With 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league's true insiders made their voices heard.
ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the sixth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players moved up or fell off last year's lists.
A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their 10 best players at a position; then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties.
Each section included quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective was to identify the best players for 2025. This was not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today?
We rolled out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: running backs (July 7), defensive tackles (July 8), edge rushers (July 9), safeties (July 10), tight ends (July 11), interior offensive linemen (July 12), offensive tackles (July 13), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), wide receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).
Top 10 running backs
If 2024 was the year of the running back, then the Giants' Saquon Barkley and Ravens' Derrick Henry were the men of the year. At a position where the trend line of respect is going upward, who followed Barkley and Henry in our rankings?
Top 10 defensive tackles
The top tier of this season's defensive tackle rankings were clear-cut: three players, then a sizable drop-off. Within that top tier, there was a two-man battle for the crown, and both players were worthy of the top spot. What key characteristics did our panel of scouts and execs herald about Dexter Lawrence II, Chris Jones and Jalen Carter -- and others?
Top 10 edge rushers
Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby got their new contracts in the spring. So did Danielle Hunter on a one-year deal. All three broke the $35 million threshold for annual salary. T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson entered the summer with prospective new deals on the radar. Aidan Hutchinson, two years from free agency, is destined for big dollars eventually, too. Where did those superstar names land within the 2025 top 10?
Top 10 safeties
The Ravens' Kyle Hamilton garnered the most first-place votes in a top-two that was clear-cut. The voting among Nos. 3-8 was incredibly close, but not many questions existed in this top 10. And the league's best safety tandem is no longer up for debate -- that duo resides in Michigan.
Top 10 tight ends
The George Kittle vs. Travis Kelce battle raged on for a half-decade in glorious fashion.
And now it's over.
The top tier of this year's list features multiple fresh names -- and a new tight end king in Brock Bowers. But where did Kittle and Kelce end up on the refreshed list?
Top 10 interior offensive linemen
The retirements of Zack Martin and Frank Ragnow opened two prime spots in this year's top 10. A position that had gotten stagnant as far as top-end talent now features five players between the ages of 24 and 26 in the top seven. There's a new No. 1... and No. 2... and No. 5. Three players are making their top-10 debut.
Top 10 offensive tackles
Retirements by fixtures Terron Armstead and Tyron Smith provided upward mobility for multiple stars. One offensive tackle from the AFC makes his top-10 debut, which is one more than last year. But the race for the No. 1 spot was intriguing for what it portends: A decade-long battle for supremacy between two supremely talented tackles who play for playoff teams in the NFC.
Top 10 quarterbacks
Several themes emerged from this year's quarterback polling, none more important than this: Tier 1 is historically good. The top four quarterbacks left the rest of the field in the dust during this year's Top 10 voting. All four are squarely in their primes, between 28 and 29 years old. They have five MVPs among them. And while three of these quarterbacks are still chasing Patrick Mahomes' Super Bowl achievements, they appear to be closing the gap by the year.
Top 10 off-ball linebackers
The most uneven positional group of the top 10 series, linebacker is top-heavy and void of consensus. Three players appeared on at least 70% of the ballots -- usually that number is much higher -- yet 32 players earned at least one vote. The top-two is identical to last year, but the rest of the field is jumbled, with four first-time recipients and an aging player returning to the list after a few years out of the mix.
Top 10 wide receivers
Last season, 21 receivers surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, down from 27 the year before but still impressive. Last year's rookie class featured several budding stars -- one of whom debuted in the top seven and another who pushed for the top 10. The clear two-man race for No. 1 features two stars who grew up 10 miles apart, played at LSU together and are trading blows for the No. 1 ranking here each year.
Cornerbacks
The changing of the guard -- er, cover -- is a big theme in this year's top 10 cornerbacks list, which features one player older than 26 and six players 24 or younger. Several staples from recent top 10 lists have fallen out of the elite; half of the players on the list are still on their rookie contracts. It seems that handling the rigors of matching the best receivers stride for stride requires fresh legs.