I really find it amazing how NFL players can screw up these rankings. As I pointed out before, if you’re in an office, you and your other co-workers can probably rank the best employees and come to a smart consensus. NFL players, however, continuously bungle things like this, probably because many of them don’t watch film or pay attention to the other games. They ranked Michael Turner in the top 100 twelve years ago, yet the guy couldn’t even move. Eight years ago, Carson Palmer was 12th, Blake Bortles was 56th, and Chris Ivory was 78th! Here was my reaction:
OH MY GOD. CHRIS IVORY IS 78TH?!??!?! ARE YOU F***ING SERIOUS??? CHRIS IVORY… IS 78TH!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
Seven years ago, DeMarco Murray was voted in as the 31st-best player in the NFL. Yes, DeMarco Murray, the guy who lost his job during the year. The NFL players ranked Murray ahead of Kam Chancellor, Joey Bosa, Bobby Wagner, Trent Williams, and Jadeveon Clowney.
The following year, Case Keenum was 51st. Let me repeat that. Case Keenum was 51st. Here’s what I wrote:
CASE KEENUM IS 51ST!? WHAT!?!?!?!? HOW IN HELL IS CASE KEENUM BETTER THAN PHILIP RIVERS!?!?!?!?
The NFL players thought that Case Keenum was a better player than Philip Rivers. It was almost as bad in 2020 when Jimmy Garoppolo was somehow slotted at No. 43. Here were my thoughts:
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!1
WHAT THE F**K IS THIS!? BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLLL!!!!!
NFL PLAYERS THINK JIMMY GAROPPOLO IS BETTER THAN J.J. WATT!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAAHHAAHAHHAALAOALAOLOLOLOLAHAHAHAHAHALOLOOLLLHAHAHA!!!!!
In 2022, they rated Mac Jones 85th. Really? Mac Jones, 85th? And then in 2023, Dalvin Cook was ranked 91st even though the Vikings cut him earlier that offseason! In 2024, the players rated Brock Purdy as being better than Joe Burrow. Unreal.
Predictably, there were some very dumb choices in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025. I’ve highlighted them, marking the underrated players in blue and overrated players in red.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 100-91:
100. Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers
99. Leonard Williams, DE, Seahawks
98. Aaron Jones, RB, Vikings
97. Drake London, WR, Falcons
96. Lavonte David, LB, Buccaneers
95. Josh Sweat, DE, Cardinals
94. Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions
93. Creed Humphrey, C, Chiefs
92. Jessie Bates, S, Falcons
91. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins
98. Aaron Jones: Aaron Jones is so good that the Vikings paid big money to Jordan Mason to establish a running back by committee.
91. Tua Tagovailoa: Tua Tagovailoa is a walking concussion who may not be able to play most of 2025.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 90-81:
90. Zach Allen, DE, Broncos
89. James Cook, RB, Bills
88. Andrew Van Ginkel, DE/LB Vikings
87. Quinnen Williams, DT, Jets
86. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Redskins
85. Kyren Williams, RB, Rams
84. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Patriots
83. Cameron Heyward, DT, Steelers
82. Jerry Jeudy, WR< Browns
81. Trent McDuffie, CB, Chiefs
82. Jerry Jeudy: Jerry Jeudy ranked at No. 82 is a classic example of prisoner of the moment syndrome. Jeudy has had like five good games in his career, but everyone remembers what he did at Mile High on a Monday night last year.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 80-71:
80. Rashan Gary, DE, Packers
79. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
78. Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, Chargers
77. Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
76. Vita Vea, NT, Buccaneers
75. Patrick Queen, LB, Steelers
74. Bobby Wagner, LB, Redskins
73. Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
72. Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks
71. Kerby Joseph, S, Lions
72. Sam Darnold: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You know, none of the picks from 100 to 73 were that bad. There were some mistakes that I highlighted, but nothing was egregious. I was beginning to think that the NFL players compiled a quality list for a change, but wow. They certainly did not.
How the hell is Sam Darnold the 72nd-best player in the NFL? That is ridiculous. There is no reality in which he’s a better player than Vita Vea, or Patrick Queen, or Rashan Gary. Ranking him over Dak Prescott is a joke.
