We’re on the level of the Bucs and NFL offseason the place many predictions are made about free company and general roster building, which can be consists of who received’t be on it. That is sometimes as a result of a workforce trying to economize and create more room for the wage cap since free company is across the nook.
There are some strikes which have already been made by some groups. The Bucs haven’t been a stranger to doing this early. For instance, final offseason heading into the NFL Scouting Mix, that they had let go of outdoor linebacker Shaq Barrett to let him get an early begin in pursuing free company. Barrett ended up signing with the Dolphins, retiring, then un-retiring on the finish of the season and re-signing with the Bucs, however that’s in addition to the purpose.
A few gamers stand out greater than different when it comes time to resolve who may be a wage cap casualty, however this one which was urged by ESPN author Aaron Schatz was relatively surprising. In equity, this story is concerning the daring strikes that could possibly be made this offseason. This take concerning the Bucs has them transferring on from an necessary contributor with the prediction that the workforce would launch Rachaad White to avoid wasting money.
Here’s what was stated.
“The Buccaneers enter free agency with only $2.2 million in cap space. They need to make some room and one way to do it is to say goodbye to White. The running back is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Buccaneers can cut him for $3.3 million in cap savings with less than $250,000 in dead money.”
Bucs Nonetheless Want Rachaad White
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Picture by: USA As we speak
This isn’t the primary time it’s been urged by others this offseason that the Bucs ought to transfer on from Rachaad White, however it has sometimes been added with the caveat of buying and selling him relatively than releasing him. Saving $3.3 million helps Tampa Bay’s wage cap, however there are different methods the workforce can open up cap room by means of contract reconstructing and extensions of others gamers earlier than it has to launch gamers.
There are additionally different gamers that could possibly be launched the place the Bucs would save much more cash. For instance, letting go of security Jordan Whitehead would save $4.5 million, wouldn’t have any useless cap hit, and Tampa Bay is probably going so as to add a security this offseason anyway. Plus, the Bucs have already got some in-house choices with Tykee Smith and Christian Izien in the event that they select to go that route.
Two statements concerning the Bucs working again will be true. Sure, the workforce is healthier with Bucky Irving because the beginning working again and what he does for the general floor sport. However the Bucs could be worse off as an offense general if White isn’t there both. White is by far one of the best go blocking working again for Tampa Bay, and Irving was uncovered a bit when required to do extra of it on the finish of the season.
We’ve see how a lot injury White can do as a receiving again out of the backfield, however actually he can perform a little little bit of all the things. In 2023 because the lead again, White had 1,539 all objective yards with 9 touchdowns. Throughout the 2024 season he nonetheless had 1,006 all-purpose yards and his touchdowns remained at 9 on the 12 months. Why would the Bucs wish to transfer on from that?
Arguments might be made about Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay’s third-string again who received NFC Offensive Participant Of The Week on the highway in opposition to the Saints. Tucker has expertise, however isn’t as constant because the others. He struggles much more within the go safety sport and he can’t simply be promoted based mostly on one good sport. Extra enjoying time? Certain, however he hasn’t confirmed he will be an efficient third-down again like White is.
In different seasons it might be truthful to to argue that they might simply discover White’s substitute on this 12 months’s draft. Whereas I wouldn’t rule out a late Day 3 decide, the Bucs have so many extra wants to handle this season {that a} luxurious decide of one other working again simply doesn’t appear in play till very, very late.
Watch Why The Bucs Gained’t Commerce Rachaad White
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Picture by: USA As we speak
This may be the final season for Rachaad White with the Bucs as current historical past has proven that it’s not clever to speculate a lot cash at working again. However that additionally doesn’t imply the workforce ought to transfer on from him a season early when it doesn’t must. The Bucs are in a fantastic spot at working again with Bucky Irving and White, who additionally thrive as a tandem within the Pony package deal when each are on the sector on the identical time. There’s no have to shake up the working again room when so many different spots want extra consideration.
In current weeks Pewter Report has spoken concerning the commerce chance of Rachaad White on the Pewter Report Podcast. Try the YouTube video of us discussing the matter and weighing the professionals and cons of every facet of it.
Watch the video from PewterReport.com and depart your ideas beneath within the article feedback after watching this video, or touch upon the video on YouTube. And remember to hit the thumbs up “like” button because it helps us with the YouTube algorithm and will get our Pewter Report video content material in entrance of extra superior Bucs, NFL and faculty soccer followers.