1995 NFL Re-Draft

It is time for another NFL Re-Draft. What would have happened if teams picked who they should have. Eventually we will get to all of the professional sports drafts of my lifetime.

You get the drill by now, but before we start here is....

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1994

This is the draft that set the Tampa Bay Buccaneers up for their eventual Super Bowl run. The entire landscape of the franchise changed with this draft, especially with what happened in the 1st round. It is not a draft that I want to see reversed in any way, but I can't skip this one.

1 Cincinnati Bengals

Select: LB       Derrick Brooks       Florida State

Brooks was actually selected with the 28th overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Actual Selection: RB      Ki-Jana Carter         Penn State

Remember, when I said I did not want to see this draft re-done. The Buccaneers stole this draft by getting the two best players in the draft. One of those players was the great Derrick Brooks, who was the best player in this draft by a substantial margin. For as good as Brooks was on the field, he was even better off of it. The Bengals could have really used this guy on and off the field. Instead, they took Carter who never came close to living up to the hype.

2 Jacksonville Jaguars

Select: DT     Warren Sapp     Miami

Sapp was actually selected with the 12th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Actual Selection: OT    Tony Boselli     Southern California

Boselli was a strong selection and has a pretty decent shot at making the Hall of Fame one day. However, the choice for the Jaguars in this re-draft is clear, they pick the second most productive player from this class in Warren Sapp. The Jaguars had to watch Sapp help the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl when he could have been theirs all along. Steve McNair would have been the pick for most teams, but the Jaguars already had a strong QB in Brunell, so they take Sapp here.

3 Houston Oilers

Select: QB      Steve McNair     Alcorn State

McNair was the Oilers actual selection.

There is absolutely no reason to change this pick now. Outside of the two hall of famers picked before him in the re-draft, McNair had the best career. Not to mention, he is a QB and he eventually led the franchise to the Super Bowl. Of course, when McNair pulled that off, the franchise had moved to Tennessee and became the Titans. Still, this guy was a great selection and a fun player to watch.

4 Washington Redskins

Select: CB      Ty Law        Michigan

Law was actually selected with the 23rd overall pick by the New England Patriots.

Actual Selection: WR      Michael Westbrook     Colorado

Michael Westbrook was a great college player that did very little as a pro. The Redskins had an opportunity to select a future hall of famer and pair him with the legendary Darrell Green. Washington would have been really tough to throw on if they had drafted Law. He helped lead the Patriots defense to several Super Bowls and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Redskins could have had two Hall of Fame corners together for a long time, but they selected Westbrook.

5 Carolina Panthers

Select: QB       Kerry Collins         Penn State

Collins was the Panthers actual selection.

The Panthers needed a QB, Collins was sitting there and was a good player. He had a good career and was the right selection for Carolina, then and now.

6 St. Louis Rams

Select: DE       Kevin Carter        Florida

Carter was the Rams actual selection. 

Carter was another really solid pick. He was a really good player for quite a while. Over his career, he totaled 104 career sacks. Good job here by St. Louis.

7 Philadelphia Eagles

Select: DE     Hugh Douglas      Central State University (Ohio)

Douglas was actually selected with the 16th overall pick by the New York Jets.

Actual Selection: DE       Mike Mamula      Boston College

The Eagles are the third team of this re-draft that really blew their first round pick. Mamula was a better player than Westbrook or Carter, but he was not worthy of being a 1st rounder. Curtis Martin is the best player available in the re-draft, but the Eagles had Ricky Watters at the time. This re-draft sees the team select a superior pass rusher to Mamula in Hugh Douglas. The defensive end spent his best seasons in Philadelphia and they look to get him earlier by taking him in the re-draft. Douglas would have 50 more career sacks than Mamula and would have been a much better pick.

8 Seattle Seahawks

Select: WR      Joey Galloway     Ohio State

Galloway was the Seahawks actual selection.

Curtis Martin is still the best player available in the re-draft, but the Seahawks had Chris Warren, who was coming off a Pro-Bowl, so its hard to see them going RB. They instead pick the guy they did pick in Galloway. The receiver was a solid pro for a number of seasons and helped the Seahawk offense tremendously.

