We released our annual NFL Rank list, our projection of the top 100 players for the 2020 NFL season, this week. The voting, carried out by 46 of our analysts and reporters, was geared toward the upcoming season and expectations, not prior success.
Like any list, there is plenty of room for argument and debate. Our expert panel weighs in here on the results and peeks ahead to what the 2021 list might look like. Which player was snubbed? Who was ranked too high -- or too low? Who will be making the list in future years? Let the debating begin.
Jump to: Snubs | Too low | Too high
2021 locks | Rookies on the horizon
See more:
2020 NFL Rank | McShay's top rookies
Which NFL player got snubbed from our top-100 list?
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: Mark Andrews, Ravens tight end. In 2019, Andrews led all NFL tight ends with 10 touchdown receptions -- including seven red zone scores -- while also producing 16 explosive plays. A prime fit for Baltimore's multiple tight end sets and play-action route tree, he has both the seam-stretching ability and catch radius to win in the middle of the field for quarterback Lamar Jackson. And given the Ravens' pass-game structure, Andrews should see close to 100 targets again this season, too. Simply put, you can't leave this level of production and overall impact off the list.
Mike Clay, NFL analyst: Calais Campbell, Ravens defensive lineman. Last season, Campbell was grossly underrated on this list at 69th overall. And following yet another terrific season, he was inexplicably left off entirely in 2020. Campbell was on the field for over 700 snaps for the 11th consecutive season in 2019, and though his tackle and sack numbers were down, his pass rush win rate actually increased from 15.4% in 2018 to 16.1% in 2019. Terrific as a run-stuffer and pass-rusher, Campbell enters his age-34 season with a new team but remains one of the league's most dominant and versatile defensive linemen.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Lavonte David, Buccaneers linebacker. He's widely considered a top-three linebacker in the eyes of NFL personnel, so there's no reason he should be a snub here. He has no weakness, filling up every stat box since 2012: 45 passes defended, 21 forced fumbles, 11 interceptions, 22.5 sacks, 52 quarterback hits and 116 tackles for loss. His 89.2 Pro Football Focus grade last season ranks among the best for inside or stack linebackers. The unheralded star should be closer to the top 50, let alone in the top 100. Additionally, any list without Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters doesn't quite feel right.
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: Kenny Clark, Packers defensive tackle. Green Bay clearly agrees with me, given that it just signed Clark to a four-year, $70 million contract extension. It was an eyebrow-raising figure for a nose tackle, but Clark is no ordinary nose tackle. He's not only stout against the run but also generates far more pressure than most from the position, tallying up six sacks in each of the past two years. His work on the inside allows the rest of the Packers' front seven to tee off on opposing quarterbacks.
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: Jason Kelce, Eagles center. Sure, it's easy to overlook a center in this type of exercise. But Kelce has arguably been the best at his position over the past five years and was a 2019 first-team All-Pro selection. His athleticism makes him highly effective on screens and pulls, enhancing the Eagles' offensive flexibility. And at age 32, it's reasonable to think he can play at a high level for several more years.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Deion Jones, Falcons linebacker. Let's start by noting that it's impossible to highlight just 100 elite players in the NFL because there are far more. But I'll highlight Jones because he's exactly what you'd look for in a create-a-player exercise of building a linebacker. Rangy and instinctive, Jones is on the short list for best coverage linebackers in all of football and an outstanding leader. The Falcons play in a division with arguably the two best pass-catching backs in all of football -- Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara -- and Jones gives them their best option to keep the duo in relative check.
Which player was the most underrated on this year's top-100 list?
Bowen: Kevin Byard, Titans safety, No. 77. Last year, I listed Byard as my "biggest snub" for missing out on the top 100. And after yet another season of on-the-ball production, Byard makes the list but is still ranked far too low. The way I see it, Byard is one of the top safeties in the game. It's the ball-hawking play style here -- 17 interceptions in his past three seasons -- the versatile traits within the Titans' system and the high-level football sense that puts him in a position to make plays. These are the type of guys you want to coach.
Clay: Grady Jarrett, Falcons defensive tackle, No. 86. Jarrett checked in at 88th on this list in 2019, so while this is an improvement, it's not even close to where one of the league's best defensive linemen belongs. The 27-year-old played 78% of Atlanta's snaps last season, registering 7.5 sacks (sixth most among interior defensive linemen), 69 tackles (third), 16.5 tackles for loss (second) and a pair of forced fumbles (fourth). Jarrett's 53 pass rush wins and 21% pass rush win rate trailed only Aaron Donald at the position.
