Bucs are disrespected in ESPN’s latest power rankings

All right, look, I get it. The Bucs were a bad team last season. They deserve where they are drafting because it means they couldn’t win for the life of them in 2017.

ESPN acknowledges that. So when a panel of 80 writers got together to rank the 32 teams in the NFL, the majority came to a consensus that the Buccaneers — at the moment — are the 25th ranked team in the NFL.

Here’s what they said.

The Bucs’ defense had a lot of holes last season. They finished last in total defense, last on third down, last in sacks and pressure percentage and allowed the highest completion percentage to opposing wide receivers. They’ve already acquired Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry and Mitch Unrein to help the pass rush, but more work needs to be done in the draft.

Is Beau Allen chopped liver??? Maybe if they remembered to add him, they would have Tampa Bay ranked up a bit higher?

OK, a bit of a stretch, I know.

Yes, the Bucs were terrible on defense last season. It’s no secret. But if they are also basing their rankings on the offseason to this point, how much faith does ESPN have for the team’s latest acquisitions?

Not much, obviously.

Oh, and in their previous rankings, they ranked Tampa Bay 24th.