9 New York Jets

Select: RB      Curtis Martin        Pittsburgh

Martin was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 74th overall pick by the Patriots.

Actual Selection: TE        Kyle Brady       Penn State

Jets fans always want the sexy pick and there is nothing that fits that better than a Hall of Famer. Especially, a hall of famer that would rush for 10,000 yards with the Jets. Before he ever got to the Jets though, Curtis Martin played for the hated Patriots and helped them reach the Super Bowl in 1996. This pick in the re-draft assures that one of the best players in New York Jet history stays a Jet his entire career.

10 San Francisco 49ers

Select: RB     Terrell Davis        Georgia

Davis was actually selected in the 6th round with the 196th overall pick by the Broncos.

Actual Selection: WR      JJ Stokes       UCLA

The 49ers had a Super Bowl contender in 1995, but were lacking a real running game. By picking the Hall of Fame RBTerrell Davis in the re-draft, they give themselves an increased chance to win another big game. One has to wonder how the balance of power would have shifted in the NFL if Davis had been in San Francisco instead of Denver. It's crazy to think how Davis fell until the 6th round, but it always happens with RBs.

11 Minnesota Vikings

Select: OT      Tony Boselli        Southern California

Boselli was actually selected with the 2nd pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Actual Selection: DE      Derrick Alexander     Florida State

There were a lot worse picks than Derrick Alexander in this draft, but he probably would have been a 2nd rounder if we did this draft today. Boselli on the other hand was long gone in the actual draft, but the Vikings would have loved for him to fall here to 11. The selection of Boselli would have made an incredible Vikings offensive line even better. Robert Smith would have really appreciated having Boselli around.

12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Select: WR       Antonio Freeman         Virginia Tech

Freeman was actually selected in the 3rd round with the 90th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers.

Actual Selection: DT     Warren Sapp     Miami

The Bucs had the best draft arguably ever in 1995 as they selected the two best players in the draft and two Hall of Famers in Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. The re-draft can't possibly go as well. You can't replace that defensive value, but you can improve the offense that struggled for a really long time. Freeman would have been the best wideout Trent Dilfer would have had in Tampa and tremendously helped the offense.

13 New Orleans Saints

Select: QB      Kordell Stewart        Colorado

Stewart was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 60th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Actual Selection: LB     Mark Fields      Washington St. 

Kordell Stewart would be too hard to pass up here. Stewart would have given the Saints an exciting offense under coach Ditka if nothing else. Their quarterback in 1995 was Jim Everrett who was a solid NFL QB, but he only had 2 years left in his career. This selection gives Stewart some time to learn the offense and be ready to make an impact in New Orleans.

14 Buffalo Bills

Select: G        Ruben Brown     Pittsburgh

Brown was the Bills actual selection.

Ruben Brown was a heck of a pick by Buffalo in 1995. He had a wonderful career for the Bills and really bolstered their offensive line. They make the same selection here if it happened this way.

15 Indianapolis Colts

Select: G        Adam Timmerman       South Dakota State

Timmerman was actually selected in the 7th round with the 230th overall pick by the Packers.

Actual Selection: DT     Ellis Johnson      Florida

Another Florida Gator that was drafted way to high, what a shocker. These guys could have selected a guy that went 215 picks later and was much better. Timmerman would have improved one of the teams weakest spots at left guard. 

16 New York Jets

Select: OT        Korey Stringer           Ohio State

Stringer was actually selected with the 24th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.

Actual Selection: DE     Hugh Douglas      Central State University (Ohio)

Hugh Douglas is long gone in the re-draft, so the Jets would have to adjust accordingly. The Jets who already upgraded their running game with Curtis Martin, now continue to do that with Korey Stringer. The former Viking was a really good pro that died way too early back in 2000. He died of a heat stroke and is the biggest reason we have the safety precautions that we do today. Knowing what we do now about heat related illness we likely would be able to prevent his death if we go back.

17 New York Giants

Select: OT        Scott Gragg       Montana

Gragg was actually the Giants 2nd round selection, the 54th overall pick.