Fowler: Tyron Smith, Cowboys offensive tackle, No. 60; Harrison Smith, Vikings safety, No. 62. These two both stick out to me. Tyron is still the premier left tackle in football and should be ranked much higher. He is a lot like Joe Thomas was later in his career -- pass-rushers think they can beat him until they are on the ground. And Harrison is still the most complete safety in the game. Jamal Adams is more dynamic, but Smith does everything well, and in his eighth NFL season, he ranked second in ball-hawk rate (percentage of targets where the nearest defender made a play on the football) at 22.5%.
Kimes: Demario Davis, Saints linebacker, No. 87. The 2012 draft pick was a solid defender before coming to New Orleans, but over the past two years, he has quietly emerged as one of the best linebackers in the NFL -- a testament to the power of being in the right situation. As the leader of a talented Saints defense, Davis has thrived against both the run and the pass. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 6.2 yards per reception, the lowest of any linebacker in the league.
Seifert: Eric Kendricks, Vikings linebacker, No. 96. Linebackers with low sack numbers, regardless of scheme and position, aren't likely to get much attention on this kind of list. And Kendricks barely made it, even after a 2019 All-Pro selection. But he is the kind of player who grows on you if you watch him on a play-to-play basis: a sure tackler, versatile enough to play all three downs and fast enough to cover down the middle of the field.
Yates: Danielle Hunter, Vikings defensive end, No. 55. Hunter needs to be properly regarded as one of the best players regardless of position in the NFL. Being recognized as a top-100 player is a start, but I'm of the mind his ranking should be much closer to 25th overall. He's long, explosive, powerful, dynamic and a game-changer in so many ways. And he became the youngest player in league history to record 50.0 career sacks. At age 25, it's scary to think that he has even more growth and potential to tap into.
Which player was the most overrated on this year's top-100 list?
Bowen: Matt Ryan, Falcons quarterback, No. 37. Given the pass-heavy offense in Atlanta, Ryan should top the 4,000-yard passing mark yet again this year. We know that. However, with declining arm strength and mobility, Ryan can't be ranked higher than Carson Wentz (40th) and Matthew Stafford (53rd). If we are projecting forward to the 2020 season here, then both Wentz and Stafford bring higher-level throwing traits to the field, plus much more movement ability to make second-reaction plays. And I believe we will see that in the numbers they produce this year.
Clay: Josh Allen, Jaguars outside linebacker, No. 91. This was a tough one considering the massive amount of high-end talent in the league, so I'm going to default to a "we need to see more" argument against Allen. The 2019 seventh-overall pick flashed as a rookie with 10.5 sacks, which ranked 13th among edge rushers. However, Allen's 36 pass rush wins ranked 35th (which suggests his sack total is a bit inflated), and we also saw his snaps reduced in the second half of the season. Although I ranked him behind several proven stars who missed the cut this year, Allen is nonetheless a terrific candidate for a second-year breakout.
Fowler: Dak Prescott, Cowboys quarterback, No. 20. Prescott is a top-10 quarterback, but listing him as the sixth best -- ahead of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz -- and 20th overall is a bit rich. The reality is, if he were a top-20 player, the Cowboys would have found a way to pay him. Yes, his numbers were great last season, ranking in the top eight in QBR inside the pocket (67.7), outside (78.3) and under pressure (25.7). But inconsistent ball placement led to some rough games on big stages, and coaches leaguewide maintain that other quarterbacks would do more with Dallas' talent.
Dan Orlovsky takes off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves in anticipation while debating Domonique Foxworth over Carson Wentz vs. Dak Prescott.
Kimes: Patrick Peterson, Cardinals cornerback, No. 70. The future Hall of Famer missed much of last season due to a suspension, and when he came back, he produced below his usual level, allowing a 67% catch rate (63rd among qualifying corners) and struggling against No. 1 wide receivers like Emmanuel Sanders. I expect him to bounce back, but based on last year's performance, I wouldn't rank him above DBs like the Ravens' Marlon Humphrey and the Packers' Jaire Alexander.
Seifert: J.J. Watt, Texans defensive end, No. 38. This isn't a comment on how Watt plays. He had 16 sacks as recently as the 2018 season. It's about how often he doesn't play. Because of injuries, Watt missed 13 games in 2016, 11 in 2017 and eight in 2019. If he can stay on the field this season, it's reasonable to assume he'll be a top-50 player. But at 31 and with that history, how confident can we really be?
Yates: Tyler Lockett, Seahawks wide receiver, No. 83. My real answer is that none of these players are truly overrated, but when pressed to pick one, there are a handful of wide receivers who did not make this list that I personally prefer to Lockett -- Allen Robinson II and Robert Woods -- despite Lockett's standing as a field-flipping playmaker who makes some truly absurd catches.
Which player missed this year's list but is a lock to make it in 2021?
