David and the Buccaneers agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract with $9 million guaranteed Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. David will return to Tampa Bay for a 14th season with the team in 2025. The linebacker is coming off of a 2024 campaign in which he compiled 122 total tackles (76 solo), including 5.5 sacks, while also adding six passes defensed, one of which was an interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games. Since entering the NFL in 2012, David leads all players with 1,111 total tackles and he'll now look to help lead the Bucs to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
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NFC South
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passing yards
4500rushing yards
1122receiving yards
1004tackles
76interceptions
2Passing
name GP CMP ATT CMP% YDS YDS/G TD INT SACK SYL RTG K. Trask,QB411100.0%51.3000087.5B. Mayfield,QB1740757071.4%4,500264.7411640248106.8Rushing
name GP CAR YDS AVG LNG YDS/G TD FUM LST FD T. Thomas,CB171-2-2.00-0.10020K. Trask,QB45-4-0.80-1.00000S. Shepard,WR148698.6244.90074B. Mayfield,QB17603786.32822.23132124R. White,RB161446134.35638.3333635S. Tucker,RB17503086.23618.121117K. Johnson,WR52115.5112.20001C. Godwin,WR7122.020.30101J. McMillan,WR1344310.8173.30003B. Irving,RB172071,1225.45666.0823352C. Otton,TE141-4-4.04-0.30240Receiving
name GP REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YDS/G YAC FD S. Shepard,WR1432513341013023.999.016R. Jarrett,WR109111241403012.418.05R. White,RB165157393863224.6516.018S. Tucker,RB17912109121366.4105.06K. Johnson,WR50100000.00.00T. Palmer,WR1512221721412711.542.07C. Godwin,WR750625761255582.3350.033J. McMillan,WR1337584611283335.5133.023M. Evans,WR14741101,00414115771.7226.053P. Durham,TE161114115102317.224.05B. Irving,RB174752392804223.1528.016D. Culp,TE556881802617.631.04T. Wirfs,T160090090.69.00R. Miller,WR1112201281123911.655.07C. Otton,TE1459876001044442.9311.031Defense
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumblesname GP SOLO AST TOTAL SACK SCKYDS TFL PD INT TD FF FR FTD A. Grier Jr., LB7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Thomas, CB17 4 3 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Brewer, DL12 7 5 12 2 11 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 K. Isaac, CB5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Smith, SAF13 37 16 53 0 0 4 7 2 0 3 0 0 E. Deckers, LS11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Winfield Jr., SAF9 34 26 60 2 11 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 K. Britt, LB14 40 32 72 0.5 4.5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 J. Dean, CB12 45 14 59 0 0 0 7 1 0 1 0 0 M. Watts, OLB5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R. White, RB16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Whitehead, SAF12 49 30 79 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 T. Gill, P8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V. Vea, NT16 27 15 42 7 47 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 J. Russell, LB16 16 9 25 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 C. Braswell, OLB17 11 6 17 1.5 9.5 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Y. Diaby, OLB17 39 15 54 4.5 34 13 0 0 0 1 1 0 R. Neal, SAF2 2 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Izien, SAF14 48 27 75 0 0 4 3 1 0 1 0 0 S. Tucker, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 G. Gaines, DL15 7 10 17 1 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Z. McCollum, CB17 55 27 82 0 0 1 17 2 0 0 1 0 B. Stille, DL3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 J. Ramirez, OLB4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Greene, DL3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Nelson, OLB17 23 13 36 4 25 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 T. Funderburk, CB13 9 4 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 J. Tryon-Shoyinka, OLB15 15 9 24 2 20 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 V. Jones, LB7 3 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 J. Hayes, DB15 19 11 30 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 L. David, LB17 76 46 122 5.5 43.5 9 6 1 0 3 1 0 W. Gholston, DL17 6 6 12 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Jones, MLB2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Edwards, SAF5 6 5 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 C. Godwin, WR7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. McMillan, WR13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Evans, WR14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P. Durham, TE16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Irving, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Dennis, LB4 13 7 20 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. Merriweather, SAF14 11 4 15 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 C. Kancey, DL12 22 6 28 7.5 51 11 0 0 0 1 1 0 S. Barrett, OLB1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Wirfs, T16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Hall, CB1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L. Hall, DL16 17 11 28 5.5 38.5 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 R. Miller, WR11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L. Goedeke, T13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Otton, TE14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. Kieft, TE17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -
passing yards
185rushing yards
77receiving yards
92tackles
5Passing
name GP CMP ATT CMP% YDS YDS/G TD INT SACK SYL RTG B. Mayfield,QB1151883.3%185185.02012146.5Rushing
name GP CAR YDS AVG LNG YDS/G TD FUM LST FD B. Mayfield,QB17233.31823.00121R. White,RB1111.011.00000B. Irving,RB117774.51977.00063Receiving
name GP REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YDS/G YAC FD R. White,RB12214701314.010.00J. McMillan,WR124412102641.011.02M. Evans,WR177921312392.029.07B. Irving,RB12263146.012.01C. Otton,TE122321602032.019.02Defense
