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The Athletic (paywall)
RB Rachaad White agrees to one-year deal with Commanders: Source
The Washington Commanders agreed to a one-year deal with veteran running back Rachaad White on Thursday, a league source said, reuniting him with his former college quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Washington needed to add to its rushing corps since it had only one back under contract for 2026 in Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Jeremy McNichols and Austin Ekeler are free agents, and Chris Rodriguez signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this week.
White gives the Commanders some versatility in the backfield because of his pass-catching ability. Since 2022, when he entered the league as third-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, White has totaled 205 catches (third-most among running backs), 1,450 receiving yards (sixth) and 11 receiving touchdowns (fourth).
In four seasons with the Buccaneers, White put up 4,106 yards from scrimmage. He is one of two players in Bucs history to top double digits in career rushing touchdowns (14) and receiving touchdowns (11). After fumbling multiple times in each of his first three seasons, White cleaned up ball security issues in 2025, finishing without a fumble.
White was ranked as the No. 4 free-agent running back in The Athletic’s top 150, and 68th overall.
Nicki Jhabvala’s takeaway
White just makes sense. The Commanders need help in the run game, he’s familiar with Daniels, he’s still only 27 and his production in the pass game fits in among the elite running backs since 2022; his 205 catches and 11 receiving touchdowns rank third and fourth, respectively, among backs in that span.
White is coming off an injury-riddled season, but he still played in all 17 games and tied his career-best by averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
A to Z Sports
Grading the signing: RB Rachaad White
A to Z Sports Tampa Bay beat writer Evan Winter says that White is very underrated, and coming to Washington with a clear goal: to be a complete running back and produce at a high level.
“Rachaad White is definitely one of the more under-the-radar free agents. Yes, he’s more of a Tier 2-type running back, but he can still carry a ground game as the preferred guy. He’s a physical runner who can also make plays in the passing game and is very good in pass pro. He’s not going to break off an 80-yard touchdown run anytime soon, but he can wear defenses down with his running style and big frame at 6-foot, 214 pounds. He also wants to be the top guy in a rushing attack, so he’s coming in with a fire lit under him and purpose, which is always a good mindset for a player to be in.” – Evan Winter, A to Z Sports Tampa Bay
He’s on a one-year prove-it deal, so there’s no risk, and he will be motivated as ever. White is coming off a career-best season in 2025 with zero fumbles on 132 carries and zero drops on 42 targets in the passing game.
He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and forced 25 missed tackles. White has a solid chance to lead the team in carries next season because he’s a top-end pass protector and can do everything on offense, where Croskey-Merritt can’t.
This doesn’t impact the option of drafting RB Jeremiyah Love if they want to, but it also protects them if they miss out on him. They still need to add another RB, but this is a homerun signing with White being a complete and dangerous RB.
Commanders Wire
5 things to know about Commanders TE Chigoziem Okonkwo
Originally developed as a wide receiver
If you’ve ever watched tape of Chig, you already know he’s a speed mismatch at tight end. That’s because he wasn’t viewed as a traditional tight end prior to college and was trained and developed like a wide receiver or hybrid athlete. He focused heavily on speed work, on-field movement, and agility drills. Once his coaches realized his frame could hold more weight, he bulked up and slid right into the tight end position. This is why he runs fluidly and isn’t stiff, it’s why he can change direction with seeming ease, and it’s why he’s more dangerous after the catch than most tight ends.
A to Z Sports
Top remaining under-the-radar NFL free agent for Commanders to target after first wave of signings
Jauan Jennings, WR
The Commanders attempted an aggressive swing at the top wide receivers in Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs, but they came up just short for both. Now, the Commanders have to pivot and still address the position. Of course, they’re still waiting on Brandon Aiyuk to be released, but they need more than that. Jauan Jennings is the top WR available, and he could be a real target, depending on the price.
Adam Peters obviously knows Jauan Jennings from his time with the San Francisco 49ers, and he could fill a huge void in Washington. 2026 could be Terry McLaurin’s final season with the Commanders, and a 28-year-old Jennings could be a great WR2 option in the offense.
His 6-3, 212-pound frame helped him finish top-4 in contested catch last season with 18, and nine touchdowns, which was sixth-most. He’s projected to get a three-year, $50 million contract, which may be too expensive for Washington at this point.
Cam Taylor-Britt, CB
Washington signed CB Amik Robertson, but they need depth at corner now after losing Jonathan Jones to the Philadelphia Eagles. Cam Taylor-Britt has had a roller coaster of a career with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he’s still just 26 years old and has shown positive flashes. He had seven combined interceptions in 2023 and 2024, but only played 348 snaps in 2025.