Actual Selection: RB     Tyrone Wheatley     Michigan

Tyrone Wheatley rushed for nearly 5,000 career yards, but he should not have been a top 20 pick. The Giants picked a guy in the 2nd round who had a better career at a harder position to replace. That guy is the pick with this selection. 

18 Oakland Raiders

Select: LB     Mark Fields      Washington St. 

Fields was actually selected with the 13th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints.

Actual Selection: RB      Napoleon Kaufman     Washington

Kaufman was very similar to Wheatley with near identical stats. He should not been selected in the top 20, but rushed for nearly 5,000 career yards. The Raiders benefit from the re-draft because Mark Fields is still available here, while he was gone in the actual draft. Fields helps sure up one of the Raiders weakest position groups at the time.

19 Jacksonville Jaguars

Select: DT       Gary Walker       Auburn

Walker was actually selected in the 5th round with the 159th pick by the Houston Oilers.

Actual Selection: RB      James Stewart     Tennessee

It feels like a broken record, a top 20 RB that did not provide top 20 value. Stewart was at least better as a pro than Wheatley and Kaufman, running for 1k more career yards, but he was still picked too high. This expansion team picks the same position group with both first round picks in the re-draft. They do this because they were by far the best players available at the time. These selections would have given the Jaguars an absolutely dominant defensive line. It would have been really fun to watch.

20 Detroit Lions

Select: DT      Luther Ellis       Utah

Ellis was the Lions actual selection.

The team did the right thing in 1995 with their selection of Ellis. He is the best player available in the re-draft. Ellis did really well in Detroit and played some strong defensive line for the Lions for 9 seasons. Detroit picks Ellis again in the re-draft.

21 Chicago Bears

Select: CB        Bobby Taylor        Notre Dame

Taylor was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 50th overall pick by the Eagles.

Actual Selection: RB      Rashaun Salaam       Colorado

Salaam was a terrible pick for Chicago who could have picked 100+ players with more productive careers. He was great as a rookie, but did nothing after his rookie year. The Bears struggled in the secondary and it perhaps cost Chicago a playoff spot. Bobby Taylor was a solid NFL corner and would have been a big upgrade for the Bears, but he would last all the way to 50 overall.

22 Carolina Panthers

Select: C       Barrett Robbins       Texas Christian

Robbins was actually selected in the 2nd round 49th overall by the Oakland Raiders.

Actual Selection: CB      Tyrone Poole      Fort Valley State

Tyrone Poole was a really solid pick and solid corner. However, the value of Barrett Robbins here is too good to pass up. He had an excellent career and was first team all-pro in 2002 helping the lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl. He ended up disappearing right before the game and his career was essentially over at that point. The Panthers happily select Robbins and assure that he receives the appropriate mental health support while making the selection.

23 New England Patriots

Select: LB        Ted Johnson       Colorado

Johnson was actually the Patriots 2nd round selection, with the 57th overall pick.

Actual Selection: CB     Ty Law      Michigan

You can't get hall of famers at 23 in the re-draft. The Buccaneers are the big losers in the re-draft, but the Patriots are not too far behind. New England also would draft two Hall of Famers in this draft. The team picks Ted Johnson a little earlier in the re-draft. He would help New England to several Super Bowls and be picked by them again in this scenario.

24 Minnesota Vikings

Select: CB      Tyrone Poole      Fort Valley State

Poole was actually selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Carolina Panthers.

Actual Selection: OT      Korey Stringer        Ohio State

Stringer was a great pick and an outstanding blocker, but he's gone in the re-draft. They selected Boselli already in the re-draft too, so they can pick away from the offensive line here. Minnesota selects Poole here to play corner for the Vikings. They had a rookie starting corner in 1995, but Poole had a slightly better career than Corey Fuller.

25 Miami Dolphins

Select: WR       Wayne Chrebet      Hofstra

Chrebet was actually undrafted in the 1995 draft.

Actual Selection: OT      Billy Milner         Houston

The Dolphins selected an offensive lineman in the 1st round in 1995 and it was not a terrible decision, but they could have picked a better player. There was a guy that could have been drafted here that didn't get drafted at all. The Dolphins needed to get younger at WR and Chrebet would have been a great fit in Miami. The dude put up numbers for Chad Pennington, just imagine what he would have done with Marino.

