Jayden Daniels' influence is growing within the Washington Commanders. He is eager to bounce back and has been more vocal about what the offense should look like under new coordinator David Blough. The quarterback has also made no secret about his desire to reunite with some familiar faces this offseason.
Whether the Commanders grant his wish is another matter. General manager Adam Peters needs to focus his attention on the defensive side of things. However, if Washington wants to respond positively to a disappointing 2025 campaign, surrounding Daniels with the pieces he needs should also be a high priority.
When Daniels made a statement about the Commanders possibly trying to lure a former teammate from his college days at Arizona State, the hype immediately centered on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. He remains close friends with the signal-caller, and the San Francisco 49ers will likely release him at some stage. However, another name everyone seems to have ignored warrants consideration.
Jayden Daniels could lobby Commanders to sign Rachaad White in free agency
Aiyuk is the bigger name, of course. But it's also worth remembering that running back Rachaad White was also a teammate of Daniels' in college. And he's also a free agent this offseason.
White was a third-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. His rookie contract is now up, and the NFC South club may not have the assets or the desire to keep him around. He's a productive dual-threat who went over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in Year 2 of his professional career. He will explore all options, but linking back up with Daniels in Washington would be high on his list of possible destinations.
This is also a need for Washington. Seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt flashed promise as a rookie, but more is needed. Chris Rodriguez Jr. could get an exclusive rights tender. Jeremy McNichols is a good special-teams presence, so giving him another one-year deal couldn't be completely dismissed either.
Even so, White would arguably be an upgrade on anything the Commanders have in the backfield right now. Having an already developed chemistry with Daniels only sweetens the pot, but much will depend on the money involved.
According to Spotrac, White is expected to get a two-year, $15.18 million deal, averaging $7.59 million per season. Paying running backs on their second contracts can be risky, but at 27, this represents an investment in the future. It also goes against Peters' strategy last offseason, which consisted of aging veterans on one-year deals that failed to yield the desired results.
Interest in White wouldn't take long to arrive if the Buccaneers let him test the market. Still, his relationship with Daniels might be enough to tip the scales in Washington's favor.