You’ve likely seen the NFL Network top 100 list, a ranking accumulated by fellow players around the National Football League. It’s a passing league dominated by quarterbacks and skill position players, and the rankings reflected that. Forty nine of the 100 players were skill position players, and nearly half the league’s quarterbacks made the cut.
In making my list, I tried to put as much emphasis on under-the-radar positions (think nose tackles or guards) as flashy superstars that catch touchdowns. I focused on what a player did in 2015, but I looked at a three-year window as well. Dez Bryant and Tony Romo weren’t productive (or healthy) last year, but their recent body of work suggests they deserve to be on the list.
I love players who can stay healthy. Durability is a player’s best ability, so I look fondly at a player like J.J. Watt who can suffer a plethora of injuries like he did last year and still suit up for all 16 games. Likewise, a player who can’t stay off the trainer’s table will see his ranking drop accordingly.
10 Players Who Just Missed the Cut:
Derek Carr, QB, Oakland Raiders
David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Kyle Long, G, Chicago Bears
Mike Daniels, DE, Green Bay Packers
Leonard Williams, DE, New York Jets
Cameron Heyward, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Marcus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
100. Eric Weddle, S, Baltimore Ravens
Despite a messy divorce from the San Diego Chargers, Eric Weddle is still one of the NFL’s premier safeties. Weddle rated by PFF as the league’s 12th best safety in 2015, and this was despite only appearing in 13 games. Weddle can cover, rush the quarterback, and play the run, and he should still have a few more prime years in him.
99. Malcolm Jenkins, S, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles took a gamble on former first-round pick Malcolm Jenkins in free agency, and it’s worked like a charm. Jenkins has thrived in the Eagles’ system, and he was finally rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection after the 2015 campaign. Jenkins rated by PFF as the No. 1 safety in the league, contributing with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, three forced fumbles, 87 tackles, and a 99-yard pick-six against Tom Brady. The Eagles love Jenkins’ versatility, and will frequently line him up one-on-one against slot receivers.
98. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan is a better quarterback than he’s given credit for. He threw 21 touchdowns to 16 interceptions last year, which is admittedly a high number of turnovers. You know who else posted the exact same TD:INT line? Ben Roethlisberger, a consensus top-seven QB in the league. There’s more than just that stat, but Ryan’s 66.3 completion percentage and 4,591 passing yards are pretty solid numbers. Ryan is a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who hasn’t missed an NFL start since 2009. There are a lot of teams that would give anything to have that kind of a guy under center.
97. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
Cameron Jordan flies under the radar, probably because he plays on a New Orleans Saints team that always seems to have one of the worst defenses in the league. Jordan has averaged 9.5 sacks over the last four seasons, earning two Pro Bowl selections, and he’s never missed a game due to injury in his five-year NFL career.
96. Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
After years of the criticism that goes with a quarterback who isn’t Tom Brady and can’t win in the playoffs, Andy Dalton finally took that next step forward in 2015. Dalton set career highs in completion percentage (66.1), yards per attempt (8.4), and passer rating (106.2). He missed three games due to injury, and they happened to come at the end of the season, meaning Dalton didn’t get a chance to get over the postseason hump. But Pro Football Focus charted Dalton with throwing one of the best deep balls in the game, and only Philip Rivers and Tom Brady among active starters released the ball quicker than Dalton’s time of 2.41 seconds. Dalton is right on the bubble of being elite, and he can continue his development with another strong season in 2016.
95. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Denver Broncos
Von Miller was Denver’s best player during the Super Bowl, but don’t understate the value of having DeMarcus Ware opposite him. Ware isn’t the pass-rushing force he was in his prime, but he still generated 7.5 sacks in just 11 regular-season contests and then 3.5 more in the Broncos’ postseason run. Ware is likely nearing the end of his playing days, but he and Miller are likely the best outside linebacker duo in the game.
94. Mike Iupati, G, Arizona Cardinals
Guards don’t always have the highest success rate when signing long-term deals in free agency, but Mike Iupati looks to be the exception for Arizona. Iupati was selected to the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Cardinals – his fourth career Pro Bowl berth – despite missing three games with a neck injury. Iupati is arguably the best run-blocking guard in the league, and he deserves credit for helping running back David Johnson break out down the stretch in 2016.
93. Lavonte David, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015 was not Lavonte David’s finest season, as he struggled in pass coverage and led his position with a ridiculous 21 missed tackle attempts. Still, David’s body of work in his brief NFL career thus far is enough to put him on this list. He actually made his first Pro Bowl in ’15, to go with the First-Team All-Pro selection he earned two seasons before.
92. Linval Joseph, DT, Minnesota Vikings
Linval Joseph flew under the radar for much of the 2015 campaign, but with another year like the one he just had, that won’t be the case much longer. Joseph played almost a two-gap nose tackle role for the Vikings, which created opportunities for Everson Griffen, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith to make plays. Joseph was PFF’s fifth-rated interior defensive lineman, although it would be nice to see Joseph suit up for more than 534 snaps in ’16.
91. Olivier Vernon, DE, New York Giants
Imagine if you had found out a calendar year ago that Olivier Vernon would ink a $85 million contract in free agency. Vernon is a good player who had a great second half of 2015, and finishing strong in a contract season got him paid what you would normally associate with Muhammad Wilkerson or Fletcher Cox. Vernon’s speciality a year ago was hitting the quarterback – per PFF, he registered a ridiculous 29 quarterback hits, a full nine more than any other 4-3 defensive end. The New York Giants clearly believe Vernon can continue that dominance going forward.
90. Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis Colts
Vontae Davis is hitting the age where cornerbacks generally start to decline, and it’s fair to wonder if 2015 was the beginning of that stage. Davis was beaten for seven touchdowns and committed eight penalties, numbers that are normally not associated with a top-100 corner. Still, Davis made this list largely on the strength of his phenomenal ’14 campaign in which he didn’t allow a single TD pass and limited opposing quarterbacks to just a 44.6 completion percentage. If Davis can split the difference between his 2014 and 2015 seasons, it should be enough to remain on this list.
89. Desmond Trufant, CB, Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Trufant didn’t quite take that next step as a cornerback in 2015, but he’s still one of the game’s best at his position, and his arrow is pointing up. Trufant was a 2013 first-round pick, he’s started all 48 games since being drafted, and he was rewarded with his first Pro Bowl selection this past season. Trufant recorded three turnovers, scoring on a fumble return, and allowed just 70 yards after the catch and two touchdowns all year (per PFF).
