The Cleveland Browns already have one of the NFL’s best defenses, but if their poor showing against the Houston Texans in the playoffs told us anything, it’s that you can always add more pieces.
Well, Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey is urging the Browns to make a big move to bolster their defense this offseason, suggesting they sign Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Devin White.
White is slated to hit free agency this offseason, and given the fact that he will likely command a hefty price tag, the Buccaneers may not be able to re-sign him.
Of course, the same logic can be applied to Cleveland, as the Browns are in bad shape in terms of cap room (they have negative cap space heading into the offseason) and will have to get creative in order to open enough money to sign some legitimate free agents.
But if Cleveland can offload enough cash, White could end up being an option for the club.
White, who played his collegiate football at LSU, was selected by Tampa Bay with the fifth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
He had a rather quiet season in 2023, finishing with 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a couple of interceptions and six passes defended in 14 games, but he has a pretty terrific track record.
In his rookie campaign, White posted 91 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a pick, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and a pair of defensive touchdowns. Then, the following year, White broke out in a big way, racking up 140 stops, nine sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Somehow, White did not make the Pro Bowl in 2020, but he proceeded to make his first trip the next season after registering 128 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
The 25-year-old recorded 124 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 2022.
Spotrac is currently projecting White to land a four-year deal worth $80.4 million. If that ends up being the case, the Browns will probably have to look elsewhere unless they can get very innovative with how they free up cap room.
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