Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 takeaways from 2019 NFL Draft class

2. Devin White has to be elite for the pick to pay off

Inside linebackers are not often drafted in the top 10. In fact, since 2009, only four non-edge or pass rushing specialists linebackers have been selected in the top 10. Aaron Curry (No. 4) in 2009, Rolando McClain (No. 8) in 2010, Luke Kuechly (No. 9) in 2012 and Roquan Smith (No. 8) in 2018 were the quadrant of classic linebackers drafted until White joined the group this year.

Among those backers, Curry played four seasons in the NFL, McClain played six seasons, Kuechly is a perennial All-Pro when healthy and Smith made the PFWA All-Rookie team. That’s a 50 percent chance of being a bust or a solid to great contributor to a defense. The Bucs rated White highly, and are betting on him to fix a bunch of holes in their defense.

White’s sideline to sideline capabilities combined with his tackling skills and innateness to be around the ball was obviously attractive to the Bucs. Partnering him with Lavonte David gives Tampa one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL already, and hopefully White can continue to be a pass-rushing threat as he was at LSU.

Devin White was a monster in college and fits the profile to easily transition as a starter in the NFL. But if he is more Rolando McClain than Kuechly or Roquan Smith and a pair of studs in Ed Oliver and Josh Allen, whom the Bucs passed on, live up to their potential, this will be another stain on a Bucs front office that has missed on high draft picks as of late.