Lavonte David

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		215	1715	42.5	14
2025		17	114	3.5	1
2024		17	122	5.5	1
2023		15	134

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

**Lavonte David's one-year, $9M deal earns a solid B CVI — a fair market transaction that reflects both his proven ability and age-related uncertainty.** At $9M AAV, David is being compensated as a quality starter, which aligns perfectly with his above-average production tier despite entering his age-34 season. The former Buccaneers stalwart has consistently delivered elite coverage skills and run defense throughout his career, making this a reasonable investment for any team needing veteran linebacker stability. The fully guaranteed, short-term structure is smart risk management — it provides David with immediate security while giving his new team an easy exit if Father Time finally catches up to the 11-year veteran. This contract represents the sweet spot for aging stars: enough money to reflect their remaining value without the long-term commitment that could become an albatross. For whichever team lands David, they're getting a proven commodity who can still impact games at a price point that won't hamstring their salary cap flexibility.

Performance Analysis

Lavonte David earns a B grade that reflects one of the most consistently excellent linebacker careers in NFL history. The longtime Buccaneer is a future Ring of Honor player who combined football IQ, tackling ability, and leadership into a Hall of Fame-caliber career. David's production has been remarkably consistent over more than a decade, with his impact on Tampa Bay's defense extending far beyond the stat sheet. Being a free agent now likely signals the end of an era in Tampa Bay, but his legacy is already cemented. He's one of the best linebackers of his generation, and the grade acknowledges his continued excellence even as the career winds down.

Current Sentiment

Lavonte David exits the NFL with an A-grade sentiment that reflects the widespread reverence for one of this generation's most elite linebackers. The media narrative surrounding his retirement is overwhelmingly respectful and celebratory, emphasizing his franchise-cornerstone status through 14 seasons of elite production, 12 captain designations, and three All-Pro selections. His recent appearance on "Good Morning Football" as a respected guest rather than an active player underscores how the football world is framing this as a dignified farewell from a true professional. The sentiment remains warm and positive as analysts cite his extraordinary career statistics — 42.5 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, and 14 interceptions — as the foundation for legitimate Hall of Fame conversations. While Tampa Bay has already shifted into transition mode with mock draft discussions and optimism around potential replacements like Rueben Bain Jr., David's legacy narrative is defined entirely by gratitude and admiration rather than any hint of decline or disappointment. This A-grade perception reflects a player who managed to retire at the peak of his reputation, leaving behind a body of work that commands universal respect across the football community.