Buccaneers hoping to extend Lavonte David's contract after the draft
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All the focus for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the moment is on what to do with the No. 1 pick at the draft. But once the draft comes and goes, the Bucs are planning to lock up arguably their most important defender to a contract extension.
Bucs GM Jason Licht says signing LB Lavonte David will be among team's top priorities "after the draft." That earned big round of applause
— Roy Cummings (@RCummingsTBO) April 9, 2015
David is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and he is one player Tampa can't afford to lose.
The linebacker has accumulated 430 tackles in his first three campaigns, playing on poor Buccaneers teams. David finished no worse than seventh from 2012 to 2014 in Pro Football Focus' grades for linebackers.
With the emergence of receiver Mike Evans last season and the likely addition of a potential franchise quarterback in the draft, locking up David would give the Bucs a solid foundation for a turnaround.