Ranking the NFL's Top 200 Players of 2024: Entering the Top 100
Let's dig into the players competing for spots in the NFL Top 100 for 2024
Today is the day we finally crack the top 100. It took three posts and almost 7,000 words, but we’re finally getting into the meat of this exercise. The NFL players included in today’s article are all of the names I gave serious top 100 consideration to after making some harsh cuts during the review process.
Tiers 5 and 6, which we’ll cover today, encompass 56 of the league’s best players, including perennial Pro Bowl and All-Pro candidates. These players are clustered together tightly with very little separating them. Most players are interchangeable within their tiers.
Tier 10 l Tiers 8 & 9 l Tiers 6 & 7
I created the NFL Top 200 this summer based on how I project players will perform in the upcoming season. This means past performances were only a small part of the evaluation process. Injuries/injury history, supporting cast, anticipated volume, and age also played roles.
If you’re wondering where the 2025 NFL Draft reports have been, don’t worry. You’ll start seeing more regular draft content again next week. I just need to get through the next few days with the top 200, and then I’ll have more time to convert my summer notes into reports for you all.
Tier 5: Aging Stars, Upstarts, and Underrated Performers
117. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Detroit Lions
After taking a quarter of his rookie season to find his footing, Gibbs took off. His agility and fluidity are rare, even at the NFL level. He finished 17th among running backs in forced missed tackles on runs last year despite being 28th in carries. The only thing that can hold Gibbs back is his timeshare with David Montgomery.
116. Jordan Mailata, LT Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles drafted Mailata in the seventh round in 2018. The former rugby player is one of the most physically imposing linemen in the NFL, standing 6'8", 365 lbs. That size translates to some bone-crushing blocks in space. Even with that frame, Mailata is an easy mover to pull and lead block. There’s still plenty of room for the 27-year-old to continue ascending the ranks.
115. Kyler Murray, QB Arizona Cardinals
We haven’t seen the real version of Murray in two years. The 27-year-old established himself as a borderline top ten quarterback in the sport through his first three seasons before injuries and coaching instability hindered his development. This year is Murray’s opportunity to remind the football community of what he’s capable of.
114. Shaq Mason, RG Houston Texans
Mason was a quiet pillar of the late-Tom Brady era Patriots. He got healthy after leaving New England and is playing a larger percentage of pass blocking snaps than ever before. Mason always had the juice as a run blocker, but his development in pass pro is what makes him one of the game’s top guards.
113. Xavier McKinney, S Green Bay Packers
Injuries hindered McKinney in 2020 and 2022, but his healthy seasons are excellent. He has the versatility to line up in the slot on tight ends, play down in the box to help in run defense, drop back deep to take away downfield shots, or blitz off the edge to force bad throws. With McKinney in the fold, Green Bay has one of the most versatile and deepest secondaries in the league.
112. Alex Highsmith, Edge Pittsburgh Steelers
Highsmith, Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson, and New York’s Will McDonald IV have the best spin moves in the NFL. Highsmith also has an impressive ghost move and cornering ability that he developed alongside T.J. Watt. He set a single-season career-high with 69 pressures in 2023 and started to take over some games, suggesting he has low-edge-one upside.
111. Will Anderson Jr., Edge Houston Texans
Anderson’s 408 pass rush reps were the fourth-fewest among the league’s top 25 leaders in pressures by edge rushers. He produced pressure on a respectable 14.46% of his pass rush attempts. Anderson frequently relies on his power to produce wins and can continue developing by working more counters off his bull rushes.
110. Denzel Ward, CB Cleveland Browns
Ward is undeniably one of the best corners in the game, but his play wavered in recent years. Injuries played a large role in his inconsistent form, and he recently suffered his fifth confirmed concussion since entering the league. When healthy, Ward is a lockdown corner with the fluidity to mirror and match receivers.
