Forward of subsequent season, Professional Soccer Focus has been busy rating gamers at every place. It has been a subject of a lot dialogue, together with on Thursday’s Pewter Report Podcast the place we went over the place Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield positioned.
Whereas it has been offensive-focused to date, PFF just lately ranked each the within and outdoors linebacker positions with one Buccaneer specifically receiving some worthy recognition, whereas others may very well be up subsequent in line.
Even At 34 Years Previous, Bucs ILB Lavonte David Stays One Of “The Greatest”
Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Picture by: USA Immediately
Bucs inside linebacker Lavonte David was pretty much as good as ever final season, turning again the clock in a significant means – or possibly he’s simply “timeless.”
“I don’t even have a look at his age – he performs timeless, he performs timeless soccer,” Bowles stated again in January. “He performs it the correct means, he prepares the correct means, he’s the last word skilled.”
In 15 video games, David recorded 134 whole tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Fellow linebacker Ok.J. Britt saved it easy when speaking concerning the veteran linebacker at OTAs this week, calling him “the perfect.”
That time is bolstered as PFF ranked David because the sixth-best inside linebacker within the NFL, having this to say about him.
David, 34, is coming off his lowest season-long PFF protection grade since 2015. That being stated, his 68.6 mark nonetheless ranked inside the highest 25 on the place, and we solely have to return to 2022 to seek out him inside the highest 5, together with his 88.0 PFF protection grade putting second amongst linebackers.
Apparently, they identified his protection grade final season to carry towards him, despite the fact that he locked up his matchups repeatedly. That features Sam LaPorta again in October, who has already established himself as among the best tight ends within the league.
Forward of Lavonte David within the rankings are Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, Demario Davis, Matt Milano, and C.J. Mosley. It’s exhausting to be upset with David being prime ten at his place, however there may be additionally a powerful argument to have him at No. 3 or no less than within the prime 5.
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and ILBs Ok.J. Britt and Lavonte David – Picture by: USA Immediately
Much like the case one may make for Bucs huge receiver Mike Evans, he has the resume of longstanding manufacturing with no indicators of slowing down. Statistically, he recorded higher total numbers than every of Davis, Milano (who solely performed 5 video games in 2023), and Mosley.
Surprisingly, this is without doubt one of the few rankings the place David locations forward of Bobby Wagner, his longtime up to date as among the best linebackers all through the 2010s. Regardless of main the league with 183 whole tackles final season, Wagner positioned twentieth.
As for Ok.J. Britt, he stays off the checklist as he solely began 4 video games final 12 months. Britt did play effectively after filling in for Devin White towards the top of the season, and if he claims the opposite beginning inside linebacker spot and performs each down this season, he may discover himself ranked sooner or later.
No Bucs OLBs Place Inside The High 32
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Picture by: Cliff Welch P/R
Whereas Lavonte David represents the Bucs effectively within the linebacker rankings, it’s a completely different story at exterior linebacker. None of Tampa Bay’s cross rushers crack the highest 32. To some extent, that is anticipated because the room lacks established manufacturing.
Outdoors of 2023 third-round choose YaYa Diaby, who led the group with 7.5 sacks, it’s a blended group of rotational gamers (Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson, and Randy Gregory) or unproven youth (Chris Braswell, Markees Watts, and Jose Ramirez).
The hope is that one in all them emerges subsequent to Diaby subsequent season, however the ceiling of the place is essentially depending on “Agent Zero.” He would seemingly be one of many first honorable mentions after he got here on robust down the stretch within the second half of final season.
For now, Diaby is on the surface wanting in, but when he can take down extra quarterbacks in 2024 with a full slate of video games, he has the perfect shot of representing the Bucs on the checklist in 2025.
