Apr 25, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Devin White (Louisiana State) stands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he was selected as the number five overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft in Downtown Nashville. Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
In an NFL Draft which featured several extremely talented pass rushers, Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht and coach Bruce Arians zeroed in on a target and they found him with the fifth pick in Thursday night’s first round.
LSU linebacker Devin White was the Bucs’ choice over Kentucky defensive end Josh Allen and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver. White’s pass rush skills may be counted on right away with defensive end Gerald McCoy a no-show for the team’s mini-camp which started on Tuesday.
“We have talked about these guys over and over,” Licht said. “We have watched every play they’ve ever played in college and we felt very comfortable that we made the right decision. Devin’s a linebacker, but he is also an attacking player; he’s a pressure-type linebacker. He can get to the quarterback, as well.”
White led the SEC with 133 tackles, 14 for loss, in 2017 and then came back last season with a 123 tackle effort. His flexibility and versatility at linebacker will be a huge plus for Tampa Bay and will allow him to move around on the defensive side of the football.
“He is one of the better blitzing linebackers we have seen in a long time,” explained Licht. “He can also cover and last, but not least, he is a tremendous person, leader, very smart.
Licht explained the versatility of White as he talked about how he could play an outside linebacker position in a 4-3 scheme, but in the base 3-4, Licht says that he will line up inside in tandem with Bucs linebacker Lavonte David. Licht explained that was a key thought which was put into drafting the LSU star.
“I don’t think Devin needs to learn how to be a true pro, but he needs to learn how to maneuver through the NFL, the training camp, the toll that it puts on your body, things like that, and I think Lavonte is the perfect guy,” stated Licht. “I couldn’t think of a better person to be his big brother here.”
White is a very cerebral player in that he knows the game in great depth and at such a young age. He talked about watching the 49ers’ Patrick Willis and Ravens’ great Ray Lewis as two players that were stalwarts in his learning to play the position.
White’s evaluation skills allowed him to take pieces of those players’ games and add to his. He knows his strengths and showed how he is a student of the game with his analysis and how he can tweak his game to give it depth which made him Top 5 pick.
“I’m looking to be an every-down linebacker,” noted White. “I’m going to play pass coverage; I’m going to play downhill; I’m going to play side-to-side. I’m going to cover everybody. If they need me to cover a tight end, a running back, I can go out there and play a little quarters.”
Tampa Bay had a very active defensive front last season as Jason Pierre-Paul led the Buccaneers with 12.5 sacks and the Carl Nassib and McCoy checked in with 6.5 and 6, respectively. Adding White’s athleticism and activity will be another complement to that type of line play and it can also try to upgrade a Buccaneers defense that accrued only 15 turnovers last season.
