ESPN’s Football Power Index has been released, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans may want to look away.
ESPN’s Seth Walder posted FPI’s debut list on Twitter Monday, and it certainly does not favor Tampa Bay. The rankings have the Bucs at No. 30 out of 32 teams, just above the Arizona Cardinals in last and the Houston Texans in 31st.
Walder’s FPI model also give the Bucs the second-highest odds to pick first overall at 11%. The Cardinals have by far the highest odds at 31%, as the team owns Houston’s first-round pick for 2024.
The Bucs’ offense is probably a prevailing reason that the team is ranked so low. QBs Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are both unknowns in this brand new offense under OC Dave Canales, and the offensive line is being shuffled around and will likely feature two new starters and a displaced Tristan Wirfs playing on the other side of the line.
The highest-ranked team in the NFC South is the New Orleans Saints, coming in at No. 22. The Falcons and Panthers sit right next to each other at No. 26 and No. 27, respectively.
ESPN's Football Power Index is out!
Why the Chiefs are No. 1 but not Super Bowl favorites, close divisions, the Jets at 6 (!), the Cardinals chances at the No. 1 pick and more: https://t.co/K5iPP9AtjJ pic.twitter.com/d6mYiqOVBa
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) May 22, 2023