The former second-round pick needs a new environment, and Daronte Jones could help unlock his potential. He’s only projected to sign a one-year, $4 milllion prove-it deal, and the Commanders should be all over that instead of signing another older veteran when they need help.
Commanders Roundtable
Washington Commanders Re-Sign Third Offensive Lineman
Versatile offensive lineman Trent Scott is set to return to the Commanders on a new deal, marking his fourth season with the organization.
Scott initially signed a two year contract with Washington back on March 23, 2023 where he appeared in ten games and started at right tackle for the last two games with Andrew Wylie sidelined. He also became a weapon on offense during the 2024 season after it was Scott who ended up catching the first passing touchdown by quarterback Jayden Daniels, lining up as an eligible receiver in the week three Monday Night Football win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Scott also started in the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2024 while filling in for an injured Sam Cosmi during the divisional round win over the Detroit Lions the week prior.
How the starting offensive line materializes remains to be seen with two vacant starting spots to fill with Chris Paul now a free agent while the front office opted to release Tyler Biadasz after two seasons as the starting center, leading him to land with the Los Angeles Chargers ahead of the legal tampering window.
Commanders Roundtable
Commanders Set Top-30 Visits with Two 2026 NFL Draft Prospects
Per Ryan Fowler, the Commanders have set a top 30 visit with former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and Texas Tech edge rusher Romello Height.
Lemon is coming off a 2025 season where he was named the Biletnikoff Award winner, recognizing the best FBS wide receiver along with a First Team All American selection by The Athletic, PFF and On3. He became the second Trojan to win the award after Marqise Lee did it in 2012, while PFF graded Lemon as the best wideout in the country.
Viewed as a late first to second round pick, Height found success as a Red Raider after bouncing around through his college career. Originally committing to Auburn out of high school, Height spent the 2021 season with the Tigers before transferring to USC in 2022, then Georgia Tech in 2024 before heading to Texas Tech.
But it paid off after posting ten sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2025, compared to 6.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss through the first five years of his college career. Set to turn 25 nearly one week prior to the draft, Height would add another element to a vastly improved front seven headlined by Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson and Charles Omenihu
Podcasts & videos
Amik Robertson delivered 13 minutes of entertainment and energy on Thursday
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Dallas Cowboys 2021 draft class all now gone from team
Osa Odighizuwa was the last man standing, and now his watch has ended. The Dallas Cowboys traded Odighizuwa to the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday (they received a third-round pick, number 92 overall, in return) and as they did a certain chapter of their franchise history is now officially closed.
Given that he just got a four-year, $80M extension from the team a year ago, it stood to reason that he would be around for a while. The NFL is fairly unpredictable though, obviously.
Odighizuwa being traded that means all connection to that particular NFL draft and the selections that the Cowboys made are out as well. The Cowboys had an incredible 11 picks when it was all said and done, and many of us believed that they would surely trade up at some point because of the totality of the ammunition.
2021 Dallas Cowboys Draft Class
1: Micah Parsons
2: Kelvin Joseph
3: Osa Odighizuwa
3: Chauncey Golston
3: Nahshon Wright
4: Jabril Cox
4: Josh Ball
5: Simi Fehoko
6: Quinton Bohanna
6: Israel Mukuamu
7: Matt Farniok
Parsons and Odighizuwa stood out among the group. The two were ultimately traded away within a seven-month span. Again, the NFL can be a tricky business sometimes.
Blogging the Boys
Trading Osa Odighizuwa feels like a mistake for Cowboys
New defensive coordinator Christian Parker comes from a scheme that makes heavy use of the penny front, which uses five-man fronts to overwhelm and confuse offensive lines. With the trio of defensive tackles - Odighizuwa, Williams, and Kenny Clark - the Cowboys had the perfect interior for that package.
Even in four man fronts, Odighizuwa has shown the positional flexibility in the past to still be an every down player. In four man base packages, Odighizuwa would have been an ideal big EDGE on the strong side, the type of player Vic Fangio has used - with the Eagles and other organizations - to help protect his nickel, freeing them up to fill against the run. And, of course, Odighizuwa was a natural fit as a 3-technique or 4i-technique in four-man nickel packages, with Clark likely subbing out in those situations.
Odighizuwa has also been a consistently good player. Since coming into the league, he’s had three different defensive coordinators in five seasons and never finished with fewer than three sacks or 38 pressures. Each of the last two years, both of which saw Odighizuwa learning a new scheme, he finished top five among interior defenders in pressures.
