Has the Lavonte David era ended in Tampa?
The possibility of re-signing Lavonte David or many of the other pending free agents was always going to be tough thi…
The possibility of re-signing Lavonte David or many of the other pending free agents was always going to be tough this off-season. While nothing has been ruled out yet, David may have just started taking his first steps in a different direction.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, David will be testing free agency next week. While that won’t stop him from returning to Tampa, Rapoport described the likelihood as “challenging.”
The dilemma between Lavonte David and the Bucs is not an easy one to resolve
Bucs LB Lavonte David — Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Outside of cornerback Jamel Dean, David is the most needed defensive player that the Bucs want back on the roster next season. The problem is the Bucs had $56 million above the salary cap earlier this week before the release of Donovan Smith, the only reality David will return to is if he gets a smaller deal than the one he had when he signed a two year $25 contract signed. million deal after the 2020 season.
That’s why David is testing the market. He wants to gauge how much he is worth at the age of 33.
The best way for Tampa Bay to get him back would be if the veteran linebacker’s market wasn’t as ideal as he thought it would be when he tested the waters. He’s not the only inside linebacker available, as Bobby Wagner is also a free agent, so he has no control over the market.
The other key in this whole plan is that the Bucs will have a $6.85 million dead cap hit if David makes it through the first week of the legal sabotage period. That makes it even harder for the Bucs to sign anyone, let alone David.
Bucs GM Jason Licht — Photo by: Matt Matera/PR
David and the Bucs still have a mutual interest and he has said before that he would “love” to retire a Buccaneer. However, the reality is that it’s in David’s hands and if there’s a better deal next season or a chance to play with a team that’s more of a Super Bowl contender, it’s hard to blame him for having that option taken.
General Manager Jason Licht admitted big praise to the longtime Buc as he spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine and said no to a return.
“He is one of Tampa Bay’s iconic players and will always be a Buccaneer,” said Licht. “It’s still not ruled out that he will play for us next year. It takes two to agree. We’ll see how that unfolds, but he’s a great player.”
In his 11 years in Tampa Bay, David turned into one of the greatest defensive players in Bucs history. The door is not completely closed, but perhaps each side should turn the page to a new chapter.
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