26 Atlanta Falcons

Select: CB        Corey Fuller         Florida State

Fuller was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 55th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings

Actual Selection: DB       Devin Bush      Florida State

Devin Bush was a solid pro and did well for the Falcons, but they picked the wrong FSU DB in 1995. They correct that in the re-draft by picking Fuller over Bush. Atlanta knew they needed secondary help at the time and they even chose the right school. That being said, Fuller was clearly the better pro.

27 Pittsburgh Steelers

Select: OG       Zach Wiegert        Nebraska

Wiegert was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 38th overall pick by the St. Louis Rams.

Actual Selection: TE        Mark Bruener        Washington

Bruener was one of two rookie starters for the Super Bowl runner-up. The other position though was guard and there was a better guard available at the time that could have made their offensive line even better. Wiegert was a great offensive lineman that would have fit in well with the Steelers.

28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Select: DT       Jason Fisk         Stanford

Fisk was actually selected in the 7th round with the 243rd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.

Actual Selection: LB       Derrick Brooks       Florida State

Have I mentioned that this is the one draft I want no business in a re-draft of. Derrick Brooks is my favorite football player ever and him not being a part of the Bucs would have been horrible. That's how the re-draft works though, teams make smarter choices. Unfortunately, that works against the Buccaneers this time. Fisk was not even close to the player Warren Sapp was at defensive tackle, but he was a really good pro and could have helped Tampa.

29 Carolina Panthers

Select: RB      James Stewart     Tennessee

Stewart was actually selected with the 19th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Actual Selection: OT         Blake Brockermeyer       Texas

Brockermeyer was a solid pick and did well over the course of his career. Stewart provided more value and was a far better runner than the guy Carolina put on the field. He scored 48 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 6k yards over his career.

30 Cleveland Browns

Select: RB        Tyrone Wheatley         Michigan

Wheatley was actually selected with the 17th overall pick by the New York Giants.

Actual Selection: LB      Craig Powell       Ohio State

Powell was a complete waste of a 1st round selection. It was the team's last year in Cleveland and they could have done something to better send off the team before they left for Baltimore. Tyrone Wheatley was a better RB than LeRoy Hoard, and the Browns could have had a better RB to close out the franchise. Baltimore also would have been better in the beginning with that move.

31 Kansas City Chiefs

Select: WR     Frank Sanders        Auburn

Sanders was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 47th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals.

Actual Selection: OT      Trezelle Jenkins       Michigan

The 1995 Chiefs won 13 games and could have won the Super Bowl. The problem was that they could not beat the Colts in the divisional round due to lack of production on offense. Another pass catcher could have changed that outcome and the narrative about Marty Schottenheimer. Frank Sanders would have made a huge difference for the Chiefs.

32 Green Bay Packers

Select: G      Matt O'Dwyer        Northwestern

O'Dwyer was actually selected in the 2nd round with the 33rd overall pick by the New York Jets.

Actual Selection: DB       Craig Newsome       Arizona State

Newsome did well with the Packers, but the team could have picked a better pro in O'Dwyer. The great offensive lineman went one pick later to the Jets. He would have been an outstanding pick, and is a great pick in the re-draft.

-Noland

Tampa Bay Athlete Power Rankings

Sports have not returned yet to the Bay Area, but when they do, there is plenty of room for optimism. The Lightning and Rays look to have contending teams and the Buccaneers added the greatest quarterback of all-time. With all of this excitement, its a good time to look at what our current athletes have contributed to their Bay Area teams. Let's rank the athletes by what they have done as a member of their current teams. Only contributions as a member of the team will be considered, so sorry Tom Brady, who has yet to take the field for the Bucs, will not be considered. Additionally, the players overall career with the team is what will be considered, not just the most recent season. Here are your 2020 Tampa Bay Athlete Power Rankings

# 25 Ji-Man Choi

Tampa Bay Rays 2018-Present

We kick the list off with one of the best personalities in all of baseball. Choi is much more than an entertainer on the baseball field though. Last season he hit .261 with 19 home runs and 63 rbis. For the majority of the season, Choi did a wonderful job as the 1st baseman for the Rays. All of that wouldn't be enough to make the list though after a year and a half. There are some great athletes that missed the cut. Choi turned an unassisted double play in Game 4 of the ALDS last season that was key in forcing a game 5 against the Astros. He also hit a big home run in the Game 3 victory over Houston. Nobody gave Tampa a chance against the Astros before the series, but Ji-Man certainly made it a fun and exciting series. The success in the playoffs allow Choi to beat a few deserving contenders and make the list.

