‘Foundational Piece’: Seahawks encouraged to increase Super Bowl Champion in 2024

An attractive landing point for a previous Pro Bowl Super Bowl champion may be the Seattle Seahawks.

The NFL staff of Bleacher Report recommends that the Seahawks sign Devin White, a former linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Seahawks backup Devin Bush and starter Jordyn Brooks are set to become unrestricted free agents in the 2024 offseason, therefore Seattle may try to find a replacement to cover for them. After the season, White, who had asked to be traded throughout the offseason, will be available as a free agent.

The contracts of Devin Bush, Jordyn Brooks, and Bobby Wagner are about to expire, thus Seattle will be looking to add at least one linebacker this summer. At the position, White possesses the athleticism that the team appears to be drawn to, and from 2020 to 2022, he was quite productive, racking up over 120 total tackles annually.

Devin White Will Likely Earn Big Contract in Offseason

After nine games, White, 25, has amassed 60 tackles, demonstrating his continued productivity. Nevertheless, given the market the young linebacker is expected to draw, the Buccaneers might believe it makes sense to let him enter free agency. Spotrac estimates that White’s market value will be $80.4 million in total—$20.1 million per season for four years.

He might develop into a “foundational” component for a defense that already boasts youthful talents in Devon Witherspoon and Boye Mafe, as noted by BR’s staff.

The Bucs are on pace to record 60 tackles in nine games this year, falling just short of the 115 total needed to reach that mark. White may also be another key defensive element for the Emerald City’s future because he will only be 26 years old next season.

Why the Seahawks May Want to Pass on Devin White

Although White continues to produce well on the stat sheet, more sophisticated analytics show a different story. With a 37.4 defensive grade, 31.7 run defensive grade, and 42.8 grade in coverage, White is once again among the bottom of the NFL’s starting linebacker rankings, according to Pro Football Focus.

White ranks among the bottom four (of linebackers with at least 200 snaps) in terms of coverage grade and is the least effective defensive and run defensive linebacker among starting linebackers.

To put it another way, the Seahawks should be cautious about paying White, especially in light of the fact that he is obviously not as good as projected.

It’s important to note that, with only $2.5 million in anticipated salary cap room for the 2024 offseason, the Seahawks are in the bottom half of the league.

Furthermore, the Seahawks already owe five players at least $20 million for the 2024 season — with safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs eating up over $48 million in space alone — which means they may not be willing to outbid another team for White’s services.

By comparison, Brooks’ market value is just $13.8 million per season across four years for a total of $55.3 million. According to PFF, Brooks has actually been one of Seattle’s better defensive players, posting an overall 67.4 defensive grade. Outside of Bobby Wagner, Brooks actually ranks as the Seahawks’ top linebacker (with over 20 defensive snaps).

While White may be the bigger name due to being a former Pro Bowler, the Seahawks may find it more logical to simply re-sign Brooks.