Buccaneers: 2021 Free agents that need to return ranked
By Rob Leeds
2. The captain of the Buccaneers on defense
Sticking with the defense, Lavonte David has become synonymous with greatness in Tampa Bay. David is playing at a Hall of Fame pace on a team that just won the Super Bowl, so there is almost no chance that the team would move on this offseason.
David and Devin White comprise the best off-ball linebacker duo in the NFL and could be for the foreseeable future, so keeping this pair together will ensure that the defense doesn’t take a nosedive next season.
Even if the cap space is tight, the Buccaneers can’t justify moving on from David. His draw will be substantial throughout the NFL, but Tampa Bay isn’t the same without him on the roster.
Given the time that David has put in with this team, it’s only fitting that he stays and enjoys the benefits of being a defending Super Bowl champion. Every analyst in the league will be forced to watch the Buccaneers in each game, so the individual accolades that have been so hard to find in Tampa should be quick to follow.
Tampa Bay will have to hope that Lavonte David takes a team-friendly contract, but given the history between this pairing, both parties should be able to find a way to keep this partnership intact until David retires.