Devin White Ends Holdout, But Will He Be A Hold-In?
Bucs inside linebacker Devin White ended his offseason holdout as he showed up for a voluntary team photo shoot for a series of promotional photos and videos to be used by the team, its sponsors and the media at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa. The news was first reported by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
White, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick in 2019, has skipped all of the team’s voluntary offseason training camps and OTA (organized team activity) practices this offseason in protest over his current contract situation. The Bucs picked up his fifth-year option for the 2023 and he is scheduled to make $11.706 million.
White doesn’t want to play on the fifth-year option and wants a contract extension right now worth between $18-$20 million per season, which will put him at or near the top of the highest-paid linebackers. Baltimore’s Roquan Smith is currently the highest-paid inside linebacker with his new deal in 2022 worth $20 million per season.
White demanded that the Bucs trade him back in March, but the team refused and is making him play on his fifth-year option instead. White’s popularity with the Bucs fan base has plummeted since news of his trade demands went public, in addition to some of his White’s social media posts, which have indicated he would rather play for the NFC champion Eagles.
