Ranking the Top 200 NFL players entering 2023
This marks the third year of my NFL top 200
The past two years, I created and broke down rankings of the top 200 players entering the NFL season. With my job and scouting process, I had significantly less time to prepare this year’s top 200. However, I still wanted to keep the tradition going, so I dug in and tossed several weekends out the window to create my list of the top 200 NFL players entering the 2023 season.
I factored in past success, age and regression, injuries, supporting cast, and scheme to generate these rankings. There was some projecting involved during this process. Positional value wasn’t used as a central factor in these rankings. Brief descriptions appear at the start of each tier.
Feel free to tell me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 if there’s anything you would change about the list.
Tier 8: High-Variance/High-Floor Talent
Tier 8 includes some star players or Pro Bowlers from previous seasons who are inconsistent year-to-year or potentially losing snaps to younger players. A large number of these selections are simply above-average starters at this point in their careers. They might produce a top 100 season every few years but aren’t consistent top 10-12 players at their positions.
200. Kenneth Walker III, RB Seattle Seahawks
199. Robert Hunt, RG Miami Dolphins
198. Bradley Chubb, Edge Miami Dolphins
197. Travis Etienne Jr., RB Jacksonville Jaguars
196. Orlando Brown Jr., LT Cincinnati Bengals
195. Vita Vea, IDL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
194. Tua Tagovailoa, QB Miami Dolphins
193. Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Detroit Lions
192. Derek Carr, QB New Orleans Saints
191. Kyle Hamilton, S Baltimore Ravens
190. Logan Wilson, LB Cincinnati Bengals
189. Shaquil Barrett, Edge Tampa Bay Buccaneers
188. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S Detroit Lions
187. Kolton Miller, LT Las Vegas Raiders
186. Geno Smith, QB Seattle Seahawks
185. George Pickens, WR Pittsburgh Steelers
184. Jared Goff, QB Detroit Lions
183. Chidobe Awuzie, CB Cincinnati Bengals
182. Jerry Jeudy, WR Denver Broncos
181. Quandre Diggs, S Seattle Seahawks
180. Morgan Moses, RT Baltimore Ravens
179. Alex Highsmith, Edge Pittsburgh Steelers
178. Asante Samuel Jr., CB Los Angeles Chargers
177. Calvin Ridley, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
176. Kevin Zeitler, RG Baltimore Ravens
175. Keenan Allen, WR Los Angeles Chargers
174. Miles Sanders, RB Carolina Panthers
173. Josh Sweat, Edge Philadelphia Eagles
172. D.J. Reed, CB New York Jets
171. Taylor Moton, RT Carolina Panthers
170. Khalil Mack, Edge Los Angeles Chargers
169. Christian Kirk, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
168. Mike Hilton, CB Cincinnati Bengals
167. Landon Dickerson, LG Philadelphia Eagles
166. Diontae Johnson, WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Tier 7: Complementary Pieces with Cornerstone Upside
Many Tier 7 selections formally held spots as top ten or even top five players at their positions. Some are still young players who have stabilized their careers as above-average but not elite contributors. This tier is an interesting mix of veterans and rising stars. Players like Kyle Pitts, Denzel Ward, and Tre'Davious White can still get (back) into the top 100 if they match the potential they showcased in previous years.
165. Harrison Smith, S Minnesota Vikings
164. Arik Armstead, IDL San Francisco 49ers
163. Jake Matthews, LT Atlanta Falcons
162. Pat Freiermuth, TE Pittsburgh Steelers
161. Brandin Cooks, WR Dallas Cowboys
160. Daron Payne, IDL Washington Commanders
159. Josh Allen, Edge Jacksonville Jaguars
158. Jamel Dean, CB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
157. Trey Smith, RG Kansas City Chiefs
156. Matthew Stafford, QB Los Angeles Rams
155. Michael Onwenu, RG New England Patriots
154. Alvin Kamara, RB New Orleans Saints
153. Dak Prescott, QB Dallas Cowboys
152. Brandon Scherff, RG Jacksonville Jaguars
151. Talanoa Hufanga, S San Francisco 49ers
150. Kyle Pitts, TE Atlanta Falcons
149. Darren Waller, TE New York Giants
148. Marcus Williams, S Baltimore Ravens
147. Tre'Davious White, CB Buffalo Bills
146. Denzel Ward, CB Cleveland Browns
145. Jack Conklin, RT Cleveland Browns
144. Kirk Cousins, QB Minnesota Vikings
143. James Bradberry, CB Philadelphia Eagles
Tier 6: Roster Cornerstones
Tier 6 is made up of players who don’t immediately come to mind when discussing potential All-Pro candidates for the 2023 season and beyond. However, these players are still roster cornerstones for their respective franchises. They mean more to their current teams than the general NFL fandom might recognize. Tier 6 selections have low-level All-Pro potential based on their recent performances.
