Niner Noise
FanSided

The top NFL player to watch from each team in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) works out prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) works out prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Wide Receiver Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston could get the nod here, and that would be fine.

But the No. 1 Bucs player to watch this season ends up being up-and-coming wide receiver Mike Evans.

Winston and the Buccaneers offense got even better this offseason, signing free-agent wideout DeSean Jackson and pickup up former Alabama tight end O.J. Howard in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.

The biggest beneficiary of these additions will be both Winston and Evans though. Howard will take a while to leave his mark, and Jackson’s skills — at 30 years old — may start to be on the decline.

Where Evans wins, he’s winning already, is with the fact teams secondaries can no longer lock down on him as the No. 1 threat. He’ll get more chances now, as Tampa Bay looks to make some serious headway in 2017.