Ranking players, particularly in a league as diverse as the NFL, is a subjective and often fruitless exercise. But it’s July and the preseason doesn’t start for a few weeks, so here we are.
Lining up the NFL’s stars is a proud offseason doldrum tradition. ESPN does it, CBS does it — and, most famously, the NFL itself does it. So, in true American fashion, we saw a crowded marketplace and said, “us too.”
Our list isn’t scientific. It’s just two football writers, submitting weighted lists of their top players, then comparing and aggregating scores to create a consensus among a very small sample size. Last season’s performances, as well as age and potential, heavily weighed in a player’s favor. Those scores gave us a proper 100 players — with three tied for the final spot, pushing the list to an untidy 102. Those scores also allowed us to separate the field into rough tiers, ranging from the incredible to the merely very, very good.
So who stands atop our top 102? The answer will (not) surprise you!
Tier VIII: Very, very good
102. LB Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
No defensive position may be more conducive to late-career renaissances than linebacker, where Davis has gone from starter to perennial All-Pro by virtue of his ability to get everywhere and tackle everything. — Christian D’Andrea
101. TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Don’t let his 2022 numbers fool you — the Falcons’ passing game was a disaster, failing to account for an open Pitts on a regular basis. He’s still a mismatch machine and 1,000-yard threat, assuming Atlanta can actually get him the ball. — CD
100. QB Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
By his high standards, the 2022 season was one of the worst of Rodgers’ future Hall of Fame career. We’re willing to give him a top-100 mulligan while expecting a second-wind revival with Gang Green. — Robert Zeglinski
99. CB Chidobe Awuzie, Cincinnati Bengals
A healthy Awuzie is a problem for the rest of the AFC; he allowed just a 53.4 passer rating in coverage last season. The problem? He only played eight games — and has missed at least half the season in two of the last three years. — CD
98. CB Mike Hilton, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati’s ascent into a high-profile team is not complete without Hilton. He’s a feisty slot corner who makes receivers fight for every blade of grass. His unsung role does not go unnotticed on an underrated lockdown defense. — RZ
97. WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
Is this projecting too much for the second year wideout? Or an appreciation of his talent and consistency despite a Saints lineup with few viable threats in 2022? If his growth is linear, 97 could prove too low for Olave. — CD
96. EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins
On an otherwise forgettable Dolphins defense, everyone remembered Phillips’ name in 2022. He’s one of the brighter young edge defenders in the league and should be the person who reaps the most benefits of an improved Miami secondary. — RZ
95. RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne may be the only smart decision Urban Meyer made in his 10 months with the Jaguars (depending on how you value taking a running back in the first round). He paid off Jacksonville’s faith with an electric, delayed rookie campaign where he had 100-plus total yards nine times. — CD
94. G Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers
The most valuable offensive linemen have versatility baked into their playing profile. As a man who has seamlessly moonlighted as a difference-making guard and tackle, Jenkins fits this bill like a glove. — RZ
93. RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
He’s absolutely right to be mad about his contract; $6 million is an absolute bargain for a player who has a role in every aspect of the Chargers offense. His rush yards over expected improved in 2022 despite a weak offensive line, suggesting an age-related decline isn’t yet on his horizon. — CD
92. S Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks went from Earl Thomas — one of the best free safeties in football history — to Diggs, a Pro Bowl level replacement who institutes his own “no-fly” zone. — RZ
91. TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Big ol’ rumbling tight end who can make moves up the seam and averaged 7.6 yards after catch in 2022 — second-best among all tight ends. With AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith stretching defenses, he is FEASTING in the intermediate range. — CD
90. S Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
A six-time Pro Bowler, Smith is certainly past his prime heyday. But he has acted as the same calming balm through various generations of the Vikings’ secondary. — RZ
89. LB Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears
An underappreciated talent in the middle of the field whose coveraged peaked in 2022. He’s a viable replacement for Roquan Smith. — CD
88. LB C.J. Mosley, New York Jets
Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams get all the headlines, but the Jets’ defense wouldn’t take flight if Mosley wasn’t their “Mike” linebacker. Someone has to make the defensive calls and someone has to clean up any residual messes at the second level. Mosley achieves both goals with quiet aplomb. — RZ
87. QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Sure, having two elite wide receivers helped, but Tagovailoa’s ability to make the right reads and put the ball where it needed to be showcased the traits of a great quarterback. The numbers bear that out; his 0.256 adjusted expected points added (EPA) her play were second best among all NFL starters. — CD
86. CB Patrick Peterson, Pittsburgh Steelers
A veteran statesman with over a decade of experience flummoxing quarterbacks, Peterson remains worthy of his “P2” nickname as a defender. It’s a little surprising he didn’t find his way to the defensively-centered Steelers earlier, honestly. — RZ
85. CB Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
In five seasons as a pro, Ward has yet to allow a passer rating over 79.0 in coverage. Nagging injuries and his spot on a forgettable Browns team may cost him recognition, but Ward remains a rock solid cover corner. — CD
84. CB AJ Terrell, Atlanta Falcons
Terrell is the best cornerback you don’t know. A former first-round pick, Terrell hasn’t let the status of abysmal Falcons defenses drag down his potential as a shutdown corner. At just 24 years old, he is one great year away from superstar recognition. — RZ
83. EDGE Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
He’s still looking to match the counting stats of his rookie season, and a rising tide of talent in Jacksonville should help boost him back to double digit sacks. Allen’s 40 quarterback pressures in 2022 were seventh-best in the NFL. — CD
82. RB Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
New Saquon was old Saquon in 2022 as the NFL’s arguably most gifted tailback returned to glory after a few injury-riddled seasons. It is no coincidence that Big Blue’s newfound prominence syncs up with the dynamic Barkley finding his legs again. — RZ
Tier VII: Rising stars and overlooked veterans
81. T Andrew Thomas, New York Giants
The concerns about Thomas’s slow start were unfounded. After that troubling rookie campaign he’s emerged as an All-Pro capable of executing Brian Daboll’s short-range, run-heavy system with aplomb. — CD
80. EDGE Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers
Burns is the picture of patient productivity. Through four years on a forgettable Panthers squad, he’s plugged away as a foundational defensive cog who humbles offensive tackles every Sunday. With Carolina on the rise as a team, Burns’ profile should follow suit. — RZ
79. EDGE Haason Reddick, Philadelphia Eagles
He’s totalled 39.5 sacks over the last three years and is seemingly getting better each season. Reddick has proven his production is no fluke and now stands as one of the most impactful players for a top three defense. — CD
78. WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Wilson took a rookie season with the ghosts of Zach Wilson and Mike White as his quarterbacks and victimized cornerbacks every week anyway. He’s a lock to become a household name with Aaron Rodgers feeding him the ball. — RZ
77. LB Shaq Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
His 2022 was an injury-riddled mess, but Leonard is so much better than his scuttled season suggests. He’s an elevator in the middle of his defense, making the type of plays that boost his defense with the consistency that allows room for extra safety help or aggressive blitzes. — CD
76. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
In terms of comfortable, stable slot receivers, they don’t get any better than St. Brown. Almost 200 catches over the last two years is a perfect example of the security the Lions weapon brings to the table. — RZ
75. S Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
He’s toiling in Arizona — especially with a rebuild underway — but he remains a constant headache for opposing offenses. He’ll be the top reason to watch the Cardinals defense in 2023. — CD
74. WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Is Samuel a receiver? Is he a running back? Quite frankly, does it even matter? Get the ball in Samuel’s hands and he’s going to turn three inches into 50 yards. He is a sorcerer in the open field. — RZ
73. G Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
A foundational piece of the offensive line that makes everyone around him better. And gives the Chiefs the confidence to swap out Orlando Brown for Jawaan Taylor since they know just how good their offensive line could be. — CD
72. S Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
A middle-of-the-field intimidator with magnets in his hands for the ball, they make safeties like Simmons in classified labs. Plain and simple. — RZ
71. G Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
A zone blocking stalwart who has helped convince Arthur Smith to opt in to a run-heavy offense. Bijan Robinson’s gonna love him. — CD
Tier VI: Guys capable of being the difference in a win
70. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
If not for the reincarnation of “Revis Island” in New York, Hutchinson would’ve run away with last year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Oh well. I’m certain the former top-2 pick is just champing at the bit to relentlessly haunt the NFC North’s quarterbacks like Michael Myers haunts Laurie Strode. — RZ
69. RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Healthy again and just 27 years old, playing behind the 49ers line in Kyle Shanahan’s system should help keep him great. No player in the league offers his combination of elite running and receiving out of the backfield. — CD
68. S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Detroit Lions
Gardner-Johnson has always been a chippy player, getting on the nerves of receivers with both his play and his mouth. The NFL’s co-interceptions leader in 2022 is a natural fit for Dan Campbell’s brash Lions. — RZ
67. T Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
Slater’s absence in 2022 helped press pause on Justin Herbert’s ascendance; some awful playcalling didn’t help, either. But when he’s on, the third-year tackle is a mauler capable of keeping his quarterback’s jersey clean. — CD
66. WR DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
They said an athletic superhuman like Metcalf didn’t have the finesse to play in the NFL. They said Metcalf was a “workout warrior” born for the gym and only the gym. Four years later, he has 35 career touchdowns and is understood as one of the game’s top young receivers. — RZ
65. CB Stephon Gilmore, Dallas Cowboys
Eleven years into his career and still a shutdown corner. Pairing him with Trevon Diggs is gonna be fun. — CD
64. LB Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
Wagner’s one of those NFL players who, when you enter his name in a search engine, you’re shocked to learn he’s still just 32. And he’s still just an All-Pro level linebacker, who, by the way, has been in the league forever. Wagner is a model of consistent excellence and reliability. — RZ
63. G Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have one of the best developmental blocking systems in the league — they are to offensive linemen what the Steelers are to mid-draft wide receivers. Dickerson is the latest example of that, a road-grading interior lineman who has already exceeded expectations in Philadelphia. — CD
62. T Terron Armstead, Miami Dolphins
Armstead entered his first year in Miami as the unquestioned pillar of the Dolphins’ high-flying attack. He didn’t disappoint, helping each of Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle play at a Pro Bowl level. — RZ
61. C Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions
A lingering toe injury sapped his effectiveness and he still played like an angry cannonball with smart targeting capabilities. Let’s get him back to full strength so he can truck guys. — CD
60. RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Unsurprisingly, Taylor was dragged down by the bleak reality of “elder Matt Ryan, still trying to play in the NFL for some reason.” With a more electric Anthony Richardson leading a sneaky Colts attack, the 2021 league-leading rusher should return to form. — RZ
59. S Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
Poyer continues to be a veteran asset in the Buffalo defense, and while injury kept him from matching a stellar 2021 performance his 2022 was still pretty dang good. His technical approach should help insulate him from any age-related decline now that he’s 32 years old. — CD
58. DT Javon Hargrave. Philadelphia Eagles
If you thought Hargrave was a force to be reckoned with on the Eagles’ stacked defensive front, just WAIT until he’s pulling off stunts and twists with Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead. This man’s interior reign of terror is only beginning. — RZ
57. EDGE Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highsmith is coming into his own, and 2022 was proof he can dominate even without TJ Watt sewing chaos on the opposite end. He had four multiple-sack games and his five forced fumbles tied for the league lead. — CD
56. WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
There is no football position that is more a victim of circumstance than receiver. McLaurin, with the Commanders’ rotating cast of Infinite Stooges under center, is a perfect example. You’ve got a special route runner who can take the top off a defense getting passes from (rifles through notes)… Sam Howell? Imagine McLaurin with someone who could match his ability. — RZ
55. DL Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Still mauling guys with no end in sight. Heyward is clearly transitioning to a broadcast career at some point, but he’s not retiring as long as he’s kicking this much ass. — CD
Tier V: Bonafide stars
54. TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
The NFL of 2023 has a dearth of difference-making tight ends but that doesn’t diminish Kittle’s talents. If anything, it makes his star shine brighter. And if we’re getting more technical about the definition of “tight end,” Kittle assuredly leads the pack of throwback Ys. — RZ
53. DT Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders
Like many other members of this list, he overcame a long learning curve of interior lineman pass rushing to emerge as a perpetual pocket-crumpling threat. More importantly, he was credited with only one missed tackle in 2022. — CD
