Following their success at Super Bowl LV in February, it does not come as a surprise to see that six of the franchise’s players have been introduced into the first batch of the NFL Top 100 for last season.
As defending champions, there will be plenty of excitement about what Bruce Arians and Tom Brady will be able to achieve in the upcoming NFL season at James Raymond Stadium. Indeed, they are touted to be amongst the favorites to retain their title and be the next Super Bowl champions, with the franchise having been given odds of +650 at the time of writing by Unibet Indiana, one of the biggest online bookmakers in the state. However, this only keeps them second-favorites as Kansas City Chiefs are provided with odds of +475.
Nonetheless, whilst there is still plenty of time to work out who will be the next Super Bowl champions, many of those that managed to help the Florida franchise to their first title since 2002 have been named in the latest list that the League continues to produce.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are extremely well-represented when it comes down to the players who are provided with rankings between 100-41, with no fewer than six of the team’s stars having been recognized for their impact and achievements on the field. In addition, the Buccaneers have managed to create history for themselves with the announcement, as they are the only team to have ever had that many appear on the first portion of the list and they are likely to have even more be announced as the full list of 100 players is announced.
Here, though, are the first six players to have been acknowledged and the position that they were ranked in during the first part of the process.
89 – Tristan Wirfs
To highlight just how good of a year the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had last season, a rookie was able to make an appearance on the top 100 list for the franchise. Right tackle, Tristan Wirfs, managed to take the 89th spot on the list, which is impressive considering he was their first pick as the 13th overall at the 2020 NFL draft.
He played every single game in his rookie season, thus showing that he earned the trust of Brady and Arians as they made their way to the final and lifted the Vince Lombardi trophy!
88 – Shaquil Barrett
Joining Wirfs immediately after on the list, Shaquil Barrett was named No. 88 on the list. The outside linebacker continues to show his worth to the organization following an impressive 2019 season with another stellar year for the franchise.
He did drop down from this 2020 ranking, however with a Super Bowl ring, it is unlikely he will care too much, whilst he remains a key part of the team’s chances of retaining their title next February.
81 – Chris Godwin
Chris Godwin enters the list at 81 after the wide receiver had another top season for the Bucs. What he managed to do has to be considered impressive as he continued to play throughout a long line of injuries and provided his team with a number of clutch moments on their way to Super Bowl LV.
59 – Jason Pierre-Paul
Jason Pierre-Paul is an established outside linebacker within the NFL, having been able to win the Super Bowl with the New York Giants and that experience has helped the Bucs, as well.
He continues to deliver for the franchise and is arguably one of the best edge defenders currently within the NFL and further proved that last season as he continued to play for his team despite having a knee injury that would continue to trouble him slightly.
48 – Mike Evans
Mike Evans has always been widely considered to be one of the best wide receivers to have ever been in the League, so it is no surprise that he is listed as the No. 48 player in the top 100 NFL list. There will have been some disappointment that he was not higher, but having managed to be successful in a season where he was hampered significantly is a testament to his ability.
Evans made history in the NFL as he managed to become the first receiver in league history to start their career with seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, whilst having to fight against a number of different injuries throughout 2020.
43 – Lavonte David
Finishing off the list for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 43, Lavonte David was the final player to have been recognized as one of the top players in the league over the course of the 2020 season.
David, a linebacker, is one of the most underrated players in the NFL but it seems he is about to get recognition for his talents after playing in his seventh season. He is the longest-serving player on the Bucs’ roster, he will remain an important component for them this season if they are to retain their Super Bowl title.