NFL Top 100: 100 - 50 Revisited

After making our own NFL Top 100 players for 2021, we thought we would go back and see how it stacks up. This article is covering players 100-51. To see players 50-1 please click here. 

When looking at the overall rankings, 73 of the top 100 players were on both our list as well as the NFL Network’s list. Of the 27 that were not, 23 of those were not surprisingly in the bottom 50. Below we have listed the 23 names that in the NFL 100-50 that were not in our list. 

James Robinson 100

Brandon Graham 99

Kyle Juszczyk 97

Cole Beasley 96

Jarvis Landry 94

Jason Kelce 92

Corey Davis 91  

Allen Robinson 87

Marshawn Lattimore 86

Leonard Williams 84

Garett Boles 82

Adam Theilen 80

Jeffery Simmons 78

Quandre Diggs77

Tyler Lockett 76

Trey Hendrickson 73

Josh Jacobs 68

KJ Wright 67

JJ Watt 66

Calvin Ridley 65

Jason Pierre- Paul 59

Cameron Hayward 57

Za’Darius Smith 51

There seems to be 3 main things that differed in our lists. First, many of the rankings seem to be based on 2020 performance and not a projection into the future. Secondly, any player that was injured for a significant chunk of the season either wasn’t ranked or had their ranking severely hindered. Third, most offensive linemen had lower rankings in the NFL list vs the UA list. Enjoy!

 

 

Everyone loves a good list. Normally we spend our time discussing NFL mystery boxes, autographed mini helmets, signed memorabilia and all kinds of sports collectibles. However, today we ignore signed jerseys and focus on just ranking the best players in the NFL. Let’s look at players 100 - 51

100. Shaquil Barrett, OLB/Edge - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (88)

After a MONSTER 2019, Barrett came back down to earth a bit in 2020. However, despite the numbers being down, he was still a very important cog in that defense. The Bucs are running it back with the exact same defense that they had from 2020, which likely means Barrett continues to be the main pass rushing force for this team in 2021.

 

99. Wyatt Teller, Guard - Cleveland Browns

A year ago, it would have been comical to have Wyatt Teller on this list. Fast forward to today and Teller is one of the premiere guards in football. PFF rated him as the top rated player at his position in 2020, as well as the top rated run blocker. 

 

98. Chase Young, Defensive End - Washington Football Team (61)

We have zero doubt that Young will be a top 50 player within the next 2 seasons. However, it’s tough to give him a much higher grade at this point in his young career.

 

97. Denzel Ward, Cornerback - Cleveland Browns

Ward has also dealt with some injuries over his young career. However, when he is on the field, he is a shutdown corner. The Browns defense will need him to stay healthy for 2021 if they truly have Superbowl aspirations. 

 

96. Grady Jarrett, Defensive Tackle - Atlanta Falcons (54)

Grady Jarrett is the definition of underrated. To be fair, most defensive tackles fall into this category because it isn’t a glory position. However, the Falcons defense would be a complete dumpster fire on that side of the football without Jarrett. The combo of his run stopping power and sneaky pass rush ability, 2021 should be another solid season for the big man.

 

95. Michael Thomas, Wide Receiver - New Orleans Saints (72)

Having Thomas all the way down at 95 feels way too low. However, Thomas looked much more mortal without Drew Brees at the helm. The player known as “slant boy” will need to step his game up this coming season if he expects to move up this list once again. 

 

94. Joe Burrow, Quarterback - Cincinnati Bengals

After his devastating injury in his rookie campaign, the Bengals offense was in shambles. He looked great in the half season that we saw him and with and improved receiving core and offensive line, this kid should be wheels up for the coming season.

 

93. Kyle Fuller, Cornerback - Denver Broncos

After 6 great seasons with the Chicago Bears, Fuller is heading to Denver to pair up with rookie Patrick Surtain in Vic Fangio’s defense. We should see the same kind of production that we saw early in his career now that he has paired back up with his old defensive coordinator.

