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One of the biggest names the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were vowing to bring back this offseason will not be testing free agency.
Veteran linebacker Lavonte David and the Bucs have agreed on an extension, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The #Bucs are keeping one of their own: Tampa Bay has agreed to terms with star LB Lavonte David on a 2-year contract extension worth $25M, sources say. On the brink of free agency, David stays home.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2021
We’ll know more about the value and dollars this deal could have in the coming days, but this could very well be a contract that is heavy on the back end of it that can help with the current salary cap situation, but that’s merely speculative.
Earlier today, the Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin. David makes two of the three big names that the Bucs were focused on bringing back. The other being Shaquil Barrett.
It seems likely Barrett will be testing the waters as he is primed to to cash-in on a big payday this offseason. But for now, getting at least Godwin and David locked in for at least 2021 is a big step forward for the organization in their attempts in bringing back most of their Super Bowl roster.