Buccaneers defensive star reportedly requests trade

Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White is fed up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and requested a trade away from the team, according to a report on Tuesday from ESPN's Jenna Laine. 

The exact source of White's frustration is not known, but it is believed to revolve around his desire for a new long-term contract extension and the team's inability to get him signed to a new deal.

He is set to play out his fifth-year option season with the Buccaneers that will come with an $11.7M price tag. Naturally, the Buccaneers do not want to trade him, and for good reason.

Since being selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 draft, White has been a star and key part of the Buccaneers' defense, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and Pro Bowl honors in 2021. He was also an impact player on their 2020 Super Bowl winning team. 

In four years with the Buccaneers he has registered 20.5 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, 55 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, 15 pass defenses, an interception, nine fumble recoveries and scored two touchdowns. He is as impactful as an inside linebacker as you will find in the NFL when he is at his best. 

Not only would that be difficult for the Buccaneers to replace, but it would be extremely difficult to get a fair trade compensation in return to make it worth it. 

The Chicago Bears only received a second-round pick from the Baltimore Ravens when they traded Roquan Smith prior to the 2022 NFL trade deadline. Given that it is still the offseason and any team that trades for him now would get at least one full season of White might boost that value a little bit, but probably not a lot. 

Middle linebackers are just not as prominent of a position when it comes to value when compared to edge rushers, corners, and defensive linemen. 

The big financial issue for the Buccaneers this offseason has been a salary cap crunch that has come from the cap space they are still required to invest in retired quarterback Tom Brady. 

That has resulted in some big changes to the roster and limited their ability to add players this offseason.