Bowen: Tremaine Edmunds, Bills linebacker. With an elite athletic profile at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, the 22-year-old Edmunds is on the verge of becoming a consistent impact player in the NFL. Through two pro seasons, Edmunds has racked up 236 total tackles to go along with 21.5 disrupted dropbacks. He can get downhill in the run game, and his fluid movement ability shows up when he drops into coverage. With those traits -- plus his fit in the middle of the Bills' defense -- Edmunds is in line to produce a breakout season.
Clay: Marcus Williams, Saints safety. Williams quickly emerged as one of the game's top safeties after being drafted in the second round of the 2017 draft. He has played 92% of the Saints' defensive snaps since his arrival, racking up 179 tackles (32nd among all safeties), 10 interceptions (fifth) and 23 passes defended (11th) along the way. That's pretty impressive for a free safety. Oh, and he's only 23 years old. Williams should've made the cut this time around, but he's sure to make the leap next year after he puts together yet another strong campaign.
Fowler: Courtland Sutton, Broncos wide receiver. His 1,112-yard, six-touchdown performance in Year 2 was just the beginning. Many evaluators believe Sutton is a top-10 receiver right now thanks to his prototypical size (6-foot-4, 216 pounds), speed and rare ability to make contested catches. And QB Drew Lock is willing to gamble with deep passes into tight coverage, which will help Sutton's bottom line. The Broncos will feature the running game behind Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay, but Sutton will be a focal point each week.
Kimes: Trent Williams, 49ers offensive tackle. San Francisco's signing of Williams was probably one of the most underrated moves of the NFL offseason. How often do you replace your elite left tackle with ... another elite left tackle? I expect Williams to thrive as a key cog in a very good offensive line and to remind everyone that he's still one of the best pass protectors in the NFL.
Seifert: Cam Newton, Patriots quarterback. If anyone can get Cam back to doing Cam things this season, it's Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick and the Patriots. And importantly, if it becomes clear that Cam can't do Cam things anymore, I trust McDaniels and Belichick to find what he can do well over the course of a season. In either case, a successful Patriots quarterback is going to find his way onto any credible list of the best 100 players in football.
Yates: Bradley Chubb, Broncos outside linebacker. Chubb's absence from this list is more reflective of his ACL injury from last season that limited him to just four games than talent, as Chubb is a star edge rusher in the making. The number of players who have reverted to form following an ACL tear is more than enough evidence to believe Chubb will put the injury behind him, which should lead to double-digit sack seasons regularly. He and Von Miller will be in the conversation for the best edge rushing duo in football this season.
Which 2020 draft pick will be the first to make this list in future years?
Bowen: Javon Kinlaw, 49ers defensive tackle. Chase Young should be mentioned here. Joe Burrow, too. But I want to focus on Kinlaw because of how the 49ers scheme on the defensive line to create pressure. With multiple fronts and alignments, San Francisco can utilize interior stunts to create open rush lanes and favorable one-on-one matchups. That caters to Kinlaw's raw play-strength and athleticism, which will put the rookie in a position to generate disruptive plays.
Clay: Chase Young, Washington defensive end. Washington added one of the top edge rushing prospects the league has seen in some time when it selected Young with the second overall pick of April's draft. The 2019 Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award winner is expected to play a big role as a rookie, even on a Washington defensive line overloaded with talent and pedigree. The Ohio State product is a strong bet to make an immediate impact while emerging as one of the league's best young edge rushers.
Fowler: Mekhi Becton, Jets offensive tackle. He's not the safest pick from the first round, but the early returns out of Jets camp are very good. Six-foot-7, 364-pounders who move like Becton tend to fall into greatness. Becton will need time to develop as a pass-blocker but will be an immediate upgrade for Le'Veon Bell and the running game. By 2021, Becton should be on his way to top-10 tackle status.
Kimes: CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys wide receiver. The Velcro-handed former Oklahoma receiver is already receiving training camp raves, which should come as no surprise given what he did in college. I was stunned when he fell into the Cowboys' lap at pick No. 17 this year. While there's competition for targets in Dallas, I still expect him to thrive as part of its powerhouse offense, especially since defenses will key on talented wideouts Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.
Seifert: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs running back. You never know how voters will judge running backs, who are exchangeable commodities in the minds of many NFL observers. But Edwards-Helaire has a skill set perfectly suited to the Chiefs' offense and could put up the kinds of rookie numbers that would make him a mandatory addition to this list. A player who, say, approached 2,000 total offensive yards would qualify as one of the 100 best players in the league.
Yates: Derrick Brown, Panthers defensive tackle. Mike Clay gets the early bird award for being the first person to pick Young for this answer, but Brown should not be overlooked. The forceful defensive tackle will be an immediate impact player for Carolina and disruptive enough to be its best run-stuffer and pass-rusher. He's special. I love the player, love the reliability and love his upside. Brown checks all the boxes as a star in the making.