Peter King Has Bucs REALLY Low In New Power Rankings
Long-time NFL reporter and columnist Peter King came out with his new power rankings in his latest Football Morning In America column for NBC Sports. To say that the Tampa Bay Bucs don’t rank high would be an understatement.
King has the Tom Brady-less Bucs ranked low.
REALLY low.
As in the 31st ranked team in the NFL out of 32, just ahead of the Arizona Cardinals.
Here is King’s super-insightful analysis of the 2023 Bucs as he sees it: “Well, the Super Bowl was still worth it.”
That’s it.
That’s all King had to say about Tampa Bay, which finished last year 8-9 before losing a home playoff game to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14. That would be Brady’s final game in the NFL, as he retired for good this offseason at age 45.
Peter King Has Bucs Ranked Last In The NFC South In 2023
Due to their 31st ranking, the Bucs are naturally the worst team in the division in Peter King’s eyes. This despite the fact that the Bucs have won the last two NFC South titles and still have nine players that have been to at least one Pro Bowl, including outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, defensive tackle Vita Vea, linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., center Ryan Jensen, offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, and wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Not to mention that Tampa Bay has a pair of cornerbacks with Pro Bowl potential in Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean, each of whom makes an average of at least $12 million per year. There is still plenty of talent to win with in Tampa Bay – even without Brady.
And while New Orleans upgraded its quarterback situation with veteran Derek Carr, and Atlanta spent a bunch of money on free agents, there is no guarantee that either team will unseat Tampa Bay this year. Carolina just spent the No. 1 overall pick on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, but the Panthers don’t look ready to contend for the division title this year.
Here’s where King had the other NFC South teams ranked.
22. Atlanta. One thing I think: The Falcons offense has the most diverse weaponry of any offense in football; imagine trying to defend monstrous Cordarrelle Patterson and Jonnu Smith, big-man receiver Drake London and elusive Bijan Robinson in the slot, and 1,000-yard-rusher Tyler Allgeier as a sledgehammer alternative.
24. New Orleans. A bad division is there for the Saints to win—if old warhorses like Demario Davis, Cam Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu can muster up one more charge, and if Derek Carr can improve a team that was 22nd in scoring last year to middle of the pack.
25. Carolina. I don’t expect it to take long for Bryce Young to get up to speed in the Carolina offense, but what no one knows is if Young will be sturdy enough to make it through an 18-week NFL campaign.
King’s rankings could be fuel for the fire for a Tampa Bay team that is looking to bounce back from an underwhelming season in 2022. And this will only add another chip on the Bucs’ shoulder this fall.
