When it comes to inside linebacker for the Bucs, a few things need to be addressed. The Buccaneers want and need iconic veteran Lavonte David to return. We’ll spend the entire offseason talking about it.
Devin White, their other inside linebacker, will not be re-signed following an unsatisfactory contract year in Tampa Bay. Inside linebacker K.J. Britt, on the other hand, will almost certainly return and might start next year.
It wouldn’t be fair to say Britt had a breakout year, but this season he was given the most defensive playing time of his career and proved he was capable. After filling in for an injured Devin White late in the season against Carolina and Green Bay, and subsequently replacing him based on his performance, Britt wound up starting in four regular season games and two playoff games for the Bucs.
He concluded the season with a career-high 12 tackles against the Lions, outplaying White 59-14 in Sunday’s playoff loss.
By the end of the season, the Bucs had clearly drawn a line in the sand that Britt would be their starting alongside to Lavonte David going forward. Britt played 56 and 81% of the defensive snaps in the Eagles and Lions playoff games, while White played 44 and 19%, respectively. We could rave about White’s play for days, but Britt performed well enough to earn the faith of Todd Bowles and the coaching staff.
Has K.J. Britt Earned the Right to Start?
Todd Bowles, the Bucs’ head coach, has grown to admire K.J. Britt, who has been a special teams standout and Devin White’s understudy for the past three seasons.
“K.J.’s probably our best downhill thumper,” Bowles stated following Tampa Bay’s Wild Card victory over Philadelphia. “K.J. is a terrific football player. We believe we have three starter linebackers in there. He’s an important element of that. He won the right to play. He leads our squad and performed admirably.”
The Bucs selected SirVocea Dennis in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he is primarily a backup for Mo linebacker Lavonte David on the weak side. Britt is more of a Mike linebacker, which should make Bucs fans
Britt isn’t thinking that far ahead, or even whether he’ll be the starter next season.
“I just take it one day at a time,” Britt explained. “Take it one day at a time, no matter what the day brings. However, I can enjoy that day, and I can improve slightly; all I have to do is try. However, this squad needs me; just try to be there for them.”
When asked if he has proven to himself that he can be a starter in the NFL, Britt responded there is more to it than just that accomplishment.
“One play at a time for me,” Britt added. I think I made some good plays. I believe I have some plays I can learn from. I’ll never be pleased with attempting to be a starting linebacker in this league, no matter what I do. I’m always going to be content with simply making sure that once my number is called, I can perform to the best of my ability. Whatever that brings, starting linebacker or otherwise, let it come. Only one play at a time.”
Bucs should not stop adding at ILB.
Given his performance in a tiny sample size, K.J. Britt, who finished with 29 tackles during the regular season and 15 in the playoffs, should be near the top of the Bucs’ depth chart at middle linebacker. However, it should not bar Tampa Bay from bringing in another linebacker to compete for the starting job.
With free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft approaching, the Bucs have a variety of options for replacing Devin White on the roster. There’s no reason to settle on Britt or even reserve J.J. Russell when another guy could be a better fit in Bowles’ defense. However, Britt is currently a viable option for the Bucs next season.
“I think he played well,” Bowles remarked on Monday. “There is absolutely a spot for him next year. We’ll probably discuss that in the spring, but we like him.”
