50. Quenton Nelson
Barring injury, Nelson looks like a lock for All-Pro honors over the next decade. He may already be the best guard in football, and he’s only a second-year player. Nelson grades out insanely well in all categories. He’s a road grader in the run game, sound in pass protection, and can get to the second level with ease. Pencil him in for Pro Bowl appearance after Pro Bowl appearance.
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49. Akiem Hicks
The mammoth defensive tackle is the heartbeat of the Bears’ vaunted defense. Hicks takes up a ton of space, and actually has legit pass-rushing skills (7.5 sacks, 12.0 tackles-for-loss). His versatility in being able to flip-flop between defensive tackle and defensive end also makes life difficult for teams trying to scheme for the Bears.
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48. DeForest Buckner
The jumbo defensive lineman out of Oregon (by way of Hawaii) is the crown jewel within SF’s deep stable of former first-round picks. He broke out last year with 12.0 sacks and 17.0 tackles-for-loss. We’re projecting a bit on Buckner, though we’re bullish on his future. Things could get even easier for him with the appearance of Nick Bosa.
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47. Melvin Gordon
Gordon weirdly remains as an underappreciated tailback. Last year, he accrued 14 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards from scrimmage in only 12 games. He does need to stay healthy in order for the Chargers to reach their goal of a Super Bowl. Additionally, Gordon’s contract talks will be something to keep an eye on. The Chargers can ill-afford a Le’Veon Bell situation with their star rusher.
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46. Darius Leonard
Leonard has earned the nickname “maniac” — and for good reason. As a rookie, he accumulated 163 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, and 12 tackles-for-loss. He was everywhere for the Colts last season. We want to see him replicate the stats for another season before vaulting him up the list. However if he’s able to do that again, he’s got the ceiling of one day being the best ‘backer in the NFL.
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45. Eddie Jackson
Chicago’s secondary is absolutely loaded (as is its defense). A tone-setter on the back end, Jackson has far exceeded expectations after being taken in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The former Alabama star has a terrific nose for the football — as evidenced by eight career interceptions and five career defensive touchdowns. Without question, Jackson is integral to the Bears’ success on the defensive side of the football.
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44. Geno Atkins
Atkins has flown under-the-radar playing for the lowly Bengals. It isn’t due to his lack of talent, as the Georgia product has consistently been one of the league’s better interior linemen for the last decade. He’s made seven Pro Bowls since 2011, and appears to still have something left in the tank.
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43. David Bakhtiari
The Bay Area native was a First-Team All-Pro this past season. Bakhtiari has the right combination of athleticism and nastiness when playing the tackle spot. Outside of Aaron Rodgers, Bakhtiari might be the most important member of the team.
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42. Le’Veon Bell
After a year sitting out, it’s anyone’s guess as to how Bell will be for the Jets. If anything, Bell should be fresh. However, there could also be a case of rust — and there’s no doubt that New York is a worse team talent wise when compared to Pittsburgh. As such, opponents will key in on him without the threat of being burned by anyone else on the Jets’ porous offense.
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41. Zach Ertz
Ertz continues to be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He’s too big and physical for corners/safeties, yet also too quick and explosive for linebackers. Ertz makes his money exploiting seams up the middle of the field. He’s quite gifted in garnering space to operate. Ertz is likely the most valuable weapon at Carson Wentz’s disposal.
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40. Matt Ryan
The former MVP of the league is still a top-10 quarterback. Though last season was a bit of a mess for Atlanta, the roster is still talented enough to make the playoffs. In 2018, Ryan threw for 4,924 yards and 35 touchdowns (with only 7 interceptions).
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39. Jadaveon Clowney
With Watt battling a multitude of injuries over the last few seasons, Clowney stepped up admirably as a reliable pass-rushing option. The production still doesn’t match his all-world talent level. Yet, Clowney is still only 26 years of age. There’s still more upside to extract in the future. One can expect Clowney to flourish in Seattle under Pete Carroll’s tutelage.