142. Tremaine Edmunds, LB Chicago Bears
141. Frank Ragnow, C Detroit Lions
140. Denico Autry, Edge Tennessee Titans
139. Budda Baker, S Arizona Cardinals
138. Kyle Dugger, S New England Patriots
137. Nick Bolton, LB Kansas City Chiefs
136. Drake London, WR Atlanta Falcons
135. DeAndre Hopkins, WR Tennessee Titans
134. Jevon Holland, S Miami Dolphins
133. Dallas Goedert, TE Philadelphia Eagles
132. Derrick Brown, IDL Carolina Panthers
131. Shaq Mason, RG Houston Texans
130. Brandon Aiyuk, WR San Francisco 49ers
129. Charvarius Ward, CB San Francisco 49ers
128. AJ Terrell, CB Atlanta Falcons
127. Bobby Wagner, LB Seattle Seahawks
126. Tony Pollard, RB Dallas Cowboys
125. Matt Judon, Edge New England Patriots
124. Jordan Poyer, S Buffalo Bills
123. Marlon Humphrey, CB Baltimore Ravens
122. Jordan Mailata, LT Philadelphia Eagles
121. DJ Moore, WR Chicago Bears
120. Montez Sweat, Edge Washington Commanders
119. Tariq Woolen, CB Seattle Seahawks
118. Trey Hendrickson, Edge Cincinnati Bengals
117. Jaycee Horn, CB Carolina Panthers
116. Chris Olave, WR New Orleans Saints
115. Bijan Robinson, RB Atlanta Falcons
114. Tee Higgins, WR Cincinnati Bengals
113. Grady Jarrett, IDL Atlanta Falcons
112. Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
111. Mike Evans, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tier 5: Year-to-Year Stars
Tier 5 is a volatile group of players who have suffered peaks and valleys throughout their careers. Sometimes, they’re top-five players at their positions. Sometimes, they aren’t in the top ten or miss significant time with injuries. There are plenty of former All-Pros in their tier, many of whom are coming off down seasons.
Players in this tier are still capable of producing All-Pro performances, but it’s unlikely they’ll string together multiple seasons of dominant play at this point.
110. Dre Greenlaw, LB San Francisco 49ers
109. Jessie Bates III, S Atlanta Falcons
108. Amari Cooper, WR Cleveland Browns
107. Kenny Clark, IDL Green Bay Packers
106. Alijah Vera-Tucker, RG New York Jets
105. Antoine Winfield Jr., S Tampa Bay Buccaneers
104. Elgton Jenkins, LG Green Bay Packers
103. Wyatt Teller, RG Cleveland Browns
102. Ronnie Stanley, LT Baltimore Ravens
101. Darius Slay, CB Philadelphia Eagles
100. Tyson Campbell, CB Jacksonville Jaguars
99. Za’Darius Smith, Edge Cleveland Browns
98. T.J. Hockenson, TE Minnesota Vikings
97. Stephon Gilmore, CB Dallas Cowboys
96. D.K. Metcalf, WR Seattle Seahawks
95. Tyler Lockett, WR Seattle Seahawks
94. DeMarcus Lawrence, Edge Dallas Cowboys
Tier 4: Big Names in Transition Periods
Tier 4 players are trending upward quickly. Many of them are young athletes who will be top-50 players within the next two or three years. You want a breakout candidate for 2023? There’s a good chance your choice can be found in this tier.
93. Trevon Diggs, CB Dallas Cowboys
92. Marshon Lattimore, CB New Orleans Saints
91. Chris Godwin, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
90. Jaelan Phillips, Edge Miami Dolphins
89. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Detroit Lions
88. Garrett Wilson, WR New York Jets
87. Christian Darrisaw, LT Minnesota Vikings
86. Micah Hyde, S Buffalo Bills
85. DeVonta Smith, WR Philadelphia Eagles
84. Chris Lindstrom, RG Atlanta Falcons
83. Matt Milano, LB Buffalo Bills
82. Brian Burns, Edge Carolina Panthers
81. Aaron Jones, RB Green Bay Packers
80. Trevor Lawrence, QB Jacksonville Jaguars
79. Terry McLaurin, WR Washington Commanders
78. Brian O'Neill, RT Minnesota Vikings
Tier 3: Recently Elite & Borderline Elite Players
Tier 3 includes former All-Pros returning from injuries or players who fell just short of Second Team All-Pro status in recent years. Players who will miss time with injuries in 2023 but still have gas left in the tank like Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey fall into this tier. Stars returning from injury-shortened seasons in this tier include Rashan Gary, Lamar Jackson, Shaquille Leonard, and Rashawn Slater.
