The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like a much better team in 2019 than they did in 2018 and a large part of that improvement is due to the 2019 rookie class.
The year over year (2018-2019) success of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could not have been done without some key additions and overall maturity from players already on the roster. The likes of free agents Shaquil Barrett, Ndamukong Suh, and Breshad Perriman come to mind. In addition to this, some returners such as Chris Godwin really stepped up when the opportunity was presented to them. In the end it was really the sped up development of the 2019 draft class that made Tampa Bay competitive each week. Here’s a full breakdown of each player selected and how they graded out for their respective positions.
Devin White:
2019 Stats- 91 Total Tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 defensive TDs
The former fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft was a complete menace on the field for Tampa Bay last season. After battling ailments and setbacks early in the year, including tonsilitis and the death of his prized horse, Daisy Mae, Devin White was locked in during the back nine of the season and strung together Pro Bowl type play down the stretch. Playing at a compact 6’1, 240lbs, White used his elite 4.42 speed to make sideline to sideline plays in nearly every game.
White had a hand in nearly ever big game so much so that the former LSU Tiger won consecutive Defensive Rookie of the Month awards for the months of November and December. It is also worth noting that White accomplished this feat while playing in only 13 games. Tampa Bay fans can get used to seeing the hussle showcased below from this talented linebacker for years to come.
"Chris Carson is loose"
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) November 3, 2019
Devin White:
(via @thecheckdown)pic.twitter.com/DkdTWZNbII
Grade: 8.7/10