Taking care of oneself was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ apparent plan going into the 2024 offseason. The Bucs needed to hold onto key players for their offense, defense, and special teams. Jason Licht suited up and went to work.

Prior to any legal manipulation, Tampa returned its top three free agents. The Buccaneers promptly turned their attention to less important matters, resigning their breakout player at kicker, keeping their depth at running back, and officially checking off “bring back future Ring of Honor member Lavonte David” on the list.

The Bucs and their long-tenured linebacker reached a mutually beneficial agreement, which surprised no one but relieved everyone. The contract is for a maximum of $10 million over a one-year period, which is more money than David made the previous year. Lavonte David will begin his thirteenth season of professional football; the last twelve have all been outstanding. David has played for both excellent teams and pitifully bad ones throughout the franchise’s history, making him one of its greatest players ever.

One of the few things that Buccaneers supporters would never disagree on is the idea that Lavonte David ought to resign from the team. Every year that Jason Licht and the Bucs negotiate a new contract for David, they get one step closer to realizing that dream. Lavonte David is one step closer to riding off into the sunset in Central Florida with this contract.