Let’s put the spotlight on Bucs running back Rachaad White.

With the 2024 season firmly in the rearview mirror and the pre-draft process, free agency, the draft itself, OTAs and mini-camp also behind us, it’s time to ramp up the excitement for training camp and then, of course, the Bucs’ 50th season. As we did last summer, we’ll spend the weeks leading up to training camp focusing on some storylines and narratives surrounding some of Tampa Bay’s biggest stars in 2025.

We started with quarterback Baker Mayfield and followed up with running back Bucky Irving. Now, we continue with Irving’s backfield mate, Rachaad White.

Is 2025 Bound To Be Rachaad White’s Swan Song In Tampa Bay?

Rachaad White has been a big part of Tampa Bay’s offense since he was selected in the third round of the 2022 Draft. He had a game-winning touchdown catch against the Saints on Monday Night Football late in his rookie year, then ran for 990 yards with some signature performances down the stretch in 2023. And even though he took somewhat of a backseat to Bucky Irving in 2024, White still ran for 613 yards and three touchdowns while adding 393 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver.

But with Irving firmly established as RB1 for the Bucs and Sean Tucker waiting in the wings as RB3, White may be set to play his final season as a Buc in 2025. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and as much as the team may want him back as a do-it-all complement to Irving for the foreseeable future, he’s likely to be looking for more money and starter snaps elsewhere next offseason.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Earlier this offseason, White seemingly hinted that 2025 would be it for him in red and pewter, posting on his Instagram story a message pretty close to “One last ride.” He was eventually asked about it, and he played it off as him simply listening to some country music. But it would be hard to blame you if you aren’t buying that.

Still, this isn’t a situation for the Bucs where White will withdraw and 2025 will be a lost season for him. He is as professional as they come, and he and Irving – as well as the running back room as a whole – have a strong bond. Not to mention, there’s still a sizable role for White to fill within Josh Grizzard’s offense. He’s a decent runner, a great pass-catcher and an elite pass blocker. That is not a skill set you push to the side completely.

But it’s hard to imagine a future in Tampa for White beyond 2025, which is a shame in a lot of ways. He was 10 yards away from a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2023, and he’s been a key part of things for the Bucs in recent years. He deserves to go out and get the type of contract he wants, but wouldn’t it be nice if his swan song with the team that drafted him involved him playing a key role in a championship run?

What Does Rachaad White’s Role, Workload Look Like From The Jump?

Rachaad White was far from an afterthought in Liam Coen’s offense last year, even if he did lose his starting role in the second half of the season and finished with significantly fewer carries than Bucky Irving did.

Over 16 games, he had 144 carries and 51 catches, good for nearly 200 touches. With those touches, he produced a combined 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns. Not only that, but he was far and away the best pass-blocking running back on Tampa Bay’s roster.

So, with all of that taken into consideration, what does White’s role look like from the jump in 2025? It’s easy to say it should be similar to what it was for much of last year, but it’s fair to ask the question because it remains to be seen how much new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will deploy the “Pony” package that Coen featured last year. The “Pony” package featured two running backs, so both White and Irving were on the field at the same time.

Bucs RBs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If Grizzard dials back the usage of Pony and chooses to take more advantage of the quartet of talented wide receivers he has at his disposal, where does that leave White?

There’s something to the idea of maintaining a similar snap share at running back as last year’s so that the team can keep Irving fresh and healthy. Plus, continuing to get White in space as a pass-catcher will open some things up for the offense. But there is no denying that Irving is ascending and there will come a point when it’s hard to justify taking him off the field, especially if he improves in pass protection.

But White should have a role going forward, as he has heard that much. What it will look like, though, remains to be seen.

What Will Rachaad White’s Market Look Like By The End Of 2025?

The 2025 season could ultimately be a fascinating one in terms of how it’ll set up Rachaad White’s future. It’s a contract year, so he’ll be looking to ball out and will likely be in search of a starter-level contract and role elsewhere next offseason. But his role with the Bucs this year and what he does with it will have a direct impact on the type of market he has when he presumably hits free agency next March.

The running back market has changed considerably from where it was a few years ago. The league has gone from “never pay running backs” to a more modified “pay elite running backs” stance, but White isn’t at the elite level the way Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor were when they signed their recent big-money contracts.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

So, what does the running back market look like otherwise? White turns 27 in January, and that plus his overall body of work may work against him if he’s trying to get a multi-year, big-APY contract next offseason. Just this past offseason, Najee Harris turned 27 and only signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Chargers. And that was after he ran for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons with the Steelers.

Most contracts for free agent running backs this past offseason were of the one-year variety. So, it’ll be extremely interesting to see how White is viewed by the rest of the league next offseason. Given that he’s not going to get the lion’s share of snaps and carries at running back in Tampa Bay this year, he might find himself in a one-year prove-it deal territory next season. He would still likely take that somewhere that would allow him to “prove it” as a starter, right?

There is also the matter of White hitting free agency with the likes of Harris (again), Jaylen Warren, Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Brian Robinson Jr. and James Cook, among others. So, if the market isn’t what he wants it to be and there’s not a clear situation where the grass is absolutely greener… Might Rachaad White’s future in Tampa Bay continue beyond 2025?