88. Sheldon Richardson, DE, New York Jets
When the New York Jets drafted Leonard Williams sixth overall in the 2015 NFL draft, it forced Sheldon Richardson into an awkward role. The former Pro Bowl 3-4 defensive end has been playing mostly outside linebacker in the defense, which isn’t his ideal spot. Richardson has also been suspended now in consecutive seasons, and it would be nice to see him return to being the dominant player of 2013 and 2014. When he’s on his game, he’s every bit the player his teammate, Muhammad Wilkerson, is.
87. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Doug Martin’s NFL career so far has been a tale of two stories – he was a dominant running back in years one and four, while he was merely replacement-level in years two and three. Martin is coming off a Pro Bowl campaign that saw him account for 1,402 rushing yards (second-highest total in the league) and six scores. Tampa Bay obviously feels he’s an elite player, given that they opted to sign him to a long-term deal. Still, it would be nice to see Martim put together another season close to the one he had in ’15.
86. Duane Brown, OT, Houston Texans
Duane Brown has been a bright spot of the Houston Texans since they drafted him in 2008. He’s started 120 games at the NFL level and earned three Pro Bowl selections. His play dropped off some a year ago (he also missed two games due to injury), but he’s still a premier left tackle in a league where that gets a player $10-plus million per season.
85. Richie Incognito, G, Buffalo Bills
Following the 2013 Bullygate scandal that also kept him out of football in 2014, Richie Incognito’s return to stardom last year was surprising, to say the least. Perhaps a year and a half off from football did him well, as he turned in a Pro Bowl campaign for the Buffalo Bills. Incognito rated by PFF as the second-best overall guard in the game, surrendering just 12 quarterback hurries in 1,097 snaps.
84. Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks
The trade that sent Jimmy Graham to Seattle was perplexing, and now that he’s trying to rebound from a horrific Achilles injury, an injury that can be the NFL death of even the best players. When he’s on the field, he’s nearly as uncoverable as Gronk.
Stats since 2011:
Graham: 403 rec, 5,001 yards, 48 TD
Gronk: 338 rec, 5,009 yards, 55 TD
That’s a near split in yards. Gronk wins in touchdowns but Graham wins in catches. The difference has been the fact that Gronkowski has shown over the last two years that he can stay healthy, and he’s a much superior blocker. If Graham can get back on the field and develop the same chemistry with Russell Wilson that he had with Drew Brees, he will move into the top 30 on this list.
83. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
For the first half of 2015, Keenan Allen was on a historic pace. He finished an abbreviated season (cut short due to a lacerated kidney) with 67 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns in just eight games, which would have given him 134 receptions when extrapolated to the full year. Allen has exceptional chemistry with QB Philip Rivers, and if he builds off his ’15 pace, he’s going to become one of the game’s elite receivers.
82. Malik Jackson, DT/DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Malik Jackson wrecked the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line in the Super Bowl, then went on to sign a nearly nine-figure deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. It seems like a ridiculous amount of money to pay to a player who has never made a Pro Bowl and registered just 5.5 sacks in 2015. Jackson’s value is more than the sheer sack total though – his ability to line up at both tackle and end and command double teams helped Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware get to the quarterback quicker.
81. Jason Peters, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
Age is finally starting to catch up with Jason Peters as he’s set to enter his 13th NFL season. It seemed hardly a game went by in 2015 without the future Hall of Famer having to leave for a series or two due to various injuries. He also led all left tackles with 11 penalties. Still, Peters is supremely athletic, an elite run-blocker, and an above-average pass-blocker. Those players are rare to find. He’s likely entering his last year in Philly and may drop off this list by next season, but for now, he’s still one of the league’s best tackles.
80. Reshad Jones, S, Miami Dolphins
Reshad Jones enters 2016 as one of the NFL’s most underrated players, despite the fact that he rated by PFF as the third-best overall safety a year ago. Jones recorded five interceptions; he can play the pass but also the run and even blitz the quarterback. Jones held out for part of the spring before eventually reporting to camp. If he turns in another season like he did in ’15, he’s going to command a top contract for his position.
79. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins
Jordan Reed was one of the biggest reasons for Kirk Cousins’ 2015 breakout season. Reed hauled in 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns, tying for the lead among all tight ends with 16 missed tackles forced. Reed is the classic new age tight end who can line up as a slot receiver or even outside wide receiver; he’s a liability as a blocker, but if that improves, he will move into the top 50 on this list.
78. Cameron Wake, DE, Miami Dolphins
If Cameron Wake hadn’t suffered such a serious injury in 2015, he would rank in the top 40 players on this list. But he did suffer a fairly serious Achilles injury – at age 34, no less – and there’s no guarantee that Wake ever fully regains the dominant form he displayed for the prior seasons. Still, Wake averaged 11.5 sacks per year from 2010-2014, meaning he’s consistently been one of the league’s best at getting to the quarterback.
77. Elvis Dumervil, OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Elvis Dumervil dropped to just six sacks in 2015, but with a 17-sack campaign in 2014, he’s still averaged 11.5 the last two seasons. Dumervil is essentially just a pass-rusher, as opposed to being well rounded to play the run too, but 16 quarterback hits and 40 pressures are impressive peripheral statistics, even if his sack total was low. Among 3-4 outside linebackers, only Von Miller had more quarterback hits than Dumervil in ‘15.
76. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers
Kawann Short entered 2015 as an above-average player and left it a star. Short registered 11 sacks from the 3-technique position, and added two more sacks and a forced fumble in the playoffs. He’s entering his contract year and will likely be looking for a deal approaching the one that Fletcher Cox just received from the Philadelphia Eagles. GM Dave Gettleman has always put more of a premium on defensive linemen than cornerbacks, and it’s likely he let Josh Norman walk so he can pay top money to Short next offseason.
75. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots
Devin McCourty is a typical, versatile Bill Belichick style of defender who can play multiple positions. McCourty was drafted as a cornerback but moved to safety early in his NFL career, and now he’s one of the best in the business. McCourty doesn’t provide many big plays (just four interceptions since 2013), but he’s durable and can defend the pass and play the run well.
74. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Even with the veteran Matthew Hasselbeck throwing to him for half of the 2015 campaign, T.Y. Hilton still finished with solid numbers – 69 receptions, 1,124 yards, and five touchdowns. There are definitely holes to his name that prevent Hilton from being your prototypical No. 1 receiver, such as the fact that he’s undersized and doesn’t block particularly well. What he can do though is take the top off a defense, and with a healthy Andrew Luck back for 2016, Hilton should approach 1,500 receiving yards.
73. Derrick Johnson, ILB, Kansas City Chiefs
Derrick Johnson is entering year 12, but he’s still producing at a high enough level that Kansas City GM John Dorsey re-signed him to a three-year, $21 million deal that extends through 2018. Johnson is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl campaign, one in which he recorded 95 tackles, four sacks, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He’s still an integral part of an underrated Chiefs defense.
72. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys
I remember the reaction from the sports world when the Dallas Cowboys selected Travis Frederick in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was seen as a likely third-round pick and a major reach by the Cowboys. Three seasons later, Fredrick is the league’s best center, having started all 48 games since entering the league and making the last two Pro Bowls. Last year, PFF chatted Frederick with having allowed no sacks and just nine quarterback hurries in over 1,000 snaps.
71. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Jamaal Charles’ 5.47 yards-per-carry average is the highest by a running back in modern NFL history, but he’s now 29 years old and coming off his second ACL injury. Charles is an effective pass-catcher who isn’t overused as a workhorse runner; playing for Andy Reid could extend his career into his early thirties. When he’s healthy, Charles remains one of the league’s premier offensive weapons. Here’s to hoping he gets two more productive seasons and makes the Hall of Fame one day.
70. Robert Quinn, DE, Los Angeles Rams
Robert Quinn’s 19.5 sack season in 2013 seems to be a thing of the past, as he’s followed it up with 15.5 sacks in his last 24 games. Those are good numbers and they’re why Quinn is still considered a talented player, but it’s a far cry from the numbers he was putting up in ’13. Quinn also underwent back surgery that sidelined him for half of last year. If he’s healthy and ready to go in 2016, he may be ready to climb back up these player rankings.
69. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
The talent has always been there for Alshon Jeffery, but the Chicago Bears want to see him stay healthy for another full season before they offer him a long-term deal. Jeffrey suited up for all 16 games in both 2013 and 2014, averaging a 87/1,277/8 statline, before a hamstring injury sidelined him for the final seven weeks of last season. Jeffery still averaged six catches and close to 90 yards per game in ’15. Having Kevin White, the organization’s 2014 first-round pick, opposite him this coming season will make life easier for Jeffery.
68. Jurrell Casey, DE, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are in rebuilding mode, but they have several talented young pieces to work with – quarterback Marcus Mariota, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin, and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey. Casey is the best of the bunch, as he can play both 4-3 tackle and 3-4 end. He finally received his first Pro Bowl selection in 2015, but he’s been playing at a high level for several years now.
67. Carlos Dunlap, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Atkins is the well-known star on the Cincinnati defensive line, but Carlos Dunlap is one of the most productive defensive ends in the league. Dunlap racked up 13 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2015, plus 17 quarterback hits and 45 pressures. Dunlap is strong against the run (just four missed tackles) and even graded by PFF as an above-average cover defensive end.
66. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions
Ezekiel Ansah was an incredibly raw draft pick of the Detroit Lions, going fifth overall despite having just picked up football as a 21-year-old college sophomore at BYU. Ansah averaged eight sacks in each of his first two NFL seasons before breaking out with a 14.5-sack campaign that also included four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Even more impressive was the fact that Ansah’s 2015 breakout still occurred, despite All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh having left in free agency.
65. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
When you put up 105 receptions for 1,304 yards and people say you had a bad season, you know you’re a talented player. To be honest, it wasn’t Demaryius Thomas’ finest year – he was plagued with 12 dropped passes, committed five penalties, fumbled twice, and was a virtual no-show for the entire postseason (just 60 total receiving yards and no touchdowns in three playoff games). He also had subpar quarterback play for much of 2015, and still managed to put up numbers that would look good on Calvin Johnson’s career resume. DT remains a top-10 receiver, but he’s no longer in the discussion for top five.
64. David DeCastro, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers need more players like David DeCastro if they want to keep Ben Roethlisberger’s career going. DeCastro is a 2012 first-round pick who put together his finest campaign a year ago, earning a Pro Bowl berth and a selection on the AP All-Pro squad. DeCastro is effective in every phase of blocking – pass, run, and getting downfield on screens – and he committed just two penalties in 1,097 snaps.
63. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Allen Robinson tore up the NFL Scouting Combine two years ago, particularly when he leaped an unheard-of 42.5 inches in the air. He put that skill to good use last year, hauling in 14 touchdown catches on 80 receptions. A high percentage of those scores occurred in garbage time, but it’s not as if Robinson didn’t still earn them. He was the first wide receiver since Calvin Johnson in 2011 to post at least a 17.5 yards-per-catch average and 14 receiving touchdowns in the same season, and just the seventh receiver to do so since the NFL merger. Robinson is still just 22 years old, and he’s paired with a talented young quarterback. He should be primed to shoot up this list.
62. Clay Matthews III, ILB/OLB, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have recently started to experiment with Clay Matthews inside as well as outside. As a result, Matthews’ sacks were down (6.5), but he recorded two turnovers and added 37 quarterback hurries. Matthews can be a liability against the run (16 missed tackles in 2015), but he’s a talented enough pass-rusher to justify this ranking. He’s already got six Pro Bowl selections on his resume in just seven years.
61. Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans
Delanie Walker spent an eternity as Vernon Davis’ backup in San Francisco, but now that he’s finally been given a chance to start in Tennessee, he’s flourished. Walker was Marcus Mariota’s primary target in the passing game in 2015, and he finished with 94 receptions for 1,088 yards and six touchdowns. Those are tremendous numbers for his position, and he also forced 16 missed tackles and rated well as a run-blocker (per PFF).
60. Terron Armstead, OT, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints drafted Terron Armstead in the third round in 2013 out of little-known Arkansas Pine-Bluff, grabbing a player with freakish athleticism (offensive lineman record 4.71 40-yard dash) for both his size and position. Armstead still has never played more than 14 games in a season, but last year was his coming out party as a starter – he rated by PFF as the third-best offensive tackle in the NFL, and the only other player with as high grades in run blocking (+14.8) and pass blocking (+14.6) was Tyron Smith.
59. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
From here on out, health will always be the underlying issue for Tony Romo. He’s 36 years old, set to enter his 14th NFL season, and he’s coming off a year in which he missed all but four games due to another back injury. When Romo is healthy, he’s played the best football of his career behind the new Dallas star-packed offensive line; Romo’s posted a 66.3 completion percentage and 98.5 passer rating since the Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith in 2011. Adding rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is the best method to maximizing Romo’s efficiency – a decrease in Romo’s passing attempts should keep him from having to do too much. Simply put, if Romo stays healthy, it’s Dallas’ NFC East for the taking. If not, owner Jerry Jones will have to wonder how much longer be can count on Romo to be his starter.
