Rachaad White on the move? WR in 1st round? Bucs draft full of intrigue

TAMPA — Rachaad White eventually lost his starting job to Bucky Irving last season, and now the only thing he may be running is out of time with the Bucs.

White, who is in the final year of his contract, was among a list of players NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN said recently could be traded sometime during the draft.

The running back-needy Cowboys and Raiders (where former Bucs assistant general manager John Spytek calls the shots), were listed as possible landing spots.

Two years ago, White was a dual threat who combined for more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage. But then the Bucs took Irving in the fourth round last year.

Irving rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark since Doug Martin in 2015.

It’s just one of the storylines for the Bucs entering the NFL draft, which starts Thursday, and highlights how well general manager Jason Licht and his staff have selected players the past few years.

“We’ve had some good production,” Licht said. “My staff and the coaches have done a great job. The last three years, I would say, combined those drafts were elite when you ... add them all together. We want to try to keep doing it. It doesn’t always work out that way, but keep doing it.”

A year ago, the Bucs selected four eventual starters, including center Graham Barton, defensive back Tykee Smith, Irving and receiver Jalen McMillan.

In 2023, they landed defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, guard Cody Mauch, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby and linebacker SirVocea Dennis. In 2022, it was defensive lineman Logan Hall, tackle Luke Goedeke, tight end Cade Otton and cornerback Zyon McCollum.

But anytime you score 29.5 points per game and see your rushing game improve from last in the NFL to fourth, it’s easy to see why the Bucs are pegged mostly to select defensive players.

Licht doesn’t mind that everyone believes the Bucs will focus on improving their defense in this year’s draft.

“Sometimes people think you’re playing games and you’re trying to throw people off the scent, and you’re really not,” Licht said earlier this month. “It really, truly depends on how it’s going to fall. I’ve got (coach) Todd (Bowles) excited about a lot of offensive players and we have a good offense, but we can make it even better.

“We do need help on defense and it would be fun to see us improve there, and I think we will without really making any huge changes. I think we’re going to be better, but obviously getting some new players in there is going to make it a lot better.”

If the Bucs select an offensive player with the No. 19 overall pick, it likely will be a receiver.

Mike Evans will be 32 by the start of the 2025 season. Chris Godwin, 29, is coming off a horrific dislocated ankle. McMillan burst onto the scene with seven touchdowns over his final five games as a rookie.

Ironically, if the Bucs select an offensive player in the first round, it could be another McMillan. Receivers Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona and Matthew Golden of Texas would be tough players to pass on.

“We could always use receivers,” Licht said. “I think Todd even said, ‘You have to score points to win.’”

Golden ran a blazing 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in March. He finished with 58 catches for 987 yards and nine touchdowns for Texas after spending his first two seasons with Houston.

“The only position I think they would maybe surprise you at is wide receiver,” former Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said Tuesday on “The Ronde Barber Show." “I’m just saying, if there’s a guy sitting there at No. 19, like perhaps a guy like Matthew Golden from Texas, I bet you the Bucs can’t turn him down.

“I think it’s Godwin insurance. It’s Mike Evans being in Year 12. At some point you know that guy that’s going to replace those two needs to be on your roster, and he probably shouldn’t be a rookie when he replaces him.”

But outside of possibly a receiver, the Bucs would be negligent if they didn’t attempt to focus on defense early and often in the draft.

Though they signed free-agent outside linebacker Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million contract, among their biggest needs is another edge rusher. Reddick will 31 in September.

There are several edge rushers who could warrant the Bucs’ first-round selection, including Marshall’s Mike Green, who led the nation with 17 sacks. Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., Georgia’s Mykel Williams, Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart are other options.

Inside linebacker is another way the Bucs could go with their first pick, since Lavonte David is returning for his 14th season and Dennis is coming off shoulder surgery.

The player the Bucs are most linked to in mock drafts is Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, he would give Bowles someone who can blitz, tackle and cover the deep middle of the field.

But really, there is a need at nearly every position on defense, including cornerback, where the oft-injured Jamel Dean knows he has to get better. Ole Miss’ Trey Amos and East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. drew interest from the Bucs.

It really is a suspenseful draft for Tampa Bay. And one that could have some additional surprises, like parting with White.

NFL draft

Thursday-Saturday, Green Bay, Wis. TV: 8 Thursday (Round 1), ABC/ESPN/NFL;7 Friday (Rounds 2-3), ABC/ESPN2/NFL;noon Saturday (Rounds 4-7), ABC/ESPN/NFL

Bucs picks: Round 1 (No. 19 overall), Round 2 (53rd), Round 3 (84th), Round 4 (121st), Round 5 (157th), Round 7 (235th)

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