Buccaneers make obvious choice on linebacker Devin White

The Buccaneers made the only choice they could on Devin White.

Not that it should come as a surprise to anyone, but Devin White is not leaving the Buccaneers anytime soon. Scott Reynolds of The Pewter Report broke the news earlier today that Tampa made the obvious decision on White’s future by picking up his fifth-year option.

White hasn’t been a perfect player since he arrived in the NFL, but the idea that the Bucs would entertain the prospect of letting the former fifth-overall pick enter free agency makes little sense.

White still has a mountain of upside in his game and with his athleticism, and just seeing three seasons from him is not enough to make a long-term decision just yet.

Even if White has struggled versus the pass over the past few seasons, the value that he brings as a pass-rusher and as a leader are impossible to move on from.

Few players as young as Devin White have been a captain for two seasons (one as a Super Bowl champion) through three seasons on the team, and losing White would hurt the chemistry that has been building on the defensive unit since White arrived.

For those who worry about White, it is important to remember that he is still 24-years old. The kid has plenty of time to work on coverage techniques, and the fact that he is still a tackle-magnet gives him plenty of value on a roster where turnover is already on the way.

Above all else, the 2020 season showed just how valuable White was as a contributor. The numbers guys may try to say that what he put on the field was unsustainable over a long period, but White being able to post those stats and impact that season in such a way shows that the Buccaneers would’ve been out of their mind to do anything other than pick up the fifth-year option.

Here’s to hoping that we see a lot more of Devin White over the coming years.

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