The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to be taken aback with reports that Pro Bowl linebacker and franchise cornerstone Devin White has requested a trade.
Citing two sources close to the situation, ESPN’s Jenna Laine is reporting that the former first-round pick has indeed requested to move on from the organization.
Despite White entering a contract year, this report has to come as a major surprise. The No. 5 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2019, White has long been seen as a franchise cornerstone.
The former LSU stud earned Second-Team All-Pro honors back in 2020 and made his first Pro Bowl squad the following season. White, 25, is also coming off a 2022 campaign in which he recorded 124 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
It’s highly likely that White’s trade request comes due to a split when it comes to long-term contract talks between the star linebacker and his organization.
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Potential Devin White trade scenarios from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s not yet known whether Tampa Bay will grant White his request. What we do know is that the team is in retool mode following the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. It could very well justify trading White if the price were right.
- Devin White career stats: 483 tackles, 55 QB hits, 35 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks
There is going to be a nice amount of interest in White’s services should the Bucs make him available.
The Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are three teams in the AFC that come to mind. All three could use an inside linebacker that has an ability to play all three downs. Despite some issues as it pertains to coverage on White’s part, he has to be seen as a legitimate franchise cornerstone moving forward.
It’s really going to be all about what the market demands and whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are actually willing to move the still-young backer. As of right now, there’s no indication one way or another whether that’s going to be the case.