After being selected no. 5 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in the 2019 NFL Draft, linebacker Devin White got his career off to a promising start.
An All Pro Second Team selection in just his second season with the Bucs, followed up by a Pro Bowl nod in Year 3 made it seem like Tampa Bay could have something special in the LSU product. However, by his fifth season, the tables had turned.
Bucs fans know the story all too well. White was more concerned with doing his own thing and essentially freelancing beneath Todd Bowles' defense, thus he was benched in that final season with Tampa Bay.
The Bucs watched as White would leave in free agency, this past offseason, signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. At first glance, it looked like a golden opportunity for White to make something happen. The Eagles defense was not good in 2023, and White had always had the physical ability to be a great player.
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However, White would lose out on a starting spot to Nakobe Dean over training camp and ultimately found himself inactive over the first few weeks of the season, since he did not play special teams. Philly decided to release him just over a couple of weeks ago, and since then, White had been waiting for a call.
Wednesday morning, that opportunity finally came.
The Texans signed former Bucs linebacker Devin White amidst injury woes
The Houston Texans opted to take the gamble on signing White after they've seen their linebacker depth get stripped to the bone this season. Starting linebacker Christian Harris has been on injured reserve all year, while Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To'oto'o are both currently out with injuries of their own.
Of course, the Texans are led by former NFL linebacker DeMeco Ryans as their head coach. Funny enough, Ryans also played for the Eagles while in the league.
Everyone knows Bowles is a great defensive mind, but maybe Ryans can offer different perspective and help White turn things around. As a recent former player, Ryans could offer a fresh viewpoint for the former no. 5 pick.
Houston is a clear contender in the AFC, too, and the need for help at linebacker is there. Bucs fans were long ready to watch the team wave goodbye, but for the sake of White the person, hopefully his career can find a way back on track in Houston.
There's a great chance of him being able to do so if he can be willing to take coaching and put in the work under Ryans.