Heading into next season, Pro Football Focus has been busy ranking players at each position, which has become a topic of much discussion. Thursday Pewter Report Podcast So we looked at Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s ranking.
While the focus has been on offense in the past, PFF recently internal and Outside Linebacker One pirate in particular is getting the recognition he deserves, and others may be next.
Even at 34, Buccaneers ILB Lavonte David remains one of the “best”
![How does Pff rank the Bucs Lbs heading into 2024? Buccaneers 2LB Lavonte David](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rsz_1usatsi_22078573-1-300x200.jpg)
Buccaneers ILB Lavonte David – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David was as good as ever last season, bringing back the times in a big way. Or maybe he’s just “timeless.”
“I don’t care about his age. He plays timeless. He plays timeless football,” Bowles said in January. “He plays the right way, he prepares the right way. He’s the ultimate professional.”
In 15 games, David recorded 134 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. When talking about veteran linebacker KJ Britt at OTAs this week, he simply called him “the best.”
This point is backed up by PFF ranking David as the sixth-best inside linebacker in the NFL, stating:
The 34-year-old Davids posted his lowest PFF coverage grade for a full season since 2015. That said, his 68.6 grade still ranks inside the top 25 at his position and he only needs to go back to 2022 to finish in the top five. His PFF coverage grade of 88.0 is second among linebackers.
Interestingly, they noted that his coverage grade last season was unfavorable despite him regularly sealing matchups, including Sam LaPorta in October, who has already established himself as one of the best tight ends in the league.
The players ranked above Lavonte David are Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, Demario Davis, Matt Milano and CJ Mosley, and while it’s hard to get mad at David for finishing in the top 10 at his position, there’s also a strong argument to have him third, or at least in the top five.
![How does Pff rank the Bucs Lbs heading into 2024? Buccaneers CB Zion McCollum and Ilvaz KJ Britt and Lavonte David](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rsz_usatsi_22303367-1-300x200.jpg)
![How does Pff rank the Bucs Lbs heading into 2024? Buccaneers CB Zion McCollum and Ilvaz KJ Britt and Lavonte David](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/rsz_usatsi_22303367-1-300x200.jpg)
Buccaneers CB Zion McCollum and ILBs KJ Britt and Lavonte David – Photo courtesy of USA Today
As is the case with Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, he’s been around for many years and shows no signs of slowing down: Statistically, he’s posted better overall production than Davis, Milano (who has only played in five games in 2023) and Mosley.
Surprisingly, this is one of the few rankings in which David ranks higher than longtime contemporary Bobby Wagner, who was one of the best linebackers throughout the 2010s. Wagner ranked 20th last season despite leading the league with 183 total tackles.
KJ Britt is off the list because he only started four games last year. Britt played well after filling in for Devin White late in the season. If he wins the other starting inside linebacker position and is able to get in the lineup, he could be a big part of the team. Play every down this seasonhe may find himself ranked in the future.
No Buccaneers OLBs ranked in the top 32
![How does PFF rank the Bucs heading into 2024? Buccaneers OLB Yaya Diaby](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Diaby-YaYa-Bucs-Saints-arms-up-300x201.jpg)
![How does PFF rank the Bucs heading into 2024? Buccaneers OLB Yaya Diaby](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Diaby-YaYa-Bucs-Saints-arms-up-300x201.jpg)
Buccaneers OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch P/R
While Lavonte David represents the Buccaneers in the linebacker rankings, it’s a different story when it comes to outside linebackers. No Tampa Bay pass rusher is ranked in the top 32. To some extent, that’s expected, as the team lacks proven players.
Outside of 2023 third-round draft pick Yaya Diaby, who led the team with 7.5 sacks, the roster is a mixed group of rotation players (Joe Tryon Soyinka, Anthony Nelson and Randy Gregory) and unproven young players (Chris Braswell, Marquise Watts and Jose Ramirez).
Expect one of them to step up next to Diaby next season, but the ceiling at the position is heavily dependent on “Agent Zero,” who was a strong performer late in the second half of last season and will likely be one of the first honorable mention candidates.
For now, Diaby is just on the outside looking in, but if he can play a full game in 2024 and beat more quarterbacks, he’ll most likely be on the list representing the Buccaneers in 2025.