 

92. Ezekiel Elliot, Running Back - Dallas Cowboys

It’s odd to see Zeke this far down the list, but if we're being honest his 2020 alone probably should have him on this list at all. However, this is a projection moving forward and we do expect Zeke to bounce back to similar production levels with Dak Prescott returning and his line getting healthier. 

 

91. Jonathan Taylor, Running Back - Indianapolis Colts

If this was only based on the first half of Taylor’s season, there is no chance that Jonathan Taylor would be sniffing this list. That being said, the 2nd half of the season, Jonathan Taylor was virtually unstoppable scoring at least 1 touchdown in every game from week 12 forward.

 

90. Terron Armstead, Offensive Tackle - New Orleans Saints (79)

At left tackle, Armstead was one of the most effective players at protecting the quarterback's blindside. PFF had Armstead as one of the most efficient players over the past 4 seasons allowing league low marks on QB pressures.

 

89. Jessie Bates, Safety - Cincinnati Bengals (90)

Bates is another one of those players that doesnt get tons of recognition but is a rising star in the league. Bates has had at least 100 tackles and 3 interceptions every season of his young 3 year career.

 

88. Terry Mclaurin, Wide Receiver - Washington Football Team

“F1” followed up his rookie campaign with an even better season in year 2. This speedster showed that he has what it takes to become a star in this league and the addition of Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

 

87. Chris Godwin, Wide Receiver - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (81)

Despite being so accomplished, many people forget that he is still very young. At only 25 years old he has established himself as an elite option in this offense and will command a HUGE contract in free agency next season. 

 

86. Ryan Tannahill, Quarterback - Tennessee Titans (83)

After a lackluster start to his career in Miami, Tannahill has reinvented himself in Tennessee. He has had 2 straight seasons with a quarterback rating over 105 and has proven to be more than just a game manager. The addition of Julio Jones should also help give him a boost to his overall numbers.

 

85. Darren Waller, Tight End - Las Vegas Raiders (35)

A few seasons ago we were not even sure that Waller would ever set foot on an NFL field again. Now he is one of the premiere players at the position. He has the hands and the athletic ability of a wide receiver but the build of a stand up Y. He is a tad on the older end but the lack of wear and tear on his body could allow him to play longer than most. 

 

84. Shaq Mason, Guard - New England Patriots

The Patriots didn't have a lot going for them this past season. Hidden in all that mess though was Shaq Mason. He is one of the premiere guards in the league and can do it all, however, he especially excels in the run blocking game.

 

83. Ryan Kelly, Center - Indianapolis Colts (69)

The Indianapolis Colts center has been a pillar of consistency for this unit over the past 2 seasons. He only missed one game and also had some of the lowest penalty and sack numbers in the league. 

 

82. Demarcus Lawrence, Defensive End - Dallas Cowboys

Overall the Cowboys were a mess last season. On the surface it looks like Lawrence had a down year as well but the tape tells a different story. Teams were constantly sending extra help his way, but he would still manage to make plays. Look for Lawrence to dominate in 2021and get back to his usual numbers now that he will be receiving some extra help. 

 

81. Baker Mayfield, Quarterback - Cleveland Browns (71)

Similar to Ryan Tannehill, Mayfield doesn't have incredible passing numbers but he was so much more efficient in 2020 and most importantly led the team to a playoff berth and a massive win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the field general for one of the best offenses in the NFL and he will continue to be the straw that stirs the drink in 2021. 

 

80. Tristan Wirfs, Left Tackle - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (89)

Wirfs quickly went from an athletic standout at Iowa to protecting the blindside of the greatest quarterback of all time. Iwrfs only got better as the season went on and he is only going to be getting better with age. 

