Todd Bowles Provides An Update On Where The Buccaneers Stand With Devin White
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves between a rock and a hard place after star linebacker Devin White requested a trade from the franchise last month. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, White is looking for an extension but the Buccaneers haven't blinked to this point.
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General Manager Jason Licht has continued to say that Tampa Bay doesn't plan to trade White. Linebackers coach Larry Foote even addressed the scenario recently, noting that he understands the issue but also that the Pro Bowl linebacker is making $11.7 million.
"Well, he’s not going to be the first and he’s not going to be the last, we know that," Foote said previously. "Like I told him, he’s getting paid 11 million this year [and] those are champagne problems. I get it on both sides."
With the Buccaneers beginning Rookie Mini-Camp on Friday, head coach Todd Bowles spoke to the media for the first time since before the NFL Draft. Obviously, he was gauged for an update on where the situation stands with White.
According to Bowles, White's absence isn't a "big deal" at this time. Maybe even more telling, he said that the two haven't had any conversations with one another as of late.
"No more conversation but the offseason is all voluntary so it's not really a big deal right now," Bowles said.
"I have not [spoken to White] but our coaches have and I understand where we are at this point," Bowles continued.
It sounds like both sides are remaining patient at this time. The Buccaneers are unlikely to trade White this summer so this situation will need to come to a conclusion before training camp gets underway.
White was named second-team All-Pro in 2020 and earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2021. Since being selected by Tampa Bay in 2019, he's started in all 62 of his appearances and totaled 483 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, one interception, and two defensive touchdowns.
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