# 24 Cameron Brate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014-Present

Let's call this one the lifetime achievement award. Brate has spent 6 seasons with the Bucs. He could be 3rd on the depth chart this season, but Brate has done some big things with the Buccaneers. The Bucs TE has caught 27 touchdowns and racked up 2, 156 yards receiving. That ranks him 23rd in Bucs history in yards. The 27 TDS rank tied for 5th all-time in franchise history. His 195 catches ranks 20th in team history. He has made an impact in Tampa for sure.

# 23 Yanni Gourde

Tampa Bay Lightning 2015-Present

The lowest ranked Lightning player to make the list, Yanni Gourde is still special. He may not seem like he is producing as much since his big contract, but Yanni makes his presence felt on the ice. Gourde ranks 23rd in points, 23rd in goals, and 11th in +/- all-time. His 16 game winning goals are tied for 13th in franchise history. He hasn't done as much in the playoffs, but he does have a postseason game winning goal and 8 postseason points. Gourde's gritty style of play is a huge benefit for Tampa.

# 22 Vita Vea

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2018-Present

Vea was a controversial draft pick for the Buccaneers at the time he was selected. This was through no fault of his own, a lot of people just wanted Derwin James. While James has been a transformative player for the Chargers, it's hard to be mad about this selection now. Vea has been a constant force for the Buccaneers defense and has been incredible up the middle. It doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but Vea has been amazing. As one of the top defensive tackles in the league, Vea has played a major part for Tampa and their improved defense. There is a great chance that Vea will be much higher on this list in future years.

# 21 Tyler Glasnow
Tampa Bay Rays 2018-Present

Glasnow was traded from the Pirates to the Rays during the 2018 trade deadline in the Chris Archer deal. That deal may go down as the best trade in the history of the Rays. He could be a dominant starter for the Rays for many seasons. With Tampa he is 7-6 with a 2.94 ERA. Last season, Glasnow was 6-1 with a 1.78 ERA. The AL Pitcher of the Month in April 2019 has a very bright future for Tampa. 

# 20 Austin Meadows

Tampa Bay Rays 2018-Present

Did I mention the Chris Archer trade? That trade also brought the Rays Austin Meadows. He was an all-star in 2019 and has been incredible for the Rays. The September 2019 AL Player of the Month was simply brilliant in 2019. Meadows struggled a bit in the postseason, but still drove in 3 and had 2 extra base hits against the Astros. His efforts in the regular season helped propel Tampa Bay to their postseason birth. He hit .291 with 33 home runs and 89 rbis in 2019. The young outfielder has an incredibly bright future for the Rays and is still pre-arbitration until 2022.

# 19 Ryan McDonagh

Tampa Bay Lightning 2018-Present

Ryan McDonagh was traded from the Rangers to the Lightning in the 2017-2018 season and has been a key member of the Lightning ever since. His impact isn't felt in the stat sheet, but on what he brings to the ice as an outstanding defenseman. There is no stat that tells you how wonderful McDonagh has been, he just has been awesome. McDongh was second in the entire league in +/- during the 2018-2019 season with 38. His ability as a defender has him 9th all-time for the Lightning in that stat. Hopefully, he can fulfill his ultimate purpose in coming here and deliver Lord Stanley to Tampa Bay.

