Leo Chenal And The Bucs
March 8th, 2026
It’s become rather obvious to anyone paying attention that Lavonte David is strongly considering returning to the Bucs for a 15th season in 2026.
The legendary Bucs linebacker is likely feeling like a new man following postseason knee surgery. Also, David’s last public interview included him saying, “I still got a lot of football left in me.“
And then there’s the reality of no retirement announcement from David while free agency kicks off tomorrow at noon.
Of course, David may wince in pain when he sees how much the Bucs offer him. David, 36, earned $9 million last year and could be looking at half of that following a rough season.
But suppose David does return at a reduced salary and reduced snaps? That should lead the Bucs to look for a versatile inside linebacker in free agency that is OK with a potential rotational role. Leo Chenal, who is expected to break free from the Chiefs, could be that guy.
Chenal, 25, was a late-third-round pick of the Chiefs in 2022. He’s known for being an athletic and physical tackler, and a guy comfortable running and hitting and blitzing effectively. Chenal has been durable through his career but has never played more than 450 snaps in a season. That’s part-time work. For perspective, David logged 1,023 snaps last season.
If David is back, Joe would applaud adding a mid-priced guy like Chenal and drafting an inside linebacker, with SirVocea Dennis taking his rightful place on special teams and in a spot duty as the No. 4 inside linebacker.
March 8th, 2026 at 5:12 pm
LVD needs to do the right thing and retire. He’s shot.
March 8th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
There are so many holes in the defense, I hope LVD returns this season. I realize he is in the last year of his career and that he has lost a step. However, an old broken down LVD is still better than SVD. How Licht draft’s clowns like SVD and let’s them start every year is beyond me. lol.
March 8th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
Rotating with LVD? Would work well if he agrees.
March 8th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
Need this guy. Futs exactly what we want
March 8th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
No sentimental bs. Do not resign david or Mike. We need to go after hendrickson and anzalone
March 8th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Part time linebackers have to play special teams. You don’t pay part-time linebackers 5,6 million to play teams.
March 8th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
As long as he will take the reduced pay and playing time, they can cut him some slack on ST duty. He earned that. I bet they overpay him like the rest of JL’s buddies.
March 8th, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Love LvD, one of my all time favourites, I still remember in 2013 I told fans sitting beside me at Ray Jay that LvD was going to be the next Derrick Brooks….but father time has caught up and it’s time to hang it up.
March 8th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
Yeah I think Lavonte needs to consider retiring now, too! They need to go after LBs like Lloyd Edmunds Elliss Pratt Anzalone Williams Singleton & a couple others I’m sure I’m missing.
March 8th, 2026 at 9:16 pm
Even if David comes back, and I hope he does – you still have to make your personnel moves as if he’s not going to be there. It’s the smart thing to do – and the reasonable thing to do. Then if David is back and healthy and the knee issues clear up and he regains some speed he lost last season – then you got a huge huge bonus.
March 8th, 2026 at 9:54 pm
There’s also a message to free agents and to agents as well. Licht built a reputation on being more than fair to team players. Think Vincent Jackson. Indeed, think Sterling Sharp getting paid a bonus he didn’t earn.
Now, Livht is not into charity, and realistically LVD’s contracts over the last three years have been well more than any other team would have paid him. And he has to be worth a place on the roster — something the Bucs know more about than other teams, and way more than reporters and fans will ever know. So prediction here is that if he does return he will be way better than the player we saw last year. And if he isn’t resigned here he won’t make it elsewhere either.
March 9th, 2026 at 12:02 am
I hope he stays. I hope he stays healthy. I hope he wins another Superbowl bowl. Go Bucs