Report: Devin White Made A Deal With Eagles To Be Turned Loose
October 9th, 2024
Inside linebacker Devin White is now a free agent.
Interesting sidenotes here on the release by the Eagles of former Bucs star linebacker Devin White.
(Why is Joe writing about Devin White? Well, perhaps you haven’t watched K.J. Britt try to be a full-time starting inside linebacker. And then there’s the limited (no?) learning curve White would have with a return to his original team, the Bucs, and original defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles.)
Per Ross Tucker, the former NFL offensive lineman and current successful football podcaster and broadcaster who is part of the Eagles preseason TV crew, White wanted to be on the field and play ball.
That wasn’t going to happen with the Eagles (short of an injury) because White did not win a starting job.
Per Eagles beat guy Zach Berman of AllPhly.com, White made a deal with the Eagles to get out of his roughly $3 million guaranteed contract. Why? Because he wants to play.
White is free now to go to any club.
Joe is not saying White is the answer, but do you know of a playoff contender who has a greater need at inside linebacker than the Bucs? And what linebacker out there knows Bowles’ defense inside and out like White?
As Joe pointed out this morning, it doesn’t cost a nickel for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to talk to White and see if his ‘tude has changed now that he’s out of work and wants to play.
Is he an upgrade from Britt? Well, you be the judge: One-legged immobile Kirk Cousins picked Britt apart worse than Joe does a Thanksgiving turkey after a two glasses of Bulleit Bourbon 10.
If you think it was bad how Britt got exposed Thursday, imagine what Lamar Jackson, Pat Mahomes, Brock Purdy and Cousins a second time will do. Those are four of the next five quarterbacks the Bucs will face before the bye.
The Devin White era is over in Philly.
What happened?
Ross Report™️ presented by @HelloFresh pic.twitter.com/WP6vTk1U8H
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) October 9, 2024
October 9th, 2024 at 11:37 am
I’m at least kicking the tires on this.
I have seen enough of Britt to last a lifetime.
It won’t cost a ton and we have 11 million in cap.
Unless they are looking at a trade for an even better ILB, this just makes too much sense.
Bowels would probably rather use JJ Russell, who is actually just as slow, or Antonio Grier JR though. I would actually give Grier JR a chance over seeing Britt again.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Britt and White have the same coverage grade… Devins just a better athlete with a worse attitude.
White got what he wanted. Out of Tampa. He can stay out.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:48 am
Just depends on the level of his commitment. He has the ability, but does he have the desire? Does he WANT to be a Buc again? If so, I would say yes.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:49 am
Devin said he wants to play and another team will want him. Afraid another team could be the Saints, Panthers, or Falcons. He helped us win a SB. We may want to give him a chance after all.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:49 am
..and if Bucs bring him back (doubtful) , have the pacifier ready for when Dennis returns
October 9th, 2024 at 11:50 am
Maybe a minimum “prove-it” salary + bonus that the Bucs can terminate at will? If that’s even permitted under the collective bargaining agreement?
October 9th, 2024 at 11:51 am
I’d be willing to kick the tires. I don’t want him back, but we sure need help. I wouldn’t have traded a warm six pack of natty lite for him, but free is almost tempting.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:54 am
I read the article on ESPN. According to that White missed the first game with an ankle injury, was healthy scratch / coach’s decision for the next two games and missed the fourth game for “personal reasons”.
Now personal reason could mean alot of things but if I’m trying to be on the field I am certainly not going to cause problems off the field.
Let some other team deal with White. He’s not our problem now.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:55 am
Its not gonna happen. Jason Licht has changed the way he evaluates players and White no longer fits the mold. Britt will look better with Winfield patrolling the secondary and Kancey getting a pass rush.
He obviously was a cancer and they wont make that mistake again with a cancer in the locker room.
October 9th, 2024 at 11:57 am
Meh why not and if it isn’t spring just release him lol
October 9th, 2024 at 11:58 am
1 year deal just to see if the attitude has changed and to see that he can play…. A prove it to me year. It worked with Baker.
October 9th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Incentive based deal
Not about pride Britt sucks
He would’ve laid out Cousins
October 9th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Nope.
I’d rather give a young guy a shot – at least there’s a future there
October 9th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
No.
October 9th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
I just don’t see this leopard changing his spots.
Joe, you’re right. It costs absolutely nothing just to kick the tires and have a chat. Yes, his learning curve would be real quick. And yes, he could wind up playing for the Saints, Falcons, or Panthers. Fair enough.
Still, n my heart, I can’t go there.