# 18 Mikhail Sergachev

Tampa Bay Lightning 2017-Present

Sergachev has been with the Lightning for about the same period of time as McDonagh, so why is he in front. While Mac is a vital piece of the Lightning franchise, don't sleep on Sergachev who has had an outstanding season so far. Sergachev is a fantastic offensive game for a defenseman which is further evidenced by his place on the Lightning power play unit. Sergachev's 7 postseason points are good for 32nd on the all-time franchise list. Sergachev is tied for 30th on the teams all-time scoring list for the regular season also. Sergachev is tied with Gourde for 11th all-time in +/- for the Bolts despite 2 fewer seasons with the team. The youngster is still only 21 years old! He has career highs this season in goals, and +/- in the shortened season. Awesome young career from Sergachev with much more to come.

# 17 Charlie Morton 

Tampa Bay Rays 2019-Present

Charlie Morton has only spent one season with the Rays, but its hard to imagine that season going much better. Morton was an all-star and finished 3rd in Cy Young voting. He finished 16-6 for a 3.05 ERA. His brilliant pitching all season long are a big reason why the Rays made the postseason. Not just that, but Morton won the wild card game for the Rays and then beat the eventual AL Champion Astros in the divisional round. He beat the team that cheated off pitchers in the playoffs.

# 16 Shaquil Barrett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2019-Present

A guy with only one season makes the top 20? Yes, they do when that season was as good as the one Shaquil Barrett had in 2019. During that season, Shaq set the single season team record for sacks. Those 19.5 sacks put Barrett at 18th in franchise history in sacks and only 9 sacks away from being 6th place on the all-time franchise sack list. When you consider that the Bucs have 2 Hall of Fame defensive tackles, a hall of fame linebacker, and several other notable defenders in franchise history, that is quite the accomplishment. The 2019 for Shaquil Barrett was one of the best sports seasons that Tampa Bay has ever seen from a single athlete. Shaq looks to perhaps get into the top 10 next season.

# 15 Anthony Cirelli

Tampa Bay Lightning 2018-Present

Cirelli is in only his 2nd full season with the Lightning and he has already made a major mark on the franchise. The center is 8th all time in +/- for the Lightning. This is a team that has won a cup and Cirelli is 8th all-time in +/-. He already has 8 game winning goals in 2 years also. 37th all-time in goals and points might not seem like a big deal, but Cirelli is already there for both stats after just 2 seasons. The crazy young forward is a free agent after this season, but the Lightning will likely look to lock him up long term. He brings crazy energy and skill every night and is an absolute fan favorite. This city could use a few players more like Cirelli. You never have to question Cirelli's effort and that is a special thing.

# 14 Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2017-Present

Godwin is the only player in the top 15 who spent three years or less with Tampa Bay. His 3 seasons with the Buccaneers have been very good, especially last year. Last year, he made the Pro Bowl and was a 1st team all-pro from Pro Football Focus. 2019 saw Godwin haul in 86 catches for 1,333 yards and 9 touchdowns. His career totals are 179 catches for 2,700 yards and 17 TDs. Those 17 TDs rank 13th on the Bucs all-time list. The catches rank 23rd in franchise history and yards rank 16th in franchise history. A healthy 2020 should see Godwin move into the top 10 in all three categories and perhaps into the top 10 for our list next year.

# 13 Ali Marpet

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2015-Present

Marpet has been one of the best guards in the NFL during his 5 seasons in the league. There are not a lot of stats to back up offensive lineman on the list, but Marpet has been outstanding. The Bucs offensive line has caught a lot of flack in recent years, but it has nothing to do with Ali. Marpet is a great offensive lineman and has been incredible for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team and city are lucky to have Ali Marpet.

# 12 Brayden Point

Tampa Bay Lightning 2016-Present

This is just Point's 4th season with the Lightning, but he is already making an impact. Point already has 25 game winning goals which is 7th all-time for the team. +/- is another favorable metric for Point, who already ranks 7th all-time in that stat. He also ranks 13th all-time in points and 10th all-time in goals. During the playoffs, Point is 15th in scoring and 12th in goals. He's young and locked up for the lightning for many seasons. Two years ago, Point led the league in game winning goals, and last year he led the league in power play goals. The 2018 all-star is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and an absolutely dynamic goal scorer. Pointer lights up the scoreboard for Tampa Bay and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

# 11Ondrej Palat

Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-Present

Palat is not what he once was, but he has been special for the lightning. Who can forget the triplets line? Palat is 8th all-time in playoff scoring and 7th all-time in postseason goals. He also has 4 game winning goals for the Bolts in the playoffs. Additionally, Palat is the franchise's all-time leader in +/- during the regular season. During the regular season, Palat ranks 9th in points all-time. He's been a really solid player for the Lightning for many seasons. He is widely regarded as one of the Lightning's top defensive forwards as well. 

