Bucs linebacker Devin White has requested a trade, Pewter Report has confirmed. ESPN’s Jenna Laine was first to report the news, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The Score’s Jordan Schultz soon followed.

Laine later reported that a source said White is “fed up” and has become increasingly frustrated with his situation in Tampa, though there was on clarification or specifics on the cause of those feelings. There’s reason to believe it could be contract-related, of course.

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

White, who was by the Bucs with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, is set to play the 2023 season on his fifth-year option. He would then be due for a big second contract next offseason. The timing of his trade request and the context provided by the report would likely indicate that he either wants that deal now or progress toward a potential deal with the Bucs doesn’t look promising.

White wants to be a $100 million linebacker and while an extension would likely lower his cap hit for this season, perhaps the Bucs are waiting to decide if he’s worth such an investment.

White has flashed signs of brilliance at different points of his career and played a key role in the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV run. He recovered a fumble and intercepted Drew Brees in an NFC Divisional Round win over the Saints and later intercepted Patrick Mahomes to keep the Chiefs out of the end zone in the Super Bowl, which Tampa Bay won 31-9.

White had some issues with consistency during the 2021 season, though that season saw him earn his first Pro Bowl selection. Then, in 2022, it was much more of an up-and-down year for the speedy linebacker, and he came under fire during the season for some poor play. He was struggling to get off blocks and making some costly mistakes, which hurt the Bucs defense. To his credit, he cleaned his game up and played better down the stretch of the season.

Devin White Previously Hinted At Moving On Earlier This Offseason

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It appears as if this recent trade request has been brewing for some time, as Devin White previously posted a cryptic message on social media earlier this offseason. He took to Instagram with some pictures and captions that seemingly hinted he was saying goodbye to Tampa Bay.

The first screenshot was a picture of White lacing up cleats in the locker room with the caption: “Thank Ya 🏴‍☠️ ✌🏾.” That appeared to be a “peace out, Bucs” or a “thank you” of sorts to the team and its fans. The second screenshot was a picture of a sign that read: “God isn’t asking you to figure it out. He’s asking you to trust that he already has.” Underneath the sign was a caption that read: “Next Stop 🏁”

The third post read, “4 year went by fast … 🦍”

After those posts circulated on Twitter, White commented on them and explained them away as him reflecting on the four years he had spent with the Bucs so far.

Were those captions an indication that Devin White was angling for a trade back in March? With Tuesday’s reports, it’s at least possible. Those posts, however, came just days after Bucs head coach Todd Bowles heaped a lot of praise on his star linebacker.

Bucs Currently Lack Depth To Make Up For Potential Devin White Trade

Bucs LBs Lavonte David and Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As up-and-down as Devin White has been over the last couple of seasons, it would make sense that the Bucs don’t want to trade him, as Schefter reported. Tampa Bay might be wanting to wait and see if he’s worth the contract he wants, but the team as it stands right now would appear to need him in 2023. That’s because the inside linebacker position is incredibly thin behind the starting duo.

The Bucs got a big free agency win by re-signing longtime captain and team legend Lavonte David to a one-year deal last month, and that move seemed to lock in the dynamic duo at linebacker that Tampa Bay has fielded since 2019. But if White’s trade request is granted, it leaves things very open in that room. David would have a new running mate for the first time in five years, and there’s nothing that K.J. Britt or J.J. Russell have done to show that they’d be ready for a starting role.

If the Bucs were to move on from Devin White, inside linebacker would then become a major need in this month’s draft. At the very least, there would be a new need for a stopgap type of player to be added on a cheap deal in free agency. The team already has significant holes at offensive tackle and safety, plus it needs some added help for its pass rush and tight end room. Adding “starting linebacker” to the needs list would be tough for Tampa Bay, though perhaps any resulting draft pick compensation from a hypothetical trade would give them a better chance of filling that hole.

The Bucs may not want to trade Devin White, but the linebacker has removed his profile pictures on Twitter and Instagram, something that has become commonplace for athletes who are unhappy with their current teams. We’ll see if anything comes of it, but the Bucs’ brass now has yet another big decision to make in an offseason full of them.