Top 100 players entering the NFL's 100th season: 50-26
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
50. Carson Wentz
QB, Eagles
A healthy Carson Wentz is one of the top QBs in the league, and that's what the Eagles have entering 2019. Wentz has arguably the league's top offensive line protecting him and one of the deepest sets of skill-position players at his disposal. DeSean Jackson should open up the field for Wentz to take his place among the game's elite passers.
49. Jadeveon Clowney
DE, Seahawks
After holding out with the Texans, Clowney gets a fresh start with a trade to the Seahawks. While he won't be teaming up with JJ Watt anymore, Ziggy Ansah gives the star rusher a formidable partner. Clowney's continued improvement at stopping the run makes him one of the most complete defenders in the NFC.
48. Quenton Nelson
G, Colts
Nelson was even better than advertised coming out of Notre Dame and claimed first-team All-Pro honors in his debut season. Andrew Luck is gone, and the last time Jacoby Brissett was a starter, he got sacked a whopping 52 times in a season. It's probably a safe bet that won't happen again with Nelson on the scene.
47. George Kittle
TE, 49ers
Kittle came out of nowhere to become the key cog in Kyle Shanahan's offense. The young tight end has rare big-play abilities and is a monster after the catch. Kittle might not be able to touch his 1,377 yards from a year ago, but if the returning Jimmy Garoppolo is smart, he'll look for the emerging star early and often.
46. Terron Armstead
LT, Saints
Despite missing six games last year, Armstead was still a second-team All-Pro due to his standout performance. The Saints have scored a league-high 18 rushing touchdowns outside left tackle in the past five seasons, a stat that's directly related to Armstead's dominance at the position.
45. Philip Rivers
QB, Chargers
The presence of fellow elder statesmen Tom Brady and Drew Brees somewhat overshadows how well Rivers is also playing deep in his 30s. The veteran tied his career-high passer rating last season and looked better than ever throwing the ball downfield. Is this the year Rivers finally gets a Super Bowl ring?
44. Davante Adams
WR, Packers
Adams hasn't gotten the credit he deserves. The two-time Pro Bowler and DeAndre Hopkins were the only players to finish in the top seven in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns last year. Adams' quick release burns cornerbacks at the line and allows him to capitalize on Aaron Rodgers' magic arm down the field.
43. Grady Jarrett
DT, Falcons
Jarrett's power and anticipation of run lanes is a problem for any back attempting to hit the second level. The elite run defender is 26 years old and appears to only be improving, as he posted career highs in sacks (six), forced fumbles (three), quarterback hits (16), and pressures (53) in 2018. It's no wonder the Falcons locked him up long term.
42. Eddie Jackson
S, Bears
After his second season in the league, Jackson solidified himself as one of the top talents among his position group. The 26-year-old's blazing speed allowed him to blanket the secondary and close in on receivers who appeared open. The free safety was elite in coverage - opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of only 60.6 on throws in his direction in 2018.
41. Joey Bosa
DE, Chargers
Bosa is the complete package. The 24-year-old's mix of power, speed, and athleticism allows him to breeze past offensive linemen and disrupt the pocket. He's racked up 28.5 sacks and 35 tackles for loss in 35 career games. Now that he's entering 2019 healthy and will be (presumably) paired with Melvin Ingram, expect Bosa to leave plenty of pivots on their backs.
40. Todd Gurley
RB, Rams
Gurley's much-discussed disappointing end to 2018 hurt his placement on this list, but the running back is still among the very best at his position. His 40 total touchdowns over the past two years easily lead the league, and with a summer of rest to help his knee, Gurley is primed to silence those who've written him off as damaged goods.
39. Matt Ryan
QB, Falcons
There aren't many quarterbacks in the league with a skill set as well-rounded as Ryan's. The 2016 MVP is accurate throwing to all levels of the field and, over the last three years, he's done a great job of limiting his turnovers while maintaining the calm-yet-aggressive style that earned him the nickname Matty Ice.
