Shaq Thompson And The Bucs
January 18th, 2026
The Bucs need inside linebacker help and have for years.
Devin White crumbled in his final Tampa Bay season. K.J. Britt wasn’t it and moved on to be a backup in Miami. SirVocea Dennis was brutal in pass defense this season. That’s three troubling seasons at inside linebacker alongside Lavonte David.
And, sadly, David wasn’t himself this season. He produced but a lot of his elite athleticism disappeared, perhaps all of it. Father Time ran him down. And David’s leadership was not very effective in the poor Bucs defense.
Joe was reminded of all this watching Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson in the playoffs. Thompson, the longtime Panthers defender, joined the Bills last offseason on a one-year, veteran-minimum kind of contract. Last week, he was a beast leading the Bills in tackles and with an interception; yesterday in Denver, Thompson made a couple of standout plays.
Joe’s not saying the Bucs should sign 31-year-old Thompson in free agency, or that he’s a superstar. But the Bucs sure do need veteran inside linebacker help in Thompson’s mold.
Thompson started this season as a backup and became a starter after an injury. He stepped up.
Joe would sleep better if the Bucs landed two free agent inside linebackers in free agency, whether David returns or not.