58. Michael Bennett, DT, Seattle Seahawks
Michael Bennett is the unsung hero of the Seattle Seahawks, and such has been the story of his NFL career. He was an undrafted free agent when he entered the league and barely pursued when he left Tampa Bay as a free agent. Since then, he’s blossomed into a player who can be a one-man wrecking crew when he’s on his game. Bennett plays both end and tackle in a 4-3, and he’s incredibly fast off the line of scrimmage. Statistics don’t do him justice, but then again, averaging 8.5 sacks and 2.5 forced fumbles the last four seasons is pretty impressive.
57. Jamie Collins, ILB, New England Patriots
Jamie Collins is an athletic freak who can do anything on the football field, whether it’s rushing the quarterback, playing the run, or covering running backs, tight ends, and even slot receivers. During the 2015 regular season, Collins had 5.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble return for a touchdown – in just 12 games. Per PFF, Collins didn’t allow a single TD pass in coverage. He’s likely going to be stepping into Jerod Mayo’s role as middle linebacker this coming season.
56. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs
After a cancer scare that put his NFL career in jeopardy, Eric Berry bounced back strong in 2015 to play in all 16 games, recording two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. Berry added another pick in the Kansas City Chiefs’ two postseason contests. He’s just 27 and already a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, which should soon land him a contract that will make him one of the game’s highest-paid safeties.
55. Anthony Barr, OLB, Minnesota Vikings
A 2014 first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, Barr is already one of the NFL’s most promising young defensive players, and he’s taken the crown from Lavonte David as the league’s best 4-3 outside linebacker. Barr registered 3.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hurries as a pass-rusher in 2015, plus an interception, three forced fumbles, and 54 tackles.
54. Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015 wasn’t Gerald McCoy’s finest season, but his body of work is enough to get him ranked in the top 60 on this list. McCoy has averaged eight sacks per season since ’12, doing so from the 3-technique position on the defensive line. McCoy was subpar as a run-stopper last year and committed nine penalties. Still, he’s been one of the game’s best interior defensive linemen for the last several years, and he’s still just 28 years old.
53. Joe Staley, OT, San Francisco 49ers
Joe Staley flies under the radar because he’s not Joe Thomas or Tyron Smith, but he’s a nine-year starter who has been to the last five Pro Bowls. Quality left tackles are rare in this league, and when you have one who consistently plays as well as Staley, that’s every head coach and quarterback’s dream.
52. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Jordy Nelson’s preseason injury was costly enough that the Green Bay Packers never fully recovered. Randall Cobb couldn’t beat defenders off the snap without Nelson opposite him, Davante Adams had a miserable campaign as the No. 2 receiver, and even Aaron Rodgers looked far too often rattled under pressure. The Pack will welcome Nelson (98 receptions for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014) back with open arms. Nelson and Rodgers have unbelievable chemistry together, and they should be back as one of the league’s three best QB-WR duos in ’16 assuming Nelson can return to full strength.
51. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck endured a miserable 2015 season plagued by injuries and turnovers, but his body of work over the first three years of his career is what earned him the richest contract in NFL history. No quarterback is asked to do more on an every game basis than Luck, who is typically saddled with an underwhelming running game (he’s never had a 100-yard rusher in his career), a poor offensive line, and a subpar defense. Luck is everything you’d want in a young quarterback, in the fact that he’s tall, strong, mobile, a natural leader, and able to bring his team back from nearly deficit (remember his 28-point comeback in the 2013 playoffs?). The Indianapolis Colts clearly believe he will bounce back next year, and it’s likely we will look back on 2015 as a fluke season in a HOF career.
50. Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills
Marcell Dareus’ numbers dropped off in 2015 after he became the first of a new wave of defensive players to sign a $100 million deal; he went from 10.0 sacks to just two and was suspended for a game. Still, Dareus isn’t a pure sack guy – he’s a 300-pound force who can play anywhere on the interior of the defensive line. If you need him to play two-gap and occupy blockers, he’s talented enough to do so, and if you need him to shoot the A gap and put pressure on the quarterback, he can do that, too. The key for Dareus going forward will be staying focused off the field, because the talent is clearly there.
49. Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona Cardinals
Few players in the NFL are as consistently good and as consistently overlooked as Calais Campbell is on an annual basis. Campbell plays 3-4 defensive end, which means his raw statistics won’t tell the whole story, but still, averaging seven sacks per year since 2009 is pretty darn impressive. Campbell is physically gifted at a whopping 6’8″, which has enabled him to knock down a slew of passes from the edge or interior. He’s just starting to get the credit he deserves, having earned Pro Bowl selections in each of the last two years.
48. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
Rob Gronkowski is the only reason Greg Olsen isn’t the best tight end in the NFL right now. In fact, Olsen’s statline (77/1,104/7) stacks up pretty favorably with Gronk’s (72/1,176/11). Olsen doesn’t break many tackles – PFF shockingly credited him with just one in all of 2015 – and he’s an awful run blocker, but he’s extremely reliable at securing third-down receptions. Given the injury to Kelvin Benjamin last preseason, Olsen basically served as Cam Newton’s primary offensive target in the passing game for the entire year.
47. NaVorro Bowman, ILB, San Francisco 49ers
NaVorro Bowman’s knee injury in the 2013 NFC Championship Game looked bad enough that it may end his career. Bowman missed all of ’14, but then rebounded strong to suit up for all 16 contests a year ago, registering 129 tackles (per PFF), 19 quarterback pressures, and 2.5 sacks. It was Bowman’s first season not only without Patrick Willis next to him, but also without Justin Smith taking on double teams in front of him. The fact that Bowman played well enough to earn a First-Team All-Pro selection is a testament to his overall athleticism.
46. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
A career resurgence in 2015 saw Larry Fitzgerald crack the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time since the 2012 campaign, and then come down with the game-winner on a shovel pass in the NFC Divisional Playoffs game. Fitzgerald benefited greatly from being used in the slot, where he can physically dismantle smaller cornerbacks, but also from the best passing season he’s ever had from a quarterback, Kurt Warner included. Fitzgerald should be able to excel for years to come, considering he’s a sure-handed receiver who doesn’t rely on his speed too much. He’s also quite possibly the best blocking wide receiver in the NFL.
45. Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins
A former top-five pick in the NFL draft, Trent Williams has far exceeded the expectations that go with being drafted that high. He’s a nasty blocker and has earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections with the Washington Redskins. Williams rated by PFF as the eighth-best overall offensive tackle in the game, earning particularly high marks for his pass blocking.
44. Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Zack Martin with their first-round selection in 2014, and he immediately shored up their offensive line. Martin was a 16-game starter and First-Team All-Pro as a rookie, and he followed that up with another dominant season in 2015.