77. D.J. Reader, IDL Cincinnati Bengals
76. Javon Hargrave, IDL San Francisco 49ers
75. Rashan Gary, Edge Green Bay Packers
74. Shaquille Leonard, LB Indianapolis Colts
73. Kevin Byard, S Tennessee Titans
72. Christian Wilkins, IDL Miami Dolphins
71. Roquan Smith, LB Baltimore Ravens
70. Haason Reddick, Edge Philadelphia Eagles
69. Danielle Hunter, Edge Minnesota Vikings
68. Ryan Ramczyk, RT New Orleans Saints
67. Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins
66. CeeDee Lamb, WR Dallas Cowboys
65. Mark Andrews, TE Baltimore Ravens
64. Penei Sewell, RT Detroit Lions
63. Demario Davis, LB New Orleans Saints
62. Terron Armstead, LT Miami Dolphins
61. Lamar Jackson, QB Baltimore Ravens
60. Austin Ekeler, RB Los Angeles Chargers
59. Deebo Samuel, WR San Francisco 49ers
58. Rashawn Slater, LT Los Angeles Chargers
57. David Bakhtiari, LT Green Bay Packers
56. Von Miller, Edge Buffalo Bills
55. Jalen Ramsey, CB Miami Dolphins
54. Jeffery Simmons, IDL Tennessee Titans
53. Andrew Thomas, LT New York Giants
52. Jalen Hurts, QB Philadelphia Eagles
51. DeForest Buckner, IDL Indianapolis Colts
50. Lavonte David, LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
49. George Kittle, TE San Francisco 49ers
48. Quenton Nelson, LG Indianapolis Colts
47. Aaron Rodgers, QB New York Jets
46. Justin Herbert, QB Los Angeles Chargers
45. Joe Thuney, LG Kansas City Chiefs
Tier 2: Undeniably Elite Players
Tier 3 players are elite, but Tier 2 players are in their primes and coming off recent All-Pro-caliber performances worthy of top-five spots at their given positions. These are the perennial elites who could build Hall of Fame cases if they maintain their level of play over a five to seven-year stretch.
44. Justin Tucker, K Baltimore Ravens
43. Jonathan Taylor, RB Indianapolis Colts
42. Josh Jacobs, RB Las Vegas Raiders
41. Dexter Lawrence, IDL New York Giants
40. Saquon Barkley, RB New York Giants
39. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Pittsburgh Steelers
38. Joey Bosa, Edge Los Angeles Chargers
37. Jonathan Allen, IDL Washington Commanders
36. Cameron Heyward, IDL Pittsburgh Steelers
35. A.J. Brown, WR Philadelphia Eagles
34. Jason Kelce, C Philadelphia Eagles
33. Derwin James, S Los Angeles Chargers
32. Stefon Diggs, WR Buffalo Bills
31. Derrick Henry, RB Tennessee Titans
30. Joel Bitonio, LG Cleveland Browns
29. Zack Martin, RG Dallas Cowboys
28. Creed Humphrey, C Kansas City Chiefs
27. Ahmad Gardner, CB New York Jets
26. Jaire Alexander, CB Green Bay Packers
25. Laremy Tunsil, LT Houston Texans
24. Cooper Kupp, WR Los Angeles Rams
23. Patrick Surtain II, CB Denver Broncos
22. Ja'Marr Chase, WR Cincinnati Bengals
21. Nick Chubb, RB Cleveland Browns
20. Quinnen Williams, IDL New York Jets
19. Tristan Wirfs, LT Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. Christian McCaffrey, RB San Francisco 49ers
17. Lane Johnson, RT Philadelphia Eagles
16. Maxx Crosby, Edge Las Vegas Raiders
Tier 1: Hall of Fame Peaks
Tier 1 includes era-defining players who account for most of the elite end-of-year awards. These players are currently performing at Hall of Fame levels and will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio barring injury or a significant and rapid decline in play.
