Whether it’s true or not, new Saints wide receiver Kevin White always feels like he has something to prove. It’s his “why.”
And the former first-round pick of the Chicago Bears will get his chance to do that in New Orleans, signing this week and making his debut Wednesday in the No. 17 previously worn by Jalen McCleskey.
“It means a lot that someone else gave me a chance to live out my dream and kind of prove myself right,” White said, "and everyone else wrong.”
What White will try to prove: His first 6 NFL seasons were a product of unfortunate injuries and unfortunate timing. After a transcendent final season at West Virginia, White was lauded as one of the top WR prospects in the 2015 draft and selected No. 8 overall by Chicago.
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He spent his first four seasons with the Bears, then signed a 1-year deal with the Cardinals in 2019, but didn’t log a snap. He joined the San Francisco 49ers last season, who spent much of the year desperate for help at the position, but only recorded nine offensive snaps and some special teams work.
At 6-foot-2, White flashed some of the athleticism that helped him roll up 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Mountaineers in 2014. After winning a contested catch in 1-on-1 reps Wednesday, White high-stepped into the end zone. Later he caught a touchdown pass over the middle in team drills. It was an encouraging first day for a player that's been limited to 17 games played in his career, to go with 25 catches and 285 yards.
"My career hasn’t panned out the way I planned it to be," White said. "But that’s part of the journey and it’s going to make the story a lot better.”
The wide receiver was one of five signings announced Wednesday by the Saints, but the lone offensive player in that group. The team also signed defensive backs Bryan Mills and Kamrin Moore, along with offensive linemen Caleb Benenoch and Jordan Mills. To make space the Saints cut cornerbacks Adonis Alexander and Lawrence Woods, offensive lineman Michael Brown and wide receiver Jake Lampman.
Payton pointed to White's "size and speed combination" and what he's seen on tape as the reason for bringing in another player at a position that is planning to be without star Michael Thomas after surgery and potentially return man Deonte Harris if he incurs a suspension due to an offseason arrest. Some combination of Marquez Callaway, Tre'Quan Smith, Ty Montgomery, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Chris Hogan and maybe others will be counted on to fill that void.
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The next step comes in learning the playbook and getting ready for the Saints' next preseason game on Monday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars. It'll be a lot of studying and extra meetings, White said, but he's got a good reason to be motivated.
"I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself knowing I have a lot of potential and just giving it up. I don’t ever want to look back and say ‘man, I should’ve just tried one time. Man, I should’ve put more work in,' " White said. "I’m going for it until they kick me out this league.”