Walt
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 thirteen years ago, yet the guy couldn't even move. Nine 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!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
Eight 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.
Last year, the lowlight for these voters is that they put Jerry Jeudy 82nd. Yes, that Jerry Jeudy. My thoughts: "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."
Predictably, there were some very dumb choices in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026. I've highlighted them, marking the underrated players in blue and overrated players in red.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 100-91:
100. Cameron Jordan, DE, Saints
99. Quenton Nelson, G, Colts
98. Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
97. Ernest Jones, LB, Seahawks
96. Travis Etienne, RB, Saints
95. Demario Davis, LB, Jets
94. Creed Humphrey, C, Chiefs
93. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Browns
92. Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, Texans
91. Montez Sweat, DE, Bears
100. Cameron Jordan: Cameron Jordan is so good that he sat around in free agency with no interest for months. Jordan used to be a great player, but he's no longer the pass rusher he once was.
98. Bryce Young: Wow. Bryce Young in the top 100? Who did he pay to appear here? I'm not even sure if Young is a top-100 quarterback; let alone a top-100 player!
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 90-81:
90. Derrick Brown, DT, Panthers
89. Kyren Williams, RB, Rams
88. Jack Campbell, LB, Lions
87. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers
86. Tuli Tuipulotu, DE, Chargers
85. Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
84. Byron Young, LB, Rams
83. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Titans
82. Jalen Ramsey, S, Steelers
81. Bobby Wagner, LB, None
83. Jeffery Simmons: Jeffery Simmons is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He should be higher than No. 83.
82. Jalen Ramsey: Jalen Ramsey was so washed at cornerback that he had to move to safety. He's been OK there, but not worthy of a spot in the top-100 list.
81. Bobby Wagner: If Bobby Wagner happened to be the 81st-best player in the NFL, what is he doing as a free agent? Wouldn't someone sign him if he was so great? Based on this ranking, NFL players are completely clueless, or they're cheating this list by helping Wagner get signed. If it's the latter, then it's not working.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 80-71:
80. A.J. Brown, WR, Patriots
79. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs
78. Josh Sweat, DE, Cardinals
77. Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
76. Jaycee Horn, CB, Panthers
75. Budda Baker, S, Cardinals
74. Josh Jacobs, RB, Packers
73. Zach Allen, DT, Broncos
72. Jordan Love, QB, Packers
71. Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens
79. Travis Kelce: I guess NFL players haven't watched Travis Kelce the past three years. Kelce is a better actor than NFL player right now, and he can't act to save his life.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 70-61:
70. Xavier McKinney, S, Packers
69. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
68. Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos
67. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Dolphins
66. Drake London, WR, Falcons
65. Roquan Smith, LB, Ravens
64. Chris Olave, WR, Saints
63. Kyle Hamilton, S/LB, Ravens
62. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
61. Kevin Byard, S, Patriots
69. Lamar Jackson: Who did Lamar Jackson piss off this past year? He was No. 2 last year, and now he's No. 69. How did that happen?
63. Kyle Hamilton: Kyle Hamilton is one of the top defensive threats in the NFL. He can thrive on a Pro Bowl level at both safety and linebacker. He should be much higher, but the players hate all of the Ravens for some reason.
61. Kevin Byard: For years, I'd beg the NFL to include Kevin Byard in this list. Now, the players keep ranking Byard highly even though he's 33 and washed up.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 60-51:
60. Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders
59. Bo Nix, QB, Broncos
58. Nico Collins, WR, Texans
57. Dion Dawkins, OT, Bills
56. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
55. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys
54. Fred Warner, LB, 49ers
53. Davante Adams, WR, Rams
52. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Buccaneers
51. Caleb Williams, QB, Bears
59. Bo Nix: Bo Nix? Come on, man. This is embarrassing. Nix can't throw downfield and is coming off a brutal ankle injury. This ranking is a joke.
54. Fred Warner: Fred Warner is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, regardless of position. Ranking him outside the top 20 is absurd.
53. Davante Adams: Davante Adams is 34, and he's obviously no longer the receiver he once was. Putting him ahead of receivers like Nico Collins, Zay Flowers, and A.J. Brown doesn't make any sense.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 50-41:
50. Derwin James, S, Chargers
49. Joe Thuney, G, Bears
48. Josh Hines-Allen, DE, Jaguars
47. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Eagles
46. George Kittle, TE, 49ers
45. Zack Baun, LB, Eagles
44. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
43. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs
42. Garett Bolles, OT, Broncos
41. T.J. Watt, DE/OLB, Steelers
41. T.J. Watt: T.J. Watt was No. 11 in 2025, yet he's fallen 30 spots. Why? No idea. Maybe players just have a negative bias toward AFC North teams.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 40-31:
40. Trent Williams, OT, 49ers
39. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
38. Cooper DeJean, CB, Eagles
37. Penei Sewell, OT, Lions
36. George Pickens, WR, Cowboys
35. Jared Verse, DE, Rams
34. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
33. Jared Goff, QB, Lions
32. Nik Bonitto, DE/OLB, Broncos
31. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
34. Saquon Barkley: Saquon Barkley could bounce back this year, but he lost much of the explosion he possessed in 2024. I wouldn't have placed him this high.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: 30-21:
30. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions
29. Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles
28. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Patriots
27. Devin Lloyd, LB, Panthers
26. De'Von Achane, RB, Dolphins
25. Derek Stingley, CB, Texans
24. Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders
23. Danielle Hunter, DE, Texans
22. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
21. Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks
21. Sam Darnold: Let me talk you through my process. I go one player at a time, so I'm not biased by anything I see ahead of each player. So, when I wrote 30 through 22, I figured I'd say there was nothing wrong with these 10 picks.
And then, I saw No. 21. Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold is the 21st-best player in the NFL. Sam f**king Darnold. What the f**k.
What drugs were players on when they voted on this list? This might be the worst ranking ever. The absolute brain-dead morons who voted on this list believe that Darnold is somehow 40 spots better than Lamar Jackson. Think about how f**king dumb that is. These bozos believe that Darnold is considerably better than Jackson. I don't understand how NFL players can be so clueless about their own sport.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2021: 20-11:
20. James Cook, RB, Bills
19. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
18. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
17. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
16. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
15. Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens
14. Brian Burns, OLB, Giants
13. Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals
12. Will Anderson, DE, Texans
11. Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
20. James Cook: I'm a fan of James Cook. I think he's a great runner. But is he elite like the other players in the 11-20 range? I don't think so. I'm good with Cook in the 31-50 range, but not in the top 20.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2021: 10-1:
10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Broncos
9. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions
8. Micah Parsons, DE, Packers
7. Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
6. Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
4. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
3. Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
2. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
1. Myles Garrett, DE, Rams
I don't really have an issue with anything in the top 10. Matthew Stafford is 38, so he could regress, but everything else is fair.
NFL Picks - Sept. 19
2027 NFL Mock Draft - Sept. 16
NFL Power Rankings - Sept. 14
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 7
Charlie Campbell
