Top 100 Overview
The elaborate show is over, and the results are in. The NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2022 – voted on by current players themselves – has been revealed. Six Buccaneers fell among the prestigious compilation, including Tom Brady, Tristan Wirfs, Shaquil Barrett, Antoine Winfield Jr., Devin White and Mike Evans. The star-studded names received league-wide recognition for their contributions on the football field.
Tom Brady came in as the top-ranked player on the countdown. Like his efforts on the football field have attributed to, he set new records. Brady has now been voted No. 1 in the Top 100 four times, which no other player has achieved the feat more than once. Brady has been voted atop the hierarchy in 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2022. He also shattered the previous mold, becoming the oldest player at 45-years-old to receive the crown jewel. The previous standard was set by himself, who was 40 at the time of the 2018 honor. The seven-time Super Bowl Champion and three-time MVP continues to break the preconceived barriers of what is possible in the NFL. As a catalyst in the game of football, generating the renowned phrase "greatest of all time," Brady continues his unparalleled legacy.
Cracking the list next for the Buccaneers is right tackle Tristan Wirfs, checking in at No. 41. Wirfs moved up 48 spots from 2021 (No. 89) to No. 41 in 2022, the biggest jump for any player ranked both last year and this year. He is an anchor in the Bucs' offensive line, a unit that led the NFL in passing yards while allowing the fewest sacks last season. Showcasing dominance as both a run blocker and in pass protection, Wirfs consistently out-leverages some of the league's most feared pass rushers.
Next up on the list, Mike Evans made his return on the compilation at No. 53. Evans is the only player in NFL history to begin a career with eight-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and that is with a revolving door at quarterback for the vast majority of his tenure in Tampa Bay. With consistency and longevity – a rare combination – Evans sustains his effectiveness year-after-year. As an ideal possession receiver who excels in jump-ball situations, Evans is on track for another stellar campaign. A trio of tone-setting defenders rounded out the esteemed list, with Devin White (64), Antoine Winfield Jr. (75) and Shaquil Barrett (86). A well-deserved honor for all six of the Buccaneers' difference makers on turf.
Gearing up for the Dallas Cowboys
The 2022 regular season is finally upon us. The long drought is over, ushering in incessant film study and prep for the Week One opponent: the Dallas Cowboys. Snag the popcorn! Tampa Bay's schedule is highlighted by five primetime matchups, including the opening slate. The Bucs kickoff the season against the Cowboys for the second straight year, this time at AT&T Stadium. The Sunday Night Football showdown on September 11 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC will mark the fourth meeting between the two clubs in Week One. As both franchises vie for contention in 2022, the contest will be a hard-fought battle. With playoff-like implications to begin the year, the Buccaneers' quest for another title begins now.