 

79. TJ Hockenson, Tight End - Detroit Lions (93)

The Lions got a good one when they drafted TJ Hockenson top 10 during the 2019 draft. Hockenson is a top 10 receiving tight end but also a top 10 blocking tight end. Players that can do both so well are very rare.

 

78. Brian Burns, Edge - Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have made a very concerted effort to improve the defensive side of the football over the past few seasons and the centerpiece of that defense is Brian Burns. Burns is a hyper athletic edge player that has great instincts and always finds the football. His ceiling is crazy high.

 

77. Vita Vea, Defensive Tackle - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers defense had a period of time where it was playing much more poorly than the rest of the season. That can be directly tied to the first few games that they lost Vea and they were attempting to figure out how to adjust for the massive loss right in the middle of their defensive line. This kid is an animal. 

 

76. Calais Campbell, Defensive End - Baltimore Ravens

Campbell has been around for a while now, but like fine wine, he just gets better with age. This massive human being can cause havoc all over the defensive line so he can lined up wherever the team needs him to be. 

 

75. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety - Pittsburgh Steelers (52)

The Steelers paid a pretty hefty price to nab Fitzpatrick a couple years ago and it has more than paid off. It was a secondary that was simply getting by, but not excelling. He has brought them a new identity.

 

74. Rodney Hudson, Center - Arizona Cardinals

Hudson Was released by the Las Vegas Raiders this past off-season. However, Hudson was one of the best centers in 2020 and has been one of the best for some time. He is now with Arizona and the Cardinals just got their hands on an elite offensive lineman. 

 

73. Demario Davis, Linebacker - New Orleans Saints (64)

The ball hawking linebacker has played for several teams, but he found a home in New Orleans. He has had 4 straight seasons of over 100 tackles and seems to get to the quarterback more often than most middle backers. 

 

72. James Bradberry, Cornerback - New York Giants (74)

Bradberry is another name on this list that doesn't get enough credit. He was a lockdown player for the Giants  last season and was a key cog in helping this defense ascend to the next level over the 2nd half of the year.

 

71. Devin White, Linebacker - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28)

This offseason Devin White ran the 40 yard dash against several top end wide receivers. He ran it in the 4.3s… Linebackers are not supposed to be that fast. He is still so young, but is taking this league by storm. He could be a top 40 NFL player sooner rather than later. 

 

70. Matthew Stafford, Quarterback - LA Rams 

On talent alone, Matthew Stafford has been a top 10 quarterback most of his career. The difficult part is he hasnt had a lot of talent and good play calling around him. Now Stafford will be playing in Sean McVay’s offense and with solid position groups all around the offense.

 

69. Alvin Kamara, Running Back - New Orleans Saints (14)

After originally being somewhat of an afterthought in his class, Kamara has arguably had the best and most consistent career out of any running back in the 2017 class. In his 4 seasons, he has posted 1300+ total yards in every single one of them.

 

68. Matt Ryan Quarterback - Atlanta Falcons

Matty Ice added a star in the making in the form of Kyle Pitts but also lost his main weapon in the form of Julio Jones. Either way, Ryan can still sling it with the best of them. Hopefully Arthur Smith’s offense allows Ryan to put his skills on display. 

 

67. Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle/Defensive End - Philadelphia Eagles (63)

For nearly a decade, Fletcher Cox has been terrorizing offenses from his defensive tackle position. Despite posting wild sack and tackle numbers, Cox has never seemed to get the credit that he truly deserves. We could be looking at a Hall of Fame player when it's all said and done. 

 

66. Casey Hayward, Cornerback - Oakland Raiders

The lockdown corner might now be as good as he was in Green Bay or early in his career with the Chargers, but the lockdown corner is still going to be a solid asset for the Raiders. Teams stopped targeting him as much after some monster interception totals, let’s see if more footballs come his way now.

 

65. DK Metcalf, Wide Receiver - Seattle Seahawks (22)

We’re not exactly sure if this guy is human. He is truly the definition of “built different”. The speed strength combo receiver has only played 2 seasons in the league, but has amassed over 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns in that short time. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this player significantly higher next season. 

