Earlier this offseason, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White posted some cryptic messages on social media indicating he may very well be taking part in elsewhere in 2023. White then took to Twitter to say that he was simply reflecting on the primary 4 years of his NFL profession, however it seems there could have really been extra to the story.
Tuesday, ESPN reported that White has requested a commerce from the Buccaneers. The Bucs don’t need to commerce White, as they picked up his fifth-year choice final offseason, which can pay him $11.7 million in 2023.
On Thursday, Bucs GM Jason Licht made that time abundantly clear.
“We all have all of the respect on this planet for Devin,” Licht mentioned. “He’s completed some nice issues for us and we sit up for extra from him sooner or later. … If he has the kind of yr we expect he is able to, we are able to hopefully put this to relaxation and everyone’s glad.
“This is not one thing I’m holding in opposition to Devin. I nonetheless really feel he is an amazing particular person. I’d by no means say he isn’t the kind of teammate we wish due to this.”
White was chosen by Tampa Bay with the No. 5 total decide within the 2019 NFL Draft out of LSU. He burst onto the scene as a rookie with 91 mixed tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, three compelled fumbles and one interception in simply 13 video games performed. In his second season, White was a Second Team All-Pro after notching 140 mixed tackles and a career-high 9 sacks on the best way to a Super Bowl run, after which he made the Pro Bowl in 2021. Last season, White recorded 5.5 sacks and 124 mixed tackles.
White could also be on the lookout for a brand new deal as he enters the ultimate yr of his contract. Spotrac’s market worth instrument estimates he is in line for a four-year, $80,418,000 deal that carries an AAV of $20.1 million. That hypothetical contract would surpass Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens’ common per yr of $20 million, making White the highest-paid inside linebacker within the NFL. If the Buccaneers ultimately resign to buying and selling him, listed here are a couple of touchdown spots for the athletic, 25-year-old linebacker.
If White had his method, his subsequent workforce stands out as the Philadelphia Eagles. On new Eagles cornerback Greedy Williams’ Instagram submit of him signing with the workforce again on March 22, White was one of many prime commenters saying, “Let’s make it occur.”
Philadelphia has a necessity at White’s place, with two of its beginning linebackers from the 2022 season’s run to the Super Bowl, T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, departing in free company. However, it can come down as to if or not normal supervisor Howie Roseman opts to put money into an off-ball linebacker in the identical method the Ravens did for Roquan Smith lately. Baltimore traded a second-round decide and a fifth-round decide, in addition to linebacker A.J. Klein, to the Bears in change for Smith earlier than continuing to make him the highest-paid participant on the place with a five-year, $100 million contract that included $60 million assured.
Right now, the Eagles are projected to enter 2023 with final yr’s third-round pick of Georgia, Nakobe Dean, and one-year rental Nicholas Morrow as their beginning linebackers. The Dean decide was certainly made with this situation in thoughts, however as Roseman has proven previously with receiver A.J. Brown, he isn’t afraid to snag a participant of their mid-twenties with a big contract extension looming.
The Texans are missing in expertise throughout the board — therefore the rationale they ended up with the 2023 NFL Draft’s second total decide. With incoming head coach DeMeco Ryans, a former Texans linebacker himself, now in cost, he certainly thirsts for higher defensive expertise. Houston has the cap room to spend, however it can come right down to the need of a rebuilding workforce to give up draft picks that it may very well be utilizing on extra inexpensive gamers.
The Vikings are in a bizarre spot. They might pivot away from quarterback Kirk Cousins and different veterans after this season and begin once more with a younger quarterback throwing to Justin Jefferson, or they might double down on their window with Cousins. The 25-year-old White may very well be an addition to assist obtain each realities: he might enhance one in all final season’s worst defenses in 2023, after which Minnesota might give him the brand new deal he clearly covets early subsequent offseason as Cousins’ contract comes off the books. There’s additionally a world the place the Vikings pay White this offseason however construction the contract in a option to the place the cap hits do not begin making a dent till 2024 to make this transaction potential.
Trading for White would symbolize one other all-in transfer for the Bills seeking to take advantage of quarterback Josh Allen’s, broad receiver Stefon Diggs’ and linebacker Von Miller’s collective window. White can be a big improve over Tyrel Dodson, giving the Bills unbelievable pace at linebacker between him and All-Pro Matt Milano. Buffalo can be a workforce that will not thoughts surrendering some picks to get gamers who’re able to contribute to successful NOW. The Bills did not need to pay Tremaine Edmunds an enormous contract, however maybe White suits the long-term mildew they’re on the lookout for on the off-ball linebacker spot.
