Dan Campbell Says He’s Seeing the Tampa Bay Version of Devin White
Two weeks ago, the Lions signed Devin White. Most of us figured it was a low-risk look at a veteran who’d burned bridges in Tampa and flamed out in Vegas. That assumption is already looking wrong. White looks ready to start, and Dan Campbell said Tuesday that he’s starting to see the player who used to be a headache in Tampa Bay.
That statement matters. But it also requires context, because there are multiple versions of the Devin White who played in Tampa Bay. So we asked A to Z Sports Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat writer Evan Winner to break down what the Tampa version actually means for Detroit’s defense.
The Version That Made White Look Generational
White’s first two seasons with the Buccaneers made him look like a legitimate star. His 2020 campaign was special. He finished with 140 tackles, nine sacks, 15 tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hits. He made plays in coverage too, including the interception in the Super Bowl that shut the door on Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City.
White was a heat-seeking missile who could fly downfield, shoot gaps, and run sideline to sideline with 4.4 speed. That athleticism is exactly why Todd Bowles’ defense needed him at the second level, where linebackers have to cover ground because Bowles sends pressure from everywhere.
The Version That Got Him Run Out of Town
The final three seasons in Tampa Bay told a different story. White’s coverage instincts became a liability. There was a play against the Packers where Aaron Rodgers was rolling out roughly 16 yards away from White on third down. White abandoned his assignment and took off after Rodgers, who simply threw over his head for a first down.
That aggressive, downhill style that made White dominant against the run became his undoing in pass defense. He wanted to make plays too much. Contract issues and ego compounded the on-field problems, though it seems like White has humbled himself over the past couple of years.
What Allen Park Is Seeing Right Now
The good and bad of White have both shown up at Lions camp. In one red zone sequence, White appeared to bite on play action, chased Jahmyr Gibbs, and left tight end Brock Wright wide open in the end zone for a touchdown. A few plays later, he was super sticky on tight end Sam LaPorta and broke up a pass.
The run-stopping ability is loud and obvious. Campbell called White a thumper Tuesday morning. White hit Wright so hard during one practice rep that the tight end flew out of bounds and the crowd gasped.
The question becomes how Detroit deploys him.
How the Lions Should Use Him
The best course of action, based on what Tampa Bay and Las Vegas learned, is to use White as a first-and-second-down run stopper and pull him on obvious passing downs. In his rookie year alone, White had two fumble returns for touchdowns and four forced fumbles. The playmaking ability in the box is real.
He could even snag a few sacks with the Lions, given how Detroit’s defense operates, using him as an occasional edge blitzer on specialized packages.
The Depth Chart Reality
The plan likely involves pairing White with a coverage-capable partner once the pieces are healthy. When linebacker Jimmy Rolder returns from his injury, Detroit could rotate White in on traditional run downs and insert Rolder on passing downs until Rolder is ready to assume the full-time role.
Right now the options beside White are Malcolm Rodriguez, and neither player is particularly sticky in coverage. That makes the short-term outlook a bit precarious for the Lions secondary.
The Lions could also lean into nickel looks, bringing safety Christian Izien into the box on passing downs to compensate for White’s coverage limitations. If safety Kerby Joseph gets back on track with his health, adding an extra defensive back to the equation makes even more sense.
The Al-Quadin Muhammad Swap
The White signing creates an almost poetic crossover between Detroit and Tampa Bay. The Lions decided to forgo re-signing edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad, who struggled against the run but excelled as a pass rusher, and watched him sign with the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay’s vision for Muhammad mirrors how the Lions used him last year, moving him around as a designated pass rusher. Muhammad has been practicing well, though Reuben Bain Jr. and David Walker have dominated the Buccaneers’ pass-rush headlines. A six-to-seven sack season would be considered a total success for Muhammad in Tampa.
Meanwhile, Detroit picked up Tampa Bay’s former guy who thrives against the run but struggles in coverage. The swap amounts to each team addressing a weakness by acquiring the other’s specialist.
The Bottom Line
White may not be the All-Pro version of himself anymore. He knows that. But if the Lions coaching staff limits him to what he does best and surrounds him with the right pieces, there’s still a productive football player in there.
And yes, I know what you’re thinking. This is the part where it either works out beautifully or blows up spectacularly. Brad Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt. Campbell knows how to use players to their strengths. But let’s not pretend this doesn’t carry risk. White’s last stop was a disaster in Vegas.
The good news is that Detroit doesn’t need White to be a Pro Bowler. They need him to stuff the run, blow up a few plays in the box, and stay humble enough to come off the field when the situation calls for it. If he can do that, this signing will look smart. If he can’t, we’ll know soon enough.
So is Devin White about to be a Lions success story or just another reclamation project that doesn’t take? Drop your take in the comments.