109. Montez Sweat, Edge Chicago Bears
Many weren’t in favor of the Bears trading for Sweat last season, but he immediately became a pillar of their franchise and added some fangs to a toothless front. Sweat relies on his power, including a nasty long-arm, and burst to overwhelm offensive tackles. He produced pressure on 12.36% of his pass rush reps in 2023. No one doubts that Sweat is an excellent player, but he’s not in the pantheon of active edge rushers.
108. Jalen Hurts, QB Philadelphia Eagles
Injuries, fatigue, and mounting coach instability played roles in Hurts’ on-field performance declining from its All-Pro form. It’s worth noting that a lot of his value is still predicated on his success as a runner, which contributed to his struggles last year. Hurts might plateau if he doesn’t take yet another step forward as a passer.
107. C.J. Mosley, LB New York Jets
Mosley earned Second Team All-Pro honors four times during his first five years in the NFL. He played in just two games in 2019 and 2020 combined because of a groin injury and COVID-19 but worked his way back into All-Pro shape by 2022. Mosley processes plays quickly and has played a key role in helping teammate Quincy Williams develop. His vision and football IQ make him a defensive weapon in zone coverage.
106. Cameron Heyward, DT Pittsburgh Steelers
Heyward tore his groin in Pittsburgh’s season opener last year and required surgery with a 12-week recovery period. He was back by Week 8. Heyward made nice contributions despite returning before completely healing. At 35 years old, decline is a concern for the defensive tackle who authored four All-Pro seasons in the past seven years. He still possesses one of the league’s best bull rushes and noses for the ball in run defense.
105. Amari Cooper, WR Cleveland Browns
Nearly 30% (29.92%) of Cooper’s receiving yards last year came during his final two regular season games. Those numbers inflated what was an otherwise average season for the seven-time 1,000-yard receiver. However, Cooper also missed two games and dealt with one of the strangest quarterback dynamics in recent history.
Cooper isn’t an elite receiver, but he’s a legitimate WR1 who prints productive seasons without seeing a ridiculous target count. He finished 14th in yards per route run among receivers with at least 30 targets in 2023.
104. Keenan Allen, WR Chicago Bears
Allen showed up to Bears training camp at 230 lbs., up roughly 20 lbs. from his previously listed playing weight. He’s a 32-year-old receiver who missed 11 games over the past two seasons. He’s on a new team for the first time in his career, and he wasn’t known for having elite athleticism to begin with. None of this sounds good, but Allen’s 2023 campaign was a truly special season. The hope that we get that same player again buoys this ranking.
103. Terron Armstead, LT Miami Dolphins
Armstead is one of the most technically sound left tackles in the NFL, but his availability is among the worst at the position. He has appeared in 14 or more games in just three of his 11 seasons and missed 11 total games across his first two years in Miami. Armstead is still Miami’s best trench player, even when playing through injury. He’s a master in pass protection and offers value in Mike McDaniel’s run scheme with his light footwork and movement skills.
102. Terry McLaurin, WR Washington Commanders
Good wide receiver. Bad team. McLaurin has the talent and athletic traits to be a perennial top ten wide receiver in the NFL if he just had a league-average quarterback. You can make the argument that 2021 Taylor Heinicke is the best player to throw him a football in the NFL. It’s sad, but Jayden Daniels brings hope to empower the vertical passing game as McLaurin chases his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
101. Nick Chubb, RB Cleveland Browns
If Chubb was healthy, he would easily be a top 25 player on this list. Fortunately, his rehab from the catastrophic knee injury he suffered last year seems to be going well. He’s already sprinting and squatting 540+ pounds. Chubb, who is on the PUP list, is expected to miss part of the 2024 season before gradually returning to Cleveland’s lineup.
100. DeMarcus Lawrence, Edge Dallas Cowboys
Fans underestimate Lawrence’s value consistently since he isn’t producing as many sacks per season as he did in 2017 and 2018. The 32-year-old is a standout run defender on a Cowboys defensive line that likes to push vertically and get after the quarterback. He’s been doing this for years, and not enough fans outside of Dallas realize it.
