Pat White is back in the NFL as a potential backup to a dual-threat quarterback, but it’s not with the San Francisco 49ers.
White visited the 49ers last week, but San Francisco opted to trade for veteran Colt McCoy. So White traveled cross-country and signed with the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins also officially announced they have re-signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who was released March 11.
Washington will take a look at White during offseason workouts, but where he potentially fits within the offense remains a question. The team also re-signed Rex Grossman, who served as the third quarterback behind Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins last season.
White was a second-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2009 when the Wildcat formation was gaining popularity in the NFL. He appeared in 13 games, but failed to emerge as a real threat with defenses catching on to the Wildcat and was released before the start of the 2010 season.
White worked out for NFL talent evaluators following West Virginia’s pro day on March 14, in an attempt to drum up interest for a possible return to the league. White, 27, didn’t complete a pass in five career attempts with the Dolphins — all in 2009.
He hasn’t been with a professional football team since his release by Miami. He did, however, sign a baseball contract with the Kansas City Royals, but never played a minor league game.
White was a heralded high school baseball player. The Anaheim Angels drafted him in the fourth round of the 2004 first-year player draft — their first pick after selecting high school pitcher Jered Weaver — but he declined a six-figure sign-bonus to play football.
At West Virginia, he became the first college quarterback to win four bowl games and was a serious Heisman Trophy candidate in 2007 and 2008 running Rich Rodriguez’s spread option offense.
“I’m still young. My legs are still with me,” White told the Palm Beach Post recently. “I’m like a 2009 model with about 4,500 miles on it. It still runs just as smooth.”