Will A Sad Ranking Motivate Lavonte David?
February 23rd, 2026
“They think you’re washed, Tae.”
When Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles host news conferences tomorrow at the NFL Scouting Combine, fans might learn the football fate of legendary Lavonte David.
David said the Bucs have welcomed him back for his 15th season, but David has not made a decision public. He has said he has “a lot of football left in me,” and that he’s still weighing his 2026 options.
Like every legendary player, David is a highly competitive dude. He gutted through knee issues last season to rank tied for 35th in combined tackles (114) including 3 1/2 sacks. David didn’t miss a game despite regularly having a knee drained.
TheAtheltic.com, the pay-per-read New York Times product, ranked 150 pending NFL free agents. One of them is David.
He checked in at No. 149.
Contract projection: 1 year, $6.5 million
Age: 36 Height: 6-1 Weight: 233
David lost a step (or two) in his age-35 season. He averaged 32.1 snaps per splash play, the highest of his career, and he is not an impact defender anymore. But his experience makes him a possible depth piece, if he chooses to keep playing.
Joe wonders what David thought when he saw that. And yes, Joe is confident someone in David’s circle sent the article his way with a wiseass comment or two.
Joe suspects a fire was lit in David, a guy not used to hearing that he’s a third-class player.
David has spent most of his career feeling disrespected because he was left out of Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams. Understandably so.
It’s possible David doesn’t want to leave the game with people thinking he can’t play anymore when he believes he can.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:44 am
He is no longer a 3 down LB. It is Time. He needs to look in the Mirror and as Spike once said, ‘do the Right thing’ and pack it in.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 am
For a moment I thought that Joe thought it was understandable that he was left off the Pro Bowl roster, then I reread the sentence.😒
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:53 am
Please retire LVD. Licht and Bowles are just wasting a valuable roster spot on him.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:55 am
If the Bucs welcome him back they’re not serious about improving. ROH GM will be out of a job next year.
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:59 am
Hopefully he took it with grain of salt. I am sure other LB!’s like Bobby Wagner or similar players would rank no better. The NFL is a youth club, which David is way over. He is also at this stage more valuable to himself and the Bucs or any other team more valuable as a role of part time player. I think his playing for the Bucs another year in that role is very much needed in many aspects!!!.
Let’s hope he plays another year in that role
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:05 am
I hope he’s brought back and his knee is better. He didn’t have a typical year – his knee, SVD, and loss of speed hurt him. However, he’s smart and knows Bowles’ defense.
I hope the Bucs bring in a FA who is a starter, not a typical Licht Dollar Store guy. Also the Bucs should draft a rd 2 or 3 ILB. LVD is extremely valuable while Bowles is here, likely one year.
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
Like many others, I was in favor of LVD retiring also. But IF he’s truly back 100% healthy, and is willing to play in a part-time role, it might be advantageous to re-sign him (at a reduced salary of course).
This past season LVD blitzed 55 times in 17 games, and got 3.5 sacks, 2 QB knockdowns & 5 hurries for a total of 11 pressures. Plus 114 tackles & 8 TFLs. And oh ya, 1 INT plus 2 FFs & 2 FRs. Only Diaby & Vea got more sacks than LVD did.
I could see LVD in a part-time role as the 3rd LB in what sets up as a 4-3 defense, and blitzing as the situations allowed. Hopefully the Bucs draft a beastly DT/NT (Kayden McDonald is still my favorite pick at #15). I can imagine a front of Vea, McDonald, Kancey & Diaby, backed up by 3 LBs & 4 Secondary. That should be able to provide a decent interior pass rush plus respectable blitzing options.
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:36 am
Kickoff team players don’t have to run as far anymore. New special teams guru, it’d be great if Lavonte led the kickoff team to a total about face. Then spot duty at linebacker to get the new guys up to speed. He’s got value for this team whether he’s lost a step or not. Hope he stays healthy and plays one more season.
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:39 am
“We KNOW you’re washed, Todd.”
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:43 am
If you bring him back in the right role (mentor and spot player) I can see a lot of good reasons to do it
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:56 am
Better to retire a year too early than a year too late. Jim Brown retired at the top of his game which is another reason he was truly the greatest to have ever played.
February 23rd, 2026 at 11:09 am
Ego is a hard thing to conquer. I’m 66 and still think I can kick a$$. It’s a pipe dream. LD needs to save face and retire.
February 23rd, 2026 at 11:34 am
6.5 million dollars…..good grief.
February 23rd, 2026 at 11:53 am
Nice coaching material, time to hang them up!! Thank you for your greatness!! Go Bucs
February 23rd, 2026 at 12:01 pm
DR, I’m a big fan of McDonald too. Haven’t heard him discussed much here. Aside from you. Would be totally on board with grabbing him as an impact DT. It all stems from inside pressure. Everyone plays better with effective inside pressure.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Your body tells you when it’s time, not your mind! Do some self evaluation and realize that actually last year was a year too long. This year would be two years too long.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:35 pm
The problem I have with these rankings is that they do not consider multiples years, nor the state of the entire team in the same year.
