JUST IN: Jordan Whitehead a High-Priority, Bucs’ Special Communicator Return to the Bucs Brings What The Bucs Defense Has Sorely Lacked

When Jordan Whitehead departed to sign with the Jets two years ago, the Bucs did not consider him a high-priority free agent.

Given that Tampa Bay welcomed back its top free agents to begin this offseason, it was somewhat ironic that he was the team’s first outside addition. For general manager Jason Licht and company, he was undoubtedly a top choice among undrafted free agents, and he might end up being one of the Bucs’ most significant spring acquisitions.
At the NFL Owners Meetings in Orlando on Tuesday, Licht remarked, “It kind of seemed like since the day we let him out of the building that we were just counting down the minutes until he came back.” “It was a very special occasion where everyone in the building was grinning from ear to ear when he returned.”

Licht’s initial portion of his remark was also not hyperbolic. Since Jordan Whitehead left via free agency following the 2021 season, Tampa Bay has had significant difficulty locating a worthy successor.
In 2022, Mike Edwards received his opportunity in a contract year, while the Bucs added Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal to the roster to cover the safety position. The outcomes weren’t bad, but they weren’t as good as what Whitehead could accomplish in 2020 and 2021, when he truly blossomed and exceeded his initial position as a fourth-round selection in 2018.

The outcomes were devastating in 2023. Antoine Winfield Jr. may have benefited greatly from Ryan Neal’s addition as a value free agent in the offseason following his 2022 season-ending performance with the Seahawks. But Todd Bowles, the head coach and defensive play-caller, found that Neal was a liability in coverage and frequently unfit to play.

Jordan Whitehead is back and ready to play with All-Pro Winfield once more. From 2018 to 2022, he was a perfect fit for Bowles’ defense. Whitehead is just now an experienced player and will be even more skilled than when he left two years ago.

Jordan Whitehead Fills a Hole That The Bucs Defense Has Been Sadly Missing
How many times over the last two seasons has Todd Bowles bemoaned his defense’s lack of communication? Therefore, it seems logical that the Bucs added back Jordan Whitehead, a defensive end who has spent his entire NFL career honing the craft of communication.

“We’ll communicate much more,” Bowles stated on Tuesday. “Jordan was excellent during his previous tenure here, but when he was on the field, he was an incredible leader and communicator for us. A few years ago, he and Lavonte clicked, and I have no doubt that Lavonte is overjoyed to have him back.

“The entire squad is glad to have him back in the fold, including Winfield and myself. I’m hoping that his experience in New York would help us improve at the back end.

Bowles continued by talking about Whitehead’s development during the previous few seasons in New York. He finished with 186 tackles (123 solo), seven tackles for loss, a half-sack, six interceptions, and 17 passes defensed in his two years with the Jets. He also started 34 games during that time. During those two seasons, he had six interceptions, one more than he did during his four seasons with the Bucs.

“I believed he developed,” Bowles remarked. “His hands seemed really good to me; they worked well with the Jets.” He knew quarter and half coverage, where we used him more on the line of scrimmage, and I believe he played back deep a lot better. We made some use of him again in coverage. He improved greatly, in my opinion, as a third-down player. He was rather young when we adopted him, and as time went on, he really developed. When we step onto the field, that is everything we anticipate seeing.
The Bucs defense’s back end will benefit greatly from the combination of maturity and communication, but linebacker Lavonte David, who has previously played well off Whitehead, will also benefit greatly. Bowles made repeated mention of that on Tuesday.

According to Bowles, “they have a good feel of what each other is going to do on the field.” “They both exchange messages. When it comes to defense, communication is crucial. If you have one in the front, one in the middle, and one at the back—all three of which we currently have—then I’m not sure if that happened the year before.

Jordan was talkative, but Winfield was communicative. At the time, [Whitehead] obviously had more years on him. He and Lavonte get along well and are constantly in agreement. We therefore simply hope to revive that, pick it up, and simply communicate more on the back end.

The Bucs definitely have that trinity of communication that Bowles is looking for in Vita Vea up front, David in the center, and Whitehead (along with Winfield) on the back end. And Tampa Bay should benefit from that in 2024.

Lavonte Having Jordan Whitehead back in the mix makes David very happy.
Legendary linebacker Lavonte David was among those in the building who were most relieved to see Jordan Whitehead resign after a two-year absence, and Todd Bowles was correct to point it out. David talked extensively about his friend from before, who is now back in Tampa, and how he has been longing to return ever since he left.
David remarked, “Man, that might be the biggest one back.” I definitely developed a personal contact with Whitehead. Knowing that I could rely on Whitehead to perform his duties gave me a great deal of confidence just to have him behind me on the field.

“Despite not being able to return due to some circumstances, he continued to communicate with us, expressing his deep need for us and other things of that nature. It was his top aim to return here, so I’m delighted [they] were able to accomplish it.

Then, David went into further detail on what it is about Whitehead that makes him a great teammate and the kind of guy you want in the locker room.

The 13-year veteran added of Whitehead, “He is a special guy, not only on the football field, but as a person.” “I’m all about energy and finding the good in people, that kind of thing. I have a sixth sense about that, and Whitehead is one of those individuals who makes a great teammate and man to be around.

“He simply infuses the game you love with that kind of passion.” You don’t even need to worry about a guy like Whitehead because you can just look him in the eyes and know he’s ready to play when you play with him. His demeanor off the field speaks volumes about his professionalism, and that is precisely the kind of guy we need in this locker room.

This reunion just feels appropriate, especially in light of what Licht stated about counting down the minutes till Whitehead returns and David’s admission that Whitehead has basically been doing the same. The fit is impeccable, the need was present, and the energy level is definitely high.

It makes sense why there is a broad smile on everyone’s face in the building.