Ex-NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the workings of the NFL and offers insight from his notebook. He covers some potential trade fits for star linebacker Devin White.
More than two years after winning the Lombardi Trophy, the Tampa Bay Buccanneers seemed to have fallen from the top.
Last season did not go as they expected. Although the Buccanneers finished top of the NFC South, they posted an 8-9 record before losing on their home field on Wild Card Weekend. A while after this, they lost NFL’s greatest quarterback to retirement. And now one of the key players in the team wants to leave.
Tom Pelissero an NFL Network Insider reported this week that Bucs linebacker Devin White requested a trade recently. White should earn $11.706 million on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, but the trade is probably because of the lack of a long-term extension.
While White has not talked about the matter in public, Jason Licht did. On Thursday, the Buccaneers’ general manager said that the team does not intend to trade the linebacker who played a significant role in the 2020 Bucs’ Super Bowl LV triumph before he made his first Pro Bowl in 2021.
“I have all the respect in the world for Devin,” Licht said to reporters. “He’s done some great things for us as a player, and we look forward to more from him in the future, so he’s on our team. We are looking forward to this season. We are gearing up for this season with the draft right now, free agency, and, you know, looking forward to him being a part of this team. If he has the kind of year that we all think he’s capable of, we can hopefully put this to rest and everybody’s happy.”
Licht may be right and the whole matter will die out, the defensive captain might stay in Tampa Bay for at least one more season. However, with Devin White’s disappointment and the team’s current status adjusting to a post-Tom Brady existence, it will not hurt to explore which other NFL teams would be interested in having an off-ball linebacker in his prime. Especially with the dearth of mouthwatering options at the position in the 2023 NFL Draft, as shown by Lance Zierlein ranking linebacker as the weakest position group in this year’s prospect crop.
In four NFL seasons, Devin White has been a stat-building machine with 483 tackles, 55 QB hits, 35 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and an interception. He has constantly shown disruptive potential as a designated playmaker in the midst of defence. From punishing opposing quarterbacks to running down ball carriers from behind. White is a sideline-to-sideline menace defensive coordinators covet in a traditional Mike ‘backer’.
On that note, White has been criticized most times for being more flashy than consistent. Last October, Hall of Famer and Buccanneers icon Warren Sapp took him to task for loafing or taking plays off in the middle of games, while focusing on a couple of lacklustre snaps on film.
However, as a powerful tackler with incredible instincts, awareness, and diagnostic skills, Devin White becomes a blur when is locked in and ready to go. His pass-rush skills distinguish him from other players in this position. White’s impact could make him an in-demand commodity in the trade market.
With all these in mind, here are five NFL teams that will be a good fit for Devin White.
It is difficult to know the Minnesota Vikings’ plan presently, with Kirk Cousins entering the final year of his contract. Minnesota should be in a transitional mood, having moved on from Adam Thielen and Erick Kendricks.
With Kendricks’ loss at linebacker, it could be hard for Kevin O’Connell and his team to pass up a chance to add a key playmaker to the defence that could disrupt opponents with new coordinator Brian Flores’ pressure packages.
White is a wrecking ball as a second-level pass rusher who has great instincts and timing. His skills match Flores’ aggressive tactics perfectly. If the Vikings can get this playmaker in the midst of his prime, they can keep chasing a title while flipping the roaster with interesting new puzzle pieces.
If the Texans’ new head coach DeMeco Ryans wants a bully in the AFC South, Devin White could be the key component for this job. As a former Pro Bowl linebacker too, Ryanss created elite defenses in San Francisco around the playmaking talents of blue-chip ‘backers’ Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, who constantly caused trouble between the tackles.
White’s game is unique, but his potential for disruption and Super Bowl experience can jumpstart the Texans’ rebuilding effort. Ryans and general manager Nick Caseiro have enough salary cap space and draft capital to make this trade happen.
Despite the Eagles being reluctant to pay big money for off-ball linebackers in the past, general manager Howie Roseman may see White as a vital piece of a championship-calibre defense.
White would give Philadelphia another player who would be part of a dynamic pressure package under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Sean Desai.
Devin White could bring a new dimension to a defense with a deep-and-talented rotation along the front line.
Bill Belichick can make a move for White if he wants to improve his defense and upgrade his linebacking corps. White who was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 is a pass-rushing specialist with a talent for getting to the quarterback that would cause problems for opponents who attempt to slow down edge rushers Matt Judon and Josh Uche in pass protection.
Now that Belichick wants to adapt and adjust his tactics to play to the strengths of his top players, the Patriots could become a blitzing machine to destroy the timing and rhythm of the murderers’ row of quarterbacks in the AFC.
The ultra-aggressive scheme of Vance Joseph makes Denver the perfect landing spot. Devin White’s disruptive tendencies as a pass-rushing ILB will allow the Broncos to attack from the inside out to force opposing quarterbacks to move off their spots within the pocket.
White’s experience in neutralizing Patrick Mahomes is an ability that Sean Payton can use now that he’s assembling a lineup to threaten the Kansas City Chiefs’ unending reign in the division.
When offered a chance to upgrade the middle of their defense with a young and dynamic defender, the Broncos may want to take in the disgruntled linebacker from Tampa Bay.
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