After making a stunning request that he wants to leave Tampa Bay, let’s take a look at some potential Devin White trade destinations.
One thing that not many Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans expected to hear this offseason was a star player asking for a trade. That’s exactly what appears to have happened, as Devin White has reportedly told the front office he’d like to be traded somewhere else.
The request apparently comes after negotiations around a contract extension broke down. White is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is expected to be in the $100 million range for his next contract.
Given how careful the Bucs are being about spending in the post-Tom Brady era, that’s a bit rich for their blood.
A lot of things can still happen, including White remaining in Tampa Bay for two seasons if not more. The Bucs can keep him and try to franchise tag him next offseason while attempting to work out a long-term deal or try to sell high and deal him now.
If the Bucs are going to trade White, it’s going to be in a situation that helps the team and doesn’t make it worse. Obviously, keeping him is ideal because he’s one of the team’s better defensive players but if a trade is going to happen then there are some potential destinations that help the Bucs.
Potential Trade Package: Picks No. 53 (Round 2) and No. 133 (Round 4)
A lowkey great destination for White could be with the Chicago Bears. They traded for Khalil Mack in an effort to restore the Monsters of the Midway era, but it didn’t quite work out. Now, with Justin Fields as a franchise quarterback and plenty of pieces to build around him, the Bears could add White and place in him a perfect situation.
Chicago signed T.J. Edwards this offseason, and pairing him with White on defense is something guys like Jordan Love, Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins won’t love having to face twice a year.
A trade with the Bears could give the Bucs two picks in the second round within three slots of each other, which creates a ton of wiggle room for the front office.
Tampa Bay can keep the picks and double up on second-round talent, or package the picks to move up in the first round. It’ll be easy for some to say this would be used to move up to the top of the draft and land a top quarterback, but the best the Bucs can hope to do is the No. 3 pick which means ending up with the third-best quarterback in the class.
Keeping the picks and landing two potential stars in the second round seems like the best route to take.
Adding the 133rd pick, which the Bears acquired from the Eagles, would help Tampa Bay recoup a fourth-round pick. Right now the Bucs don’t have a pick in that round, but making sure to get one in a Devin White trade could mean landing someone like Andrew Vorhees or Deuce Vaughn.