Devin White’s recent trade request from the Bucs over frustrations with his contract has left an uneasy feeling in Tampa Bay. Ultimately, White isn’t going to be traded because he has no leverage in the situation and it doesn’t help the Bucs much either with their current roster if they parted ways. Seeing White consistently groan on social media about his unhappiness has not made things better.

There is one component in all of this that if the Bucs had it, it would make the team feel better about the chances of moving on from White – a dependable veteran backup behind White and Lavonte David.

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and Devin White – Photo by: USA Today

If White were to sit out this year in a contract holdout situation, the Bucs would have to expedite the process of drafting an inside linebacker to play right away. This shuffles the draft plans and forces Tampa Bay to add another draft need to their list.

The organization was hoping to wait another year to do so when they have to cross the bridge of Lavonte David’s free agency again. But with the threat of both starting linebackers out the door next year, it would be hard for the Bucs to pass up finding a successor this year.

The problem is, despite some interesting prospects such as Iowa’s Jack Campbell and Washington State’s Daiyan Henley, this is not considered a strong inside linebacker class. And asking a rookie linebacker to play immediately is a risk in of itself.

Bucs Could Use A Kevin Minter-Type Backup

That’s where the Bucs really miss having a veteran inside linebacker. Take former Buccaneer Kevin Minter for example. Minter played for the Bucs from 2018-2021 and was a valuable player as the third linebacker on the depth chart. Minter, who was also a special teams captain, was very important in the Bucs’ Super Bowl run in 2020.

When Devin White missed a few games with a knee injury in 2019, and had to miss the Wild Card round game against Washington in 2020 as he was put on the COVID list, it was Minter who stepped in and recorded six tackles and a pass breakup to help the Bucs win. Nobody is going to mistake Minter for Ray Lewis, but Minter was a savvy vet who Tampa Bay could feel good about putting into a high leverage game and keeping everything afloat.

Bucs ILB Kevin Minter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Though Minter’s play declined in 2021 as he turned 31, he did start in five games for Tampa Bay, replacing an injured Lavonte David. In those five contests, the Bucs went 5-0. Minter wasn’t re-signed the following season, and he was not on a team last year. The Bucs can’t bring back Minter now as his playing days appear over, but finding a similar veteran to add could do wonders for the Bucs. It’s probably too late at this point.

The depth at inside linebacker for the Bucs is below average to say the least. K.J. Britt is solid on special teams but isn’t a viable option to start at linebacker for multiple games. J.J. Russell lost the training camp competition for the last linebacker spot to Olakunle Fatukasi, but remained on the practice squad. He got called up in December when Fatukasi was waived and played poorly on defense in Week 18 at Atlanta. Ulysees Gilbert is more of a special teams player as well.

Why Bucs Won’t Grant Devin White’s Request

We’ve discussed before in recent articles and on Pewter Report Podcasts about why Devin White isn’t going to be traded. But for those who need to be caught up, there are a couple of reasons.

While getting paid $11.706 million isn’t anything to scoff at, White believes he should be in the $20 million a year range as the highest paid linebacker in the league. He’s certainly free to belief in himself, but the inconsistency of his play doesn’t leave the Bucs desperate to pay him anywhere close to that number right now.

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

There’s no leverage for White because holding out would only delay free agency an additional year. Should he decide to do so, White would lose an accrued season for not participating and will still be under contract at the same price with the Bucs for next season. It would be more advantageous to play this year and cash in on free agency in 2024.

The timing of White’s request doesn’t make sense either. Why ask for a trade now when the first wave of free agency is done and teams don’t have as much money? White making a trade request earlier at the start of free agency would have made more sense.

With the draft a week away, it would be very difficult to find a trading partner that would both be willing to give up draft picks and then sign White to a lucrative extension of his liking. No team is going to risk draft capital for a one season rental.

It makes a lot of sense for the Bucs as well to let White play out the 2023 season and then go from there. He either plays well and they re-sign him, or he hits the market, goes somewhere else and Tampa Bay gets a compensatory pick for him in 2025.