Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Final post-Super Bowl LII standings around the league

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 24: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after fumbling during the final minute of their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – DECEMBER 24: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after fumbling during the final minute of their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 28. team. 48. .

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also drop a spot in our NFL power rankings, as there are more than just a handful of issues to be worried about here.

Quarterback Jameis Winston failed to take advantage of new receiving weapons, wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end O.J. Howard, added last offseason. Neither receiver had more than 700 yards through the air.

Sure, injuries were a major issue for the Bucs. So was the lack of a pass rush, as Tampa Bay finished with a league-worst 22 sacks on the year.

An elite pass-rusher figures to be a top target in the 2018 NFL Draft, where the Bucs are slated to pick seventh. Thankfully, names like NC State’s Bradley Chubb and LSU’s Arden Key may both be there at that point. It would be wise for the Buccaneers to consider both options.

With $61,478,282 in available cap space, per Over the Cap, Tampa Bay has some good wiggle room for defensive upgrades too. They’re needed.

Yet the Buccaneers drop a spot, mainly due to Winston’s developmental concerns. It’s hard to say retaining head coach Dirk Koetter was the right move.