Top 100 players entering the NFL's 100th season: 25-11
Ahead of the NFL's 100th season, theScore ranked the top 100 players in the game today, as voted on by our football editors. Players who are set to miss significant time due to either injury or suspension were not considered.
100-76 I 75-51 I 50-26 I 25-11 I 10-1
25. Demarcus Lawrence
DE, Cowboys
Lawrence proved to all of us last season that his breakout in 2017 was no fluke. The Cowboys pass-rusher followed his 14.5-sack campaign with 10.5 sacks in 2018. At just 26 years old, Lawrence is already one of the game's best young defensive talents.
24. Jason Kelce
C, Eagles
The leader of one of the league's best offensive lines is finally being given the credit he's due. Kelce's been named a first-team All-Pro for two consecutive seasons and has allowed just five sacks in the past four years as the Eagles' center. His work at the line, and in overseeing a seamless transition from Carson Wentz to Nick Foles and back, proves he's more than deserving of his recent accolades.
23. Travis Kelce
TE, Chiefs
With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, Kelce enters the 2019 season as the game's top tight end. He topped 100 receptions for the first time in his career last season and added career-highs in yards (1,336) and touchdowns (10). The soon-to-be 30-year-old appears to be over the childish antics that plagued his early years. Kelce is key to the Chiefs' title hopes.
22. Saquon Barkley
RB, Giants
There's no denying that Barkley is a generational talent. There isn't a player in the league more elusive or dynamic on his feet than the 22-year-old, which he proved in his breakout rookie season by totaling a league-leading 2,028 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns. Odell Beckham Jr. said he was the reason the Giants got prime-time coverage, but now New York has a new star to keep its eyes on.
21. Zack Martin
G, Cowboys
Martin's arguably been the best right guard in the league since being drafted by the Cowboys in 2014. The 28-year-old has earned a Pro Bowl designation for all five years he's been in the NFL. Martin didn't allow a single sack in his rookie campaign and has only allowed seven quarterback takedowns in his 78-game career. It's no wonder the Cowboys have consistently remained strong up front.
20. David Bakhtiari
LT, Packers
Bakhtiari is one of the few tackles that can be placed on an island from the first snap of the game to the last. The Pro Bowler has never had a down season, ably combatting edge rushers with his brute strength and foot speed. Bakhtiari's provided stability on Rodgers' blind side, buying the quarterback enough time to make his highlight-reel plays.
19. Russell Wilson
QB, Seahawks
The Seahawks haven't always surrounded Wilson with the greatest talent, yet he's always found a way to get the job done. He's only missed the playoffs once since being drafted by Seattle in 2012 and has the second-best career touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.11-to-1) among active quarterbacks. The top dual-threat signal-caller in the league, Wilson threw 35 touchdowns against seven interceptions last year while adding another 376 yards on the ground in steering the transitioning Seahawks to a surprising playoff berth.
18. Stephon Gilmore
CB, Patriots
Gilmore rebounded from a rough start with the Patriots in 2017, establishing himself as a true shutdown cornerback last season. He led the NFL in pass breakups with 18 and was one of two defenders in the league to yield a reception on less than 50 percent of targets directed at him. Fittingly, Gilmore came down with the late-game interception that sealed Super Bowl LII for New England.
17. Jalen Ramsey
CB, Jaguars
Ramsey is the most outspoken trash-talker in the game, but he usually backs it up. For example, when matched up against Tyreek Hill last year, Ramsey held the Pro Bowler he brashly labeled a "return specialist" to two catches for 46 yards. He wasn't quite as consistent in 2018 as he was in 2017, but he's still one of the best in man-to-man assignments.
16. Michael Thomas
WR, Saints
Thomas won't blow anyone away with speed, but he absolutely deserves to be included among the league's top receivers. No player in history has more receptions (321) through their first three seasons than the Saints wideout. He ranked second in the league catching 85.6 percent of his targets and third with 75 first downs in 2018. Unguardable anywhere on the field, Thomas also caught nine touchdowns and led all receivers with 3.63 yards per route run from the slot, per PFF.
15. Fletcher Cox
DT, Eagles
Cox would've received Defensive Player of the Year attention in 2018 if it weren't for Aaron Donald. The former first-rounder was utterly dominant in his seventh campaign, ranking first in the NFL in quarterback hits and second in total pressures. Cox also notched a career-high 10.5 sacks and was excellent in run defense thanks in large part to his unique ability to shed blocks. Few defenders present a tougher matchup than the Eagles star.
14. Antonio Brown
WR, Raiders
In a league of numerous star wide receivers, few even come close to Brown's recent production. Lightning-quick feet and elite route-running have allowed AB to eclipse 100 catches in six straight campaigns. He even led his position with 15 touchdowns during an off year - at least by his standards - last season. After an eventful offseason, the four-time first-team All-Pro is as motivated as ever in Oakland. We wouldn't bet on a regression.
13. Luke Kuechly
LB, Panthers
Kuechly has been the standard-bearer for inside linebackers from basically the moment he stepped onto an NFL field in 2012. The Panthers standout is known as one of the best leaders and hardest workers in the league. He also has zero weaknesses in his game, possessing uncanny coverage skills while never failing to hit 100 tackles in a single season.
12. Drew Brees
QB, Saints
Brees fell just short of earning the MVP award again last season, but he still produced a remarkably efficient campaign, throwing just five interceptions all year. While it's all but certain that the 40-year-old will never throw for over 5,000 yards again, Brees' accuracy remains unparalleled.
11. Odell Beckham Jr.
WR, Browns
While Beckham's otherworldly body control and hands are rightfully lauded, the star wideout is among the best technicians in NFL history. OBJ's impeccable route-running has been somewhat wasted by Eli Manning's spotty accuracy and declining arm, but he'll be a nightmare to defend all over the field with the ultra-aggressive Baker Mayfield tossing him the pigskin. Records could be broken.