Lavonte David isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And for that, Bucs fans should celebrate.
Tampa Bay and David have agreed to a five-year contract extension worth more than $50 million.
David is arguably the best linebacker in the NFL that many people don’t know a whole lot about. Remember Derrick Brooks? Yeah, this guy is a lot like him.
David is entering his fourth year in Tampa. Last year, he was, by far, the team leader in tackles with 146. He is the glue that holds that part of the defense together, just as Gerald McCoy does up front.
So why doesn’t he get the fanfare that other stars do? It’s simple: he plays in Tampa, and his team only won two games last year. But he is one of the top defensive players in the league, and his big payday is proof of that.