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38. Jamal Adams
The third-year safety out of LSU is already making a claim to potentially be the best safety in the league. Aside from hitting like a Mack truck, Adams is excellent in diagnosing the play before reacting accordingly. On a team devoid of talent, Adams is likely the Jets’ best player.
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37. Jalen Ramsey
We’ve yet to see the best of Ramsey. In a best-case scenario, Ramsey is the league’s best corner. At worst, he’s a Pro Bowl-level guy with an outspoken attitude. It will be interesting to see whether he re-ups with Jacksonville on a large contract, or signs elsewhere for a hefty deal.
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36. A.J. Green
Green is certainly slowing down from what we’ve become accustomed to seeing him do. Much of that has to do with his porous quarterback situation, and also due to his age. Still, we respect Green for being a seven-time Pro Bowler. We hope he’s able to get a fresh start on a contending team. It would be fun to see him play for a team such as the New England Patriots or the Chicago Bears.
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35. Myles Garrett
Garrett is a freak of an athlete. In only his second year, Garrett notched 13.5 sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss. His anticipatory skills are already elite, and Garrett’s first step is something to truly appreciate. Assuming he can stay healthy, there’s no reason why Garrett can’t become someone capable of notching 20 sacks in a single season.
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34. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben can still ball. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, though one certainly can’t dispute his ability to put up impressive numbers. Pittsburgh is going through a bit of a transition, and Roethlisberger is the lone man remaining from the Roethlisberger-Bell-Antonio Brown trio.
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33. Travis Kelce
Kelce is firmly established as the NFL’s best tight end (especially with the retirement of Rob Gronkowski. Kelce is essentially a refrigerator on wheels careening downhill. He barrels over people with considerable force. Duly, his pair of gigantic mitts enable him to be a lethal red-zone target. Kelce will continue to rack up the numbers as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center for the Chiefs.
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32. Juju Smith-Schuster
As he enters his third year as a professional, Smith-Schuster is primed to catapult into the discussion as one of the league’s five-best receivers. Pittsburgh’s biggest endorsement of Smith-Schuster was the fact that it traded Antonio Brown to the Raiders. As such, Smith-Schuster is the unquestioned top offensive option for the Steelers.
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31. Trent Williams
Williams has been one of the steadier tackles for quite some time. The 31-year-old athlete out of Oklahoma has made seven-straight Pro Bowl appearances. He’s started in 119 of a possible 120 games during his career. Consistent and immensely gifted, Williams is one of the league’s best from the tackle spot.
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30. Philip Rivers
The wily veteran signal-caller is still slinging the rock with his unorthodox yet effective throwing motion. The Chargers have one of the league’s most talented rosters. In fact, this could be Rivers’ best chance at getting to the Super Bowl. Expect him to perform yet again at a high clip.
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29. Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey is a beast. As we’ve seen in some recent offseason photos, he’s looking more like a body builder than he is a running back. McCaffrey is one of the few running backs in the league today possessing three-down “playability”. Carolina utilizes him as a receiver in passing situations, and he’s even good enough to return kicks/punts. Without question, McCaffrey is a rising star.
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28. Alvin Kamara
Kamara’s versatility makes him an elite offensive player. He’s got enough power to run between the tackles, yet he’s also slippery enough to evade defenders on the perimeter with regularity. Kamara is also an excellent catcher of the football when leaking from the backfield. His ability to stay healthy will be the difference in New Orleans contending for a Super Bowl. In some ways, Kamara is the most indispensable player on the Saints’ roster.
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27. Tyreek Hill
Off-the-field issues aside, Hill is an electric player. There’s not another player possessing his speed. As such, the Chiefs utilize him in a number of ways. His ability to make people miss in space is an underrated aspect of Hill’s game. He’s become far more polished rather than just a guy who can run past people.