52. EDGE Matt Judon, New England Patriots
Judon became a Patriot in 2021 and parlayed a proximity to Bill Belichick into becoming a top tier Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Everything the Patriots defense tries to accomplish is built around Judon being a tornado off the edge. — RZ
51. T Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
A mauler whose role in the Lions revival has been quiet, but not unnoticed. At the time of publication, he’s not yet 23 years old. Madness. — CD
50. RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Jacobs entered last fall with his Las Vegas future in flux and … not much has changed. Well, except for that whole thing where he led the league in rushing while averaging six yards a carry. Jacobs is a classic bell cow back who will always have a place in a quality offense. — RZ
49. CB Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins
If he’s the guy we saw last season, top 50 sounds about right. If we’re getting ticked-off, trash-talking, cornerback-Steve-Smith Jalen Ramsey, he might be a top 10 player. — CD
48. EDGE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
A former Second-Team All-Pro and now perpetual Pro Bowler, the only reason we aren’t elevating Crosby further is that he plays for the sad-sack Raiders. He is wholeheartedly of an elite pass-rushing caliber. — RZ
47. DT Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Lawrence isn’t just a boulder blocking running lanes in the middle of the line. The 342-pound monster showcased newfound pass rushing consistency in his first year under Brian Daboll, racking up a career-best 28 quarterback hits — tied for fourth-best in the NFL. — CD
46. CB Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys
Another brother of a more publicized sibling, Diggs is no slouch on the other side of the ball. He might occasionally take one too many risks to make a game-changing pick, but few possses his ability or confidence to even make the effort. — RZ
45. WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
How’s Kupp going to look now that he’s 30 and coming off a major knee injury? His efficiency waned in 2022 even before getting hurt, but that was an outlier year for the Rams in general, which makes it difficult to take too seriously. The good news is, even if he’s 90 percent of the player he was in 2021, he’s still pretty dang good. — CD
44. C Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
Lost in the shuffle of “the Kelces are brothers… who are now squaring off in the Super Bowl… wow” was that the older Kelce, a center, was still pretty freaking good! He’s showing no signs of slowing down and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t a gold jacket in his future. — RZ
43. CB Tariq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks
We knew Woolen could be good. We didn’t know it would come this quickly. The reformed wideout punished opposing quarterbacks for testing him, using his length and speed to devastate deep balls and tie for the league lead with six interceptions as a rookie (and 16 more passes defensed).
42. CB Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles
The new-look Eagles wouldn’t be the same without Slay — a nimble centerfielder with an amusing capacity for trash talk. Even after losing a few members of their NFC-title winning core, Philly couldn’t afford to lose Slay, too. — RZ
41. S Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
James is finally (mostly) healthy and ruining fools again, adding value just about everywhere on the field. In 2022 his missed tackle rate dropped to a career-low 4.2 percent, he tallied a career high four sacks and, oh yeah, still knocked down six passes and intercepted two more. — CD
40. CB Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Last season was marked by redemption for Alexander. After missing most of 2021 to injury, the Green Bay dynamo returned to record a career-high five interceptions. Alexander’s played five seasons in the league and it still seems like he hasn’t reached his final form. — RZ
39. WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb’s efficiency declined in 2022, in large part because his usage went up as he declared himself the true engine behind the Cowboys’ passing game. This led to career highs across the board. second-team All-Pro honors and, importantly, proof he’s a true WR1 in the NFL. — CD
38. DL Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Usually, when organizations clean house, incumbent players are on the chopping block. No one’s safe in a teardown. Meanwhile, the Titans gave Simmons $60 million in guaranteed smackeroos in April. Defensive tackles with terrifying first steps don’t grow on trees. — RZ
37. LB Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills
Last season marked the year Milano leapt from good to great, shedding his mantle of “the league’s most underrated off-ball linebacker” and claiming the All-Pro honors he richly deserved. He hasn’t allowed a passer rating over 72.0 in any of the last three seasons. — CD
Tier IV: Studs
36. C Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Sure, Humphrey had the benefit of joining the NFL’s leading offensive program as a rookie in 2021. But it would’ve been easy to become Just Another Guy. As the league’s finest center, Humphrey is far from a nobody. — RZ