99. Trey Smith, RG Kansas City Chiefs
An NFL team is going to pay Smith top-five, if not top-three, guard money next spring. The Tennessee product overcame pre-draft medical concerns to become one of the nastiest blockers in the game. He can put together quality games in pass protection against star defenders because of his anchor and athleticism, but his performance in the run game is more stable.
98. Jeffery Simmons, DT Tennessee Titans
Simmons is one of the league’s more confounding players. He earned Second Team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2022, but several other defensive tackles had equal claims to those spots. Simmons has all of the physical potential to maul blockers and operate at the level of a top 30 player every year, but his performances often differ in value week-to-week.
Simmons only appeared in 12 games last year because of a knee injury but still totaled 47 pressures, including 5.5 sacks.
97. Justin Madubuike, DT Baltimore Ravens
Madubuike became the breakout star of the 2023 season. He amassed 65 pressures, including 13 sacks. Those pressure totals tied Dexter Lawrence and Ed Oliver for the fourth-most among interior linemen. Madubuike pairs quickness with power to overwhelm less athletic guards.
Madubuike’s alignment versatility, combative hands, and raw power make him a handful for most interior players. He also showcases good pursuit in the run game and against screens. Offensive players just can’t run away from him.
96. Dion Dawkins, LT Buffalo Bills
Dawkins is a tone-setting, culture-changing force along the front five for Buffalo. He’s a people mover in the run game and deploys a reliable snatch-trap in pass protection that is quickly becoming one of the best in the league. If you’re a linebacker, pray Dawkins never finds you at the second level.
95. Stefon Diggs, WR Houston Texans
There’s a legitimate chance that Diggs’ disappearing act during the second half of last season was due to Buffalo changing play callers and we’ll get a vintage 1,200-yard season in 2024. There’s also a chance C.J. Stroud targets Nico Collins more often than Diggs and leans into Tank Dell in clutch situations instead of the former All-Pro receiver. Diggs is close enough to his most recent elite play that I think he deserves more faith than he’s received this offseason.
94. Rashawn Slater, LT Los Angeles Chargers
Slater’s early career promise dealt with challenges from injuries that extended into the 2023 season, but he soldiered through to start every game last year. Slater lacks prototypical size for a tackle, which is why some analysts pre-draft thought he would play guard. However, his abilities to stay balanced and recover in his pass set are freaky. Not many players explode out of their stance and re-anchor like Slater.
93. DK Metcalf, WR Seattle Seahawks
Metcalf is still the fast, explosive, shredded freak he was when he earned Second Team All-Pro honors in 2020. Unfortunately, the offense has decayed around him, and Geno Smith can’t throw the go-ball like Russell Wilson. Metcalf projects as an elite field-stretcher for the foreseeable future, but he’s more dependent on his offense than most superstar receivers. Seattle’s average-at-best infrastructure and Metcalf’s inexplicable struggles at the catch point on contested passes limit his ceiling.
92. DeForest Buckner, DT Indianapolis Colts
Buckner has largely been an unheralded force since entering the NFL. In a different era with fewer dominant defensive tackles, he would be a perennial All-Pro. According to PFF, Buckner has applied 48 pressures or more in every season of his career, including double-digit quarterback hits in four consecutive years.
Buckner has a wide array of devastating pass rush moves and the lateral agility to transition between gaps quickly.
91. Khalil Mack, Edge Los Angeles Chargers
Mack took a significant step back in 2022 following an injury-shortened season in 2021 before exploding in Week 4 last year and getting his career back on track. I’m fading the 33-year-old quite a bit by ranking him this low, but I can’t remember many edge rushers in my lifetime suffering that kind of multi-year dip past 30 and then producing several All-Pro-caliber seasons.
