Report: Buccaneers Not Planning to Accommodate Devin White's Trade Request
On Tuesday, ESPN's Jenna Laine reported that Tampa Bay Buccaneers' star linebacker, Devin White, has requested a trade.
White is entering the 5th and final year of his rookie deal, after the team selected him 5th overall in the 2019 NFL draft.
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White has made statements in the past regarding his aspirations to cash in on a big second contract in the NFL. Still, for the majority of his time in Tampa, the assumption had been that White would be happy to remain in a situation that has proven to be fruitful.
However, despite experiencing success over his first four years in the league — including a Super Bowl victory in 2020 — earlier this offseason, the Bucs' linebacker offered up some cryptic messages on social media that appeared to be the first signs of him indicating any sort of displeasure with his situation.
So what do we know? Based on his previous comments, and this trade request, we know that Devin White wants to secure a big-money contract, and we know that he wants it done before he plays in the final year of his rookie deal.
But what do the Bucs want?
Well, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Times, there have been efforts made by the Buccaneers to offer White a contract.
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"The Bucs have been engaged in ongoing conversations with White’s agents about reaching a long-term agreement with what is arguably their best player on defense."
In his latest piece, Stroud goes on to describe the Bucs' outlook on the situation.
"Unless the Bucs have a drastic change of heart or a team blows them away with an offer they can’t refuse, White’s only options will be to sit out the season or return for a fifth year."
So it appears, at least for now, that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are content to play the long game with White. Whether or not they're seriously willing to consider trading the star linebacker, we don't know for sure. But with just one year remaining on his rookie contract, it wouldn't make much sense for the Bucs' to trade him, unless they were to receive a substantial offer from another team.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 offseason.
