There was a time not too long ago that Tre’Davious White was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He earned All-Pro honors with the Buffalo Bills back in 2019, recording six interceptions in the process. White also earned Pro Bowl honors the following season.
Since then, injuries have caught up to the former first-round pick from LSU. White tore his ACL back in 2021. After missing the start of the 2022 season due to that same injury, White tore his Achilles this past season. It cost him all but four games.
With Buffalo in NFL salary cap hell, the team opted to release the star cornerback ahead of the start of NFL free agency.
White’s recent injury concerns will likely lead to him having to accept a short-term deal on the open market. It will also create a nice amount of interest from contending teams.
Related: Top NFL free agents of 2024
Tre’Davious White landing spots in NFL free agency
- Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans and Co. could certainly use a veteran cornerback opposite youngster Derek Stingley Jr. The up-and-coming team is flush with cap room ($70 million). Adding someone of White’s ilk on the cheap wouldn’t prevent Houston from going big-game hunting elsewhere. It must also be noted that White’s type of play fits perfectly into what Ryans like to do on defense.
- San Francisco 49ers: This is the type of buy-low move the defending NFC Champions have made in the past. That is to say, taking a chance on a former Pro Bowler with recent injury issues. Jason Verrett comes to mind. San Francisco is also in need of a boundary cornerback to go with Charvarius Ward. This just makes too much sense.
Related: NFL free agency tracker
| Season | Games | Tackles | PD | INT | Comp % | QB rating |
| 2018 | 16 | 54 | 8 | 2 | 54.8 | 71.8 |
| 2019 | 15 | 58 | 17 | 6 | 50.0 | 43.3 |
| 2020 | 14 | 57 | 11 | 3 | 56.9 | 79.9 |
| 2021 | 11 | 41 | 6 | 1 | 51.6 | 59.9 |
| 2022 | 6 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 54.5 | 75.8 |
| 2023 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 50.0 | 70.6 |
- Baltimore Ravens: As you can see, White has been absolutely stellar when he’s actually on the field throughout his career. We can easily envision a scenario in which John Harbaugh and Co. take a chance that he returns to pre-injury form. There is a need opposite Marlon Humphrey with the likes of Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin hitting NFL free agency. This is the type of move that has defined Baltimore in recent years.
- Detroit Lions: The defending NFC runner-ups did re-sign Emmanuel Moseley ahead of free agency. But he’s coming off a second consecutive torn ACL. There is certainly a need at cornerback for the Lions heading into the new league year. And with an estimated $59.40 million to spend under the cap, someone like White makes sense on the cheap.
Related: 2024 NFL salary cap tracker