The Landry Hat
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3 Bucs veterans the Cowboys could poach after Tom Brady retirement

By Jerry Trotta

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recovered a fumble during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recovered a fumble during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) /

1. Lavonte David, LB

Aging like a good wine, Davis remains one of the game’s premier inside linebackers even approaching his mid-30s. David turned 33 in January, and showed no signs of slowing down in 2022 by recording 124 tackles, three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, five passes defended, and 57 run stops, according to PFF.

David finished the year with a 84.1 player grade from PFF, a 73.5 run defense grade, and a picturesque 88.5 coverage grade. Only Bobby Wagner and Fred Warner earned higher marks from Pro Football Focus.

That’s some outstanding company, and Dallas has a need at linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch (the big one) and Anthony Barr set to become free agents.

The idea of signing a 33-year-old to fill Vander Esch’s shoes sounds crazy in theory, but David is still as good as they come at the position. He’ll likely come cheaper than LVE given the age discrepancy, and would be an ideal mentor to Damone Clark, Jabril Cox, and a potential rookie the Cowboys take in the draft.

Seriously, who says no?

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