Yes, David had a down year.
No, it doesn’t mean he’s “lost a step (or two)”.
The entire team was a mess last year.
February 23rd, 2026 at 1:42 pm
When I think about LD losing a step I refer to his ranking last among all linebackers in pass coverage. QB’s against him had a 132 passer rating! That’s nothing personal it is what it is.
February 23rd, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Defense Rules. Glad I took 30 minutes researching McDonald. Didn’t take that long to peel back enough layers to see he’s exactly what we’re looking for there. Now the question is how do we get him and JRod.
February 23rd, 2026 at 4:46 pm
I’d rather have Banks than McDonald
February 23rd, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Kenton …
DT Kayden McDonald (6’3″ & 326 lbs) will be drafted in Rnd 1.
ILB Jacob Rodriquez is the FIFTH ranked ILB (Walter Football). He’s considered to be a little small (6’1″ & 230 lbs), and has a very average 40-time (4.68 secs). They classify him a a Day 2 pick (Rnds 2-3) because of his size mostly, but he may go in later Rnd 1. I like him as a replacement for LVD, but not as a MLB candidate.
There are some excellent ILB candidates in this year’s draft. But as I look at various mock drafts, seems like defense will be the early priority for well over half the teams this year. As for the Bucs, if there’s a beastly DT available when the Bucs pick at #15 (like McDonald), I’d say go for it. Then grab an excellent ILB next in Rnd 2, plus another ILB and an Edge in Rnds 3-4.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:17 pm
If idiot fan voters weren’t involved with Pro-Bowl voting, David would be a 1st ballot HOF’er for sure, and hopefully he does get in, even if it’s no on the 1st ballot. I’m as huge of a mark for David as you get. And while he single handedly beat the Seahawks last year with his game ending INT, he also clearly wasn’t himself and didn’t have the speed he’s always shown. The news about him getting a massive amount of fluid drained from his knee every week says it all. From what I read, it’s not something that fixes itself with rest, and I’m not sure getting the knee scoped will do much either. Of course I have very limited info, only the little said publicly to go off of, so I could be totally off base.
In any case, the Bucs have to plan on him not being there, and run the offseason that way — then if David is healthy, gets back at least half a step, the absolutely you welcome him back. That would be a huge bonus. But, again, you have to make plans as if he’s not going to be there, it’s just the reality of his age and injuries piling up.
February 23rd, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Under no circumstance should LVD return in 2026.
We need the cap space and need an improvement in the LB room.
Turtle Todd will need all the help he can get.
32nd ranked red zone defense in 2025 was an embarrassment.
LVD played a role in that failure. Time to go.
And there’s no need to go through this season that will likely be worse than last year. Retire and enjoy your time.
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:09 pm
Thanks, Joe, for the info that TheAthletic is a NY Times whelp. Neither sports nor accuracy are fortes of today’s Old Grey Lady.
February 23rd, 2026 at 7:16 pm
I think LVD should retire, but if he comes back I think he will have to start. Not that he should start, but because the alternative is so bad Bowes will make him start. Old slow LVD is still better than SVD. Hopefully Licht will be smart enough to bring in a decent FA inside LB. Unfortunately on defense Licht drafts guys that are not ready for the NFL, hypes them up, starts them and they fail. I have lost confidence in Licht, hope he proves me wrong this season.
February 23rd, 2026 at 8:37 pm
He can’t play anymore and there’s more to it than rushing the quarterback and stopping the run but the benefit to LVD playing another season is he’ll help Bowles get fired when tight ends are eating him for lunch over the middle of the field
February 23rd, 2026 at 9:04 pm
I fully understand what LVD has meant for the Bucs D & the organization over the last decade +….But it’s hard to justify $6.5M for a 36yr old that just posted the lowest rating of his career….Bottom 25% of all ILB in 2025.
The Bucs ILB starters were one of the worst combo’s in the league in 2025 & we know that Bowles D success is predicated on superior ILB play. (Both LVD & Dennis were rated in the bottom 25% of the leagues ILB’s)
So, that is money better spent on new players…& the FO could likely sign 2 for that kind of money depending how one shops in FA.
The FO could very well take that $6.5M that LVD would command – per the article – and go sign both 30yr old Germaine Pratt (IND)…& 26yr old Tampa native Micah McFadden (NYG)…Both are proven starting level talents with scheme fit athleticism & attributes.
To me, spending on the above 2 ILB makes better sense from a roster building perspective than spending that same coin bringing LVD back…It also would not stop the FO from drafting a ILB – Day 2….Because the Bucs need 3 solid ILB to fix that positional group.
February 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 pm
All time buc great
Questionable Hof for sure
But he is done