43. Josh Sitton, G, Green Bay Packers
Despite the Green Bay Packers’ struggles on the offensive line a year ago, Josh Sitton remained a bright spot. He’s been an eight-year starter, earned his third Pro Bowl selection, and he’s in the discussion for the game’s best all-around guard. Sitton allowed just nine quarterback hurries in over 1,000 snaps in 2015, and he should be even better in 2016 now that he’s shed 20 pounds over the offseason.
42. Brandon Marshall, WR, New York Jets
A strong case could be made for Brandon Marshall as the league’s best wide receiver over the last decade. He’s hauled in an NFL record six 100-catch seasons, including a pretty impressive 109/1,502/14 statline in 2015 at the age of 31. Marshall is also a tremendous blocker for his position. No team with Brandon Marshall on its roster has ever made the postseason, and it’s easy to point fingers at Marshall, but all he does on an annual basis is just produce – then again, thinking he can outproduce Antonio Brown may not be the smartest idea.
41. Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers is as steady as they come – he’s averaged 4,345 passing yards and 30 touchdowns since 2008, and he’s never missed a game due to injury. Rivers compensates for diminishing arm strength with his smarts in dissecting a defense; he can no longer throw a strong deep ball, but his lightning-quick release (2.40 seconds, per PFF) still gets the job done. Rivers tailed off immensely in the second half of last season (and 2014), posting a passer rating almost 20 points lower than the first half. Missing Keenan Allen didn’t help, but it was also the second consecutive season that Rivers faded badly down the stretch. At this point in his career, he’s still a top-10 quarterback, but the arrow may be pointing down going forward.
40. Thomas Davis, OLB, Carolina Panthers
Thomas Davis has had a truly remarkable career. He’s torn his ACL not once, not twice, but three times –and now he’s fresh off an All-Pro campaign at age 32. Davis’ 2015 campaign was his finest work to date. Davis became just the second linebacker in league history to post at least five sacks, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles in the same season. He’s an integral part of the Carolina defense, and he’s all but put his injury days behind him – Davis has missed just two games due to injury since 2012, and even when he broke his arm in the NFC Championship Game, that didn’t stop him from playing in the Super Bowl just 14 days later.
39. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
Last April, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted a pair of offensive tackles with their first two selections – first Cedric Ogbuehi and then Jake Fisher. So how did Andrew Whitworth respond in 2015? He went out and had one of his finest seasons. The 34-year-old Whitworth started all 16 games, allowing just 20 total quarterback pressures in over 1,000 snaps. He’s a beast in both the run game and pass game, and some believe he’s actually a better guard than tackle. That versatility will allow the Bengals to slide him inside to guard whenever they believe Ogbuehi is ready to take over on the blind side, although the way Whitworth is playing, Cincinnati shouldn’t change a thing.
38. Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks
Earl Thomas is well on his way to being one of the league’s all-time greats at safety. He’s never missed a game in his six NFL seasons, earning Pro Bowl selections the last five years and First-Team All-Pro honors on three occasions. The 2015 campaign saw Thomas record five interceptions, nine passes defensed, and 42 tackles, numbers that helped propel Seattle to another season as the league’s top scoring defense. Thomas benefits from having All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman on the same field with him, but Sherman also benefits from having a regular ballhawk like Thomas patrolling deep center field.
37. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Last year’s St. Louis Rams bucked conventional wisdom when they took running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall pick in the draft, and it’s looking like GM Les Snead nailed this selection. After an NFL debut in which he handled the ball just seven times for 14 total yards, Gurley proceeded to top 100 ground yards or score a touchdown in each of the next seven contests. Gurley is a true workhorse and three-down back who can catch passes and serve as the focal point of his team’s offense. In fact, he rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns on a team that ranked dead-last in the league in passing offense – and Gurley’s numbers came in just 13 games. If Jared Goff can force defenses to prepare for a solid passing attack, Gurley has almost unlimited upside.
36. Chris Harris, CB, Denver Broncos
Chris Harris routinely seems to fly under the radar, yet he’s been one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks for several seasons now. Harris didn’t allow a single touchdown pass in 2014, then followed it up by rating as PFF’s second-best overall cornerback in 2015. There were some blemishes to his season – don’t watch his game film when he went up against Antonio Brown – but Harris regularly shut down whichever receiver he was tasked with covering. Aside from Von Miller, he was arguably the most valuable member of Denver’s Super Bowl defense.
35. Josh Norman, CB, Washington Redskins
Josh Norman spent 2015 as a serious Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and while he didn’t win the award, he was the game’s best cornerback and a major reason why Carolina reached the Super Bowl. Norman started all 16 games, recording six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumble recoveries), two defensive touchdowns, and three forced fumbles. He shadowed opposing No. 1 wide receivers and held them to a 51.0 completion percentage and league-best 54.0 passer rating. Whether Norman can continue that level of production in a new system in Washington remains to be seen; he’s already 28 years old and in a division that includes Odell Beckham, Jr. and Dez Bryant. If Norman can contain the game’s best receivers four times per season, he’s well-deserving of this ranking.
34. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
After dominating as a 3-4 defensive end, Fletcher Cox is about to be unleashed as a natural pass-rushing tackle in Jom Schwartz’s new 4-3 defense. Cox can get to the quarterback as well as any lineman in the game – his 55 quarterback hurries in 2015 dwarfed the next-best 3-4 ends: Malik Jackson/Muhammad Wilkerson at 44, Cameron Heyward at 39, and J.J. Watt at 37. Cox hasn’t missed a game since his rookie season, and that durability helped him ink a nine-figure deal with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.
33. Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings
Harrison Smith emerged as the NFL’s best safety this past season, shining in every facet of the game – pass coverage, run defense, and even rushing the quarterback. Per PFF, he’s the only safety to grade positively in each of those three aspects in both 2014 and 2015. Smith’s speciality is in coverage, where he allowed just nine receptions and a 43.3 passer rating all year. He’s a playmaker when he gets the ball in his hands, having recorded an interception touchdown in each of the last two seasons and four since being drafted in 2012.
32. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Miami Dolphins
Signing a $100 million contract with $60 million guaranteed subjects Ndamukong Suh to extreme scrutiny for some factors that are beyond his control, such as Miami’s failure to make the postseason in 2015. Suh also commits too many foolish penalties (18 in all a year ago), and he’s been accused of ignoring his defensive coordinator’s play calls. Still, Suh was a one-man wrecking crew for much of the year – he started all 16 games, racking up six sacks and 41 quarterback hurries from the interior line spot. Suh has never missed a game due to injury in six NFL seasons, and he’s still in the prime of what could be a Hall of Fame career.
31. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
More than a decade after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him, Ben Roethlisberger is playing the best football is his career. He’s surrounded with a multitude of weapons on offense, but you can see the difference in the Steelers when Roethlisberger is in the game compared to when he’s injured. Big Ben set career highs in completion percentage (68.0), net yards per passing attempt (7.76), and QBR (76.86) in 2015, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards despite missing four games with a knee injury. Roethlisberger has always been able to evade pass-rushers with ease, given his 240-pound frame, but this past season, he posted the lowest sack rate (4.1) of his career. As long as Roethlisberger can stay healthy, he’s a legitimate 2016 MVP candidate.
30. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets
Muhammad Wilkerson turned in his best NFL season yet in 2015, setting a career high in sacks (12) and tying his season best with three forced fumbles. Wilkerson is a natural 5-technique defensive end, and with the production he put up a year ago, you can see why the New York Jets just paid him top dollar to keep him around.
29. Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Atkins re-emerged as a nearly unblockable force up the middle, registering 11 sacks and an absurd 54 quarterback hurries in 2015, showing he’s fully recovered from the ACL tear he suffered midway through 2013. Pressure is always more effective when it comes up the middle, which makes it remarkable that Atkins recorded those numbers from a 3-technique spot and not as an edge rusher.
28. Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
Darrelle Revis may not be the best cornerback in the league anymore, but he’s still a dominant player who can shut down one side of the field. An up-and-down 2015 campaign still included five interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and his seventh career Pro Bowl selection. No cornerback had a lower completion percentage allowed (45.6) than Revis. Only two corners had a lower passer rating allowed (56.5). And Revis missed just three tackles in 39 attempts in the run game. He’s still a top-tier defensive player, and a guaranteed future Hall of Famer.
27. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant’s 2015 season was underwhelming, as he missed nine games due to a foot injury and then appeared to be less-than-healthy upon his return. That seems to be an aberration though, as Bryant played every game the previous three seasons, averaging 91 catches, 1,312 yards, and 14 touchdowns during that span. At 6’2″, 225 pounds, he’s the NFL’s premier red zone receiver, and assuming he’s at full strength in ’16, he’ll climb back up this list.
26. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green seems to be overlooked when the game’s best receivers are discussed, but all he does is produce top-five numbers every year. Green’s 86/1,297/10 season was just another typical Pro Bowl year from Green, who’s averaged a 83/1,234/9 statline since entering the league in 2011. Green has elite size (6’4″) and leaping ability, and he dropped just three passes in 132 targets in 2015.
25. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Patrick Peterson put forth his best NFL season in 2015, showing why the Arizona Cardinals selected him fifth overall in the ’11 draft. He limited opposing quarterbacks to just a 47.7 completion percentage and 61.8 passer rating on the 65 throws his direction. That means he was averaging fewer than two completions allowed per game, and that’s why he was selected as a First-Team All-Pro cornerback by the Associated Press. Peterson has never missed a game since debuting in the league, and he’s been voted to the Pro Bowl every year of his career. He’s also a dynamic returner who can score every time he touches the ball.
24. Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer ran the Arizona Cardinals’ offense to near perfection during the 2015 regular season, amassing 4,671 passing yards and 35 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. Palmer led the NFL in a handful of the most important passing statistics – yards per attempt (8.7), adjusted net yards per passing attempt (8.41), and QBR (82.15). Palmer fell apart in the postseason, throwing six interceptions and absorbing six sacks in two games, and that has to be alarming given the effeciency with which he played the position from September through December. Palmer is going to be 37 years old next season and has suffered a pair of ACL tears, so it’s safe to say his window of opportunity to win a Super Bowl in Arizona is closing. But management also knows he’s their best option, and that’s why they just added another guaranteed year to his contract.
23. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
It’s hard to fathom the kind of production DeAndre Hopkins had in 2015, given that his main quarterbacks were Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden. Hopkins totaled a ridiculous 111/1,521/11 statline, putting up at least five receptions and 50 yards in every game during the regular season and playoffs. Hopkins isn’t perfect – he struggles to pick up yards after the catch and broke just five tackles all season. Still, he’s gotten progressively better each year of his career, and he’s never had close to a Pro Bowl quarterback throwing passes to him. I can understand why he wants more money than he’s currently getting.
22. Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs
After a 2015 season that saw Justin Houston miss five games due to injury, Kansas City Chiefs fans have learned Houston is in danger of missing a great majority of this upcoming campaign as well. Still, Houston is a bonafide stud pass-rusher when he’s on the field. He’s averaged 12.5 sacks over the last four seasons, including a near-single-season record 22.0 in 2014. Houston isn’t just a guy who can get after the passer though- he also recorded two interceptions in pass coverage a year ago and played the run very well.
21. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Le’Veon Bell is the most talented running back in the game, even more so than Adrian Peterson, and there’s no one at his position who’s better at running and catching the ball. Bell was a First-Team All-Pro in 2014, enjoying a breakout season that saw him put up over 2,200 yards from scrimmage, and he averaged 115 yards in the six games for which he suited up in ‘15. But he’s now shown an inability to stay on the field, whether it be ACL injuries or drug suspensions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers need to know they can count on Bell to play all 16 games.
20. Marshal Yanda, G, Baltimore Ravens
The NFL’s best guard actually began his career as a tackle but has since evolved into the finest interior lineman in the league. Yanda’s numbers per PFF are ridiculous – he was the league’s finest pass-blocking guard in 2015, third-best as a run-blocker, and one of the best in the screen game. This past season, Yanda earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection and was a unanimous AP First-Team All-Pro; in fact, he played well enough that Baltimore allowed his guard mate, Kelechi Osemele, to walk in free agency (where he’s now the highest-paid guard in league history).
19. Tyrann Mathieu, CB/S, Arizona Cardinals
Tyrann Mathieu is the perfect modern NFL defensive player – he’s a hybrid corner/safety who can be utilized in multiple roles to make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers. Mathieu was a straight-up playmaker in 2015, registering 89 tackles, five interceptions, and 17 passes defensed before tearing his ACL late in the season. Mathieu was named a First-Team All-Pro as a safety, but in reality, he plays as much cornerback as he does safety. Given his size and the reckless nature with which he plays, injuries may always be a problem, but when he’s on the field, he’s part of a defensive backfield that is one of the game’s finest.
18. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys
Joe Thomas is the only person stopping Tyron Smith from being the best offensive lineman on the planet, and Smith will take that honor from Thomas any season now. Smith is part of a Dallas Cowboys offensive line so good that it unbelievably allowed Darren McFadden to rush for nearly 1,100 yards in 2015. Smith has started 79 of a possible 80 games since being drafted, and remarkably, he’s still just 25 years old. He’s been to the last three Pro Bowls, and now that he’s blocking for Ezekiel Elliott, this Dallas offense has record-breaking potential.
17. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
For the second half of 2015, Russell Wilson was arguably the NFL’s best player, and he did that in an offense without Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham. Wilson is a much more accurate version of Cam Newton and he’s just as effective a runner without taking the big hits; what keeps him from ranking higher than Newton is that the Carolina Panthers put substantially more pressure on Newton to win football games than Wilson. Having an elite running game and defense every year, as has been the case for Wilson since he entered the league in 2012, will do wonders for every quarterback. Then again, that’s not to diminish what Wilson has accomplished – he’s a three-time Pro Bowler, former Super Bowl MVP (and one throw away from having two titles), and he’s owner of the second highest career passer rating in NFL history, behind just Aaron Rodgers.
16. Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Richard Sherman is the best corner in the game, and he’ll tell you that. Numbers don’t lie though, and in a sport with constantly evolving passing offenses and rules squarely designed to increase scoring, Sherman has reigned supreme. He’s ridiculously tall for a cornerback (6’3″) and blessed with top instincts and awareness. Much of the past criticism of Sherman came from the fact that he doesn’t shadow No. 1 wide receivers, but he put that to rest last year by following top wideouts around the field. The result? The Seattle Seahawks ranked first in the league in DVOA against No. 1 wide receivers, while allowing the fewest points for the fourth consecutive season.
15. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
After a 2014 season mired by child abuse allegations, Adrian Peterson rebounded in a big way last year to win the NFL rushing title (1,485 yards) and score 11 touchdowns via the ground game. Running backs don’t typically last past age 30, but AP has proven to be a special case, as evidenced by the fact that he once won the league’s MVP award just nine months after tearing his ACL and MCL. He’s been the focal point of his team’s offense for the last several years, so any hope of AP prolonging his career is directly tied to Teddy Bridgewater’s development. The only factors keeping AP from ranking higher are his subpar blocking skills and the fact that he’s still plagued by fumbles.
14. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton became a different quarterback in 2015 than he had been his first four seasons, and the result was 45 total touchdowns, an MVP award, an appearance in Super Bowl 50, and probably the greatest season by a dual-threat quarterback of all-time. After Newton lost top wideout Kelvin Benjamin to a season-ending injury in August, Cam proceeded to win games with underneath passes to big tight end Greg Olsen, by turning talented but drop-prone Ted Ginn into a legitimate downfield threat, and by recording more rushing attempts (132) than any quarterback in modern history.
It’s amazing that Newton doesn’t get hurt more given his almost reckless style of play. Supercam is already assaulting the career record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, and he’s done so while maintaining a steady 5.4 yards-per-average clip. There’s no easy way to slow him down, and by taking that next step as a passer, he’s a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare. Cam’s best attribute in 2015 was his improved decision-making – he set career-bests in completion percentage (59.7), adjusted yards per attempt (8.2), interception percentage (2.0), passer rating (99.2), and QBR (66.09). If he can show that 2015 was the new Cam Newton and no one-year fluke, he’s going to move into the top five of these rankings.
13. Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, New York Giants
Odell Beckham, Jr. became a national sensation as a rookie, largely because of The Catch, but he followed up a Pro Bowl first year with an even better second season. Beckham plays bigger than his size; he legitimately appears to be 6’3″, 220 pounds on the field with a catch radius that is second to no one and route running skills that rival Antonio Brown. Beckham’s first two seasons put him on a historic pace – he holds the NFL record for receiving yards (2,755) in his first two years and only college teammate Jarvis Landry has more catches than OBJ (187). The only thing that can slow Beckham down is injuries, and New York Giants fans have to be hoping he can suit up for all 16 contests in 2016.
12. Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Oakland Raiders
Three years from now when the Oakland Raiders are perennial contenders in the AFC West, the 2014 draft will be looked at as their starting point. GM Reggie McKenzie got his quarterback of the future in Derek Carr, but also an elite talent in Khalil Mack, the fifth overall pick of the draft. Mack broke out in a big way in 2015, picking up 15 sacks, two forced fumbles, and earning a First-Team All-Pro selection. He led all defensive players in quarterback hurries (58) and played the run as well as anyone in the league – just four missed tackles out of 55 tackle attempts. Entering his third NFL season, Mack has to be seen as one of the top candidates for 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year.
11. Von Miller, OLB, Denver Broncos
Von Miller showed during the postseason why he’s worth as much guaranteed money as any defensive player has ever been paid. He followed up a strong regular season (11 sacks, four forced fumbles) with a playoffs for the ages. In a three-game span, Miller registered five sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. It was his strip sack of Cam Newton with four minutes left that effectively ended the Super Bowl, and given the state of Denver quarterbacks a year ago, you can see why Miller wants his money. If you remove Miller’s forgettable 2013 campaign (torn ACL, six-game PEDs suspension) from the equation, he’s averaged 15.0 sacks and 3.5 forced fumbles per season. What’s remarkable is that he’s done all that from a 4-3 rush linebacker spot as opposed to your traditional 3-4 edge rusher.
10. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
There seems to be some common belief around the league that Drew Brees’ play has started to decline. Maybe it’s because Brees missed his first game due to injury in over a decade or maybe it’s because the Saints missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Don’t blame Brees for that, though; he led the NFL in passing yards for the sixth time in his career and posted his eighth consecutive 30-touchdown season.
Take Jimmy Graham from Brees? He’ll turn Benjamin Watson into a star. Or undrafted receiver Willie Snead. Or long-forgotten about running back, Tim Hightower. Brees makes decisions as well as any auarterback in the league, as evidenced by this stat – per PFF, Brees led all NFL quarterbacks in completion percentage (79.7) when he released the ball in under 2.5 seconds. He was also accurate on over half of his deep passes, the second-best mark in the game, and he ended the season on a tear, throwing for nine touchdowns against zero interceptions in his final four games.
Even at age 37, Brees should have several more prime seasons left in him, and his sustained level of greatness gives him a top-10 spot on this list.
9. Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland Browns
You’ll have to excuse Joe Thomas for playing a boring position on a boring team, but he’s done nothing except play every snap since entering the league in 2007. If he played running back or wide receiver, he would be recognized as one of the greatest players of this generation; such is the life of an offensive lineman though to fly under the radar. Still, Thomas has been to nine Pro Bowls in nine seasons; if he makes it next year, he’ll be the first offensive lineman ever to start his career 10-for-10.
Thomas is a talented run-blocker but it’s the passing game where he does his best work. He’s shown no signs of dropping off as he enters his 10th season, considering PFF ranked him as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the league in ’15. For a franchise that has seen a lot of turnover at key roles, they’ve been blessed to have a rock-solid player in Thomas for the last decade.
8. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Only Antonio Brown can stop Julio Jones from claiming that top wide receiver spot on this list, but still, the eighth overall spot is a pretty solid ranking.
Jones put up a ridiculous 1,871 yards – the second-best total in league history – on 136 catches in 2015. He soaked up 203 targets, which is the product of being an absolute physical freak on a team that lacked a competent No. 2 wideout for much of last season. Jones seems to have put his early-career injury problems behind him, and there doesn’t seem to be much stopping him from making an annual run at Calvin Johnson’s record 1,964 yards.
7. Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers
Middle linebackers of Luke Kuechly’s skill set are extremely rare; in fact, Kuechly will go down as one of the game’s biggest defensive playmakers ever. Cam Newton and Josh Norman got all the hype for their phenomenal 2015 campaigns, and rightfully so, but it was Kuechly who recorded interception touchdowns in consecutive games in the playoffs.
Today’s NFL is a changing game, and middle linebackers are supposed to have to come off the field on passing downs due to their lack of cover skills. Don’t tell that to Kuechly though. Per PFF, he was targeted on passes 61 times in 2015; he allowed no touchdowns and record four interceptions en route to a ridiculous 57.8 passer rating allowed.
Kuechly will never receive the $100 million payday of Ndamukong Suh or Fletcher Cox because the league undervalues inside linebackers, but don’t let that make you think Kuechly is replaceable. He’s a freakish talent who is still in the prime of his career.
6. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Just two seasons into his pro career, Aaron Donald’s play has earned him a spot in the top six on this list. Donald racked up 11.5 sacks in 2015, a superb total for a defensive tackle, but he also rated by Pro Football Focus as the best run-stopping defensive tackle in the game. In fact, PFF evaluated Donald as being the most effective player at his position against both the run and the pass – and this was at a position that includes stud contemporaries Ndamukong Suh and Geno Atkins. Donald was almost unblockable for large stretches of last season, and he’s almost without flaws – he missed just two tackles in the running game all year.
Donald actually finished last season with a higher PFF rating than J.J. Watt, and a strong case could have been made for Donald to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Donald hasn’t missed a game in his two NFL seasons, and there’s every reason to think he will continue performing among the game’s top-tier defensive players in 2016.
5. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
2015 was arguably the roughest season of Aaron Rodgers’ pro career, as he too often appeared uncomfortable and unable to find open receivers as he usually does. There’s plenty of blame to go around, whether it’s Jordy Nelson’s ACL injury that forced the team to bring back street free agent James Jones as a prominent player, Randall Cobb’s sudden inability to beat single coverage in Nelson’s absence, the banged-up offensive line, or Eddie Lacy’s serious weight issues.
Even with all the hoopla, Rodgers still threw for a not-too-shabby 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions, winning a playoff game and tossing up a Hail Mary for the ages in an eventual NFC Divisional Round Playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Rodgers has all the tools you could ever ask for from a quarterback – plus-size, a laser of an arm, pocket mobility, and leadership intangibles. He’s 32 years old, which still makes him young in today’s NFL that routinely sees quarterbacks play into their late thirties. Expect Rodgers to rebound strong in 2016 with his typical MVP-caliber season.
4. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Like a fine wine, Tom Brady continues to get better with age. The future Hall of Famer is 39 years old, yet coming off a season in which he threw for 4,770 yards and a league-best 36 touchdowns, tossing just seven interceptions in the process. He hasn’t missed a start since the ACL tear in 2008, and his mere presence on the field makes the New England Patriots perennial Super Bowl contenders. After all, they’ve won 12 games in each of the last five seasons, despite Brady consistently playing with a collection of undersized slot receivers and behind an inferior offensive line.
At this point, Brady is in the conversation for the greatest quarterback of all-time, and perhaps the league’s best player ever. He’ll hit 60,000 passing yards and 450 passing touchdowns in 2016, and don’t rule out the possibility of Brady eventually breaking Peyton Manning’s (or Drew Brees’) career records when he finally hangs it up. For what it’s worth, Brady’s four-game suspension for the 2016 season has no bearing on his ranking.
3. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
There’s no tight end in history tougher to cover than Rob Gronkowski, and that includes Tony Gonzalez in his prime. Gronk is a 6’6″, 270-pound matchup nightmare who can’t be covered one-on-one by linebackers or safeties; if a defensive coordinator puts his best cornerback on Gronk, that leaves a wide receiver in a favorable matchup.
Gronk led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,176), yards per catch (16.3), and yards after the catch (546) in 2015, also finishing second in receiving touchdowns (11). He’s had his fair share of injury problems since entering the league in 2010, but he’s now suited up for 30 of the last 32 regular-season contests. No player has scored more total touchdowns than Gronk (65) over the last six years, and that’s despite the fact that he’s missed a full season’s worth of games due to injuries. Add in nine more postseason scores in just 10 games and you have a player who dominates in both the regular season and on the NFL’s biggest stage.
2. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown is the closest thing we’ve seen to Jerry Rice since Rice himself. He’s better than Calvin Johnson was in his prime. He’s not the deep threat Randy Moss was, but he’s every bit as fast on the football field. There’s 40-yard dash speed and there’s game speed. Brown has pure game speed. It’s a wonder he fell to the fifth round of the draft and took a few years to break out, because right now, he’s essentially the perfect football player.
Brown’s latest three-year run can stand up against any stretch of any receiver in history – during that span, Brown has averaged 125 receptions for 1,677 yards and 10 touchdowns per year. His 2015 numbers – a nifty 136/1,834/10 statline – would have been even more impressive had Ben Roethlisberger not missed four games due to injury. With a healthy Roethlisberger in 2016, Brown is a serious threat at 150 catches and 2,000 receiving yards, each of which would be single-season NFL records. Oh, and Brown is also a dynamic punt returner, having taken one back for a score in three straight years. No wide receiver has ever won league MVP, but Brown has the skills to be the first.
1. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
J.J. Watt remains the standard for which all defensive linemen – ever – should be judged. He’s fresh off a campaign that saw him rack up a league-best 17.5 sacks to go with 34 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles. Watt earned his unprecedented third Defensive Player of the Year award – putting him in a class with just Lawrence Taylor among all-time players – and he did so despite battling through five torn core muscles, a broken hand, and a herniated disc. Five seasons into his career, he’s never missed a game and he’s carried the Houston Texans and their yearly quarterback carousel to the playoffs on three occasions. The 2015 club, in particular, ranked 26th in net yards per passing attempt and 28th in rushing yards per attempt, yet still won the AFC South.
Watt isn’t a quarterback and can’t impact the game in quite the same way, but then again, maybe he can. He’s as unstoppable of a force as there is in this league at any position, and it’s enough to give him the top spot on this NFL Top 100 list.
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