The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Which Buccaneers could make the NFL top 100 list?

By Michael Horan

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers flag flies after a touchdown at a NFL game against the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 5: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers flag flies after a touchdown at a NFL game against the New England Patriots on October 5, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 04: Lavonte David
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 04: Lavonte David /

Lavonte David

The best player on the Buccaneers in 2017 was, in my opinion, Lavonte David. Despite missing three games with injury, the seven year pro led the Buccaneers in tackles with 101 and forced fumbles with five, and was second in tackles for loss with eight. It was David’s first career season without a sack, but he still scored his third career touchdown, and overall on the season was given an elite 94.2 grade by Pro Football Focus (second highest among linebackers).

David has been criminally underrated his entire career by the media, and was so even by his peers last season when he shockingly didn’t make the list at all. In 2016 David was 53rd on the list and in 2015 he was 56th, but one could argue he deserved higher in both of those seasons.

It was a stunner that David was left off the list last season so I won’t rule anything out, but he really does deserve to make the 2018 version. It hurts to see such a fantastic player denied his due year after year, especially one like David who plays on such a hopeless defense with a revolving door of teammates.

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