Projecting the Top 100 NFL Players After This Season: Nos. 80–61

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?

On Monday, we unveiled the first 20 players on the list, Nos. 100-81. 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. 80-61:

80

Daron Payne, DT, Washington Commanders

Last year, Payne posted a career-high tackles (64), tackles-for-loss (18) and quarterback hits (20). 

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After a breakout 2022 season with 11.5 sacks, Payne cashed in with a four-year, $90 million contract from the Commanders. Payne might be the best player on Washington’s loaded defensive front. 

79

Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears

Fields came up just about 50 yards short of Lamar Jackson's single-season quarterback rushing record, set in 2019. 

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Fields has a chance to be much higher on the list come winter, but this is a reasonable expectation. After all, while Fields did rush for 1,143 yards, he threw for only 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The additions of receiver DJ Moore and right tackle Darnell Wright will help, but how much and how quickly?

78

Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles

Kelce has been a pillar of the Eagles’ offensive line sicne 2011.

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The five-time first-team All-Pro is returning for a 13th season in Philadelphia. Kelce has come a long way since being drafted in 2011 in the sixth round. But before he decides to call it a career, he’ll aim to help the Eagles win another Super Bowl as the leader of one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

77

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Taylor, while he remains on the PUP list, is expected to travel with the team this week for its final preseason game.

Mykal McEldowney/USA Today Sports Network

Taylor led the league in carries (332), rushing yards (1,811) and rushing touchdowns (18) in 2021 before drastically dropping off last year (861 rushing yards, four TDs). Can he regain his old form despite being on the PUP list this summer during his holdout—and being granted permission to seek a trade Monday—or was Taylor’s magnificent campaign irreplicable? 

76

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Olave was targeted 119 times in 2022, and that number should only go up this season. 

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The speedy Olave quickly developed into a dangerous downfield threat. After 1,042 receiving yards as a rookie, he might see a statistical increase as Derek Carr’s top target. Also, if Michael Thomas manages to stay healthy, perhaps opposing defenses put less focus on Olave.

75

James Bradberry, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

Bradberry has also been getting some reps in the slot at training camp this month.

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Bradberry turned 30 years old this summer, but he’s playing elite football. Coming off a second-team All-Pro season with the Eagles, there should be another high-end year or two in his career before a gradual decline.

74

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler was given permission by the Chargers to seek a trade in March, but none came to fruition. 

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Ekeler has recorded at least 20 total touchdowns the past two seasons, including the two he scored in the playoff game against the Jaguars last season. He didn’t get the contract he wanted this offseason, but that should motivate him for more scores in 2023.

73

Alex Highsmith, edge, Pittsburgh Steelers

Highsmith signed a new deal with the Steelers last month that will keep him with the team through 2027.

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Highsmith gets overlooked nationally because he shares Pittsburgh’s front seven with superstars T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. However, Highsmith totaled 14.5 sacks last year, and enters this year looking for more after inking a new contract a week before reporting to training camp.

72

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

Henry was selected as first-team All-Pro in 2020.

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The 29-year-old Henry showed no signs of declining last season with 1,538 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time rushing champion, including in 2020 when he ran for 2,027 yards. Henry has more than 8,000 career rushing yards in seven seasons and 78 rushing touchdowns.

71

Matt Milano, ILB, Buffalo Bills

Milano was drafted in 2017 and has been with the Bills ever since.

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Without Tremaine Edmunds in the middle (he signed with the Bears in free agency), Milano will need to somehow be even better than last year. In 2022 he was named first-team All-Pro, making 99 tackles while adding three interceptions. He’s one of the league’s best all-around linebackers.

70

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Walker is “week-to-week” with a groin injury sustained at the start of during training camp, but he was back in walkthroughs Thursday and is expected to return soon.

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Walker rushed for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns during his rookie season. He’s a physical back who can find a different gear in open space. He’ll have competition this year with the Seahawks drafting Zach Charbonnet in the second round, but this will help Walker stay fresh on the field, and Seattle coach Pete Carroll is known for a run-heavy offense.

69

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Higgins had 74 catches for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.

Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer/USA TODAY Network

Higgins is playing for a contract, and it should be a massive one. The former second-round pick has totaled consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, helping the Bengals reach the AFC title game and Super Bowl in that span. He has more than 3,000 career receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. 

68

DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Smith started 17 games for the Eagles last year, totaling 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns.

Smith has proven that his slim 170-pound frame hasn’t prevented him from being a dynamic downfield weapon. He had 95 catches for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns last season, not to mention seven catches for 100 more yards in the Super Bowl.

67

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

Hutchinson was a DROY finalist last season.

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Hutchinson was a terrific rookie for the Lions, posting 9.5 sacks. Now, after another offseason and a better grasp on coordinator Aaron Glenn’s system, there’s reason to believe Hutchinson will explode for double-digit sacks and an All-Pro season.

66

Rashawn Slater, LT, Los Angeles Chargers

Slater was ruled out with a season-ending biceps injury three games into 2022.

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Slater, a 2021 first-round pick, missed most of his second season due to injury, but he got off to a fast start as a rookie Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro. 

65

Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland Browns

Ward has totaled at least 10 passes defended in each of his five seasons in the league.

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Ward is one of the more unheralded stars in the game. Having toiled for the Browns throughout his career, Ward doesn’t get mentioned among the game’s top corners often enough. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler with 13 career interceptions.

64

Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Pollard was selected to the Pro Bowl after his breakout season in 2022.

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Pollard developed as an all-around explosive playmaker last season as the lead back for the Cowboys. He rushed for 1,007 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry on a career-high 193 attempts. Pollard also contributed 371 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.

63

Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens

Smith swapped his jersey to No. 0 this offseason. 

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After securing a five-year, $100 million deal with Baltimore, Smith is now the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in league history. He earned the paycheck last year, coming over in a trade from the Bears and immediately becoming an All-Pro force. Smith has 693 career tackles in six seasons.

62

Javon Hargrave, DT, San Francisco 49ers

The interior lineman signed with the 49ers a little over an hour into the legal tampering period in March.

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Hargrave contributed 11 of the Eagles’ league-high 70 sacks last season. The former Pro Bowler will now push the pocket for the 49ers after signing a four-year, $84 million contract this offseason. 

61

Brian Burns, edge, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers and Burns are working to come to terms on a new long-term deal, but the outside linebacker will likely play out the last year of his rookie contract.

James Guillory/USA Today network

A two-time Pro Bowler, Burns is only ascending as he enters the final year of his rookie deal with Carolina. After notching a career-high 12.5 sacks last season, Burns is looking to become a household name by leading the young Panthers into the playoffs.