Report: Buccaneers’ White Could Be “Shopped” By Draft Day

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The NFL draft is approaching fast for the Buccaneers, and that means rumors are at an all-time high. What teams will trade up, who will trade down, who will be the first pick? This brings us back to the rumor mill.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still in the process of cleaning up their salary cap as they head towards the April 27th draft day. Because of this it’s natural that the Bucs’ name be linked to several of said rumors.

Without further ado, here’s the latest one.

Courtesy of CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, Buccaneers’ linebacker Devin White is named as one of 14 players that could be traded before or on draft day.

“A polarizing four-year starter for Tampa Bay, White is an athletic freak who’s drawn high marks from coach Todd Bowles and posted gaudy numbers for the position,” Benjamin wrote. “But he’s entering a contract year and could command near-record money despite middling grades as a coverage man. Selling him would rob the club of a defensive leader, but save an immediate $11.7 million as the team prepares for potentially sweeping transitions post-Tom Brady.”

Benjamin goes on to list the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders as potential trade partners. White Had a 45.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while posting 124 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2022.

Devin White has amassed 483 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and an interception in his career. This statement includes finishing each of the last three seasons with 120 tackles and 3.5 sacks or more.

Bowles Isn’t On board

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is a fan of White’s. Recently in an interview on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” where he spoke of White’s value to the team.

“Sometimes we get wide punches and they fake the run fake and they throw the quick screen out wide, and they got two blockers on the cornerback and the safety. And Devin comes out of nowhere,” Bowles stated via JoeBucsFan.com. “I mean he flies across the field; and he keeps it to a three- or four-yard gain. He does some things that you just can’t coach and you just can’t do.”

Bowles continued,

“His nose for the football is uncanny and it’s one of the best in the league. And there’s just not guys on every team that you can go around and say that about,” Bowles stated. “And so for the few plays that he misses, you know I think we tend to beat him up more a little more than we should because the plays that he makes go unnoticed. He does a lot for our defense, he does a lot for our team, and I’m happy with him.”

Here’s the rub, the Buccaneers could definitely use the salary cap relief that trading White would garner. Not just this season but next season as well. Spotrac projects White to make roughly $20 million per year on his next contract. That’s a lot of coin, but White does bring A LOT to the table.

If you’re going to trade White then the compensation HAS to be worth it. A single draft pick isn’t going to cut it. And even then, trading away a player like White is a PR nightmare. Then factor in that Lavonte David isn’t exactly a spring chicken, you’ve created a pressing need at linebacker.

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