 

64. Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver - Los Angeles Chargers (55)

Captain consistency is at it again. He might not be overly flashy, but Keenan has averaged roughly 100 catches and 1150 yards over the past 4 seasons. People keep thinking he is older, but at only 29 years old he still has a few good seasons left in the tank. 

 

63. Corey Linsley, Center - Los Angeles Chargers (60)

There haven't been a lot of centers on the list, but Linsley is the best of the bunch. The Chargers got a massive upgrade at the position in the offseason and Linsley will lead this offensive line in both run blocking and pass blocking efficiency.

 

62. Cameron Jordan, Defensive End - New Orleans Saints (46)

The New Orleans rush man just doesn’t stop. Year in and year out he performs at pro bowl levels. He hasn’t had a single season where he had less than 7.5 sacks since his rookie season in 2011.  

 

61. Marlon Humphery, Cornerback - Baltimore Ravens (38)

In the great group of Baltimore corners, Humphrey is the top dog. He has rare size and physicality at the position and is only getting better. 

 

60. Trent Williams, Left Tackle - San Francisco 49ers (42)

Trent has been around the block a time or two but he is still scary good. He once again lead PFF with the highest overall score at the position at age 32. If you’re waiting for him to fall off a cliff, keep waiting. 

 

59. Derwin James, Safety - Los Angeles Chargers

You would be hard pressed to find a single person that doesn't believe that Derwin James is elite. His only problem has been staying healthy. He has missed 2 straight seasons but is expected to be fully healthy for 2021. If that’s the case, he will likely get a 20 spot boost in these rankings. 

 

58. Jamal Adams, Safety - Seattle Seahawks (31)

Jamal Adams spent his first season in Seattle in 2020 and was a huge boost for a defense that was on the fritz. He had 9.5 sacks and also had over 80 tackles in just 12 games. At only 25 years old, the best is yet to come for Adams. 

 

57. Joe Thuney, Guard - Kansas City Cheifs

Joe Thuney joins an entirely revamped Kansas City offensive line and he is the ring leader. After being the best offensive lineman for the past few season in New England, the guard takes his talents to one of the best teams in football. 

 

56. Saquan Barkley, Running Back - New York Giants

You could take what was said above about Derwin James and just copy and paste it right here. Barkley has all the talent in the world and will dominate if healthy. 

 

55. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver - Tennessee Titans (29)

It’s hard to say how much longer Julio can be a top 100 guy. However, it doesn't seem to be age that’s holding back, it has been injuries. If he can stay healthy, he could be a big difference maker for the Titans this coming season. 

 

54. Lavante David, Linebacker - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (43)

There are so many deserving members of the Buccaneers defense on this list, but possibly none more deserving than David. David is the guy that does all the dirty work stopping the run and making plays in coverage. Because of that he doesn't have sexy sack totals but he is one of the best at what he does in the league. 

 

53. Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver - Minnesota Vikings (53)

Justin Jefferson had an incredible rookie campaign. It ranks up there with the likes of Randy Moss and Odell Bekham Jr. Jefferson took his elite route running and contested catch ability and set the world on fire in 2020. It’s hard to put any ceiling on this kid at this point in his career.

 

52. Kyler Murray, Quarterback - Arizona Cardinals (39)

The number 1 overall pick was on his way to an MVP discussion but after a shoulder injury mid way through the season, things we’re just not the same. Assuming health this season, the young quarterback will look to find the one thing that seems to still be alluding him… the playoffs.

 

51. Justin Simmons, Safety - Denver Broncos (45)

Most safeties are not big name players, but it is wild that Simmons hasn't been feared in the same way some of the other safeties on this list have been. This ballhawk has had 2 or more interceptions every year of his 5 year career and has posted 4 and 5 respectively over the past 2 seasons.