Devin White No. 23
June 3rd, 2022
Giddy-up.
So it’s that time of year when the NFL stenographers begin to make lists. A week from today when underwear football season ends, it will be the middle of list season.
At CBS Sports, Cody Benjamin decided to come up with the 25 best players 25-and-under. And Joe was surprised that only two Bucs made this list. One was 24-year-old inside linebacker Devin White.
Rankings are based on past performance and projected performance. White was tabbed at No. 23.
Is he a perfect linebacker? Surely not, as evidenced by slip-ups in coverage. But you can’t teach speed, and he has it. Over his last two seasons, as a lynchpin of Todd Bowles’ championship defense, he’s been a missile at the heart of their unit, totaling 268 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 34 QB hits and 23 tackles for loss.
No, White is not perfect. Despite making the Pro Bowl last year, he had a less than perfect season. Joe understands White gets really upset when he reads folks aren’t sold on his pass coverage. Well, the eye in the sky don’t lie. He’s not awful but there is room to improve.
Joe knows White was hurt through part of last sason, but how much of that affected his play, Joe is not sure.
Joe still vividly remembers what an animal White was in the 2020 postseason. If White can play more like that, we won’t discuss him being among great players in their early 20s. We’ll start discussing him being in Canton someday.
June 3rd, 2022 at 12:17 am
Looks over weight in protos.
June 3rd, 2022 at 12:18 am
oops
June 3rd, 2022 at 6:24 am
His biggest problem is a lack of discipline that leads to doing too much. He’s got “it.” Devin just needs to slow down and let the game come to him. If he can master that and stay heathy he could be the best linebacker of this era.
June 3rd, 2022 at 7:09 am
If I could be exactly as overweight as Devin White, I’d be a happy man.
June 3rd, 2022 at 7:45 am
Healthy LVD = better DW.
June 3rd, 2022 at 7:49 am
Undisciplined, not a mature pro, running and gunning on natural ability.
June 3rd, 2022 at 7:51 am
Too bad White isn’t as smart as he is fast.
June 3rd, 2022 at 8:05 am
That’s why you only draft Luke Kucheleys/ Patrick Willi’s top 5
June 3rd, 2022 at 8:26 am
I would guess Wirfs to be the second choice…..
June 3rd, 2022 at 8:57 am
Who is the other under-25? Wirfs? Davis? Dean?
June 3rd, 2022 at 9:15 am
You are not wrong.
June 3rd, 2022 at 11:04 am
Lets see white has a superbowl but willis and kucheley does not so that logic of when you draft a mlb is out the window. White has done exactly what the bucs expected when drafted. And they also knew he would not be a finished product in year 3.
June 3rd, 2022 at 11:09 am
Wirfs is 23 and tell me who’s better that’s under 25.
June 3rd, 2022 at 11:09 am
Wirfs is top 5
June 3rd, 2022 at 2:22 pm
I would have left White off the list completely. He’s shown what he is capable of and if he’s not going to consistenly be his 2020 playoff self, then he’s not worth the big bucks.
Not having Wirfs number one shows that the writer is biased toward more marquee positions like wr, de, and qb. Wirfs should be number one and only Bosa has a slight argument against him.
June 3rd, 2022 at 5:49 pm
Joe, you are surprised only two Bucs made this list? I guess I am too, but there is only one player not represented that might deserve the recognition. Antoine Winfield Jr. seems to be among the top 25 under 25 IMO. Everyone else is either too old or way too mediocre. Wirfs top 10 selection and White with Winfield between 15-25 is how this should have been ranked.
June 4th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Our defense wasnt that great last year, and obviously in the big game we let a 24 point comeback by brady get blown by bone head bs…