It’s true that Odighizuwa never piled up the stats in categories that make it onto SportsCenter, but anyone who watches defensive football closely knew that he was one of the better interior defenders in the league. His ability to pressure the quarterback regardless of scheme is proof of that.
Not only was Odighizuwa a valuable player, but he also meant a lot to the Cowboys on the personal side. Since the trade, his teammates have publicly expressed their love for Odighizuwa and how much they’ll miss him. Known for his loving personality, Odighizuwa also took a team friendly deal to re-up in Dallas this past offseason, stating at the time he wanted to make Dallas his home.
Big Blue View
NY Giants draft rumors: RB Jeremiyah Love visiting; is he in play at No. 5?
Jeremiyah Love, the Notre Dame running back considered by some to be the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft, is taking a “30” visit to the New York Giants on Thursday.
The Giants also met with Love at the NFL Scouting Combine. Is he really in play for the Giants at No. 5 in the upcoming draft?
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay certainly thinks so. Here is what McShay wrote in his subscription only newsletter this week:
On Monday, three teams I previously identified as potential fits for Love—the Cardinals (Tyler Allgeier), Saints (Travis Etienne), and Chiefs (Ken Walker)—signed free-agent running backs, which significantly narrows Love’s market in the top 10. But only one team needs to fall in love with him, and it’s possible the Chiefs and Saints had intel to suggest he wouldn’t last until their respective draft positions. And for Arizona, maybe they just saw more value at the position in free agency.
Which brings us to the other best fits in the top 10: the Titans at 4 and the Giants at 5. If it’s not one of them, I could see the Commanders at 7 taking the swing to give Jayden Daniels a young, electric playmaking partner—in the running and receiving game—under contract for the foreseeable future. The Commanders could (and should) also field calls for the pick. In that scenario, I could see a team like the Vikings trading up.
The take-home message: Love is the best player in the draft—and the best player doesn’t get to pick 11, regardless of position.
NFL league links
2026 NFL free agency: Best team fits for remaining free agents
Brian Robinson Jr.
Traded to the 49ers before the start of the 2025 season, Robinson spelled his star backfield mate and showed some newfound explosiveness, as 10.9% of his touches went for 10-plus rushing yards or 20-plus receiving yards. While he touched the ball only 100 times, Robinson also went all season without fumbling, which would be a major step in the right direction. He’s not going to be the lead back in an offense, but he can be useful in the right situational role.
Where he could fit: Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks need a replacement for Kenneth Walker III who can shoulder a meaningful workload, given that Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season after tearing an ACL in the playoffs. The Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal this week, but Robinson would offer a more consistent rushing performance and ably serve as the lead back in the rotation while Charbonnet recuperates.
Deebo Samuel
The 30-year-old has issues with fumbles and drops, but he’s still a valuable playmaker in the right offensive scheme, where his ability to run away from defenders on crossing routes and run through them on screens would be a valuable addition.
Where he could fit: Denver Broncos. Samuel is a dream fit for the Broncos’ offense, where Bo Nix wants to get the ball out quickly when he has a numbers advantage or throw the ball on digs and deep crossers off play-action. The Broncos have a crowded receiver room with Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr. and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, but Samuel would be a rugged addition who offers more physicality than just about anybody in that mix. He could also be a useful runner for coach Sean Payton as a changeup in short yardage or near the goal line, where Nix is often used on sneaks and designed runs.
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Front Office Sports
Why the NFL’s 2026 Schedule Could Look Very Different
The league’s ongoing push to position more of its 272 regular-season games in standalone broadcast windows, a central feature of the 2025 schedule, will take on even greater prominence in the forthcoming season.
A potential move of the league’s kickoff game involving the Seahawks to a Wednesday slot. That move from the traditional Thursday placement would allow the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia to happen on that day, and it would also help manage the significant time differences between that country and the U.S.
The NFL also cannot play on Friday night or Saturday after a Sept. 9 opener this year—as the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 precludes pro football games from happening at those times, beginning with the second Friday of September and continuing through the second Saturday in December.
A possible expansion of the traditional Thanksgiving lineup—a core part of the regular-season and one that reached unprecedented viewership in 2025—to include a Thanksgiving Eve game in 2026.
A record nine international games in 2026, up from seven in 2025. The locations for those games—three in England, and one each in Germany, Spain, France, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil—have been finalized. So, too, have the home teams for each of those contests.
The expanding spread of the NFL’s schedule means that the league could play the upcoming season on every day of the week with the exception of a Tuesday.
aBit o’Twitter
(Looks like Chenal’s 2026 cap hit will be $2.3m)
base - 1.6
signing bonus proration - 2.17
p/g + w0 bonuses - 700k