There was a time 2 years ago when Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White seemed like he might be 1 of the players resetting the market at the position and cashing in along the lines of what we’ve seen from Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Devon Achane, Breece Hall, and Kenneth Walker III this offseason.
Instead, White is about to play on what amounts to a 1-year, $1.75 million incentive-laden contract that could get him another $2 million to $3 million if he has a great year.
That contract comes after a disappointing end to his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was a 2nd-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and spent the 1st 4 seasons of his career.
White is being completely slept on, which is why Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley put him at the top of his list of NFL “Sleeper” candidates in 2026.
“White is one of the better pass-catching backs in (the NFL), having topped 200 receptions over his first four NFL seasons,” Buckley wrote on August 7. “In Washington, he might be even more active. He has a familiarity with quarterback Jayden Daniels (they played together at Arizona State) and limited competition from starter Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had nine receptions in 17 games as a rookie.”
One of White’s more lucrative contract incentives is tied to catching passes. He earns an extra $250,000 with 45 receptions and another $400,000 at 60 receptions. White will get a $200,000 bonus with 350 receiving yards, and a $400,000 bonus with 500 receiving yards.
White Called ‘Incredible Bargain’ for Commanders
White’s contract could end up being an incredible bargain for his new team.
“There is an interesting battle brewing in the Washington Commanders‘ running back room,” Riggo’s Rag’s Dean Jones wrote on June 19. “Several viable candidates are looking to make their presence felt, and there is no clear-cut frontrunner right now. The final day of minicamp saw him emerge as the standout offensive player, according to reports … he performed well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gaining 4,106 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns over his four years in the NFC South.”
Before the 2024 season, after he put up over 1,500 yards of total offense in 2023, White’s value on the open market was thought to be approaching $10 million per season.
Before the 2025 season, and even after losing his starting job on the Buccaneers to rookie Bucky Irving, White was still getting projections in the range of $7 million to $5 million per year because he was still able to top 1,000 yards of total offense while splitting snaps.
White had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2023 and 2024, including a career-high 1,534 yards in 2023, but his numbers plummeted to a career-low 790 yards from scrimmage in 2025.
Rachaad White Frustrated by Role With Bucs
White’s frustration with his role in Tampa Bay’s offense came to a head by the end of a disappointing 2025 season in which the Buccaneers went 8-9 overall and missed the playoffs for the 1st time since 2019.
Almost immediately following the season, White took to social media to express, pretty clearly, that he was leaving. He may not have realized how much his value had plummeted over the course of 17 games.
“Teams shouldn’t look to sign White as their RB1, but he’ll make an excellent third-down option for many clubs,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay wrote on December 30. “Expect him to ink a modest contract, likely in the $7 million per year range, with a team that could maximize his talents as a receiving weapon. The Washington Commanders could be an intriguing landing spot for White. The back has a history with quarterback Jayden Daniels—playing together at Arizona State in 2021—and could round out a backfield that has a promising young piece in Jacory Croskey-Merritt but is set to lose both Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols this offseason.”
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Called NFL’s Top ‘Sleeper’ Candidate