The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost linebacker SirVocea Dennis last year prematurely with a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery in late October.
The defense took a nosedive after his departure, falling to No. 31 in the league just three games after losing the now-25-year-old.
That means he clearly had a positive effect on the unit, and the Buccaneers think he can continue that trend in 2025.
ESPN's Ben Solak noted this when discussing some of the players returning from injured reserve from last season.
"When Dennis was healthy last season, he was fighting K.J. Britt for the starting linebacker spot opposite Lavonte David -- and he was winning that competition," Solak wrote. "Dennis was particularly impressive in coverage over the middle of the field, and after his Week 4 shoulder injury, the Buccaneers started getting hammered in the intermediate middle by opposing quarterbacks. Tampa Bay passed entirely on the linebacker position in the 2025 draft and let Britt go in free agency.
"With only Anthony Walker Jr. as depth, the Buccaneers have clearly placed their faith in Dennis to play the majority of the snaps opposite David. Tampa Bay's pass defense was the limiting factor in its postseason push last season, and Dennis should provide a boost there."
Dennis posted 22 total tackles with 14 solo and one for loss with a sack and a quarterback hit before the injury just four games into the season.