35. DT Daron Payne, Washington Commanders
Payne quietly rounded out his game as a pro, evolving from a lane-clogging presence in the middle of the line to a bonafide pocket-crumpling problem. He had 20 quarterback hits and 10 sacks his first three seasons in the league. He had 20 quarterback hits and 11.5 sacks in 2022 alone. — CD
34. WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Throwing a deep ball? Chase can turn that into a touchdown. Throwing a screen pass? Chase can turn that into a touchdown. — CD
33. T Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans
In a day and age where upper-crust tackles can seemingly play forever, Tunsil has cemented himself as a superstar blindside protector. The highest-paid offensive lineman in league history will be bullying defensive ends for years. — RZ
32. S Talanoa Hufanga, San Francisco 49ers
Has anyone in the NFL made as big a leap in the last two seasons as Hufanga? He went from fifth-round pick and rotational safety to first team All-Pro in fewer than 18 months. For good reason; few defensive backs in the league can match his combination of instincts and range. — CD
31. LB Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
All Smith does is get tackles by running from sideline to sideline like a missile. No, seriously, the dude has almost 700 career tackles and he’s just 26. Oh, and he also erases tight ends from game plans on a whim. Ho-hum. — RZ
30. G Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
Joe Thomas retired in 2017, leaving Bitonio to fill his place as the perennial All-Pro on the Browns’ offensive line. He’s also one of three Cleveland teammates in the top 30, which makes the back-to-back losing records of the last two seasons a little tougher to swallow. — CD
29. WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Before joining the Eagles, Brown already had a reputation for breaking games by “Mossing” inferior defenders. In the context of an offense with Jalen Hurts at the helm, Brown exploded, reaching his potential as one half of one of the league’s best duos. — RZ
28. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Turns out getting away from Urban Meyer was everything a young quarterback needs to thrive. Lawrence gained strength as the season wore on, like a hurricane heading north over the ocean. Now he’s got Calvin Ridley to top his wideout depth chart. — CD
27. S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh has a rich franchise history of do-it-all defensive backs. Mel Blount. Rod Woodson. Troy Polamalu. A Swiss Army Knife who steers the Steelers’ modern back end, Fitzpatrick is a worthy edition to Steelers’ DB lore. — RZ
26. RB Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Everything about Chubb’s runs suggest he’s built differently, from the drive of his legs to the way his cleats chew up the ground with a special traction foreign to opposing linebackers. He’s a perpetual threat to embarrass your favorite defense. — CD
25. QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
The only people who think Justin Herbert isn’t one of football’s top signal callers are talk show doofuses seeking hollow engagement and bored internet trolls. The Chargers have a great one slinging the rock. They should really help him more. — RZ
Tier III: Arguably elite
24. T Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The game’s second-best right tackle who may now be its best left tackle — yep, Wirfs is good enough to push Trent Williams for top dog status. Can he keep Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask upright long enough to surprise the rest of the NFC South? — CD
23. CB James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles
Even in the aftermath of “The Call,” Bradberry has cemented himself as the NFL’s best CB2. Bradberry would probably shine in a lead role, too — regardless of his talented teammate on the other side. — RZ
22. LB Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers defense is filled with playmakers, but the team’s stars have the license to thrive because Warner is the nucleus holding those atoms together. He gets everywhere and does everything, creating a black hole in the middle of the San Francisco lineup. — CD
21. CB Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Surtain II might be the most talented pure cornerback manning a boundary in the sport. He is not only a terrific ballhawk, but an edgy defender in run support. There is nothing he can’t do. — RZ
20. EDGE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
The Browns might waste the prime of another Hall of Fame talent if they can’t build around Garrett, who was responsible for nearly 50 percent of the team’s sack output in 2022 (16 of 34). His first step is the opening salvo of a nuclear reaction that ends in the utter destruction of an opponent’s pocket. — CD
19. DT Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
A former top-3 pick, Williams embarrassed grown 300-plus-pound men every week during the 2022 season. He is the cornerstone of the Jets’ elite defense with a ceiling in the stratosphere. — RZ
