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Rachaad White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers thought they were going to have a 2-headed dragon at running back in 2025 with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.
What they got was something much different — and definitely not anything that was breathing fire.
Irving missed 7 games with a shoulder injury and mental health issues. White, thrust into a role as the featured back and with the offensive line missing starters for big chunks of the season, struggled as well.
The Buccaneers finished 21st in the NFL in rushing just 1 year after they surprised everyone by finishing 4th and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
Headed into free agency for the 1st time in his career, White will begin exploring his options next month — a path that almost certainly leads out of Tampa.
Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman predicts the best fit for White in free agency could be staying in the NFC South Division with the Carolina Panthers.
Spotrac projects White has an open market value of a 2-year, $15.1 million contract — great money for a running back at $7.592 million per year.
“White, 27, is a versatile back who’s averaged just over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 50 catches a year in Tampa,” Auman wrote. “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 Made Intentions Clear Following Season
Following the Buccaneers’ elimination from the postseason after the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints in Week 18, White wrote “Uno out … thank yaw forever for da past 4 years,” on his Instagram stories along with a picture of himself sitting in the Buccaneers locker room in full uniform.
White, a 2022 third round pick, just played out his 4-year, $5.82 million rookie contract but ended up bringing home approximately $10.3 million with bonuses.
“It would appear Rachaad White, who is a free agent, will be looking for a new home based on his post,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account.
On a post from White on X quoting a post from Polymarket Sports with a picture of White and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels playing together in college, the entire text of White’s post was a “thinking” emoji.
White Could Be Key Piece for Contenders
White had over 1,500 yards of total offense in 2023 and over 1,000 yards of total offense in 2024, when he began splitting time with running back Bucky Irving.
While everyone on the Buccaneers watched their stats take a hit this year thanks to a patchwork lineup on offense, White was still one of the more reliable players. What he’s shown over the last 4 years — and especially the last 2 years playing with Irving — is that his true value to a team would be as a 1-2 punch with an elite running back.
Auman is write in that $15 million for 2 years is probably too high for White. The Panthers, Commanders or anyone else is more likely to get him on a 2-year, $10 million contract or 1-year, $5 million contract.
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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