# 10 Andrei Vasileviskiy
Tampa Bay Lightning 2014-Present

You are probably shocked to see him as just the 10th ranked player on this list. Vasy may very well be the best goalie in the game and he has been terrific in the regular season. Unfortunately, he has been very pedestrian in the playoffs with a 15-15 record. His save percentage is 6th all-time for the Lightning in the playoffs. Vasy's underwhelming postseasons should not allow us to forget how brilliant he has been for the Tampa Bay Lighting in the regular season though. Vasileviskiy is 2nd all-time in save percentage for the Lightning. He is also the all-time franchise leader in games played out of the goalie spot. It's easy to see how Vasy could be ranked higher and how he likely will be ranked higher the next time we do this list.

# 9 Blake Snell
Tampa Bay Rays 2016-Present

Technically Blake Snell is the only league champion on this list. Snell recently won the 2020 Players League Championship on MLB the Show. This success in the video game can't be counted on our countdown, but it does show another reason why Blake Snell is awesome. The Rays have had many really good pitchers and Snell is 6th all-time in pitching WAR for the Rays. He's 10th in wins and 5th in win percentage. Snell ranks number 1 in strikeouts per nine and number 1 in adjusted ERA all-time for the franchise. You can make a good argument that Snell is the best pitcher in franchise history and that is a big deal. Despite his recent comments, Snell still finds his way in the top 10.

# 8 Alex Killorn
Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-Present

Killorn might be the most clutch athlete in all of Tampa Bay. While the Tampa Bay Lightning have struggled in the postseason, Kilorn always seems to bring a little bit extra. He is 9th all-time for the Bolts in playoff scoring. That only tells part of the story. Killorn is the all-time leader for the Lightning in +/- during the playoffs. Tampa Bay is +13 with Killorn in the lineup during the postseason. His 5 game winning goals during the playoffs, rank 5th all time for Tampa. Killorn ranks 10th all-time in scoring for the Bolts during the regular season as well. His 26 regular season game winning goals rank 6th in franchise history. Killorn's 131 goals rank 8th as well. Killer is one of the most underrated and underappreciated players in all of Tampa Bay and the Bay Area is quite lucky to have him.

# 7 Kevin Kiermaier

Tampa Bay Rays 2013-Present

Kiermaier is not the Rays best player, but he is their longest tenured and he has been a very productive player on a very good team. He is 4th all-time among position players for the Rays in WAR. Offensive WAR all-time for the Rays, Kiermaier ranks 8th. Kiermaier's real value is on the defensive side. He ranks #1 all-time for the franchise in defensive WAR. Three gold gloves also belong to Kiermaier as he won that award in 2015, 2016, and 2019. He can still produce on the offensive side though, Kiermaier is 7th all-time for the Rays in runs scored. The Rays have been so brilliant for so long, its a shame that their top guy is 7th on the list, but their athletes just haven't done what the other 6 guys have done.

# 6 Tyler Johnson

Tampa Bay Lightning 2012-Present

Tampa Bay recently had a Tyler Johnson infusion after the Buccaneers also selected a Tyler Johnson. We are talking about the hockey Tyler here at #6. He is not quite the same player as he was in 2015 when he made the all-star team and finished 3rd in +/-, but he's still great. Johnson is 5th all-time in playoff scoring for the Lightning and 3rd all-time in goals during the playoffs for the Bolts. Johnny leads all current Lightning players and is 2nd all-time with 7 game winning goals during the postseason. He's long been one of the best playoff performers for Tampa. Johnson's no slouch in the regular season though. Tyler is 4th all-time in +/-, 5th in game winning goals, 5th in goals, and 8th in points all-time for the Lightning in the regular season. Johnny be good.

