Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Outlook: Inside Linebacker Position

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shift their focus to the offseason, there are question marks at every position on the roster. In this series, we’ll look at each position grouping and see what the Bucs have on the roster who is an impending free agent, and the outlook for the 2024 season.

On The Roster

K.J. Britt

Playing mostly special teams his first two seasons with the Bucs, Britt got his first opportunity to start this year. He started six games this season including two in the playoffs racking up 29 tackles. Most important he showed the spot wasn't too big for him. He is penciled in as starting linebacker for next season, pending what the team does in the offseason.

SirVocea Dennis

The Bucs' fifth-round draft pick in 2023, Dennis was all the talk during minicamp and training camp and settled nicely into a backup role for the Bucs. He saw the field on defense sporadically and mostly played special teams but started Week 11 due to injury and showed promise finishing with five tackles. He will likely compete for a starting job next season. 

J.J. Russell

Russell had a stand-out preseason but found himself waived at roster cuts. He signed onto the practice squad and was elevated in Weeks 2-4 then signed onto the active roster in Week 11. He started one game against the Panthers and finished with six tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. He's mostly a core special teams member but is someone the Bucs know they can rely on in a pinch. He figures to be back in the mix competing for a roster spot next season. 

Vi Jones

Jones entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and signed with the Seahawks. He saw action in three games solely on special teams. He had two stints on the Bucs practice squad after signing in November. Jones signed a futures contract with the team in January.

Impending Free Agents

Lavonte David

The Bucs' longest-tenured player on the roster is set to become a free agent for the second year in a row. David defies the laws of age putting up a ridiculous 134 tackles, 17 for loss, 4.5 sacks, five passes defended, and a forced fumble in 2023. The All-Pro linebacker stated recently he will either return to the Bucs or retire but recent posts on his Instagram show him working out for the upcoming season. Making it safe to say the all-world linebacker is likely to return in 2024. 

Devin White

What a turn it took with White. From Super Bowl hero to trade requests to being benched, the enigmatic linebacker has likely played his last snap with the Bucs. White's play has fallen off considerably since 2020 and his antics in the offseason and his streaky play make it a forgone conclusion he will be playing in a different uniform in 2024. 

2024 Outlook

With Lavonte David likely back in the fold, the Bucs will have to address the starting spot next to him. Britt's ability to showcase he could handle the job and the drafting of Dennis last year may lead the Bucs to feel as if the answer is on the roster. However, there are some potential free agent fits as well as some intriguing prospects in the draft they could target to fill the shoes of White. There are some questions to be answered at the position but with David's recent remarks and the likelihood he returns for a 13th season, it's not a pressing need as it once could've been considered.