The Pewter Plank
FanSided

5 Buccaneers who probably won’t be back now that Tom Brady has retired

By Josh Hill

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off to Leonard Fournette #7 during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off to Leonard Fournette #7 during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 27: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 27, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 27: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium on October 27, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

Age: 33. Lavonte David. player. 48. Pick Analysis. Expiring Contract: 1 yr/$12.5M. LB. Scouting Report

This one might be the most painful cut of the entire offseason. Lavonte David has been with the Buccaneers through good times and bad, and will likely one day see his name added to the Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium.

But his laying days in Tampa Bay might be over.

David is 33 years old and in a position to look elsewhere in the NFL for an opportunity to win another Super Bowl ring. There’s a world where he comes back to Tampa Bay and continues to be a part of a defense he helped build into one of the league’s best, but the Bucs have neither the money nor the upside that David might find somewhere else.

He’s not going to be insanely expensive, as the Bucs could offer him a short-term deal around $10 million. But if Tampa Bay can offer that, so too can teams like the Cowboys or Giants who could use a guy like David to reinforce already great defenses but with Super Bowl upside the Bucs don’t have.

Even a team like the Vikings could bring in David to help set its defense straight. Having David work alongside Eric Kendricks and the rest of the Minnesota defense seems like a slam dunk addition for a unit that needs to get right in 2023. Then there’s the Jets, where Robert Salah would probably love to add a guy like David. If New York brings in Aaron Rodgers this offseason, then David walks into the best position he’s been in since 2020 to win another Super Bowl.

It would be another gut punch for Bucs fans if David left, but it would be the right thing for him to do. He’ll always be a Buccaneer, but his playing days for the franchise and for the fans might be over.

Potential Landing Spots: Cowboys, Vikings, Jets, Giants

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