Reports: Bucs reach 2-year, $25M extension with LB Lavonte David
Bruce Arians isn’t letting linebacker Lavonte David leave Tampa.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and David agreed to a two-year, $25 million extension Tuesday, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, with $20 million of that deal guaranteed, per ESPN.
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
David, 31, has spent his entire career with the Bucs — who took him in the second round of the 2012 draft. The Miami native racked up 117 total tackles last season and had one interception with two fumble recoveries while helping Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl LV win. David had six tackles in Tampa's 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in that game, the second-highest on the team behind only Devin White.
He was about to become a free agent this offseason after his last five-year, $50 million deal was set to expire.
David has served as a captain for seven straight seasons, and is the longest tenured player on the team. He missed just seven snaps all season, and has missed only five games over the past six seasons.
Arians had promised that he would bring him back during their Super Bowl boat parade last month, too, when he told him that, “Your ass ain’t going nowhere,” per ESPN.
The Bucs also announced Tuesday that they used the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin.
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