Position Group: Inside Linebackers
Players: Lavonte David, K.J. Britt, J.J. Russell, SirVocea Dennis (Reserve/Injured), Antonio Grier Jr. (Reserve/Future), Deion Jennings (Reserve/Future), Deion Jones (Reserve/Future)
2024 Evaluation: Ageless wonder Lavonte David continued his reign of dominance in 2024, manning the middle of the Bucs' defense. The Bucs generated the most unblocked pressures (64) and the 4th-quickest average time to pressure (2.59 seconds) in the NFL this past season and David recorded 12 of those unblocked pressures, 2nd-most in the league and just one behind Andrew Van Ginkel's league-leading 13. At age 34, David was the lone player in the league with 100-plus tackles, 5.0-plus sacks and three-or-more forced fumbles. Over the past 10 seasons, only four players have recorded those numbers in a single season: David (2024), Antoine Winfield Jr. (2023), Shaquille Leonard (2018) and Thomas Davis (2015).
David sets the tone and amassed 122 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks (career-best) in 2024. David became a focal point in blitz packages and collapsed the pocket around opposing quarterbacks. The athletic specimen quickly worked from Point-A to Point-B on the field and made impactful plays with fluid footwork. David pairs rare instincts/play recognition with elite tackling technique and understanding of leverage to fuel the defense. He played 1,078 defensive snaps, while K.J. Britt came in next with 613.
Britt made 11 game starts (14 games played) and accumulated 72 tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a half-sack in 2024. He missed three games due to an ankle injury and J.J. Russell filled in as his replacement alongside David. Britt, a downhill attack player, was adept at constricting run lanes and taking backs down with hard hits.
Additionally, rookie SirVocea Dennis contributed 104 snaps and J.J. Russell nabbed 249. The Bucs placed Dennis on injured reserve in October after he aggravated a shoulder injury in the team's Week Four contest with the Philadelphia Eagles. Dennis was initially expected to miss only a few weeks, but the injury required surgery, sending the first-year player to IR. He played in the club's first four games of the 2024 campaign, splitting snaps with Britt opposite David. To maximize his coverage skills, Dennis primarily came onto the field in passing situations on third down to bolster the middle of the Bucs' defense. He posted 20 tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack in his small sample size. Russell tallied two pass breakups and 33 tackles in 16 games played (three game starts). He quickly located the ball and navigated through traffic with lateral agility. With solid pursuit and diagnosis, Russell stepped up when needed on the gridiron.
2025 Outlook: David headlines the list of 22 potential unrestricted free agents after leading the Bucs with 122 tackles in 2024 in his 13th NFL season at age 34. Britt, a member of Tampa Bay's 2021 draft class, has completed his initial four-year contract and is set to hit the open market. Russell is a restricted free agent, meaning he has three accrued seasons in the league, whereas an unrestricted free agent has four or more accrued seasons with an expiring contract. The Bucs will likely bolster the position group through the draft or free agency. Tampa Bay could seek to find a long-term eventual successor for David to pair with the young Dennis.