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26. Cameron Jordan
One may be surprised to see Jordan ranked ahead of guys like Tyreek Hill, Christian McCaffrey, and Alvin Kamara. However, much of it has to do with the position Jordan plays. There simply aren’t many elite pass rushers off the edge in the league today. It’s quite difficult to find those guys, and Jordan certainly fits the bill as the Saints’ best edge rusher. He’s notched double-digit sack totals in four of the last six years.
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25. Stephon Gilmore
It’s extremely rare to see the New England Patriots splash down considerable cash on a free agent. The league should’ve taken notice when the Pats inked Gilmore to a $65-million deal in 2017. The South Carolina native has been nothing short of sensational over the past two years. His length enables him to break up passes at a high clip. Additionally, Gilmore’s physicality has proven to be a disruptive hindrance for most receivers he competes against.
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24. J.J. Watt
At one time, Watt was arguably the most dominant player in football. Injuries have certainly taken a toll on him. He accrued only 1.5 sacks combined in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. However, Watt bounced back very well in 2018 with 16.0 sacks. If he replicates close to that total again, we can firmly say that he’s ‘back’ as one of the league’s best.
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23. Tyron Smith
Smith has battled a number of injuries over the last few seasons. It’s somewhat dropped his value from where it once was. However, when healthy, the former USC star is the best tackle in the game. Smith doesn’t look like he’s got an ounce of fat on him. Duly, his lateral quickness is supremely good for a man of his size.
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22. Michael Thomas
The sure-handed receiver hailing from Los Angeles is unquestionably Drew Brees’ favorite target. Thomas is masterful in picking up large chunks of yardage despite having average speed. He’s physical at the point of attack, and has the hand strength to nab any pass out of the air. Without a doubt, he’s proven to be an elite receiver in the NFL currently.
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21. Mike Evans
The jumbo receiver out of Texas A&M is eerily akin to a power forward. Not only is he massive at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, but Evans also boxes out defenders for the football similarly to how a forward would box out on a rebound. Despite playing for a horrible franchise, Evans has proven to be a very good player.
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20. Davante Adams
Adams proved himself to be one of more productive pass-catchers in football last year. While he’s not a burner, the Fresno State product is adept at gaining separation downfield. Adams can hurt opposing defenses both on routes down the field, as well as on crossing routes across the middle. He should have another monster year (barring injury).
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19. Antonio Brown
AB is approaching his 32nd birthday. It may be unrealistic to still view him as the best receiver in the league — particularly since the Oakland Raiders are far from consistent. Still, Brown should be able to accrue another 1,000-yard season with Derek Carr under center. Whether he’s happy on a terrible team is another story, however. Here’s to hoping Brown can play with a suitable helmet to his liking.
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18. Todd Gurley
When Gurley is healthy, he’s a fringe top-five player. However, there’s been some ambiguity surrounding the talented back from Georgia. We really don’t know how healthy he’ll be this upcoming season. It’s a bit concerning to see the Rams re-sign Malcolm Brown to a multi-year deal — and then also draft a running back in the third round this past April.
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17. Saquon Barkley
When this list is created a year from now, one could easily see Barkley register within the top-five. He has a ceiling as being the best running back in football. As a first-year player, Barkley notched 1,307 rushing yards, 721 receiving yards, 91 receptions, and 15 total touchdowns. This sort of production for a rookie is mind-boggling.
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16. Drew Brees
The 40-year-old isn’t going away anytime soon. Despite less-than-ideal height for the position, Brees’ gigantic hands — coupled with tremendous touch — has enabled him to continue playing the game at a crazy-good level. As currently constituted, the Saints look like a favorite to reach the Super Bowl in 2019-20.
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15. Ezekiel Elliott
Zeke is a beast, plain and simple. He runs with a ridiculous combination of power and track speed. Elliott is elusive — yet will also run defenders over should then meet him at the point of attack. He’s somewhat of a volatile personality (and could be holding out for a contract extension by the start of the regular season). Still, the Ohio State product is the straw that stirs the drink for the Cowboys’ offense.
