Don’t expect Devin White to be back with the Bucs
TAMPA — The Bucs are attempting to keep most of their key free agents from leaving Tampa Bay, but 2019 No. 5 overall draft pick Devin White isn’t one of them.
White, who turned 26 this month, lost his starting job to K.J. Britt toward the end of last season, and the Bucs have demonstrated little to no interest in seeking an extension with the Pro Bowl linebacker.
“No, we’re still trying to make some decisions on some of those other players,” general manager Jason Licht said at this week’s combine. “But, you know, Devin did some really good things for us throughout his career, but we’re still sorting out some things.”
White fell out of favor over the past two seasons. The matter came to a head when he refused to play a backup role after being benched in favor of Britt in a game at Green Bay last season.
White, who had been dealing with a foot injury, informed the Bucs that he “couldn’t go” just before kickoff against the Packers. But White finished the season alternating at times with Britt, who figures to take over his role this year.
White had demanded a new contract last offseason, and the Bucs declined, making him play for the fifth-year club option. He had been seeking a four-year, $100 million deal.
Licht did not comment on the decline of White’s play last season and seemed ready to move on.
“Yeah, there were a lot of factors with that,” Licht said. “It might be a good question for Devin, but he still did some good things for us.”
The Bucs have a pair of young inside linebackers they are eager to see more of: Britt and SirVocea Dennis, who will enter his second NFL season.
“I’m very excited about those guys, and I thought J.J. (Russell) did a nice job, too, for us when he stepped in for us as a starter,” Licht said. “We’d like to have Lavonte (David) back. Put him on that Mount Rushmore of Bucs, too. I think everybody would. He had a hell of a year. We’d like to have him back, too. But we are excited about that young group.
“(Britt) is a great kid, too. He’s just a great teammate, and he’s always been the same every day, too. He waited for his opportunity and took advantage of it and thrived.”
Coach Todd Bowles said he still is in touch with White but noted the Bucs would be fortunate to sign Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Chase McLaughlin.
“I texted (White) happy birthday about a week ago,” Bowles said. “Devin can still play. Devin is a good football player. We’ve got a lot of guys up for free agency, and we can’t pay everybody. We know the money has got to go somewhere, but we’re still making those decisions, and by the start of the league year, we’ll see where everything falls.”
Contact Rick Stroud at rstroud@tampabay.com. Follow @NFLSTROUD.
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