The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back in business after Tom Brady decided to end his retirement.
His return for a 23rd NFL season prompted Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette to sign three-year contract extensions.
They’ve also added wide receiver Russell Gage and offensive lineman Shaq Mason.
The Super Bowl LV champions also paid attention to their defense by retaining linebacker Devin White until at least 2023.
The #Bucs picked up the fifth-year option on LB Devin White, worth $11.7M fully-guaranteed. An easy call.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 27, 2022
Pro Football Focus’ Ari Meirov shared, “The #Bucs picked up the fifth-year option on LB Devin White, worth $11.7M fully-guaranteed. An easy call.”
His last sentence is spot on because the Buccaneers should have no hesitation in keeping him.
In 2022, White will be playing the final season of his four-year, $29.3 million contract, earning him a base salary of $965,000.
His $11.7 million option is also a bargain, given that the franchise tag for linebackers is at $18.7 million.
Bringing him back is a no-brainer because he covers a lot of ground on defense.
He can shadow wide receivers and running backs on short to intermediate routes.
White can also quickly move from sideline to sideline if needed.
A Bedrock Of Tampa Bay’s Defense
The Buccaneers generate pressure through players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh, and Vita Vea.
Meanwhile, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, and Antoine Winfield Jr. are responsible for the deep plays.
For everything else, there’s White.
Last season, the LSU alumnus had 87 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three passes defenses.
The year before, he had his best campaign with 97 solo tackles, nine sacks, and four passes defended.
Having him back for at least two seasons helps stabilize the middle layer of Tampa Bay’s defense.
As Brady and the offense deliver the points, White will lead the charge in preventing opponents from catching up.
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