Devin White’s NFL path has taken another turn, and this one sends him to an NFC contender.
The former Bucs inside linebacker signed a one-year deal with the Lions on Saturday afternoon, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. White arrives in Detroit after starting all 17 games for the Raiders last season, a run that produced 174 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception.
Those numbers look loud on the surface. White even finished with the third-most tackles in the NFL.
But the production came on a 3-14 Las Vegas team that spent plenty of time chasing plays, and the underlying grades told a rougher story. Pro Football Focus gave him a 40.7 defensive grade, which ranked 82nd out of 88 linebackers, along with a 36.1 coverage grade that checked in 79th among the same group.
When targeted, he allowed a 92.5 passer rating.
It’s a long way from the version of White that once looked like the future of the middle of Tampa Bay’s defense. During the Bucs’ 2020 Super Bowl run and much of his first three seasons, he played at a high level and seemed poised to take over for Lavonte David.
Instead, his play dipped in 2022, and by 2023 he was pushing for a $100 million contract the front office refused to meet. The Bucs benched him late that season and moved on when he reached free agency.
White has been on the move ever since. He signed with the Eagles in 2024 but was cut before the season began, then spent the rest of that year with the Texans before landing with the Raiders in 2025.
Detroit gives him another shot, though the fit comes with a clear hierarchy. The Lions use a 4-3 defense, with Jack Campbell set as the starter in the middle. White could still carve out a role as a sub-linebacker and provide help in pass-rushing situations.
If White makes the Lions’ 53-man roster, there’s also a familiar date waiting on the schedule: Tampa Bay visits Detroit in Week 11.
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