10 biggest snubs from the NFL's Top 100 Players list
The full list of the top 100 players of 2018 - as selected by the players - was officially released Monday on NFL Network.
While it's hard to argue with most of the stars in the top 10 - although Aaron Donald should probably be even higher than No. 7 - there were plenty of questionable inclusions further down the list. These include J.J. Watt, who played just five games in 2017, Kam Chancellor, who missed seven contests due to a neck injury, and Derek Carr, who regressed big time after an excellent 2016.
On the flip side, some of the league's top talents somehow went unranked by their peers. Here, we pay tribute to 10 players who should have been included among the NFL's top 100 performers.
Alex Smith, QB
It's a shame Smith's fellow players failed to show him any love after a career year with the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith, who was traded to the Washington Redskins in January, threw for a career-high 4,042 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2017. He led the league with a 104.7 passer rating, and only 1 percent of his passes were intercepted. But wait, Smith must have been in "game manager" mode, right? Wrong. His 8.0 yards per attempt ranked second behind Drew Brees, and no quarterback was more lethal on deep pass attempts last season.
Lavonte David, LB
David is one of the top overall linebackers in the game, so it's puzzling to see him left off this year's list. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender is adept in coverage, but really thrives in rush defense. He accumulated 37 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage while defending the run in 2017, which led outside linebackers and ranked fifth among all linebackers despite him missing three games. He also topped 100 tackles for the fifth time in his six-year career.
Kawann Short, DT
In a league rich with talent at defensive tackle, Short should not be ignored. The Carolina Panthers' star defender added another 7.5 sacks to his career total last season, dominating opposing guards with quick hands and elite explosion. He also had a career year defending the run, as he consistently penetrated into backfields and disrupted key plays. Short is probably a top-50 player in the NFL, and easily in the top 100.
Mike Evans, WR
In truth, Evans was not at his best in his fourth NFL campaign, but absolutely deserves a spot on this list. The Bucs receiver is a perennial deep threat and red-zone target despite his offense's inconsistencies. He's also one of only three players in NFL history to surpass 1,000 yards in each of his first four campaigns. Evans is just 24-years-old, so his best seasons are still ahead of him.
Tre'Davious White, CB
White's incredible rookie campaign should not have gone unnoticed. A perfect fit in Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott's defense, the 2017 first-rounder's play resembled a seasoned veteran, as he accumulated four interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. Though not as flashy, White may have even outplayed Defensive Rookie of the Year winner Marshon Lattimore due to his consistency. Opposing quarterbacks struggled to a 67.3 passer rating when targeting the former LSU Tiger.
Brandon Graham, DE
Graham's exclusion from the NFL's top-100 list is a travesty. A nightmare for opposing running backs, no other edge rusher was responsible for a higher percentage of their team's tackles behind the line of scrimmage against the run, per Pro Football Focus. Graham has also been a disruptive pass-rush force in each of the last three seasons, but finally hit home with a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2017. And let's not forget what was arguably the Philadelphia Eagles' most important play during their championship run - when Graham stripped Tom Brady with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII, with his team leading 38-33.
Deion Jones, LB
As an ideal fit in Dan Quinn's cover-3 Seattle-style defense, Jones roams the middle of the field in zone coverage and flies to the ball with elite closing speed. He covers an absurd amount of space in a short amount of time for a linebacker, which means the former second-round pick is often difficult for opposing quarterback to read. Jones accumulated three interceptions and defended more passes than any other linebacker last season, just his second in the league.
Jason Kelce, C
Perhaps best known for his Super Bowl parade speech, Kelce is a heck of a football player, too. Last season, there wasn't a better center in the NFL. While the veteran isn't perfect in pass protection, his ability to dominate in the run game is unlike anything we've seen from other players at his position this decade. Kelce pulls on a number of rushes and screens, and defenders are often helpless at the second level. When he's out in space, Kelce looks more like a tight end than an offensive lineman.
Kendall Fuller, CB
When it came to covering the slot, no cornerback was more effective than Fuller in 2017. The former Redskins defender - now a member of the Chiefs via the Alex Smith trade - broke out in a big way as a sophomore. Fuller allowed just one touchdown and collected three interceptions while covering slot receivers, and opposing quarterbacks managed a paltry 55.0 passer rating when targeting the young defensive back, per PFF. Fuller is in for a career year in 2018, and is already a top-10 cornerback in the NFL.
Damon Harrison, DT
Being the best at one particular aspect of the game should be reason enough for inclusion in the top-100 list, and this New York Giants defensive tackle is just that. The former undrafted free agent will never develop into an elite pass-rusher, but he's the most dominant run defender in the game, regardless of position. Harrison simply cannot be stopped, often mauling his way through double-teams and into backfields for tackles.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)