“You Want A Roster Of Guys Like Lavonte David”
February 8th, 2023
Big talk from the Bucs’ front office.
Will the Bucs put their money where their mouth is?
Joe is taking that firm tone because Jason Licht’s right-hand man, Tampa Bay salary cap guru and front office advisor Mike Greenberg, made a bold statement on the Buccaneers Radio Network on his recent visit.
Greenberg was talking about roster building and blending analytics and the stuff analytics can’t measure and said the following: “The person is so important. You want a roster full of guys like Lavonte David.”
Joe heard that and quickly thought, ‘Well, David is a free agent and he will command at least $10 million per year.’ The Bucs, of course, already are over the 2023 salary cap and have many big-money decisions on their plate in addition to David’s future.
Greenberg also mentioned Mike Evans, Ryan Jensen and Tom Brady in the same category as David — guys with the mentality, work ethic and approach that you want on your football team.
The Bucs pushed harder in recent years, per Greenberg, to find “guys that love coming to work” and embrace all aspects of football. He specifically named Antoine Winfield, Jr. and Vita Vea as prime examples.
“I think it’s still what we want as an organization because those types of players can play for any coach,” Greenberg said. “Every coach that comes in here is thrilled to have Lavonte David and Mike Evans.”
Joe was intrigued by the players Greenberg named — and the ones he didn’t.
As Joe has mentioned, Pro Bowl safety Winfield is year away from a massive contract while cornerback Carlton Davis already has one. So are the Bucs really going to drop a load on cornerback Jamel Dean next month? Good luck finding a team with two huge-money corners and a top-five contract safety.
Joe would love to see David return. It’s hard to go wrong with a guy like David on your team, even if he’s a little overpaid.
February 8th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
The issue with David is that, because of the use of void years, he’s already going to count nearly $7m towards the cap, before any new deal. They could do another void year deal, for example, give me a 2-year $11m contract, that is, in fact, a 1-year $1m deal with a void year for year 2, worth say $10m, but that $10m goes towards the 2024 cap.
Basically that’s the only question here. Do you want to spend money against the 2024 cap to keep him, on what will likely be a bad team.
I love David, I’d love to see him stay, however I’d also have no issues with him signing a deal with a legit SB contender, where he helps cement himself as a 1st ballot HOFer, and the Bucs maybe get a comp pick out of the deal.
February 8th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
This is what I was saying yesterday- I think they’re going to try to keep Lavonte AND Dean.
Obviously want Winfield too when the time comes, but I think he also has to prove he can be the same guy on the field. His play really went downhill after the injuries this season…
February 8th, 2023 at 12:33 pm
I hope not with Coach Bozo in charge.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
Trade Devin White
February 8th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
To be sure, the man did not mention Devin White. When is his contract up?
February 8th, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Lavonte should be a Buc for life! He should be a HOFer and future Ring of Honor inductee.
On another note, I second trading White because we continue to use him out of position and force him into coverage when he is bad at it. He still has the tools to be an above average pass rusher and great run stopper, but with coverage skills lacking, poor tackling technique and poor effort I’d give him the boot before offering an extension.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Must have been a oversight not to include
Devin White
February 8th, 2023 at 1:27 pm
The Bucs have complete trash at LB outside of the starters.
You don’t trade young all-pro pass rushers, what you do, instead, is not use them coverage if they’re not good at it. It’s a really simple and elegant solution.
People triggered by the way White play literally don’t have a clue what they’re watching, these dopes made up their mind off one out of context clip from the Ravens game.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
Rod, I’m with you. Let him go chase another ring before it’s over. He’s only got a couple years at most.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
White should sit down with Shelton Quarles and learn how to play his position
February 8th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
Folks need to face up to the fact that Bucs have a LOT of cost-cutting to do, not just this year but in 2024 & 2025 as a minimum. And the longer we put it off, the more those out-years will hurt … and the less competitive we’ll be on the field. And that means being less competitive for top-quality coaching staffs also. Our options are very limited.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Sign David to a two year deal trade White try to get a second rounder for him the steelers and browns need a mlb.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
If a team like the Chiefs or the Niners flash $12 large a year at LVD, and meanwhile he stares back into the blank eyes of Bowels of Toad,
LVD is gone. He knows how lacking the fundamentals of his defense are right now, and meanwhile the offense is wearing Beanie and Cecil costumes.
Can’t blame him for trying to win one more ring. That won’t happen with Toad Blowes as headless coich.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Bringing back David is the priority. Help pay for it by trading Devin White.
February 8th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Ugottabekidding me. This is an ongoing football disaster.
February 8th, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Personally idc what it takes. Pay the man. He deserves it and should retire a Buc. His play hasn’t slipped so it’s a no brainer. Draft his replacement this year so they can learn from the best
February 8th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Devin White is in his prime. Id let David walk before White. David isn’t worth $10 million at this point in his career. We need to get younger. If David will give us a hometown discount then yes… of course
February 8th, 2023 at 2:58 pm
For a guy like David, you figure it out. He’s a leader and should be a Buc for life.
February 8th, 2023 at 3:21 pm
LVD had a great year. He is one player we should never want to lose.
February 8th, 2023 at 3:29 pm
White is so overrated. He had a very good playoff run for the Bucs Super Bowl winning team and that is it. He is extremely inconsistent, he takes horrible angles at times, he can’t get off blocks and he loafs. Not what you want from one of your star linebackers. I wouldn’t lose any sleep if they traded White and got a couple of high draft picks. Surely there is a team out there that is dumb enough to cough up some high draft picks for him.
February 8th, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Love LVD……but he’s our past….not our future…..our money doesn’t need to go to a 33 year old……Give the money to Dean, SMB, Edwards, Nelson…
Draft a LB in the first 3 rounds.
Love you, LVD….but it’s time for us to move on….get cheaper, get younger.
February 8th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
I think it should be David’s choice. If he wants to stay a Buc, the Bucs should pay him whatever he wants. And when I say whatever he wants, David can’t just throw out some crazy number. I mean a good salary any other team would give him. If David wants a chance at another ring, no way Bucs do it this coming year even though we’d love to see it happen, they should do everything possible to help that happen for him. I’m a fan of White, but if there’s a choice between the 2, even at David’s age, I would take David and trade White. I know I sound crazy but David has earned that. And since the Super Bow win, White hasn’t done anything that shows he’s better than David!
February 8th, 2023 at 7:35 pm
I think Carlton Davis could be cut soon, perhaps next season when Winfield needs a new deal. I cant see them moving on from Dean because he has been the only consistently healthy CB on this team vs CD3 and SMB. If they tag Dean, next year the market might be more favourable, he is the top rated CB on the market this year. If they move on from CD3 next year I think the dead money would be minor if any.
February 8th, 2023 at 7:36 pm
Id rather have David over bith SMB and Edwards. Those guys blow coverage so often ita mind boggling how they are still on the team.
February 8th, 2023 at 8:00 pm
Ben Harvey- agreed. They should call SMB “Toast” he’s been burnt so many times. Do not let Dean get away! Re-sign Keanu Neal. He won a game by himself this year. Hardest hitter since Lynch
February 8th, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Lavonte has been my favorite Buc for 10 years. Find away to keep his as part of the core.
February 9th, 2023 at 6:42 am
Awesome work guys!! keep it up