A lot has changed since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' glorious victory in Super Bowl LV. Obviously, head coach Bruce Arians retired and was replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and legendary players like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have since hung up their cleats.
However, in just five short years, most of the roster has turned over as the Bowles and Baker Mayfield era has begun in Tampa Bay. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have remained loyal to the franchise, but the same cannot be said about every member of that championship team.
In 2023, former No. 5 overall pick Devin White was unhappy with his contract situation, and he requested a trade during the offseason. That wish was not granted, so he played out his contract and bolted in free agency as soon as he could.
Raiders relying on former Bucs linebacker Devin White in key role
Now, after a failed stint with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in 2024, White resurfaced with his third NFL franchise in the last year. This offseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
This should come as no surprise considering the Buccaneers' influence in Las Vegas. Brady is now a minority owner of the team, and he played a major role in the Raiders poaching key Buccaneers executive John Spytek as the next general manager in Las Vegas.
However, the fact that the Raiders released their first unofficial depth chart on Monday evening and White was listed as a starter is a bit surprising. Las Vegas did lose both of its starting linebackers in free agency, but this feels like a risk that Buccaneers fans already know will fail.
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White was certainly a key cog in the Tampa Bay defense that won Super Bowl LV, as he recorded 140 tackles and made the All-Pro Second-Team. Even in his best year, however, he earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 43.4, which ranked 145th out of 184 linebackers.
He struggled in pass coverage throughout his career with the Buccaneers, never recording a grade higher than 58.5. When Las Vegas signed him to a non-guaranteed deal, this felt like Spytek was throwing a bone to White, as he did with Alex Cappa. But now, he is lined up for a pivotal role.
It is possible that Pete Carroll and the Raiders' staff can revive his career in Las Vegas. However, it seems more likely that his career in Las Vegas will end unceremoniously, just like it did in Tampa Bay.