1. Kwon Alexander is right on the cusp.
Similarly to Jameis Winston a year ago, Kwon Alexander didn't make the NFL's Top 100 list, but was recognized after the list was finalized as a player who is right on the edge. Alexander was listed as the No. 109 player in the league while Winston finished No. 126 a year ago. Alexander led the NFL in solo tackles and will not turn 23 until the start of training camp.
2. It's a good time to be a quarterback.
As hinted at above, Winston finally broke through into the top 100, debuting at No. 57 this year. In total, 16 quarterbacks were listed among the NFL's best players, including the No. 1 player in the league – Tom Brady. Three of the top 10 and eight of the top 25 players were quarterbacks.
3. Is Mike Evans too low?
Evans didn't make the top 100 last year but climbed his way to No. 29 on this year's list. That places him as the NFL's fifth-best wide receiver behind Atlanta's Julio Jones (No. 3), Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown (4), New York's Odell Beckham (8), and Cincinnati's A.J. Green (17). It's interesting to see such a big gap between Evans and the top four, given Evans' performance a year ago.
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- The Bucs will take on five of the NFL's top 10 players.**
Five of the top 10 players in the league are on the Buccaneers' schedule this season, including Brady (No. 1), Jones (3), Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers (6), Beckham (8) and Atlanta's Matt Ryan (10). The Bucs will also face Arizona's David Johnson (12), New Orleans' Drew Brees (16) and Arizona's Patrick Peterson (19).
5. Was anyone missing?
Lavonte David was No. 53 a year ago, but missed this year's list. While his numbers in 2016 were lower than he's used to, the Buccaneers' coaching staff insists that David's performance is still at an elite level. There are only so many tackles to go around, with Alexander picking up 145 himself. Ali Marpet was graded as the NFL's fifth-best run-blocking guard by Pro Football Focus, but failed to make the list. Brent Grimes and Cam Brate could have both warranted a spot, too. Three Buccaneers were on this year's list: Winston, Gerald McCoy and Evans.
