Buccaneers veteran is already out the door after Tampa Bay sabotaged its 2025 season
The Bucs have some tough decisions ahead, and it looks like one has already been made for them.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are out of the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, and the 2026 offseason is one of the most crucial in recent memory.
Not only does the franchise need to figure out what it wants to do with Todd Bowles and Jason Licht, there are several key players slated to become free agents when the new league year kicks off on March 11.
There will be plenty of tough decisions to make, but it looks like Rachaad White has already made the decision for the Bucs based on his latest Instagram post.
Rachaad White will move on from the Buccaneers
This is “cryptic post SZN” by all means, but White’s post was pretty clear, and there’s not a ton of room for interpretation:
The fact he writes “Uno out” and thanks Bucs fans “forever” for the “past 4 years,” is a pretty strong indicator of his intention to leave. White also posted a photo of himself and former college teammate Jayden Daniels not too long ago, which suggests interest in a reunion.
Lo and behold, the Commanders will need a running back in 2026, so that definitely seems like a logical destination for White. He should have plenty of other suitors, as well.
Is Rachaad White looking for more playing time?
The reasonable and most likely answer is yes, especially when considering the fact he turns 27 in a few days.
White is a true three-down back that can stay on the field in any situation. He may not have the home-run threat capabilities of a Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, or someone like that, but he’s a powerful, physical runner who is more than willing to do the dirty work.
He won’t have that opportunity in Tampa Bay, where it’s clear Bucky Irving is the preferred back. Sean Tucker is on track to become a restricted free agent, as well, which means he’ll likely be back in the picture.
The Bucs should feel just fine with Irving and Tucker as a 1-2 punch, and then they can fill the third role with an intriguing player like Josh Williams or find someone suitable in free agency or the draft.
What will the Bucs miss with White out of the picture?
They’ll lose one of the better running backs in pass pro, for starters. That might not seem like a lot to the inexperienced mind, but it’s a major deal. Especially if a team goes through the same struggles the Bucs consistently experienced with the interior offensive line. Running backs are often the last line of defense between keeping a quarterback upright and getting drilled into the ground.
And as mentioned earlier, they’ll drop a solid, physical back that can set the tone when he gets the chance. White might not be the flashiest player in the world, but he can get the job done and will certainly boost whatever offense he ends up in.
This is part of the NFL cycle, unfortunately, and who knows, maybe White reverses course and decides he wants to stay for whatever reason. Ultimately, the hope is that it works out for both parties, but as we all know, only time will tell.
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