Championship LB Linked to Buccaneers Offseason Moves

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clearly need to be going all-in this offseason to dramatically upgrade their inside linebacker corps.

The Buccaneers face a significant challenge at inside linebacker. Franchise icon Lavonte David is contemplating retirement, and even if he returns, the 36-year-old is past his prime. SirVocea Dennis, the other starter in 2025, received extensive playing time but proved inconsistent, especially as a liability in pass coverage.

Regardless of David’s future, the Buccaneers’ reality dictates they must secure at least two new inside linebackers this offseason.

Looking to free agency, there’s a 25-year-old linebacker with a championship background who wouldn’t break the bank for the Buccaneers. That player is, Nakobe Dean from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Longtime Bucs beat writer and Fox Sports contributor Greg Auman recently predicted in an article that Dean would sign with the Buccaneers this offseason, detailing this year’s NFL free agent class.

“Dean, 25, has been limited by injuries throughout four seasons in Philadelphia. His peak was 128 tackles in 2024 in a Super Bowl season for the Eagles, though a knee injury sidelined him for most of the playoffs and through the first month of this season.” Via Auman. “He can get to the quarterback — seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss in the last two seasons — but his durability is a question mark.”

Additionally, Auman provided insight into Philadelphia’s potential reasoning for moving on from Dean, along with an estimate of the contract he might sign as a free agent.

“The Eagles used a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell last year, so maybe they’ve already decided on Dean’s future. How much can Dean get as a free agent? There’s a wide range of projections, but he’s likely in the $8 million a year vicinity.”

From his unanimous All-American and National Championship season at Georgia in 2021, Dean has consistently displayed the traits of a versatile, disciplined, and explosive linebacker. His innate leadership qualities and championship experience would certainly resonate with Jason Licht, Todd Bowles, and the rest of the Buccaneers’ brass.

The BR Rub

Here’s the problem, Dean has missed roughly 20 games in his four year career due to injury. That, in our opinion is a huge red-flag. As the saying goes, sometimes your best ability is availability. And Dean’s history of availability isn’t good.

Dean is young, talented and has a high ceiling. But with the injury issues the Buccaneers should be careful in how much money they invest in Dean.