express, in pretty clear terms, that he was leaving. He may not have realized how much his value had plummeted over the course of 17 games.
White had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2023 and 2024, including a career-high 1,534 yards in 2023, but his numbers plummeted to a career-low 790 yards from scrimmage in 2025.
“Teams shouldn’t look to sign White as their RB1, but he’ll make an excellent third-down option for many clubs,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay wrote on December 30. “Expect him to ink a modest contract, likely in the $7 million per year range, with a team that could maximize his talents as a receiving weapon. The Washington Commanders could be an intriguing landing spot for White. The back has a history with quarterback Jayden Daniels—playing together at Arizona State in 2021—and could round out a backfield that has a promising young piece in Jacory Croskey-Merritt but is set to lose both Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols this offseason.”
Rachaad White Playing for Big-Time Money in 2027
The Commanders have another advantage with White. They will get a player who has never been more motivated to perform at a high level — not that he wasn’t before — but playing on a “prove it” contract for the 1st time in their career usually sparks something in NFL players.
If he wants inspiration, White can just look at 1 of the running backs in the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys signed Javonte Williams to a 1-year, $3 million free-agent contract before the 2025 season.
After Williams reeled off a career-high 1,200 yards in 2025, the Cowboys brought him back on a 3-year, $24 million contract — something not out of the realm of possibility for White in 2027.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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