Buccaneers: Five best wide receivers on the 2017 schedule

Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith looks on prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Who are the five best wide receivers the Buccaneers will face this upcoming season?

It is shaping up to be a big year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coming off of a 9-7 season, the Bucs are getting ready to take that next step into playoff football. They have added weapons on offense to give Jameis Winston any number of options with the football. Mike Evans is going to have a ton of room thanks to the addition of DeSean Jackson. Between Jackson and the addition of O.J. Howard to the existing group, even the running game will have room to return to its past success.

What about the group led by Mike Smith? During the winning streak that brought the Bucs back into playoff contention, the defense looked like world beaters. At times, they rivaled the Super Bowl season of 2002. But the pass defense did not improve to the level they had hoped. In 2016, the Bucs were ranked 22 in the league in pass defense. Brent Grimes had a big year, but it was a growing year for the rest of the bunch.

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It won’t get any easier in 2017. Besides the talent that exists in the division, the schedule boasts some tough opponents, especially at the wide receiver position. After all, finishing 9-7 last year, the schedule is always going to be a bit tougher.

The Bucs face the AFC East in 2017 which has some talent on the outside as well. Even the Jets have a strong group at wide receiver, but not good enough to make this list.

So who does? Who are the five best receivers the Bucs face in the upcoming season? We count it down right here.

Schedule