The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the NFC South the last four seasons but they’re still a pretty underrated team. The Bucs also have several talented players that don’t quite get the recognition they deserve. No player fits that description more than Lavonte David, who has essentially become Mr. Underrated during his career in Tampa Bay.
That theme continued for David in a recent ESPN piece where Aaron Schatz named the most underrated player in the league at each position. For linebacker, Lavonte David was named, and Schatz made sure to point out how underrated is the theme of David’s career.
"This might as well be a lifetime achievement award for one of the most underrated players in NFL history, but David is still getting it done at age 35. He is the all-time leader (since 1991) in defeats, and David was still making these big plays last season (tied for fourth with 29 defeats). David made his average run tackle after a gain of just 2.7 yards, which ranked sixth among starting off-ball linebackers, too."Aaron Schatz (ESPN)
Lavonte David is still considered one of the most underrated players in the NFL
In 2024, David started all 17 games, recording 122 tackles, nine for a loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. In 13 years, last season was David’s ninth season with more than 120 tackles. Since being drafted in the second round of the 2012 Draft, he has consistently held down the Buccaneers’ defense.
Speaking to him being underrated, though, the veteran linebacker has made just one Pro Bowl, and that was back in 2015. However, he was First-Team All-Pro back in 2013. Aside from those two accolades, David hasn’t received much league-wide recognition. However, he’s a Super Bowl Champion, and he’ll always be remembered in Tampa for his role in the Buccaneers’ success during this era.