Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White could be the next high-profile player to find a new home.
The 2019 first-round draft pick has reportedly requested a trade out of Tampa Bay ahead of his fifth season with the franchise, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Once thought a building block of a ferocious Buccaneers defense, Tampa Bay has fallen on hard times after winning a Super Bowl in 2021.
The team went 8-9 in Brady’s last season with the franchise and won a meager NFC South. It earned them a quick playoff exit and a first-place schedule for 2023.
While the Bucs haven’t necessarily signaled any desire to blow up the roster, White could be a very lucrative trade candidate for a contending team and net Tampa Bay $11.7 million in cap space and a respective draft pick and/or player.
Bucs’ Pro Bowl LB Devin White has in fact requested a trade, as @JennaLaineESPN reported. Bucs do not want to trade him, but he wants to be traded as he is coming up on his fifth-year option.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 11, 2023
While Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht says he has “no intention” of trading White, things change rapidly around the 2023 NFL Draft and a trade is absolutely possible.
White is reportedly seeking a contract worth $18-20 million, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: #Buccaneers LB Devin White is reportedly seeking $18-20 million per year in a new contract, someone with knowledge of the negotiations told @JennaLaineESPN
This would put White on par with some of the highest paid LBs in the NFL pic.twitter.com/KnmlHaZNM4
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 13, 2023
What teams could pay White’s fifth-year salary and would pry with a higher draft pick to acquire the former second-team All-Pro linebacker?
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a massively intriguing landing spot for White, and he’d instantly start for the team in the middle of their defense.
With nearly $26 million in cap space still on the books, the Lions could trade a high draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and change to the Bucs to acquire the linebacker.
The Lions could use more tone-setters on its ascending defense, and the team could ink White to a long-term extension and make him a building block for the future.
Detroit could be one of the most enjoyable teams in the NFL next year, and adding White into the mix would only boost those chances.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Detroit sends a 2023 first-round pick (No. 20) and a 2023 third-round pick (own) to Tampa Bay for White.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have a possible opening at middle linebacker if the team isn’t ready to turn the keys over to 2022 draft pick Nakobe Dean.
White could be a major addition to Philly’s defense, filling the gap left by T.J. Edwards after he signed with the Chicago Bears.
Philadelphia’s Super Bowl window is still wide open, and White would be a major talent infusion to a defense that lost a bit of talent this spring.
The Eagles have two first-round picks in this year’s draft, and they could part with one to send to the Bucs.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Philadelphia sends a 2023 first-round pick (No. 31) and a 2024 third-round pick (own) to Tampa Bay for White.
Buffalo Bills
While the Bills don’t have the most cap space at the moment, the team did lose Tremaine Edmunds in free agency and have a big gap in the middle of its vaunted defense.
The Bills could send its 2023 first-round pick to the Bucs for White and immediately sign him to a contract extension that would lower his cap hit for this season.
The Bills, like the Eagles, are in a Super Bowl window, and adding a championship-winning talent like White would be a major way of keeping Buffalo’s title hopes alive.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Buffalo sends a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick (own) to Tampa Bay for White.
Seattle Seahawks
One intriguing option could be the Seattle Seahawks, who could prepare an epic trade package for Tampa Bay.
The team has two first-round picks in this year’s draft, plus an NFL-ready linebacker in Jordyn Brooks who could be heading into a contract year.
If Seattle really wants to capitalize on its resurgence, the team could trade No. 20 in this year’s draft and Brooks to Tampa Bay for White.
The Bucs would get a rental on Brooks once he’s healthy from his torn ACL that happened this past January. With Tampa Bay in a transitional year, they could field Brooks once he’s ready and sign him to a team-friendly deal if he impresses next offseason.
White would move onto Seattle and pair with Bobby Wagner and Uchenna Nwosu to give the Seahawks a fantastic starting trio at the position.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Seattle sends a 2023 first-round pick (No. 20) and Brooks to Tampa Bay for White.
San Francisco 49ers
You’re probably wondering, “why are the 49ers on here?”
Well, the team does have three third-round picks in this year’s draft and the allure of trading a player on the ballyhooed 49ers defense.
Let’s imagine a world where the 49ers have Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and White as their three linebackers. It could veer into all-time territory as far as linebacker groups are concerned.
In this scenario, the 49ers pull off a major trade by sending two third-round picks, a 2024 second-round pick and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to Tampa Bay to secure the world-crushing linebacker trio.
Hey, this probably won’t happen, but it’s fun to dream, right?
POSSIBLE TRADE: San Francisco sends two 2023 third-round picks, a 2024 second-round pick and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to Tampa Bay for White.
