Could Bucs Trade Another Player Before The Draft?

The Bucs have already been busy through the offseason in order to keep the team competitive while also staying salary cap compliant. One of those transactions was trading starting right guard Shaq Mason and a seventh round pick to the Houston Texans for a sixth-round pick, saving the Bucs $5.272 million. Could Tampa Bay trade another player before the draft – or even during the three-day event itself?

Player trades aren’t as common in the NFL as they are in other leagues. There were some eye-opening trades during last year’s draft, though, as the Eagles acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown and the Cardinals traded for receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, so maybe that begins a trend.

However if the Bucs were to trade this specific team captain, as CBS Sports suggests, that would be another blockbuster move.

Bucs LB Devin White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In an article from CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, he compiles a list of 14 players that are possible candidates to be moved before or during the draft, and has inside linebacker Devin White as a potential target.  This was his reasoning behind:

“A polarizing four-year starter for Tampa Bay, White is an athletic freak who’s drawn high marks from coach Todd Bowles and posted gaudy numbers for the position. But he’s entering a contract year and could command near-record money despite middling grades as a coverage man. Selling him would rob the club of a defensive leader, but save an immediate $11.7M as the team prepares for potentially sweeping transitions post-Tom Brady.”

Why Bucs Won’t Trade Devin White

It’s understandable to make the case that the Bucs can save more money in the future and get some value out of it, there’s pretty much no chance of this happening. The odds are more likely that Tampa Bay would attempt to sign White to an extension before they even thought of trading him.

For starters, head coach Todd Bowles is very fond of White and his a close relationship with the starting linebacker. For better or worse, Bowles highly advocates for White even when others won’t. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Bowles praised White for making plays that he hasn’t seen in three decades.

Bucs LBs Devin White and Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Devin takes a lot of heat for some things – everybody judges the missed tackles – but he makes tackles that I haven’t seen linebackers make in 30 years,” Bowles said. “He can make plays for us. He is still one of our best two players on defense. I have a lot of faith in him. His growth mentally understanding the system – and it’s not an easy system – has been outstanding. I think the world of the guy. I think he is a heck of a ballplayer and I think this will probably be one of his better seasons.”

Separately, the Bucs proved that they were going to compete for another NFC South title this year by re-signing cornerback Jamel Dean, outside linebacker Anthony Nelson and fellow inside linebacker and team captain, Lavonte David. Why would Tampa Bay trade White after making those moves? That’s counterintuitive.

Tampa Bay does not have the depth behind their two starters to get away with moving on from White. There’s no reason to re-sign so many players just get rid of another.

Big Season For Devin White, Who Is In A Contract Year

Finally, White has had an inconsistent career with the Bucs, particularly over the last two seasons. White is looking for a big contract when he hits free agency after this season and Tampa Bay needs to use this year to decide whether he’s worth investing long-term in.

Trading White now would force them to fill another hole on the roster rather than make it their primary focus next season if they go in another direction. There’s always a lot of chatter and attention when it comes to White. It’s important that he plays in Tampa Bay for at least another season.