38. Keenan Allen
WR, Chargers
Allen is one of the top possession receivers in the game, though his touchdown totals don't stack up against the receivers above him in the pecking order. He consistently finishes games with 60-80 receiving yards, and every once in a while he'll drop 120-plus on a sleeping opponent.
37. Tyreek Hill
WR, Chiefs
Thanks to his blazing speed, Hill is virtually unstoppable over the course of a 60-minute game. He can break a contest open at any time, and his improvements in route running have helped him increase his receiving totals every year since being drafted. In 2018, "Cheetah" caught a pass for 30 yards or more in 13 of his 16 outings.
36. Akiem Hicks
DE, Bears
Khalil Mack gets most of the attention up front for the Bears, but Hicks does plenty of work, too. A beast in the running game, he occasionally attracts a double-team in the passing game. Though his career got off to a slow start, Hicks has really come into his own since joining Chicago in 2016.
35. Calais Campbell
DE, Jaguars
An elite defensive end in every sense of the word, Campbell is virtually unstoppable against the run and pass. No players at his position had more tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2018, but he's also accumulated 25 sacks over the last two years. Few do it better than this 6-foot-7 defender.
34. Jamal Adams
S, Jets
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 draft quickly solidified himself as an All-Pro talent. Adams has no weaknesses in his game - he defends the run well, gets his hands on a number of passes, and can even rush the passer in a pinch. He's the unquestioned leader of New York's defense and is only getting better.
33. Chris Jones
DT, Chiefs
Jones broke out in a big way last season, emerging as one of the league's premier interior pass-rushers. With violent hands and incredible movement for his size, the young defender notched 15.5 sacks and ranked behind only Aaron Donald and Fletcher Cox in total pressures.
32. Myles Garrett
DE, Browns
Garrett produced 13.5 sacks in his sophomore year despite apparently having one hand metaphorically tied behind his back due to Gregg Williams' distrust of complex pass-rushing moves. With an unreal get-off and an unrelenting motor, the 2017 No. 1 pick is ready to take the NFL by storm.
31. Alvin Kamara
RB, Saints
A star from the moment he stepped on the field, Kamara is a dynamic offense weapon set for his largest workload in 2019. The versatile back is a matchup nightmare as a receiver out of the backfield - as evidenced by his 162 receptions over the last two years - and utilizes burst and elusiveness as a rusher.
30. Cameron Jordan
DE, Saints
Often overlooked when discussing the league's most dominant pass-rushers, Jordan has been vital to the resurgence of New Orleans' defense over the last two seasons. The veteran has an array of moves to confound opposing offensive linemen, and his uncanny timing routinely helps blow up runs before they can even get out of the backfield.
29. Chris Harris Jr.
CB, Broncos
Harris has been the league's premier slot corner for years. The savvy veteran, who was a key cog of Denver's Super Bowl-winning defense, is also more than capable of lining up outside and dominating. He turned 30 in June but has yet to show any signs of decline, giving up just one touchdown all season in 2018.
28. Ezekiel Elliott
RB, Cowboys
Elliott's holding out to be paid like the NFL's best running back, and it's hard to argue that he doesn't deserve it. He led the league in rushing in two of his first three seasons, and in the year that he didn't (2017), he was first in yards per game after returning from his six-game suspension. By the Cowboys' own admission, Elliott is the straw that stirs their drink.
27. Tyron Smith
LT, Cowboys
Smith is one of the NFL's true unicorns. The star left tackle looks like he was built in a lab. He routinely makes NFL pass-rushers seem like college players with his suffocating grasp and inhuman strength. Only injuries have been able to slow him down in recent years. When Smith is out, Dallas' offense isn't the same.
26. Earl Thomas
S, Ravens
It will take time to get used to seeing Thomas in a Ravens uniform. But - as evidenced by the four-year, $55-million deal he received from Baltimore in free agency - the perennial Pro Bowler is still widely viewed as the best playmaker at his position, even coming off a broken leg at age 30.