Projecting the Top 100 NFL Players After This Season: Nos. 40-21

More of the Projected Top 100: Nos. 100-81 | Nos. 80-61 | Nos. 60-41

The NFL’s top 100 players. Not a new concept. We’ve seen the lists and how they change annually based on the ensuing performances.

But here at The MMQB, we’re adding a new spin. We’re forecasting how the top 100 will look after the 2023 season. Which players will rise and become stars, or grow into superstardom? Which players will begin declining either because of age or because of their situation?

We have unveiled over half of the list thus far (Nos. 100-81, Nos. 80-61 and Nos. 60-41). At the midseason point, we’ll update and evaluate our list before a final review after the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

In the meantime, we see at least one member of each team making the list, while the 49ers and Eagles are the most represented with eight and seven players, respectively. Conversely, the Cardinals, Panthers, Bears, Packers, Vikings and Buccaneers have one apiece.

All told, 12 quarterbacks made our list, while Matthew Stafford and Bryce Young were the first two missing the cut. Lastly, 54 AFC players made the list, with 46 from the NFC.

It wasn’t an easy task, but we have our top 100 based on how the players are about to perform, not only on what they’ve already accomplished. Here are the next 20, Nos. 40-21: 

40

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

"He's special," Rodgers said of Wilson on Hard Knocks. "He's so f---ing quick, I'm like missing the wrong shoulder. He gets out of his breaks so quick.”

Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports

Rodgers might not like this list after saying Wilson is close to being the best wide receiver in the game. It’s hard to argue with how explosive Wilson was in his rookie season, with 83 catches for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns, despite a poor passing game for the Jets last season.

39

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers

Fitzpatrick totaled 11 passes defended last season.

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Only 26 years old, Fitzpatrick has already established himself as an elite safety with ball-hawking skills. The Steelers’ star tied for the league lead with six interceptions in 2022, helping him earn first-team All-Pro honors for the third time in his young career.

38

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Kupp will reportedly return to practice this week.

Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

Kupp was on track for another historical statistical season (75/812/6) before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury, which cut his season to nine games. The 2021 Offensive Player of the Year is a receptions machine (508 in six seasons) who probably doesn’t get enough credit for what he provides as a blocker. He’s currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, but Rams coach Sean McVay expects him back before the regular season.

37

Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys

Martin recently reworked his deal with the Cowboys to raise his pay to $36 million over the next two seasons (up from $27.5). 

Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

Martin has quietly put together one of the best careers in NFL history at his position. Through nine seasons, he is an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time, first-team All-Pro.

36

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Kittle returned to 49ers practice this week after being out with an adductor strain.

Cary Edmondson / USA TODAY Sports

Kittle’s blocking dominance has helped the 49ers become one of the best rushing teams the past few seasons. He’s also a productive seam stretcher coming off another season with at least 700 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

35

Lane Johnson, RT, Philadelphia Eagles

Johnson’s 90.1 PFF pass-blocking grade was behind only Tunsil at the position.

Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

Johnson didn’t give up a sack last year, continuing to play at a Hall of Fame level. Entering his age-33 season, Johnson is a pillar on Philadelphia’s line, playing the best football of his standout career.

34

A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Brown was targeted 145 times in Philly last season, making him the Eagles’ most targeted receiver in 2022.

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Brown’s physical style makes him a dangerous downfield target. He’s coming off a career season during his first year in Philadelphia, recording 88 receptions for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns.

33

Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets

Rodgers will play in New York alongside familiar ex-Packers like Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard. 

Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Network

Rodgers won consecutive MVP awards before last season. After a year in which he struggled and threw for 3,695 yards, Rodgers is looking to revitalize his career with the Jets, where he’s surrounded by better talent and an old face in OC Nathaniel Hackett.

32

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey was ranked as the No. 1 running back option for fantasy football this season.

John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

McCaffrey recently turned 27, the age when most running backs begin to decline, but that likely doesn’t apply to the 49ers star due to what he provides in the passing game. McCaffrey impacts the game in various ways, evidenced by the 1,139 rushing yards and 741 receiving yards he produced last season. 

31

Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans

Simmons has also been a two-time team captain for the Titans in his four seasons thus far.

© George Walker IV/Tennessean.com/USA TODAY Network

Simmons received a $94 million extension this offseason. He’s looking to back up a season (7.5 sacks) in which he racked up second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, each for the second time in his career.

30

Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Samuel posted a career-high 18.2 yards per reception in 2021.

Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports

Samuel is a matchup nightmare as a dangerous receiver who can also create yards in the run game. Coming off a down season (56/632/2 in 13 games), Samuel could return to doing what he did in 2021 with 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards.

29

Quenton Nelson, OG, Indianapolis Colts

Nelson played 1,148 offensive snaps last season, the eighth most in the league.

Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports

The Colts were atrocious up front last year, with only the Broncos allowing more sacks. However, Nelson remains one of the best interior linemen in the game. Despite the issues around him, Nelson earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2022.

28

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Lamb has consistently improved on his stats across his three years in the league.

David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Lamb emerged as a productive playmaker who can punish opposing defenses from the slot and outside positions. He recorded a career-high 107 receptions for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns. 

27

Derwin James Jr., S, Los Angeles Chargers

James recently signed a four-year extension that makes him the highest-paid safety in league history, at an average of $19.1 million per year. 

Marc Lebryk / USA TODAY Sports

James is arguably the best safety in football, and he was paid like it last summer with a four-year, $76.4 million extension. He responded by being named a second-team All-Pro while playing 14 games. The only concern with James is his health; he has missed 32 career tilts.

26

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson played in 12 games in each of the past two seasons.

Brent Skeen/USA TODAY Sports

You know this list is competitive when a former MVP quarterback in the midst of his prime is listed at this range. But Jackson could have a bounce-back year after dealing with injuries the past two seasons. With new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, the two-time Pro Bowler could put up career numbers in 2023 after signing a five-year extension worth $260 million.

25

Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers

Alexander’s interception count in 2022 matched his career total across four seasosn in the league up to that point.

Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports

Alexander had five interceptions in 2022, is coming off the second Pro Bowl season of his four-year career and is among the elite corners in football. With the Packers likely needing to be a bit more defensive-minded this year, Alexander has a chance to prove his worth even further in ’23.

24

Laremy Tunsil, LT, Houston Texans

Tunsil allowed one sack in 2022.

Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

Tunsil is a three-time Pro Bowler who cashed in this offseason with a three-year, $75 million contract extension. He’s one of the best left tackles in the league, and his bank account reflects that.

23

Fred Warner, ILB, San Francisco 49ers

Warner had 130 total tackles, two sacks and six quarterback hits in 2022.

Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

Nobody is a bigger force as an off-ball linebacker than Warner. The 49ers’ defense is elite, and Warner is at its epicenter both against the run and dropping into coverage. A two-time first-team All-Pro, Warner remains one of the league’s top players at any position. 

22

Maxx Crosby, edge, Las Vegas Raiders

Among all defensive linemen in 2022, Crosby ranked first in tackles for loss, with 22.

Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports

Crosby quickly earned respect in the league due to his relentless motor for chasing quarterbacks. He’s a 2019 fourth-round selection, but he hasn’t played like a Day 3 pick, recording 37.5 career sacks and back-to-back Pro Bowl selections. 

21

Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

In his final four seasons with the Packers, Adams had three years in which he had at least 1,300 receiving yards.

Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports

Adams might see his numbers dip from last season based on the quarterback situation in Las Vegas. In his first year with the Raiders, Adams posted 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns. At age 30, will the combination of age and a shoddy supporting cast knock those stats down a bit?