4 steps to fixing the abysmal Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense
By Jacob Holley
1. Trade Lavonte David
Yes, this would be an extremely unpopular choice. Sadly, this team is not in a situation to contend immediately. Trading long time Buccaneer and Pro Bowl linebacker Lavonte David may be in the best interest of the team moving forward.
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David will be 30 next season and will more than likely regress as a player before the Bucs can truly be contenders. That’s not to say there isn’t a spot on the team for him, because there is. He’s arguably the best player on the defense. However, the Bucs could easily trade back into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by sending him and a couple of later picks to a mid-caliber team.
The Buccaneers need new blood on defense and the first pick they’ll use in the first round will more than likely be used on an offensive lineman or a quarterback. Trading David and his contract will allow for a new young face like Rashard Lawrence from Clemson or Dylan Moses from Alabama.
It may seem counterproductive to downgrade immediately, it may even seem risky, but what’s even more risky is keeping David’s contract through next season and losing him to free agency without any compensation.