Now that the NFL Draft has come and gone, the Bucs’ attention will turn to offseason workouts. And one player in particular who may be questionable for those workouts is fifth-year linebacker Devin White.
White requested a trade this offseason amid frustrations about his contract. He has long said he wants to be a $100 million linebacker, and it’s clear he wants that to happen sooner rather than later. In fact, he’s looking for that new contract now instead of playing the 2023 season on his fifth-year option, which is worth just over $11 million.
Both general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles have maintained that there are no plans to give in to Devin White’s trade request, saying that they’re counting on him to be on the field in red, white and pewter this fall.
On Wednesday, Bucs pass game coordinator and inside linebackers coach (and co-defensive coordinator) Larry Foote spoke about White’s situation. As a former 13-year NFL veteran himself, Foote understands the situation on both sides.
“Like I told him, he’s getting paid $11 million this year — those are champagne problems,” Foote said. “I get it on both sides. He’s played a lot of ball, does he need to be here in the spring? We would love him to be here, but it’s not going to hurt him from the standpoint of playing.
“I want him here and I’m quite sure that’s going to get worked out. But I understand both sides. It’s part of the business that nobody likes, but it is what it is.”
Despite White’s public flirtations with the Eagles over the last couple of months, Foote went on to say the situation is strictly about money and that it’s nothing personal between him and the organization or the coaching staff.
“It’s money. You look at now, the guaranteed money. He wants his money now,” Foote said. “But he’s got to understand, the organization, they’re preparing for next year. So, we’ve got to meet somewhere in the middle, however it’s going to play out. But we picked up his fifth-year option and I’ve seen across (the league) yesterday, a lot of players, they don’t get that option. But it’s money, and I understand that. Like I said, he’s not the first and he’s not gonna be the last. And that’s part of the game.”
Foote said he hasn’t discussed any sort of timetable with White as far as when he’ll be back at the facility. But if the 25-year-old linebacker does decide to skip out on mandatory mini camp and/or any of training camp later this summer, Foote said he will do whatever he can to make sure White is staying up to speed on the defense and remaining prepared to come back and play.
Where Larry Foote Thinks Devin White Can Get Better
The fact of the matter is, Devin White has to earn the right to be a $100 million linebacker. He’s had his moments and has shown plenty of times why the Bucs made him the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, but he hasn’t been consistent enough to get a contract that recognizes him as one of the league’s top players at his position.
There were times during the 2022 season when White felt almost unplayable. His performance against the Ravens on Thursday Night Football in Week 8 netted him the most criticism, but he earned sub-50 Pro Football Focus grades in six games last year. He was sub-60 in seven more games, too.
In fairness, he still finished the year with 124 tackles (73 solo), 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. But you’d be hard-pressed to look at the tape from last year and justify handing him a contract worth over $100 million.
So, assuming White does return to the AdventHealth Training Center at some point and plays out his fifth-year option with the Bucs, where can he improve? Foote was asked about that on Wednesday as well.
“Everything, just get better. Pre-snap stuff, zone coverage, even blitzing better, attacking the run,” he said. “And obviously, you want to look at any explosive plays that you gave up and we want to minimize that. And just little things, new ideas that we’re putting in. I’m getting him up to scheme, some of the new stuff that we’re implementing.
“Every year, you’ve got to be better than the next year. This league demands it. So far, during his short career, he’s been evolving.”
White has posted 483 tackles (315 solo), 20.5 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, 55 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, one interception and 15 passes defensed in 62 games over the first four years of his career. He’s been to a Pro Bowl, and the splash plays have typically been there. But the consistency hasn’t always been there for him, and the key to earning the contract he wants is finding that consistency — and holding onto it.
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