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As Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David got the 2020 NFL Top-100 started as the 100th ranked player on the list, Bucs fans took to social media to voice their displeasure with the slotting.
Then, as Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen whined about his ranking by saying he was better than both Bucs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay fans laughed and celebrated at the higher rankings of their favorite duo.
Still, with five Buccaneers on the 2020 NFL Top-100, the overall feeling is Bucs fans don’t like where their favorite players ended up on the list. Most feel like the 2021 version could be much different as far as Tampa Bay representation is concerned, and at least one NFL Network analyst believes them.
On Friday, Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager not only added a new player to the 2021 list in a prediction, he foresees linebacker Devin White ranking higher than any Bucs player reached on the 2020 version.
“Guys, Devin White had 91-tackles last year in just thirteen games. He had a twelve tackle game, a thirteen tackle game. The Bucs defense led the NFL in yards per game rushing, and Devin White was a Top-5 pick from a year ago who was battling an injury and still played un-believable last season.”
Those were Schrager’s words as he kicked off his defense of his pick which was sure to raise some eyebrows. Despite an illness and injury riddled start to his 2019 rookie campaign, Devin White steadily became a fixture on the Bucs’ defense, and was a regular on the highlight reels towards the end of it.
The big difference between 2019 and 2020 however, might not be how White plays, but how much people get to see him play.
“I think the Buccaneers are going to be on TV a lot this season. They are going to be on five primetime games, and don’t you get it twisted, FOX will put them in that ‘A Group’ every Sunday if they can.”
If the Buccaneers get the amount of air time Schrager is predicting, then fans of the game and players who do the voting will certainly get the chance to see plenty of White and all of his teammates.
Strong performances like the defense specifically became known for towards the end of last season would certainly go a long way towards raising awareness for the better teams on roster.
If the NFL Top-100 has taught us all anything, as has Pro Bowl voting, it’s that publicity is just as important as performance. Something Schrager acknowledged towards the end of making his case for White as a Top-10 player in 2021.
“...there is a momentum, there is a visibility, there is a primetime factor to it. I think Devin White’s going to have an outstanding season and the Buccaneers defense is going to be really good. I’m putting him as a Top-10 player next year - Luke Kuechly like season - for Devin White!”
Not all Buccaneers fans were happy about the selection of White with the fifth-overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. So I wonder, how many believe the second-year linebacker can do what this Good Morning Football analyst says he can?