The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lavonte David are an excellent match.
The outstanding defender will return to Raymond James Stadium for the 13th season.
While few players can have such a significant impact this late in their careers, GM Jason Licht believes he is coming off his greatest season ever.
That’s why he signed him to a one-year contract to entice him back.
Furthermore, Licht believes David exemplifies everything the team looks for in a player (via Around the NFL).
“He is the epitome of it,” Licht explained. “He is a literal poster child for us. We have a silhouette of a Bucs player in our draft room that says, ‘I am that man,’ and this is the type of player we want — the characteristics we just mentioned — and it doesn’t show his face, but it is Lavonte. He is the one we seek for every year. “He is the standard.”
The Buccaneers selected the 34-year-old in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
In 15 appearances for Todd Bowles’ club, he recorded 134 tackles and 4.5 sacks, his highest total since 2016.
David has been vital in the Buccaneers’ three consecutive NFC South Division victories, and they will need him to be at his best next season, as the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons improve.
Some thought he was ready to ride into the sunset and call it quits following their loss to the Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round, but it appears that the star linebacker isn’t ready to retire just yet, and the Bucs will gladly keep him for as long as he wants to play.
Leave a Reply