# 5 Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2014-Present

Mike Evans was one name that everyone probably expected in the Top 5 and he deserves it. Evans is rightfully recognized as one of the greatest receivers in the NFL. He has been selected to 2 pro bowls in his 6 seasons in Tampa. There is a lot more to Mike Evans though. Mike has 7,260 career receiving yards which are the most in franchise history. Not only is Evans #1 though, he is 2,200 yards up on the next closest receiver on the list. His 462 receptions is also tops in franchise history. The 48 touchdown receptions that Evans have are 14 more than the next closest Buccaneer. As the top WR in the history of the franchise, Evans is an easy choice in the top 5.

# 4 Lavonte David

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2012-Present

Lavonte David is one of the most underrated athletes in Tampa Bay history. He may be the most underrated player this city has ever seen. This dude just makes tackles and makes plays. He's been brilliant for Tampa for 8 years and he has only made 1 Pro-Bowl. What has he done in those 8 years? How about 1,008 tackles, 724 of which were solo tackles. Those 724 tackles rank 3rd in Buccaneer history. The two guys in front of him are Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber. His 116 tackles for loss are the most in Buccaneer history. Let me repeat that, 116 tackles for loss which is the most in franchise history. He has more tackles for loss than Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks. Some people consider Brooks the greatest outside linebacker ever and David has more tackles for loss. Lavonte has been and continues to be brilliant for this franchise. Hopefully this team can deliver him the Super Bowl title that he so rightly deserves.

# 3 Nikita Kucherov

Tampa Bay Lightning 2013-Present

Many believe Kucherov is the most skilled player in the entire NHL. He drives another segment of the fanbase crazy with his turnovers. There is no doubt though that Kuch has done some special things with the Bolts. Kucherov is 2nd all-time in playoff scoring for the Bolts. He is also 2nd in goals, 3rd in game winning goals, and third in +/- during the postseason all-time. Regular season all-time, Kucherov is 4th in points, 4th in goals, 4th in game winning goals, and 2nd in +/-. The guy is an incredible talent. His best season was last season where he won the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, and the Art Ross Trophy. He led the league in points and assists for 2018-2019. This wasn't the only time he led the league in a stat, as he led the league in power play goals in 2016-2017. For the 2014-2015 seasons, Kuch led the league in +/-. He's been a really good player for the Bolts for a long-time and has been fantastic for the city. At just 26 years old and after just signing an extension, there is a lot more Kucherov for the Tampa Bay area. 

# 2 Victor Hedman

Tampa Bay Lightning 2009-Present

The longtime Lightning defenseman has already had a brilliant career for the Bolts. His 11 seasons in blue and white have seen him pick up numerous awards and all-star appearances. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the national hockey league today. Hedman even won the Norris award for the 2017-2018 season as the top defender in the entire league. The guy has been a finalist for that award the past three seasons and was likely on pace to be named a finalist for the 4th straight season this year. Hedman is 6th all-time for the Bolts in playoff scoring despite being a defenseman. Don't forget that he was hurt during that playoff collapse last season. This guy is vital to the Lightning's success and has been a great asset for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the past 11 seasons. He's higher than Kucherov because of longer sustained excellence, but his tenure hasn't been quite as amazing as our #1 guy.

And your # 1 ranked athlete for the Tampa Bay Area is.....

Steven Stamkos
Tampa Bay Lightning 2008-Present

When you think about it, this was the clear-cut choice for #1. The superstar captain of the best team in Tampa Bay had to be the top choice here. He has already had a legendary career as a member of the Lightning. Stammer is already 3rd all-time in points in lightning history. He's also 3rd all-time in scoring for the postseason. His 422 regular season goals rank as #1 all-time for the Lightning. The guy has 61 game winning goals which rank just 3 behind Martin St. Louis for #1 all-time. He will go down as the most prolific goal scorer in Tampa Bay Lightning history. Should he deliver a cup to Tampa Bay, there is an argument for him as the #1 athlete all-time in this area. Stamkos is number one and his legacy can only grow by hoisting a Stanley Cup one day.

- Noland