Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup running back Rachaad White already confirmed with a public social media post that he will not be back for the 2026 NFL regular season, as he will instead choose to test the open free agent waters.
White had another mediocre season in the Buccaneers backfield, as he is clearly behind Bucky Irving in the rotation and has even fallen behind the young Sean Tucker, too. Although White is a decent back, he is not a highly efficient rusher and is more of a three down back, and even then, his statistics as a pass catcher are closer to decent than great.
Last season, White averaged 4.3 yards per rush attempt for a second straight season but just 4.6 yards per target through the air, a marked decline from previous seasons. White also had a success rate of just around 40 percent on his 40 receptions, which is pretty woeful.
The Buccaneers can use this as an opportunity
The bottom line is that White's imminent offseason departure can be a good thing for the offense, because the Bucs could replace him by loading up their offense even further with a bigger playmaker in the passing game out of the backfield for Baker Mayfield.
And if the Buccaneers want to go after the best possible addition on the free agent market in terms of a hybrid running back and wide receiver playmaker who can make guys miss out of the backfield with the ball in his hands, then there is nobody better than PIttsburgh Steelers star Kenneth Gainwell.
Now, the playoff bound Steelers are probably going to do whatever is in their power to keep Gainwell because of his importance to Aaron Rodgers under center, but money talks. And while the Bucs have so much talent on offense compared to defense that they may not open their pocket books for Gainwell, having this guy as a get out of jail free card for Baker might be worth the cost.
An insane catch in the battle for the playoff hunt aside, Gainwell was consistently impressive statistically this past season. The 26 year old averaged a healthy 4.7 yards per carry with a success rate of over 55 percent, besting the Buccaneers running backs. Through the air, Gainwell added 73 catches, and while his own sucess rate was about the same as White's around 40, he also had a catch rate of 86 percent and was often a dink and dunk option for Rodgers, especially early in the season. With a stronger armed quarterback in Mayfield, he could reel off even bigger plays with the Bucs.