Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Three best draft picks of the 2010s
By Rob Leeds
Lavonte David could go down in Buccaneer history as one of the greatest players of all time. The Bucs have the likes of Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Lee Roy Selmon, and Ronde Barber in their pantheon of almost-mythical players, and David still makes a case for himself as one of the greatest.
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David has put together an outstanding career that could be remembered as one of the most underrated in NFL history. The Buccaneers have been a bad team during David’s tenure, but even the team’s numerous shortcomings haven’t been enough to keep David’s talent from shining through.
The Buccaneers found a monster in all statistical categories in David, who has been one of the most complete linebackers in NFL history. David has blown up offensive linemen in pass rush, stopped the run well behind the line of scrimmage, and picked off passes while looking like a defensive back enough to turn heads every time he plays.
If stats are all that are evaluated, David is a few years away from having a career that could land him in the Hall of Fame. Sure, the recognition from the All-Pro voters hasn’t been there, but league-wide popularity isn’t a credential to make it into the prestigious group.
Falling to the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Lavonte David has already left a legacy in Tampa Bay that will be hard to eclipse, and he still has more football left to play.