5 free agents the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can’t afford to lose
3. LB Lavonte David
A second-round pick in 2012, David is about to complete his ninth season with the Buccaneers. He has topped 100 tackles with double-digit tackles for loss eight times, and he has also had good numbers in coverage as he almost never comes off the field. He has missed just seven games in his career. Pro Football Focus has tabbed how clean a football David has played.
Lavonte David for his career:
— PFF (@PFF) February 1, 2021
🔺 9,267 total snaps played
🔺 9 penalties committed pic.twitter.com/vlhZqkmjgK
Before the season, the Buccaneers had some level of contract negotiations with David.
The #Bucs have been quietly doing some business, as they’ve had recent negotiations with an eye toward extending LB Lavonte David, source said. One of the faces of their D for nearly a decade, David is due to make $10.75M this season, the final one in his current deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 28, 2020
A hamstring injury in the NFC Championship Game has had David’s status in question for the Super Bowl, but it does seem he will play. As the longest-tenured (and suffering?) player on the team, it would be a shame if he couldn’t play in the biggest game of his career. But as of Monday, the severity of the injury is being downplayed.
Arians also said today that Lavonte David's hamstring injury was in the third quarter in Green Bay, and he played the rest of the way. Said they've rested him, and to keep him out of the Super Bowl, you'd have to shoot him ...
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) February 1, 2021
In terms of market value, Spotrac has lined up David for a three-year, $38.1 million deal this offseason ($12.7 million per year). The Buccaneers may be able to go cheaper to replace him alongside stud Devin White, but keeping David around a couple more years should be a top priority.