I thought (and others here on JBF have also said) that Antonio Grier Jr. played really well during pre-season. I’d rather give him a shot.
And like I said yesterday, there’s got to be a quality linebacker sitting on the couch somewhere that would love to join us.
October 9th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
NFL OCs are largely copy-cats IMO; if something works well against a particular team, they have no problem exploiting that same weakness. That weakness right now is KJ Britt. Nice guy I’m sure, but he’s a liability on the field in this defense.
Dennis was no superstar, but he was considerably better than Britt. With him injured, for who knows how long, we’re pretty much screwed. The only available experienced MLB seems to be Devin White. Everyone turning up their nose at re-signing him would scream bloody he11 if we go 3-14 this season with Britt as our MLB. Winning teams do what it takes to win. Git ‘er done JL.
October 9th, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Yeah, DW wants to play! He wants to play his way, and only his way. Because he’s Devin f’n White that’s why. He’s not AB nuts, he’s DW nuts.
I’m thinking that for whatever reason, he has become uncoachable. The value isn’t there no matter how yall try to rationalize it.
Another point- we aren’t a playoff team at this point. We are an inconsistent week to week team and DW doesn’t change that equation. Yeah, Britt is slower and Lavonte was giving it away like a loose slot on Thursday night. DW isn’t the fix.
October 9th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Give the other ILBs an actual shot at the starting role before bring back this cancer. Grier, Vi, Russell, Deloach – at least try them out.
You all seem to forget we replaced White with Britt because White was so terrible.
But good old conservative, slow-to-react Todd will likely just trot out Britt again. He seems to have this weird mantra of “If it’s broke, it’ll somehow find a way to fix itself.”
October 9th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
My guess is if something happens with this SD shoulder is in really rough shape.
October 9th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Whites athleticism was never the issue. It was everything between his ears. He might be able to run but he’s no better in coverage than Britt is, and he’s almost assuredly worse against the run.
October 9th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
A rare bad take @DR. So many other Bucs media have already come out and said no way. How would that go down in the locker room signing a guy who is known by the guys to have completely quit on his team last season? One who has the same coverage grades as KJ Britt? What’s worse is it’s because he wasn’t for lack of ability, but rather a lack of discipline.
White made so many waves Jason Licht commented about how the rookies on the defense (Yaya and Kancey) were looking at certain vet players in the locker room sideways because they were not handling things the right way! There’s only two vets that can be. Devin White and Ryan Neal. Two football players without a team. Gone. Never to return.
I have to agree with JC Cornell, JC Allen, and PR on this one. As long as Jason Licht is the GM Devin White is not walking through that door anytime soon.
October 9th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
Yes Joe. The Lions, 49ers, Seahawks all could use a linebacker like White. All contenders. Why would the Bucs and White have any desire to do business with each other after last year??
likely he goes to one of our NFC wildcard competition
October 9th, 2024 at 2:04 pm
I prefer the Rye but the 10 is nice. GO WHISKEY
October 9th, 2024 at 2:20 pm
Everything coming out says there is 0 percent chance for a reunion. One of the reasons he was a healthy scratch in Philly is because he didnt want to play special teams so that tells you all the change he has done. Don’t need him don’t want him. Go bucs!!
October 9th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
After watching last week’s game, I’m certainly willing to give him a chance. It would all depend on his attitude when discussing salaries. If he still wants the moon and stars, forget it!. But, perhaps he comes back a little more humble and less distractive. It may be his last chance to stay in the NFL. He certainly has the capability to be a great player. He’s shown that. Can he muster up that same level of play again? I think we should give him a chance. If he reverts to his prior self, we cut him.
October 9th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Not happening. The Bucs need to carry over $20M in available cap into next season
October 9th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
Wow, the whole season is lost because K.J. Britt is our MLB. Why bother playing the games.
October 9th, 2024 at 10:49 pm
Bring him in. The talent is there. Blitz him like crazy when Winfield comes back out izen in there to to help with coverage. White can rush the passer just need izen and Winfield to cover center field
October 10th, 2024 at 12:52 am
I have a pewter #45 jersey I would like to be proud of again. But that’s just about it. In all honesty, Pride is what cost White his success; should we fail at the same test?
October 10th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
All the reporters say “sources say he’s not coming back”. One source even said if Todd wants him it doesn’t matter “because Todd’s not the GM”. So is this a Jason ego problem? Or is LVD saying he’s friends with Devin but doesn’t want him as a coworker? Watch the Chiefs pick him up.
October 11th, 2024 at 7:50 pm
What is wrong with Antonio Grier Jr did he do sonthing to Bowles or somthing….