Steelers can fully overhaul the linebacker room with latest NFL news
The Pittsburgh Steelers approached free agency with the understanding that things needed to change when it came to the linebacker corps. The heart and soul of the black and gold since the inception of the franchise, recent years have seen missed draft picks and patchwork free agents try and fill the void left by Ryan […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers approached free agency with the understanding that things needed to change when it came to the linebacker corps.
The heart and soul of the black and gold since the inception of the franchise, recent years have seen missed draft picks and patchwork free agents try and fill the void left by Ryan Shazier.
And while the Steelers added productive free agents in Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts, they still lack a bit of "juice" if you will. The latest NFL news can fix that, but only if Pittsburgh acts fast.
Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, former Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin White has asked for a trade, seeking to leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
White just turned 25, has been productive, won a championship with the Bucs and has his whole prime in front of him.
So why would he want to leave?
Well, money talks, and you know what walks…
In Jenna Laine's detailed piece for ESPN, she cleared the air with a look inside at what's going on between White and the Bucs, saying:
One of the sources told ESPN that White has grown increasingly frustrated with the team and is "fed up," said Laine. The source did not provide specifics on the root cause of White's frustration, but said he has become very unhappy in his current situation.
Another source told ESPN that White's frustrations stem from negotiations over a new contract.
In only four accrued seasons, white has played in 13 games or more every season with his past three campaigns resulting in over 120 total tackles and a 2020 season that saw White record a ludicrous nine sacks from an off-ball alignment.
So why would a team like the Bucs not want to pay a former top-five pick, that was a key cog in their Super Bowl run, highly productive, and still very young?
Last year's film tells you all you need to know.
White was a part of the controversy that surrounded the team last year, with Tom Brady only grabbing the headlines because…well he's Tom Brady.
But White was openly outed both in the media and even during games by broadcast teams when it came to his effort.
And effort is something that should never be questioned.
But the truth is, less than two years removed from a Super Bowl win, the Buccaneers were a mess internally last season.
A quarterback of Brady's stature with one foot already out the door, an overwhelmed coaching staff, a lack of cohesion on offense, and an aging, lazy defense, the 2022 Bucs were a shell of themselves.
So why should Pittsburgh trade for White?
In my opinion, the talented linebacker needs a change of scenery and brass leadership that won't coddle him or let him rest on his Super Bowl laurels.
Mike Tomlin and the veterans on the defense wouldn't dare allow White to play like he did last season, and would re-invigorate the star player that's still within.
And the best part?
Pittsburgh could probably acquire White for a late day two, early day three pick at worst, filling a need that no third or fourth-round prospect can.
White may need a dose of cold reality, and going from sunny Tampa to Pittsburgh may do just that.
