Bucs inside linebacker Devin White ended his offseason holdout as he showed up for a voluntary team photo shoot for a series of promotional photos and videos to be used by the team, its sponsors and the media at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa. The news was first reported by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

White, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick in 2019, has skipped all of the team’s voluntary offseason training camps and OTA (organized team activity) practices this offseason in protest over his current contract situation. The Bucs picked up his fifth-year option for the 2023 and he is scheduled to make $11.706 million.

White doesn’t want to play on the fifth-year option and wants a contract extension right now worth between $18-$20 million per season, which will put him at or near the top of the highest-paid linebackers. Baltimore’s Roquan Smith is currently the highest-paid inside linebacker with his new deal in 2022 worth $20 million per season.

White demanded that the Bucs trade him back in March, but the team refused and is making him play on his fifth-year option instead. White’s popularity with the Bucs fan base has plummeted since news of his trade demands went public, in addition to some of his White’s social media posts, which have indicated he would rather play for the NFC champion Eagles.

Devin White Expected To Attend Bucs Mandatory Mini-Camp

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

Several sources told Pewter Report that the team expects Devin White to show up for the mandatory mini-camp, which starts on Tuesday, June 13 and ends on Thursday, June 15.

Last Tuesday during the team’s final week of OTAs, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said he expects every player to attend mini-camp, including White.

“It’s mandatory – I expect everybody to be here,” Bowles said.

Now the big question for the Bucs is whether White will actively participate in the mandatory mini-camp practices or will he be a hold-in?

Will Devin White Be A Hold-In?

What is a hold-in? It’s a relatively new term that means players essentially continue a hold out by not participating in practices – yet still showing up to the team facility to watch them and avoid being fined.

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photo by: USA Today

Several high-profile NFL players have staged hold-ins in recent years. Just last year San Francisco wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf and Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James were hold-ins last summer and didn’t participate in training camp until their contract situations were resolved.

If Devin White does not show up for the mandatory mini-camp he is subject to fines per the NFL-NFL Players Association Collective Bargaining Agreement. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, there is a maximum fine of $15,515 for the first missed day of mandatory mini-camp, $31,030 for the second and $46,540 for the third (up to $93,085 total). The fines are mandatory and can no longer be waived by teams.

Should White decide to hold out and not attend training camp, the mandatory fines for training camp absences per the CBA start at $40,000 to $50,000 a day, per Pelissero.

Bucs High On Rookie Inside Linebackers

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The fact that Devin White showed up to the team’s voluntary photo shoot on Sunday means one of two things. He’s either going to hold-in, yet still play in the 2023 season so he can hit free agency next year and cash in and still wants his face to be used in team promos. Or White has either moved on from his trade request and holdout situation and is ready to practice and play in 2023 because he realizes he has no leverage.

In addition to White not having any leverage is the arrival of two rookie inside linebackers that only strengthen the team should White decide not to practice or play this year. Fifth-round pick SirVocea Dennis has been the most impressive rookie on the defensive side of the ball in OTAs. Dennis, who played at Pittsburgh with defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the team’s first-round pick, is a very cerebral player that has routinely made plays in coverage and as a blitzer.

Jeremy Banks, an undrafted free agent from Tennessee, is a fast, athletic linebacker who is a physical force and a hard-hitter. While Dennis is a lock to make the team this year and perhaps unseat KJ Britt as the team’s No. 3 linebacker, Banks will need to star on special teams to make the 53-man roster. But he has tremendous upside and could be viewed as a potential starter at some point as long as he keeps his focus on football.

White would be smart to not only show up on Tuesday, but don his helmet too and line up with the starters on defense. Otherwise Dennis will, and chances are he’ll continue to shine as White’s replacement.