Part of the Eagles’ retooling efforts at the linebacker spot this offseason included signing Devin White. The former No. 5 pick only landed a one-year deal, but it came as little surprise when he departed the Buccaneers considering the way his Tampa Bay tenure ended. 
White’s efforts to secure a top-of-the-market extension were unsuccessful, and that promoted a trade request in April. The Buccaneers did not move on, though, sticking with their plan of keeping him in the fold for 2024 on his fifth-year option. The 26-year-old began the campaign in his usual first-team role alongside Lavonte David, but a foot injury suffered in Week 3 limited his effectiveness for an extended stretch.
After being briefly sidelined, White seemed set to return to action in Week 15. He did not play, however, and reports suggested his decision not to suit up stemmed from learning K.J. Britt would retain a starting role even though White was healthy. Head coach Todd Bowles offered a denial on that front, but in any case the matter of White’s foot injury and the timeline of his return to action was a point of contention.
“A certain person wanted me to come back,” the LSU alum said during an appearance on The Pivot podcast (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “They wanted me to come back, and I just didn’t feel like I was ready. I felt like when I came back, I would’ve [known], and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like that I wasn’t ready on his terms.”
White declined to name the member of the organization in question, but he noted it was not Bowles. He did add, however, that his spring trade request led to a change in the way he was viewed by some in the team. The issue over his decision to play at less than 100% and then delay returning to action longer than necessary (at least, in the eyes of some) compounded that point.
“It was already downhill when I asked for the trade,” the former Pro Bowler said. “Everybody loved me at first, but when I asked for the trade and tried to do what was best for me, that turned everybody against me. Not everybody, but some higher-up people.”
Leading up to free agency, Bucs general manager Jason Licht confirmed the team had other priorities to handle this offseason when asked if White – who logged a rotational role once back on the field to close out the campaign – would be retained. In the end, the latter inked an Eagles deal worth $4MM and he will spend the remainder of the offseason competing for a starting gig. With White and the Buccaneers having gone their separate ways, both parties can now start over in 2024.
Talented LB, but his instincts aren’t great.
Athletic freak, but can’t read the offense and she’d blocks. LVD made him look really good too. The games LVD missed showed that Devin couldn’t lead the defense. He believed the hype way too much after his great SB run and never decided to improve.
If you get a chance, watch the highlights of the Bucs vs. Colts last year. Two plays stand out from that game, White choosing not to fill the hole on a Jonathan Taylor TD run, and even worse, White whiffing on Minshew near the goal line. White should’ve been cut after that game, the backups outplayed him anyway.
His athletic profile has always been better than his actual play, but this might be the hardest it’s ever been to be a linebacker. Most defenses are designed to cap big plays, so the middle of the field gets targeted, and in an era of great deceptive offenses. So you see some old linebackers who’ve slowed down, but are still important flex points in good defenses,,guys like David, Mosely, Demario Davis. But then you have great athletes like White or Bush or Jamin Davis who look like chum in the water sometimes.
We’re glad that you are an Eagle. You’re going to have a great season.
There’s a lot of upside on this signing, in the right defense. White is still young and has played at a very high level. Just don’t make him your signal caller on defense.