Buccaneers grab Devin White with No. 5 pick

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected linebacker Devin White out of LSU with the fifth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.

White was one of the top defensive prospects in this year's class and adds a speedy presence next to Lavonte David in Todd Bowles' defense. Tampa Bay lost Kwon Alexander to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

The former Tiger was the 2018 Butkus Award winner, given to college football's top linebacker. He was named a consensus All-American in 2018, and to the All-SEC first team following each of the last two campaigns.

Prospect profile

School: LSU
Height: 6-0
Weight: 237 lbs

Strengths

• Elite speed, explosiveness, and change-of-direction
• Speed translates to field with pursuit burst and sideline-to-sideline range
• Explodes downhill and flies through gaps to make plays in backfield
• Athleticism gives him potential to stick with tight ends and backs in pass coverage
• Effective blitzer from second level
• Looks to rip ball out for turnovers
• Incredible production over last two years (256 tackles)

Weaknesses

• Has difficulty shedding blocks when linemen get hands on him
• Misses too many tackles going for big hit rather than wrapping up
• Still developing instincts to make quick reads
• No real production in coverage

Bottom line

Often the most impressive player in the SEC, White put up some remarkable numbers at LSU. His elite athleticism shows up all over his tape, and he is an absolute missile flying sideline-to-sideline and downhill from the second level. Improving at shedding blocks and wrapping up to finish tackles would round out his already stellar game, and he's certainly doesn't lack the physicality to do so.