Rachaad White
Getty
The Buccaneers have lost Rachaad White in free agency, as he's signed a one-year contract with the Commanders
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a bit of a mixed bag to start the offseason. While they have brought several players to town, they have also watched a handful of key players depart. And now, it appears another big name on the offensive side of the ball has found a new home after being allowed to test the waters of free agency.
After watching Mike Evans sign with the San Francisco 49ers, it was clear that the Bucs were going to need some more firepower on the offensive side of the ball. Instead, they have now watched another guy leave town, as reports indicate that running back Rachaad White will be signing with the Washington Commanders.
Commanders Sign Rachaad White to 1-Year Contract
Adam Schefter
Commanders are signing former Bucs RB Rachaad White to a one-year deal, per his agent Sunny Shah. White now reunites with his college quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, White immediately proved himself to be a top-tier dual-threat running back. He earned the starting job in 2023, and he posted some strong numbers, as he racked up 990 yards and six carries on the ground, while also catching 64 passes for 549 yards and three more scores.
The main problem with White has always been his efficiency. He’s never averaged over 4.3 yards per carry over the course of a season, which isn’t exactly a great figure. That led the team to select Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he eventually ended up stealing the starting job from White.
While White and Irving were a solid pair in 2025, it was clear that the running back room now belonged to Irving. As a result, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see White hit the open market, and he has now found a new home in the NFC, as he reportedly will be signing a one-year contract with the Commanders.
“Commanders are signing former Bucs RB Rachaad White to a one-year deal, per his agent Sunny Shah. White now reunites with his college quarterback, Jayden Daniels,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Buccaneers Have Already Found Replacement for Rachaad White
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 05: Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
Losing White would hurt more if the Buccaneers didn’t have a solid running back room, but they do. Irving struggled through an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, but he will get another opportunity to prove he can handle starting reps in 2026. Beyond that, the team has already signed White’s replacement, as former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell was brought to town on a two-year, $14 million contract.
Gainwell will operate as Tampa’s receiving back, while Irving will likely receive the majority of the touches on the ground. The wildly explosive Sean Tucker is also still in town, and he could earn more snaps if Irving struggles to find his way. Losing White is a blow, no doubt about it, but the Bucs are already in a significantly better spot when it comes to replacing him than compared to replacing Evans in the wide receiver room.