As we get closer to the 2025 NFL Draft, the conversations about the Bucs potentially trading an important player on their team grow a little bit louder. A section of Bucs fans have wanted the Bucs to trade Rachaad White due to the emergence of Bucky Irving.
While that remains to be seen, a recent article by ESPN’s Adam Schefter has given a lot more validity to it.
Schefter mentioned a couple of players that could be traded on draft night because they were expendable due to being on the last year of their rookie contract. Rachaad White was named onto that list.
There are a couple of teams that would be interested in his services, such as the Cowboys, who need a starting and a backup running back, and the Raiders, who general manager John Spytek was in the Bucs front office for over a decade and is very familiar with White. Tampa Bay certainly would like to add another draft pick or two after not having one in the sixth. Trading White for picks is a way of doing so.
Why Rachaad White Is Still Important To The Bucs
There’s no denying what an absolute sensation Bucky Irving became for the Bucs as a rookie fourth round pick, eventually taking over as the starting back. He became the first Bucs running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a decade when he rushed for 1,122 and eight touchdowns last season. The excitement level for what Irving can do in year two should be through the roof.
What we’re forgetting, though, is the importance that White brings as an important backup and being the best running back on passing plays. White has shown that he’s up to the task of taking on blitzing defenders in pass blocking. He’s also the most polished route runner of the running backs that can go up the field and make plays.
Irving has had highlight reel chunk plays in the passing game, but they’ve all been from screens and not necessarily route running. This isn’t saying Irving should play any less. In fact, he should be playing more getting to start all 17 games. Just remember that White gives necessary depth to the room.
Any player can get hurt at any moment. That happened to Irving in a home game against the Raiders after just four rushing attempts. It was White that played most of the games after, having 109 total yards and a touchdown.
Replacing Rachaad White’s Role Isn’t As Easy As It Seems
This is the part where everyone will say that Rachaad White is expendable because of Sean Tucker and the best game he’s had in his early career in Week 6 when he rushed 14 times for 136 yards and a touchdown while also making three catches for 56 yards and a score. What’s crazy is that most of this damage was done in the fourth quarter, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
We all clamored for more snaps for Tucker and it wasn’t really given. The next week, Tucker had five attempts for 17 yards. He got four carries against the Giants for three yards. While he did score a touchdown in New York, he also had a goal line fumble. His second highest amount of attempts on the season was seven against the Chargers, and that went for 17 yards as the Bucs won the game.
There’s plenty to like about Sean Tucker as a running back with more reps. Yet there’s still a lot of work he needs to do to improve as a pass blocker. That may come with more development this season. But to get rid of White just to think Tucker can immediately step in and do what White was able to is a bit far-fetched.
If there’s a back that the Bucs love in this year’s draft and they think that’s the best way to replace White, by all means go for it. At the end of the day there’s no reason for anyone to doubt general manager Jason Licht’s decisions. It’s just important to understand why depth is so important and that players such as White are needed on a team in case something happens to Bucky Irving, who may very well be a Pro Bowl player this season.
This is likely the last year White is on the Bucs roster since his contract is expiring. The best course of action might be to add a running back and develop that player for the next season while White stays on as the No. 2 back. It’s a two-running back league nowadays in the NFL, so as much as Irving will be the guy, White is important to the Bucs, too.