15. T.J. Watt, Edge Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Fred Warner, LB San Francisco 49ers
13. Davante Adams, WR Las Vegas Raiders
12. Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills
11. Chris Jones, IDL Kansas City Chiefs
10. Tyreek Hill, WR Miami Dolphins
9. Joe Burrow, QB Cincinnati Bengals
8. Travis Kelce, TE Kansas City Chiefs
7. Myles Garrett, Edge Cleveland Browns
6. Trent Williams, LT San Francisco 49ers
5. Micah Parsons, Edge Dallas Cowboys
4. Justin Jefferson, WR Minnesota Vikings
3. Nick Bosa, Edge San Francisco 49ers
2. Aaron Donald, IDL Los Angeles Rams
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB Kansas City Chiefs
Honorable Mentions – Offense
Quarterback:
Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals/Injured)
Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos)
Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
Running Back:
Breece Hall (New York Jets)
Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals)
Dameon Pierce (Houston Texans)
Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos)
Tight End:
David Njoku (Cleveland Browns)
Wide Receiver:
Jordan Addison (Minnesota Vikings)
Marquise Brown (Arizona Cardinals)
Jahan Dotson (Washington Commanders)
Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens)
Michael Pittman Jr. (Indianapolis Colts)
Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers)
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks)
Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints)
Christian Watson (Green Bay Packers)
Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers)
Left Tackle:
Trent Brown (New England Patriots)
Charles Cross (Seattle Seahawks)
Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills)
Braxton Jones (Chicago Bears)
Tyron Smith (Dallas Cowboys)
Right Tackle:
Tytus Howard (Houston Texans)
Kaleb McGary (Atlanta Falcons)
Mike McGlinchey (Denver Broncos)
Braden Smith (Indianapolis Colts)
Jawaan Taylor (Kansas City Chiefs)
Left Guard:
Aaron Banks (San Francisco 49ers)
Jonah Jackson (Detroit Lions)
Teven Jenkins (Chicago Bears)
Zion Johnson (Los Angeles Chargers)
Damien Lewis (Seattle Seahawks)
Isaac Seumalo (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Tyler Smith (Dallas Cowboys)
Right Guard:
Alex Cappa (Cincinnati Bengals)
Quinn Meinerz (Denver Broncos)
Jamaree Salyer (Los Angeles Chargers)
Center:
Ryan Kelly (Indianapolis Colts)
Tyler Linderbaum (Baltimore Ravens)
Corey Linsley (Los Angeles Chargers)
Erik McCoy (New Orleans Saints)
Connor Williams (Miami Dolphins)
Honorable Mentions – Defense
Interior Defensive Line:
Christian Barmore (New England Patriots)
Calais Campbell (Atlanta Falcons)
Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles)
David Onyemata (Atlanta Falcons)
Grover Stewart (Indianapolis Colts)
Dalvin Thomlinson (Cleveland Browns)
Leonard Williams (New York Giants)
Edge Rusher:
Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans)
Baron Browning (Denver Broncos)
Brandon Graham (Philadelphia Eagles)
Randy Gregory (Denver Broncos)
Justin Houston (Carolina Panthers)
Jerry Hughes (Houston Texans)
Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints)
Harold Landry III (Tennessee Titans)
Gregory Rousseau (Buffalo Bills)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (New York Giants)
Chase Young (Washington Commanders)
Linebacker:
De’Vondre Campbell (Green Bay Packers)
Jack Campbell (Detroit Lions)
T.J. Edwards (Chicago Bears)
Eric Kendricks (Los Angeles Chargers)
David Long Jr. (Miami Dolphins)
Frankie Luvu (Carolina Panthers)
C.J. Mosley (New York Jets)
Bobby Okereke (New York Giants)
Foyesade Oluokun (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Cleveland Browns)
Germaine Pratt (Cincinnati Bengals)
Pete Werner (New Orleans Saints)
Devin White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Cornerback:
Carlton Davis (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Kristian Fulton (Tennessee Titans)
Christian Gonzalez (New England Patriots)
Xavien Howard (Miami Dolphins)
J.C. Jackson (Los Angeles Chargers)
Kenny Moore II (Indianapolis Colts)
Greg Newsome II (Cleveland Browns)
Patrick Peterson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Cam Smith (Miami Dolphins)
L'Jarius Sneed (Kansas City Chiefs)
Derek Stingley Jr. (Houston Texans)
Cam Taylor-Britt (Cincinnati Bengals)
Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks)
Safety:
Jeremy Chinn (Carolina Panthers)
Tashaun Gipson Sr. (San Francisco 49ers)
Eddie Jackson (Chicago Bears)
Kerby Joseph (Detroit Lions)
Tyrann Mathieu (New Orleans Saints)
Marcus Maye (New Orleans Saints)
Xavier McKinney (New York Giants)
Ryan Neal (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Jalen Pitre (Houston Texans)