Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 30 greatest players in franchise history

When it comes to offensive linemen in Tampa Bay history, the legendary Donald Penn finds himself as the second highest-ranked left tackle, and for good reason. After going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft, which was a surprise given he didn’t allow a sack in college, Penn bounced from the Minnesota Vikings to the Buccaneers, where he would spend the next seven seasons. From 2007-2013, Penn held down the left side of the offensive line for a bevy of different quarterbacks.

Penn earned Pro-Bowl honors in 2011, and earned two more after he moved on to Oakland to play with the Raiders. Few players in the league are seen as being as loyal as Penn, who will, without question, do anything to keep the quarterback on his feet. And yes, that most definitely includes holding. Most of the time, quarterbacks would rather deal with a 10-yard setback than to take a lick from a charging defender.

Penn is a fighter by every definition of the word. Even now at the age of 35,  he continues to do just that. Unfortunately, Penn has only appeared in one playoff game during his first season in Tampa Bay. Ultimately, this small fact is made worse considering that he went nine full seasons without missing a start. That is an incredible feat in the NFL, and it is a shame he has yet to be rewarded with a legitimate playoff run.

By all accounts, Penn is a fan-favorite wherever he goes. Buccaneers fans, and now Raiders fans, love the passion Penn brings to every game, regardless of the opponent. Finishing in the top-25 is indicative of how good he was at what he did, despite not being one of the flashiest players to don the Buccaneer Red.