18. WR Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Adamsc transitioned from Aaron Rodgers to Derek Carr at quarterback, but his output hardly faltered despite a disappointing season for the Raiders. He remains a presence who demands double coverage, regardless of who is throwing him the ball. — CD
17. G Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Martin is the rare Cowboy who consistently lives up to the hype and exceeds his reputation. A six-time First-Team All-Pro and perennial Pro Bowler, it is only a matter of time before Martin walks into Canton. — RZ
16. T Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
The best right tackle in the game — and the kind of mean, powerful blocker that makes an offense absolutely hum. — CD
15. WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
In three years with Buffalo, Diggs has proven to be impeccably dependable. Even when it’s clear he’s the only threat defenses should worry about, Diggs’ blend of savvy route running and soft hands make him an impossible cover. — RZ
14. QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts made a Josh Allen-style leap thanks to his own growth and, importantly, an upgraded supporting cast of wide receivers. He’s a stud both on the ground and through the air, leaving defenses with little quarter when it comes time to gameplan against him. — CD
13. DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Last year was a down year by Donald’s standards. There’s no denying it. But it’d be foolish to count out this generational wrecking ball who could have another Defensive Player of the Year honor waiting for him soon enough. — RZ
12. CB Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
Gardner was ruinous as a Cincinnati Bearcat, then proved those skills could translate to Sundays by being ruinous as a New York Jet. He’s nearly impossible to shake in coverage, allowing just a 62.7 passer rating when targeted. — CD
Tier II: Effectively elite
11. T Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Now in his mid-30s, Williams continues to chug along as an impenetrable book-end. He is the 16-cylinder engine behind San Francisco’s semi-truck offense. — RZ
10. WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Removing Patrick Mahomes from the equation didn’t dampen Hill’s impact; he was even more of a threat playing with Tua Tagovailoa (good!), Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson (less good!) in 2022. He averaged better than 100 receiving yards per game in his first season as a Dolphin. — CD
9. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen plays professional quarterback as if he’s competing in a Turkey Bowl with family and friends. No one pivots from launching 65-yard lasers to trucking Pro Bowl linebackers in the open field quite like him. — RZ
Tier I: Undeniably elite
8. EDGE T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Watt continues to live up to older brother J.J.’s standard — even when it comes to returning from injury. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year returned after missing only seven games due to a torn pectoral, finishing his season with four sacks in his final five games as the Steelers surged to yet another winning record under Mike Tomlin. — CD
7. TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
The Big Red Machine Chiefs are nothing without Kelce’s services. The veteran All-Pro is already a future First-Ballot Hall of Famer because he is the ultimate safety valve. — RZ
6. DT Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
After a down year from Aaron Donald, Jones has emerged as the top interior defender in the NFL … for now. He’s proficient at not just shrinking pockets to create havoc and allow his edge rushers to feast, but at eating as well; he has 56.5 sacks over his last five seasons. — CD
5. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Three seasons into his career, people still decry Joe Burrow as a “system” quarterback. It’s only a matter of time before this nerves-of-steel “system” player adds a Super Bowl trophy or two to his mantel. — RZ
4. EDGE Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Parsons is a Roman candle, fired from the Cowboys’ defense into a tight pocket to create chaos. His speed and explosiveness would make him a Pro Bowl talent even before getting to his array of moves that allows him to baffle blockers, shoot gaps and occasionally create his own. — CD
3. WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is the rare receiver whose mention in MVP conversations isn’t ludicrous. There is no team defense or lockdown defender who can adequately account for the best offensive weapon in the sport. — RZ
2. EDGE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Arguably the most disruptive edge rusher in the game — though Parsons can stake a similar claim — Bosa came back from a 2020 ACL tear and played football like an absolute maniac. He has 34 sacks, 40 tackles for loss and 80 quarterback hits the last two seasons … and he’s only 25 years old. — CD
1. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes is 27 and already has two MVPs and two Super Bowl MVPs to his name. He’s also on pace to absolutely shatter every meaningful career passing record. Ever. He is royalty as the undisputed king of football. — RZ