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumblesname GP SOLO AST TOTAL SACK SCKYDS TFL PD INT TD FF FR FTD T. Thomas, CB1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Smith, SAF1 5 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Winfield Jr., SAF1 3 4 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. Britt, LB1 3 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Dean, CB1 3 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 B. Mayfield, QB1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V. Vea, NT1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Russell, LB1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Braswell, OLB1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Y. Diaby, OLB1 2 2 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 G. Gaines, DL1 3 3 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Z. McCollum, CB1 2 1 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 A. Nelson, OLB1 1 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Tryon-Shoyinka, OLB1 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Hayes, DB1 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L. David, LB1 3 5 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. Jones, MLB1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 M. Edwards, SAF1 4 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. Merriweather, SAF1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Kancey, DL1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Barrett, OLB1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L. Hall, DL1 5 2 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R. Miller, WR1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Buccaneers Depth Chart
Buccaneers Injury Report
David and the Buccaneers agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract with $9 million guaranteed Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. David will return to Tampa Bay for a 14th season with the team in 2025. The linebacker is coming off of a 2024 campaign in which he compiled 122 total tackles (76 solo), including 5.5 sacks, while also adding six passes defensed, one of which was an interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games. Since entering the NFL in 2012, David leads all players with 1,111 total tackles and he'll now look to help lead the Bucs to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
The Buccaneers aren't planning to use the franchise tag on Godwin (ankle), Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. Tampa Bay has already used the tag on Godwin twice, so using it again would result in a 144 percent raise, Laine notes. She also states that the Buccaneers want Godwin back and that the wideout wants to return to the club, so there appears to be a mutual desire to get a new deal completed. Godwin ended last season on IR due to an ankle injury that he suffered in mid-October, but he's expected to be ready for the start of next season, which will be his ninth in the NFL -- all of which to this point have been with Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers informed Whitehead (neck) on Wednesday that his $3.75 million team option for 2025 will be declined, making him an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 12, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Tampa Bay will move on from the soon-to-be 28-year-old safety after he started 12 games in 2024 and finished with 79 tackles (49 solo) and three pass breakups. He missed the team's regular-season finale and its loss to the Commanders in the wild-card round due to a neck injury sustained in a car accident, but his availability for the start of the 2025 season doesn't appear to be in any peril.
The Buccaneers and Godwin (ankle) agreed Tuesday to push back the void date on his contract to March 12, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports. Godwin is slated to be an unrestricted free agent, and by extending the veteran wideout's void date until the final day of the league year, the two sides will have more time to negotiate a new deal. Auman notes that Tampa Bay will carry some dead money from Godwin's current deal in 2025 no matter what, but the Buccaneers will divide the cap hit between the next two years -- as opposed to all $18 million being on the books for next season -- if they are able to work out an extension with the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Godwin ended last season on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated left ankle Week 7 against Baltimore, but he's expected to be recovered by the start of 2025 training camp.
Barrett, who retired from the Dolphins before training camp began and then resumed his career in December with the Buccaneers, finished the 2024 regular season with one tackle in one game. Barrett returned to Tampa Bay after the Dolphins waived him from the reserve/retired list and logged 12 snaps in Week 18 against the Saints. Barrett also played five snaps in the wild-card loss to the Commanders and logged a solo tackle in that contest, and he's slated to return to the open market again when the new league year begins March 12. Whether Barrett opts to continue his career remains to be seen, but if he confirms he remains interested in playing, the Buccaneers and multiple other teams will likely be very interested in exploring a deal.
Edwards finished the 2024 regular season with 11 tackles (six solo) and one defensed pass across five games. Edwards returned to the team that invested a 2019 third-round pick in him after opening the season with the Bills and then joining the Titans for a week following his release by Buffalo. Edwards then suffered a hamstring injury two games into his Buccaneers tenure, leading to a pair of absences before a Week 16 return. Edwards' best showing actually came during the wild-card loss to the Commanders, when he recorded five tackles across 57 snaps. Edwards will once again be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins, and it remains to be seen if Tampa Bay will be interested in a reunion.
Merriweather posted 17 tackles (11 solo), including 1.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery across 14 regular-season games in 2024. The second-year safety's 244 snaps on defense were 95 more than he logged during his rookie 2023 campaign, and he also maintained a robust role on special-teams coverage and return units. Merriweather took on a bigger role down the stretch after he was brought back following his mid-November release, posting a career-best seven tackles across 53 snaps in Week 14 against the Raiders and also playing 63 snaps against the Saints in Week 18 while posting three tackles and a pass defensed. Merriweather is an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, meaning the Buccaneers will retain control as long as they make him a qualifying offer.
Gaines provided 17 tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 15 regular-season games in 2024. The veteran played his fewest snaps (374) since the 2020 season, with that total also representing an 81-play downturn from his 2023 Buccaneers debut campaign. Gaines primarily served in a rotational role on the defensive front, and he went into the offseason on the heels of his most productive game of 2024 by recording six tackles over 26 snaps in the wild-card loss to the Commanders. Given Gaines' minor role and the fact he'll be 29 by the time next season begins, it's likely Tampa Bay lets him explore his options when he hits the open market at the start of the new league year.