NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2021: 100-41

Top 100 lists are everywhere. The Top 100 Players of 2021 returned to NFL Network on Sunday. This particular Top 100 has been around since 2011. It’s become an offseason staple and has been dropped a few different ways in recent years. Initially, it kicked off after the draft and was a weekly event. Recently, it’s had a more hurried drop. The players ranked 100-41 were revealed in six one-hour episodes on Sunday. The countdown continues next Sunday over three hours with the players ranked 40-11. The two-hour finale will be on August 28 revealing the Top 10 players. This is a fun list. It’s fun because the players vote on it and the players talk about it. The commentary provided with each reveal is the best part of each episode. Ike Taylor was an early star with his riotous peer review. Mike Daniels was another favorite. Now, players like Za’Darius Smith and Chris Godwin are frequent contributors. Where players rank is secondary to what the players have to say about each other. It’s fun. Football is fun. Here are the players ranked 100-41 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2021.

100. James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

  99. Brandon Graham, Edge, Philadelphia Eagles

  98. Brandon Scherff, OG, Washington Football Team

  97. Kyle Juszczyk, FB, San Francisco 49ers

  96. Cole Beasley, WR, Buffalo Bills

  95. Tre’Davious White, CB, Buffalo Bills

  94. Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns

  93. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions

  92. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles 

  91. Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans (now New York Jets)

  90. Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati Bengals

  89. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  88. Shaquil Barrett, Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  87. Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears

  86. Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints

  85. Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys

  84. Leonard Williams, DL, New York Giants

  83. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans

  82. Garrett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos

  81. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

  80. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

  79. Terron Armstead, OT, New Orleans Saints 

  78. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans 

  77. Quandre Diggs, S, Seattle Seahawks

  76. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks 

  75. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Houston Texans 

  74. James Bradberry, CB, New York Giants

  73. Trey Hendrickson, Edge, New Orleans Saints (now Cincinnati Bengals)

  72. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

  71. Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns 

  70. Eric Kendricks, LB, Minnesota Vikings

  69. Ryan Kelly, C, Indianapolis Colts 

  68. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders 

  67. K.J. Wright, LB, Seattle Seahawks (now free agent)

  66. J.J. Watt, Edge, Houston Texans (now Arizona Cardinals)

  65. Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons

  64. Damario Davis, LB, New Orleans Saints

  63. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles 

  62. A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans

  61. Chase Young, Edge, Washington Football Team 

  60. Corey Linsey, C, Green Bay Packers (now Los Angeles Chargers)

  59. Jason Pierre-Paul, Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

  58. Tyrann Mathieu, S, Kansas City Chiefs 

  57. Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers 

  56. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers 

  55. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers 

  54. Grady Jarrett, DT, Atlanta Falcons

  53. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings 

  52. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Pittsburgh Steelers 

  51. Za’Darius Smith, Edge, Green Bay Packers 

  50. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers 

  49. J.C. Jackson, CB, New England Patriots 

  48. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

  47. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots 

  46. Cameron Jordan, Edge, New Orleans Saints 

  45. Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos 

  44. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers 

  43. Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

  42. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers 

  41. Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers 

***

Some Top 100 Thoughts:

Three Vikings make the NFL’s Top 100 (so far):

Adam Thielen

Eric Kendricks

Justin Jefferson

All deserving. The particular rankings matter little. If Kirk Cousins had made the list, I would’ve thought he’d already make his appearance. Higher than #40 feels a little rich for him. Harrison Smith should appear next week. Danielle Hunter would surely be in the Top 30 if he’d played last season. Maybe he still makes it. Dalvin Cook is Top 20. 

Five rookies make the NFL’s Top 100:

James Robinson

Tristan Wirfs

Chase Young

Justin Herbert

Justin Jefferson

It’s interesting to see Justin Jefferson rate a bit higher than Justin Herbert. The Rookie of the Year voting saw it the other way. 

Jefferson is the highest ranked rookie in the NFL’s Top 100. He’s also the youngest player on the list. 

A fullback! Kyle Juszczyk is more an offensive tool than a player at a particular position. He’s so much more than a fullback. 

Cole Beasley is simply a tool. 

It’s great to see Jessie Bates III finally get some attention outside of Cincinnati.

It wasn’t that long ago the Garrett Bolles was considered a bust. Now he’s got a big contract and ranking of #82 on this list. What a difference Mike Munchack made. 

It’s strange to see a current free agent on the list. I can’t believe that a team hasn’t signed linebacker K.J. Wright.

When healthy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle are Top 20 players. Injured, they are #44 and #50. 

#40-11 are revealed next Sunday.