[jwplayer uNg4wQUX]
Typically we see the annual “top-100 players lists” come out after February’s Super Bowl. Naturally that’s a list that’s reflecting on the season that was in the NFL.
But much more recently and with the 2020 regular season just around the corner, the world-wide leader decided to put their name on some predictions as we head toward games finally being played. Instead of naming their top-100, ESPN predicted who their top-100 might be ahead of the upcoming year.
In it, we see two Buffalo Bills players.
First, cornerback Tre’Davious White clocks in at No. 26 overall.
That jump is a massive one White makes from ESPN’s end of season list after the 2019 season where he landed at 97. In making this big leap, White is lands as the second-highest ranked corner, behind only the Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore (7).
Here’s how ESPN breaks down White’s ranking:
It’s a massive jump up this list for White, who made a similarly sized jump with his play last season. The first pick of the Sean McDermott/Brandon Beane era cemented himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league with an NFL-high six interceptions last season, including two in a playoff-sealing win against the Steelers in Week 15. White was a first-team All-Pro selection for the first time last year, and if he continues his level of play from 2019, that honor won’t be his last.
Perhaps ESPN is trying to make up for their past shade toward White putting him up at 97, but at minimum, putting him only behind Gilmore in terms of cornerbacks, is the right call. But speaking of Stephon’s, let’s jump to Stefon now… Diggs, that is. Buffalo’s new wide receiver does take a bit of a slip from prior ranking, but is still considered a top player. Diggs moved from No. 64 to 79:
Diggs joins a Buffalo offense in desperate need of playmakers. One of the crispiest route runners in the league, he immediately slides in as the team’s No. 1 receiver. Never a Pro Bowler or All-Pro in his five NFL seasons, Diggs can lock himself in as a top-10 receiver in the league if he can produce in one of its worst passing offenses over the past two seasons.
While a disappointing fall, Diggs can certainly make up this ground he lost. It might even be justifiable to move him down. During a pandemic-filled offseason, Diggs has had limited time to get on the same page as his new quarterback in Josh Allen with the Bills. Over the course of the season, that’ll grow and grow, but hopefully Buffalo won’t have to wait too long to see its full potential.
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