When the Los Angeles Rams signed veteran free agent cornerback Tre’Davious White to a contract in 2024, it was a contract that was only made possible after the Buffalo Bills had released him after years of elite production in their defense. But two consecutive years of serious season-ending injuries had taken their toll, and the Bills did not see enough value in sustaining his contract.
HBAgency
Tre’Davious White may have been a huge boon to the Rams’ defense if things went according to plan. But things did not come close to how the team had hoped. The Rams’ secondary was immediately afflicted with injuries. CB Derion Kendrick suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Veteran CB Darious Williams sustained a hamstring injury that hindered his availability in training camp, and then re-aggravated the injury as soon as the season started.
HBAgency
The Rams were down two cornerbacks as the season was starting.
HBAgency
The team was forced to draft veteran CB Tre White into a starting role much sooner than expected. But his solid coverage at half-pace in training camp was sorely lacking when the pads went on and opponents were moving past him at full speed. By the time the team’s BYE Week in Week 6 rolled around, everyone had seen enough. White had played and started four games for the Rams, and allowed four touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 138.4 when targeted.
He was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for next to nothing. The Ravens got much better production out of him, but were still not impressed enough to extend him. So after his one-year contract expired, he returned to free agency.
His story may have ended there, but the Buffalo Bills were happy enough with Tre White’s performance with the Ravens to bring him back on a one-year contract. That’s right, the same team that had released White one year ago has signed him on a one-year prove it deal to play for them in 2025.
For comparison purposes, the Rams had signed White to a one-year contract for $4.25 million. So, despite the abysmal performance in The Horns, White got a pay raise to return to the Bills’ secondary.
Are the Bills swept up in the emotions of reuniting with White? Why is he returning to the Buffalo Bills for such a hefty amount after seriously struggling?
The reasons could be the timing of he play with the Rams. White started the first four games of 202r with the Rams, and he struggled in all four games. The Rams fell to a 1-3 record over that time frame, but there were more challenges at work than his performance alone. And Tre White was never intended to be the starter in the Rams’ secondary. After being traded to the Baltimore Ravens and rotating in for a third of the defensive snaps, he played more effectively at pass coverage. He only allowed five of ten passes to find their mark, and did not allow a single touchdown in the Ravens’ secondary.
He even appeared in two playoff games for the Ravens, allowing three of four completions but no touchdowns as well.
It’s the Ravens chapter for Tre White’s 2024 NFL season that likely lured the Bills back to negotiations on a 2025 contract. Had the Rams not suffered so many injuries so quickly at cornerback in 2024, White may have played well enough to return to the Rams this season. Since he failed to step up when the team needed him, he is now competing with the same team that drafted him.
I’m a bit surprised at the amount of compensation in his contract. However, I’m not surprised that he signed a one-year deal to play this season. Tre White has a very competitive and passionate style of football. The Bills hope that he is back to his All-Pro form in 2025. The Rams, unfortunately, never caught a glimpse of an All-Pro cornerback.
As always, thanks for reading.