A former All-Pro linebacker is officially calling it a career. Longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David has announced his retirement. David played 14 NFL seasons, all of them with the Bucs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in an intriguing position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft where the idea of trading back from No. 15 is making more and more sense.
Most of the NFL mock drafts focus on the early rounds, but there are still many prominent college players who will hear their names called later. These are just some of the big names that could hear their names in the later rounds.
The Buccaneers have signed two free agent linebackers, and another Lavonte David contract is not forthcoming. The stalwart Tampa Bay defender will retire after 14 seasons.
Per the team’s website, Buccaneers LB Lavonte David announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons. “Lavonte’s mark on our franchise could never be overstated,” said Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht.
According to the Athletic’s Jeff Howe, the Buccaneers are expected to open extension talks with QB Baker Mayfield this offseason. The former No. 1 pick is entering the final year of his contract in 2026 and is scheduled to make $28 million.
NFL prospects from major programs get most of the attention, but there are numerous examples of players drafted from small schools who have become difference-makers.
Veteran Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David is scheduled to hold a news conference on Tuesday afternoon at the team facility. The Buccaneers did not divulge an official reason for the conference, however speculation is strong that David will announce his retirement from the NFL.
The Bucs announced Tuesday morning that inside linebacker Lavonte David will be holding a press conference at 2:00 p.m. ET today at the AdventHealth Training Center.
The Bucs have made a habit of finding value in unexpected places, and few players embody that better than outside linebacker Yaya Diaby. According to a recent breakdown from Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report, one player from each team was selected as the most underpaid player on their team.
TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are holding the winning ticket in the NFL’s edge-rusher lottery, and they aren’t ready to cash it in just yet. As the 2026 free agency frenzy settles, one name remains the league’s most lopsided value: YaYa Diaby.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into the 2026 offseason needing major help on the defensive side of the ball, and particularly at linebacker, both inside and outside.
Coming from UFL defensive lineman and coach Nasir Player, this evaluation carries weight rooted in real playing experience and trench development. With a background at East Tennessee State and professional football, Player’s assessment is built on technique, physicality, and on-field execution — not hype.
The salt air of Tampa usually carries the scent of championship ambition. As the 2026 NFL free agency period unfolds, though, it feels more like a calculated reconstruction than a victory lap.