One of the Bucs’ biggest questions over the next couple of weeks will involve longtime linebacker Lavonte David. Will the pending free agent remain in Tampa Bay for a 12th season, or will he soon suit up in different colors for the first time in his career?

The Bucs have 23 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2023 offseason, and while some of them are certain to play elsewhere next season, there are some the team would like to bring back. Speaking with the media in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this week, general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles mentioned having a plan for the offseason. They didn’t disclose which of those free agents would be the highest priorities, but it’s hard to imagine David not being at the top – or near the top – of their list.

At the very least, Bowles and Licht made it clear that they have a lot of love for both Lavonte David the player and Lavonte David the person. And it they’re certainly not ruling out the legendary Bucs linebacker returning for year 12.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Matt Matera/PR

“He’s one of the iconic players of Tampa Bay and will always be a Buccaneer,” Licht said. “It’s still not out of the realm of possibility that he’d be playing for us next year. It takes two to agree to it. We’ll see how that unfolds, but he’s an awesome player.”

Bowles was later asked if David had a case for being Tampa Bay’s most important free agent, and the head coach spoke glowingly about his steady linebacker.

“He’s a very valuable player for us,” Bowles said. “When you’re over [the cap by] 50-plus million right now, it’s fair to say everybody has a case right now. In the next two weeks, things will die down and we’ll start to have a clearer picture of where we need to go and what we’re trying to do. But Lavonte is a big piece of our defense. He’s a key piece of the organization and everybody in the building loves him.”

Money Has To Be Right For New Deal Between Bucs, Lavonte David

The key to getting a new contract written up and signed will obviously be the money. David signed a two-year, $25 million deal after the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2020. He played well over both years of that contract and despite the fact that he just completed his age-32 season and turned 33 in January, he has a case for another nice contract. In 2022, he totaled 124 tackles (80 solo), 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and five passes defensed while playing all 17 games. By PFF’s grading metrics, he was the Bucs’ highest-graded player with an overall of 84.1.

“He still played at a high level,” Bowles said. “Very intelligent, very tough, worked very diligently. Played in every game last season, which was a plus. He took care of his body. He’s still a professional.”

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The interest in getting a new contract done is mutual between the Bucs and Lavonte David, too, but the veteran knows the business side of the game can be tough sometimes.

“Right now, I’m just enjoying this time off. Just getting my body back right. I’ll probably start back training really going hard pretty soon,” David said on the Ronnie & TKras Show. “Spending time with my wife and daughter. Getting the chance to go on vacations possibly,” David said. “I haven’t really got a chance to talk to the Bucs about stuff like that. At the same time, they’ve got a lot of stuff going on anyway. So, you’ve definitely got to give them that time.

“But I’m pretty sure they’ll probably hit me up whenever they kind of settle down. Because obviously, I would love to be back in Tampa. I played 11 years there. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. But I’m not naïve to the business side of football. So, I’m definitely grateful for whatever happens after.”