Lavonte David
Lavonte David returns to the Bay for his 14th season, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for the second-most seasons played in franchise history and trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Rondé Barber (16 seasons). David, the club's off-ball phenom, is the franchise record holder in forced fumbles (31) and fumble recoveries (19), in addition to ranking second in tackles (1,600), third in games played (198) and games started (198), and tied-for-sixth in sacks (39.0). Additionally, David holds the franchise playoff records for total tackles (79) and solo tackles (57). David's 2024 campaign marked his 11th career season with 100-or-more total tackles, the third-most in the NFL since 2000 behind only London Fletcher (14) and Bobby Wagner (13). Since he entered the league in 2012, no active player has more tackles for loss (169). The unquestioned leader of the Bucs' defense continues to perform at an elite level and sets the tone. Throughout his career, David has maintained consistency with instinctual play and rare recognition. As the league has become more pass-oriented with horizontal stretch and motion sprinkled in, David has revitalized his game to match opposing offensive schemes. One of the most well-rounded linebackers in the NFL is locked up for another year with the Buccaneers.
"In my 14 years of playing, I've probably played with five defensive coordinators," said David. "Each defense, I adapted to it and I made it what's good for me – I prevailed in each one. So, just adapting, taking what I learned from those defenses, and putting it into my game right now…The game doesn't change, people do the same thing but in different ways. Once you learn that and try to adjust to that, the game just slows down to you. It's just fun to see all of that just come together – all of the things that you learn from your rookie year all the way until now and putting it into fruition and watch yourself and see your product on the field, how you're moving through stuff like that and how you adapt to the game the way it's played now…it's a great feeling for you, personally."
Charlie Heck
After the departure of Justin Skule in free agency, the Buccaneers have a new swing tackle. Tampa Bay signed Charlie Heck, who has appeared in 50 career games, making 23 starts, between the Houston Texans (2020-23), Arizona Cardinals (2024) and San Francisco 49ers (2024). Heck has played primarily at right tackle – logging 1,334 career snaps on the right – yet saw most of his action at left tackle in 2024, seeing 80 snaps there compared to 25 snaps at right tackle. Over the last three seasons, Heck has yielded just two sacks across 311 pass blocking snaps. He discussed his mindset towards staying ready to play at both sides of the formation.
"When you're in that backup role as a swing, you've got to be going into the week picturing that you're going to be the starter," noted Heck. "You're probably not going to get nearly as many reps in practice, so that just comes down to watching the starter there and visualizing how you would do that. Anything can happen – you've got to be ready."
Sterling Shepard
Sterling Shepard returns to the fold in 2025, after signing a one-year deal with the club last offseason. The former Sooner will continue his run with Baker Mayfield. Shepard appeared in 14 games for Tampa Bay in 2024, making five starts and bringing in 32 receptions for 334 yards and one receiving touchdown, while adding eight carries for 69 yards. His 403 yards from scrimmage for the Bucs last season marked his highest output since the 2020 season. In his career, Shepard has started 79 of 104 career games between the New York Giants and the Buccaneers, totaling 404 receptions for 4,429 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns along with 32 rushing attempts for 255 yards and one rushing score. He helped ignite the Bucs' offense last season as injuries piled up and emerged as the number-three option.
"Baker is one of those quarterbacks that you want to give your all for and it has been that way since college," said Shepard. "It's been that way since my senior year when I got a chance to play with him. Obviously, I was on the road to retirement last year, and he gave me that call. I wouldn't want to come back and play for anybody else. If I had to choose between going to go spend time with my kids or going to go play football, if I was going to decide to play football, it would be with Baker Mayfield. I wouldn't want to do it with anybody else. I'm very blessed and fortunate to be in the position I am right now and I can't wait to just put on a helmet and go to work."
Anthony Walker Jr.
The Buccaneers parted ways with K.J. Britt and signed Anthony Walker Jr. to join Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis. Walker Jr. has started 83 of 99 games in his career, splitting time between the Indianapolis Colts (2017-20), Cleveland Browns (2021-23) and Miami Dolphins (2024). He has recorded 571 career tackles (26 for loss), 21 passes defensed, nine quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Walker has started all three of his career postseason contests, logging 12 tackles (one for loss). He plays with outstanding field awareness and is adept at limiting screens and comeback routes over the middle of the field. Walker will boost the Bucs' defense in passing situations.
"Obviously, defense is all about knowing where your spot is and everyone knowing where their spot is and understanding how offenses can attack us and making sure we limit those games where they do throw it there," described Walker. "It starts out with me doing my job and my job is to cover the middle of the field. I pride myself on not allowing the ball to be thrown deep behind me or deep in front of me. That's my job. That's me knowing what the defensive call is and executing my job at that time, whether I'm blitzing or I'm dropping in coverage or I'm stopping the run. Whatever it is, you just want to execute your job and make sure the other 10 guys are on the same page as you with what the defensive call is. I see all the stuff on social media and everything where people [are] like, 'His PFF grade…' and all that. I'm just here to tell you, you can watch the film – the ball does not get completed behind me or in front of me in the middle of the field and that's how I feel."
