Training camp has a funny way of making desperate teams even more desperate.
Got a weak position group? After a training camp watching them bumble and stumble their way through drills and scrimmages, owners and general managers might be inclined to do some crazy things.
The Dallas Cowboys might be in that position with their running backs in the next few weeks, and with the way Jerry Jones thinks he might just start convincing himself all his team needs is a legitimate starter and they’ll be real contenders.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be the team that benefits the most from those kinds of delusional thoughts and they might be able to get the kind of bounty for veteran running back Rachaad White they’ve been dreaming of all offseason.
The Buccaneers have a legitimate up and coming star in second year running back Bucky Irving, which makes White expendable after he spent the first 2 years as the starter.
If we’re looking for symmetry, the Buccaneers could just put out a general asking price of a third round pick in return for White, who was a third round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Get that back in a trade and it’s hard not to see that as a win.
One Problem … the Bucs Don’t Make Many Trades
One problem in any such transaction for the Buccaneers is they’re one of the most trade reticent teams in the NFL.
According to the team website, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht hasn’t made a trade since sending cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions in exchange for draft picks in 2024.
One thing we do know for certain? The Buccaneers have been trying to trade White since, at least, before the NFL draft.
On April 21, ESPN’s Adam Schefter listed White among players headed into the final season of their rookie contracts who could be “expendable” via trade.
White continued to perform for Tampa Bay in 2024 and served as a mentor to Irving despite seeing the rookie take his spot in the starting lineup late in the season. Even with that unexpected turn, White still put up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the second consecutive season and scored 9 touchdowns for the second consecutive season.
As the featured back for the Buccaneers in 2023, White had over 1,500 yards of total offense.
As a rookie in 2024, Irving rushed for 1,122 yards and 8 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry to go with 47 receptions for 392 yards while splitting time with White.
Cowboys RBs Inspire Very Little Faith
The current group of running backs for the Cowboys doesn’t inspire much confidence. White would be the unquestioned RB1 from the moment he steps in the locker room.
Dallas made several uninspiring moves in the offseason to try and find a replacement for 1,000 yard running back Rico Dowdle, who left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
The Cowboys signed Denver Broncos leading rusher Javonte Williams to a 1-year, $3 million contract — he averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in 2024. They drafted a pair of running backs in the later rounds with Jaydon Blue (fifth round) and Phil Mafah (seventh round).
