2017 NFL Power Rankings Preseason Week 2: Los Angeles Rams take major step forward

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)

Let this be a lesson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that no matter how good an individual player may seem, it’s always a risk using a second-round pick like they did in 2016 on Roberto Aguayo, who was released by the team shortly after a disappointing performance against the Cincinnati Bengals. It was one thing to watch Aguayo struggle as a rookie last year after only converting 22 of 31 field goals, but seeing him miss a field goal attempt along with an extra point in the first preseason game was the final straw for the Buccaneers.

For a team with high expectations of making the jump to serious contenders in the NFC, Tampa Bay simply can’t afford to waste their time with an unreliable kicker like Aguayo since one can only imagine the potential disaster surrounding him failing to come through in games. Kickers have one of the toughest jobs in the NFL when seeing the high level of pressure they constantly deal with, and if Aguayo wasn’t cutting it in the preseason, chances are it wasn’t going to get any better.

Whether Tampa Bay will in fact live up their high expectations will simply fall on the shoulders of Jameis Winston at quarterback, who will certainly benefit from having a new deep threat to work with in DeSean Jackson. Based off his first two seasons in the league, the former No. 1 pick is most likely in for his best year at quarterback for the Buccaneers.