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14. Calais Campbell
Though marooned out on a depressing island in Jacksonville, the 6-foot-8 behemoth is still a very good player. He engulfs running lanes, bats down passes at the line of scrimmage, and can get around the edge for the sacking of opposing quarterbacks. It’s somewhat of a shame that he’s not playing for a better franchise. Campbell would be more of a household name if that were the case.
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13. Odell Beckham Jr.
From a talent standpoint, Beckham Jr. could easily be in the top five. Much of this season will be determined by how quickly he and Baker Mayfield can get on the same page. Additionally, can Beckham Jr. avoid the antics on-and-off the field? We will see.
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12. Fletcher Cox
Cox remains as one of the league’s most talented interior linemen. He clogs running lanes like a traditional space eater — yet he also collapses the pocket with near regularity. Simply put, he’s a force.
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11. Russell Wilson
A maestro with the football in his hands, Wilson continues to play at a very high level. He — like Aaron Rodgers — hasn’t exactly benefited from a ton of help round him. Even so, Wilson continues to make play after play at a very high level. With his propensity to take care of the ball, his game should age like a fine wine.
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10. Luke Kuechly
A tackling machine, Kuechly has an uncanny ability to always be around the football. His pursuing of ball carriers is truly elite. Kuechly has seven-straight seasons with at least 100 tackles. Last year, the five-time Pro Bowler notched 130 tackles and a career-high 20 tackles-for-loss.
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9. Julio Jones
Jones just turned 30. One would think he’d slip a bit as an elite receiver — particularly with a history of nagging foot injuries. However, he keeps himself in peak physical condition. Duly, Jones is truly a marvel when it comes to athleticism. He should continue to play at a very high level for the next few years.
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8. DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins has somewhat quietly developed into the league’s best receiver. Few in league history have possessed Hopkins’ catch radius. His gigantic hands pluck the ball out of the air with regularity. Duly, Hopkins has worked tirelessly at perfecting his route-running. He’s in line for another terrific season in 2019-20.
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7. Bobby Wagner
Wagner is arguably the best linebacker in the league right now. His sideline-to-sideline pursuit skills are sublime. Duly, Seattle’s strong defensive efforts are largely based upon Wagner’s nose for the ball. He’s quite smart, and often aligns all of his teammates properly before reacting to the play.
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6. Khalil Mack
Mack is the new ‘Monster of the Midway’. He’s notched double-digit sack totals in each of the last four seasons. Mack is tenacious off the edge — buoyed by an electric first step and an exceptionally strong upper body. If Chicago is to make a Super Bowl run, it’ll likely be due to Mack having a ridiculous season.
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5. Tom Brady
Brady is the greatest quarterback of all-time. He doesn’t possess elite physical tools. Yet, his command of the football field is simply legendary. He deserves to be in the top five (even if he’s not still there talent-wise). Now into his 40’s, it’s absolutely ridiculous seeing how well he can perform.
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4. Von Miller
Miller is still the most elite pass rusher off the edge in the NFL today. A supreme athlete, tackles fail miserably when trying to latch onto the Texas native in space. Miller has a bevy of pass-rushing moves, and also possesses ridiculous strength when shucking off-balance pass-blockers.
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3. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers is still Rodgers. It would help if Green Bay gave him a bit more help, but there’s no doubt he’s still “a dude” when it comes to making the impossible look ordinary. His ability to find teammates downfield — particularly when pressured — is phenomenal.
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2. Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes doesn’t yet have the résumé of others at his position. Regardless, there’s not another quarterback possessing Mahomes’ overall talent. In some ways, he’s a cross between younger versions of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. There isn’t a throw he can’t make on the field. Assuming he can stay healthy, he’s one of those once-in-a-generational talents.
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1. Aaron Donald
There’s really not a whole lot to say. Donald is elite at both stuffing the run and getting after opposing quarterbacks up the middle. His hand-quickness in terms of disengaging is unparalleled with anyone at his position. Simply put, Donald is on pace to become an NFL all-time great.
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