Mack produced five or more pressures in 12 games last year and applied pressure on 16.48% of his rush attempts. He finished sixth in the league in total pressures, two pressures ahead of Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt.
90. Quinn Meinerz, RG Denver Broncos
The Senior Bowl will post Meinerz content from now until the end of time. Meinerz, a Wisconsin–Whitewater DIII college product, signed a well-deserved extension this summer. His technique is inconsistent at times, but very few linemen throw defenders out of the club quite like Meinerz. His contributions in the run game are invaluable and make him a joy to watch.
89. Christian Darrisaw, LT Minnesota Vikings
I debated flipping Darrisaw and Rashawn Slater on these rankings. They play the same position but in vastly different ways. Darrisaw is a powerful finisher in the run game who plays with a traditional big man attitude. Despite his size, the 25-year-old is quick in the open field and has the range to block downfield on screens. It’s not fun for second and third level defenders.
Darrisaw still needs to improve technically and rely a little less on his natural gifts, but he’s trending in the right direction.
88. Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins
All the 2021 first round receivers had disappointing seasons in 2023 on the heels of standout sophomore campaigns. In Waddle’s defense, he missed three games and tied Amon-Ra St. Brown for the sixth-most yards generated per route run among receivers with at least 30 targets. Waddle is already dealing with an injury this year, but he has the speed and dynamic athleticism to generate 1,300 yards in Mike McDaniel’s scheme.
Tier 4: Established Vets and Potential Risers
87. Haason Reddick, Edge New York Jets
The whole holdout saga between Reddick and the Jets seems like it might actually roll into the 2024 season. Reddick, who has 50.5 sacks in the past four seasons for three different teams, is seeking a significant payday ahead of his 30th birthday. He’s an amazing athlete who relies on burst and cornering ability to complement his excellent hand usage.
Reddick applies pressure on 12.03% of his pass rush attempts in 2023, tying Bryce Huff for the 15th-most total pressures with 67. In 2022, Reddick applied pressure on 15.18% of his rushes for 68 total. It’s worth noting, he is one of the weakest edge rushers against the run on the top 200.
86. Saquon Barkley, RB Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley tore his ACL nearly four years ago. It took him some time to get back to his previous form, but the Penn State legend is back to being a franchise pillar-caliber player. Barkley won’t have to do nearly as much in Philadelphia as he did in New York, so he’s looking at a decrease in volume but an increase in efficiency. It’s worth noting, the Eagles primarily rely on just one running back and Jalen Hurts to carry the ground game.
85. Quincy Williams, LB New York Jets
Williams has developed into a perennial top five linebacker. He’s been a tone-setting presence on the inside since he entered the league. His processing has really sped up, and his closing burst pops coming downhill. Not many players trigger with the same level of confidence as Williams. His motor and desire to punish offensive players make him a welcome throwback in the modern game. Did I mention he’s brothers with Quinnen Williams?
84. Derrick Brown, DT Carolina Panthers
Brown isn’t and likely never will be an elite pass rusher, but he offers excellent value in the run game. He made 103 tackles in 2023 alone, which translated to an NFL-leading 53 stops among interior players in PFF’s database. For reference, DeForest Bucker (43) was second among interior players, and only Maxx Crosby (58) ranked higher among all defensive linemen. Stops measure tackles that caused an offensive play to fail.
83. Danielle Hunter, Edge Houston Texans
Hunter cut his teeth in the NFL as a freak athlete. Several significant injuries in the early 2020s had the chance to sap a bit of the soon-to-be 30-year-old’s juice, but he’s still one of the best pure sack artists in the game. Hunter applied 80 pressures in 2023 while playing more than 1,000 total snaps for the first time in his career. He already looks at home in a Texans uniform.
82. Deebo Samuel, WR San Francisco 49ers
Health concerns and Samuel’s desire to see fewer carries make a repeat of his All-Pro 2021 season unlikely. However, Samuel is still one of the league’s most versatile weapons. He thrives after the catch and overpowers defensive backs to create chunk plays. Among receivers with at least 30 targets, Samuel produced the 12th-most yards per route run in the NFL in 2023.