Darnold posted great numbers in 2024, but that was a byproduct of Kevin O’Connell’s elite coaching and Justin Jefferson’s presence. Darnold is going to regress greatly in Seattle.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 70-61:
70. Frankie Luvu, LB, Redskins
69. Jordan Mailata, OT, Eagles
68. Jordan Love, QB, Packers
67. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants
66. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Steelers
65. Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals
64. Bo Nix, QB, Broncos
63. Josh Hines-Allen, DE, Jaguars
62. Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
61. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars
69. Jordan Mailata: Jordan Mailata is one of the best left tackles in the NFL, so I would have rated him above the likes of Bo Nix and an aging Jalen Ramsey.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 60-51:
60. Cooper DeJean, CB, Eagles
59. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
58. Joe Mixon, RB, Texans
57. Nick Bosa, DE 49ers
56. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
55. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions
54. Derwin James, S, Chargers
53. Jared Verse, DE/OLB, Rams
52. Terry McLaurin, WR, Redskins
51. Kyle Hamilton, S/LB, Ravens
58. Joe Mixon: How in seven hells is Joe Mixon considered to be a better running back than Bijan Robinson? I know Mixon was hot to begin last year, but this is ridiculous.
55. Aidan Hutchinson: Aidan Hutchinson was on pace for a historic season before getting hurt. Chances are he’ll be in for a big 2025, so he should easily be in the top 50.
51. Kyle Hamilton: Kyle Hamilton is an incredible player who can thrive at a Pro Bowl level at linebacker and safety. He’s another defender who should be in the top 50.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 50-41:
50. Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
49. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Eagles
48. Jonathan Greenard, DE/OLB, Vikings
47. Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
46. Will Anderson, DE, Texans
45. Trent Williams, OT, 49ers
44. Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers
43. Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles
42. Dion Dawkins, OT, Bills
41. Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
47. Tyreek Hill: I thought it was obvious that Tyreek Hill lost a step. I guess it’s not that obvious.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 40-31:
40. Roquan Smith, LB, Ravens
39. C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
38. Nik Bonitto, DE/OLB, Broncos
37. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
36. Micah Parsons, DE, Cowboys
35. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
34. Budda Baker, S, Cardinals
33. Josh Jacobs, RB, Packers
32. Nico Collins, WR, Texans
31. George Kittle, TE, 49ers
37. Travis Kelce: I guess NFL players haven’t watched Travis Kelce the past two years. Kelce is a better actor than NFL player right now, and he can’t act to save his life.
36. Micah Parsons: How is Micah Parsons only 36? No wonder Jerry Jones traded him. Parsons is an incredible edge rusher who should be in the top 20, if not the top 10.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 30-21:
30. Xavier McKinney, S, Packers
29. A.J. Brown, WR, Eagles
28. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Buccaneers
27. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions
26. Zack Baun, LB, Eagles
25. Danielle Hunter, DE, Texans
24. Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders
23. Lane Johnson, OT, Eagles
22. Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders
21. Jayden Daniels, QB, Redskins
Nothing crazy here. Zack Baun was a bit surprising in the 20s, but I don’t mind it.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2021: 20-11:
20. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
19. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
18. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Texans
17. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Giants
16. Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
15. Jared Goff, QB, Lions
14. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals
13. Penei Sewell, OT, Lions
12. Chris Jone, DT, Chiefs
11. T.J. Watt, DE/OLB, Steelers
15. Jared Goff: Goff at No. 15 is pretty nuts. He’s been a byproduct of great coaching and elite offensive line play. He should be in the top 100, but not the top 20!
NFL Top 100 Players of 2021: 10-1:
10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Broncos
9. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
8. Myles Garrett, DE, Browns
7. Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens
6. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
5. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
4. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
3. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
7. Derrick Henry: Henry is great, but at 31, it’s unreasonable to expect him to last the entire season. I couldn’t put him over Myles Garrett, Patrick Surtain, or T.J. Watt.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 – Snubs:
Christian Benford, CB, Bills – Christian Benford was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL last year.
Chase Brown, RB, Bengals – Chase Brown is a do-it-all running back who was a key piece in Cincinnati’s great offense. He should be in the top 100.
Christian Darrisaw, OT, Vikings – If you want to see the sort of impact that Christian Darrisaw had for the Vikings, check out the games in which he was sidelined in 2022. Minnesota’s offense was not functional without Darrisaw. He was an obvious snub last year, and he once again has that distinction, although his massive contract will make him feel better about it.
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Ravens – Baltimore’s secondary was awful last year, but Marlon Humphrey was a rare bright spot.
Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers – Bucky Irving had an amazing rookie year and should have gotten some consideration to be in the top 100.
Chris Lindstrom, G, Falcons – Chris Lindstrom is usually one of the better guards in the NFL. He needs to be recognized as a top-100 player one of these years.
Quenton Nelson, G, Colts – The best guard in the NFL should probably be on this list.
Benhard Raimann, OT, Colts – Benhard Raimann is an unknown for most people, but he’s emerging as one of the better tackles in the NFL.
Rashawn Slater, OT, Chargers – This is before the injury. Rashawn Slater is an elite left tackle, so he should’ve made the list.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks – Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged in the second half of the year. He profiles as a No. 1 receiver.
NFL Picks - Sept. 13
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Sept. 10
NFL Power Rankings - Sept. 9
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 1
