Lavonte David news changes Buccaneers’ NFL Draft plans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The offseason is the time for change, renewal, and upside in the unknown. But some change hurts more than others, and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this spring has been particularly difficult.

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Longtime wide receiver Mike Evans is the San Francisco 49ers‘ newest threat on the boundary. Linebacker Lavonte David has left for the greener pastures of retirement.

Both were stalwarts through the best and worst of the Buccaneers’ last decade-plus, and as they find new homes, Tampa Bay has work ahead of it this spring. Fortunately, the emergence of Emeka Egbuka softens the blow of Evans’ departure. Linebacker, meanwhile, is a different story.

Will the Buccaneers draft a linebacker in Round 1?

Tampa Bay made sure to add to its linebacker room this offseason by signing Alex Anzalone to a two-year, $17 million deal. Rather than joining David at the second level, he’ll be headlining the middle of the Buccaneers defense, barring a big-time acquisition.

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However, Tampa Bay likely had some inkling that David had retirement on the mind. Faced with that reality, they figure to be honing in on the NFL Draft for his replacement.

Fortunately, the Buccaneers are in luck. With three top-80 picks and a pretty strong roster, Tampa Bay has both the ammunition and surrounding talent to spend real capital on a non-premium position. There isn’t a better time to roll the dice on a rookie linebacker, either. This class is stacked at the second level, giving the Buccaneers plenty of options.

We can safely assume that Ohio State star Sonny Styles will be gone by the time Tampa is on the clock in Round 1. He’d be a sprint-to-the-podium pick after posting generational testing numbers in Indianapolis. Still, Styles might not be the only true off-ball linebacker drafted in Round 1.

MORE: Sonny Styles scouting report – OSU linebacker could test into top five

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Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen’s stock is experiencing some turbulence after he didn’t test at the Combine or Pro Day due to a minor knee issue. That won’t stop him from earning a first-round grade on my board, nor should it stop a team from falling in love on Day 1.

Allen wore the green dot for Kirby Smart’s defense, plays the run exceptionally well for his 235-pound frame, and has the requisite athleticism to flip his hips and win in coverage. He’s long been on NFL radars and would be a plug-and-play starter for the Buccaneers.

If they opt to wait for Day 2, different types of linebackers will enter the conversation. The Heisman contender, Jacob Rodriguez, needed strong testing numbers to launch himself into top-50 talks. He’s explosive, albeit undersized, and projects to be an asset on passing downs.

Missouri’s Josaiah Trotter plays heavier, despite a similar weight. He’ll make his money against the run at the next level, but there’s upside in his coverage, too. Trotter’s ability to click and close downhill and win with power against linemen and tight ends stands out, and he has enough burst to beat blockers to the boundary on outside runs.

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Pittsburgh’s Kyle Louis makes an interesting case for Round 3. He probably isn’t an every-down starter at the next level, but as a versatile athlete on the back end, he can make plays on the ball and take on a variety of coverage assignments. Louis’s athleticism translates to apex and occasional safety looks. He holds his own over the middle and can run the pole in Tampa 2. If the Buccaneers are looking to recreate David in the aggregate, Louis makes a good amount of sense, especially given the cost.

Jake Golday and Anthony Hill Jr. should be on the board for Tampa Bay at No. 46, and Alabama’s Deontae Lawson has an outside shot at being their third-round pick. With a few more weeks to win teams over, there’s sure to be movement up and down boards. But with a franchise-legend-sized hole in the middle of the Buccaneers’ defense, it’s clear that they should find themselves in the sweepstakes for one of this class’s many starter-level options in the top-100.

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