81. Derrick Henry, RB Baltimore Ravens
Henry is the only football player alive capable of surviving the volume he’s received over the past five years. During that span, he’s led the NFL in carries four times. The Titans hopelessly had Henry running behind one of the league’s worst lines last year. Baltimore’s line might only be marginally better in 2024, but the upgrade promises to keep Henry in the discussion for being a top five running back.
80. Lavonte David, LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
David deserved far more than the three All-Pro selections he earned across his first 12 seasons. Even at 34 years old, he’s still one of the five best linebackers in the game. David is quick enough to duck around climbing blockers, and his football IQ shows up in how quickly he diagnoses and processes plays. He offers impressive value in coverage too.
79. Jalen Carter, DT Philadelphia Eagles
Carter opened his rookie campaign with a bang before slowing down around the middle of last season. The Eagles have a lot of bodies up front, but no one has more potential than Carter. He’s a fantastic athlete, but some of the better guards he faced last year overpowered him. The second-year defensive tackle needs to improve his rush plan and hand usage to make the most of his burst, twitch, and powerful upper body.
78. Aaron Rodgers, QB New York Jets
Rodgers’ torn Achilles occurred roughly half a season before Kirk Cousins suffered the same injury. Rodgers made false claims about returning last year, but the 40-year-old did make strides in his return to play. It seems unlikely that he’ll ever be the same again, but even 80% of a motivated and happy Aaron Rodgers is still much better than what most teams trot out on Sunday.
77. Devon Witherspoon, NB Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks clearly knew Witherspoon was special, but I think even they were surprised by how much he immediately brought to the table as a rookie. The Illinois product can play outside, but Seattle maximizes his aggression, burst, and motor in the slot, putting him close to the tackle box to blitz or help against the run. Witherspoon is an instinctive, twitchy, violent heat-seeking missile.
76. Jonathan Taylor, RB Indianapolis Colts
Injuries kept Taylor from finding his rhythm last year, but he did have a few performances that proved he’s still the All-Pro we saw in 2021. Taylor produced 527 yards after contact in 2023. Jaylen Warren was the only player with fewer rushes than Taylor to outproduce that mark.
75. Tyler Smith, LG Dallas Cowboys
I firmly believe the Cowboys intended for Smith to be Tyron Smith’s long-term replacement when they drafted him, but then both Smiths had All-Pro seasons and threw a wrench in the plan. Tyler will be sticking at left guard, which is the best move for his development.
Smith’s play strength matches his 6'6", 332 lb. frame, but he possesses terrifying open field movement skills at that size. Watch him pancake Jalen Carter in pass pro and then stonewall the Georgia product later on. Smith is just too strong for defenders to play through in a phone booth.
74. Puka Nacua, WR Los Angeles Rams
Nacua set NFL records as a rookie, but expecting him to match those totals in 2024 is a tall order. He’s already dealing with a week-to-week knee injury and was frequently injured in college. Nacua, who ranked eighth in yards per route run among receivers with 30 or more targets in 2023, saw fewer targets per game once Cooper Kupp returned from injury. They might eat into each other’s projected totals this year.
73. DJ Moore, WR Chicago Bears
Is or isn’t Moore a WR1? This is a tiring question that misses the point. We know Moore authors takeover, WR1-caliber games and that he’s done it with backup-level quarterbacks for most of his career. He’s going to see 130 targets in 2023 and benefit from Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze contorting coverages.
72. Breece Hall, RB New York Jets
A torn ACL ruined a potential Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign from Hall in 2022. The Jets wanted to work him in slowly last year, but he exploded for 127 rushing yards on ten carries in Week 1. Hall’s speed and smooth running style make him one of the game’s most efficient running backs.
71. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Pittsburgh Steelers
This past year was a season to forget for Fitzpatrick. He missed seven games and didn’t record an interception for the first time in his career. At his best, Fitzpatrick is a top three safety in the NFL. He’s an opportunistic ballhawk who is seemingly magnetized to the football.
Fitzpatrick took a massive step forward in run defense the past three years. The linebacker level being such a mess forced him to become a more complete player and serve as the fixer on Pittsburgh’s defense.
70. Joe Thuney, LG Kansas City Chiefs
Thuney has one of the better cases for being the top pass protecting guard in the NFL during the past five to six years. He doesn’t pack nearly the same punch as teammate Trey Smith, but the 31-year-old knows how to win with technique and polish. Powerful defenders sometimes test Thuney’s anchor, but he counters with a wide base and low pad level. His hand usage and placement are top tier too.
69. Mike Evans, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hamstring issues are never far behind Evans, but they haven’t prevented him from becoming the first receiver to start his career with ten consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Even at 31 years old, Evans still dominates at the catch point and creates game-changing plays downfield. His play style, build, and ball skills are aging in a way we’ve rarely seen before.
68. Jaire Alexander, CB Green Bay Packers
Both in 2020 and 2022, it looked like Alexander was in line to be the league’s next great cornerback. Injuries in 2021 and 2023 prevented him from stringing together consecutive dominant seasons. Alexander reads the field well and has excellent speed and range. At his best, the 27-year-old can stick with Justin Jefferson and allows little to no separation.
67. Nico Collins, WR Houston Texans
Collins is a budding star who produced 3.1 yards per route run (YPRR) in 2023. For reference, Tyreek Hill (3.82) and Brandon Aiyuk (3.01) were the only other receivers over three YPRR with at least 30 targets. Collins also had impressive receiving totals despite only seeing 109 targets, the 24th-most in the NFL. Stefon Diggs’ arrival shouldn’t displace Collins’ opportunities.
66. Cooper Kupp, WR Los Angeles Rams
Kupp won the triple crown in 2021. For reference, that was the same season Ben Roethlisberger led the NFL in comeback victories. We’re getting farther and farther away from Kupp’s two 1,000-yard seasons, and his injury history doesn’t look good for a 31-year-old. At his peak, Kupp was a top 15 player. We might never get back to that, but the potential still exists for Kupp to exceed this ranking.
65. Bijan Robinson, RB Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons didn’t maximize Robinson’s opportunities in their scheme, but he still totaled 1,463 yards from scrimmage as a rookie. The Texas product has a rare combination of agility, explosiveness, and power only rivaled by Saquon Barkley in recent drafts. Robinson ranked 14th in yards after contact and eight in missed tackles forced despite only being 19th in carries.
64. Charvarius Ward, CB San Francisco 49ers
Ward is an underappreciated cog in San Francisco’s dominant machine. He’s been an essential member of their core since arriving from Kansas City. Ward has the speed to undercut throwing lanes or carry receivers vertically out of press. He thrives in sticky man coverage at a level few corners match. Ward drops a few interceptions but generally high points and plays the ball well.
63. Derek Stingley Jr., CB Houston Texans
Stingley is one of my favorite breakout candidates for 2024. I think he could even be an All-Pro. A hamstring injury limited Stingley in 2023, but he still had elite moments. He’s a fluid athlete with great closing speed and excellent ball skills. Stingley’s vision early in the play and timing at the catch point fuel his ball production. The anticipation he started to show late last year was really exciting.
62. Jevon Holland, S Miami Dolphins
If Holland didn’t miss five games in 2023, he would’ve given Justin Simmons a good run for the veteran’s Second Team All-Pro selection. Holland is a smooth athlete with ideal agility and change of direction skills. He covers ground quickly and doesn’t shy away from coming downhill to challenge blocks and make tackles in run support. His range turns potential big plays for the offense into minimal gains.