The start to the new league year has been chaotic to say the least but we’re only just getting started. Over in Tampa Bay, star linebacker, Devin White, decided to cause a stir a few weeks back with a series of Instagram photos that sparked speculation over his future with the Bucs. If that future is indeed in jeopardy, should it be the Eagles who come knocking?
Is Devin White on the way out of Tampa Bay?
White posted some cryptic messages on Instagram a couple of weeks ago. 3 images with captions such as ‘Four years went by fast’ seemed to hint at a potential departure, while another post simply said ‘thank ya’ as if the end of his tenure was coming.
Buccaneers insider, Rick Stroud, shot down those rumors by saying there is no traction to any kind of Devin White trade rumor, but things heated up once again shortly after.
Let the fun begin
The Eagles recently signed former Browns, and crucially to this story, LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. The former second-round pick posted a picture on Instagram highlighting his arrival to the City of Brotherly Love, and our Eagles writer Chris Infante spotted something a little suspicious.
That’s Devin White’s Instagram account saying ‘Let’s make it happen‘. Now he could be talking about a potential remake of Stephen King’s hit movie ‘It’ where both players feature as main characters, but the much more likely scenario is the talk of a potential reunion.
Let’s say this was a potential hint that White would be open to a trade. Could it happen? Well, yes.
Devin White on the trade block?
White is entering his fifth and final contracted year and is going to cost the Bucs $11.7M in cap space. The Bucs currently rank last in the NFL with only $726K in available cap space. It’s safe to say that freeing up $12M would be optimal, especially if White could be leaving next year anyway.
This is the prime candidate for a Howie Roseman trade, especially if we look at both A.J Brown and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s arrivals last year.
The Eagles give up a pick here and a Hoagie there and in return get one year of service from one of the league’s top players. From there, if they can’t work out a deal, they let him walk and rinse and repeat this process while younger players develop under the radar, waiting to eventually take over that role.
White and Williams spent time together at LSU and were part of the same draft class. Not only is there clear chemistry there, but Howie Roseman has recently taken an affinity for SEC schools when it comes to drafting, so that could also be an angle here.
Devin White would be a perfect fit for the Eagles
Philly is in the market for a linebacker after both Kyzir White and T.J Edwards left in free agency. They do have Nakobe Dean waiting in the wings, but he can’t play both spots. The arrival of White would not only give the Eagles a bonafide starter for a year, but a linebacker who has won a Super Bowl, been named to the Pro Bowl, and has rallied to 124+ tackles in each of his last 3 seasons.
Chances are this is just White encouraging his former teammate to make something happen in Philly as it pertains to Greedy’s career. But that’s the boring option and doesn’t involve us stalking which accounts players are following and unfollowing during the NFL offseason. It’s just not as fun.
There is a chance that the Bucs would at least be open to negotiation with Philadelphia. If they know there is little chance of retaining White, they may as well cash in now before losing him for nothing. Maybe it costs a third-round pick and some change, or maybe the price is too steep. Whatever the case, it would behoove the Eagles to at least enquire about Devin White.
Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
