NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2025: The Final 10

There once was a time when NFL Network had a multi-month reveal of the league’s Top 100 Players. It was a fun way to pass the final weeks of the offseason. Unlike most rankings of the top players this was the player’s ranking. They did the voting. The best part of the rankings and the television part of it was the commentary by the player’s peers. These comments ranged from informative to hilarious and always entertaining. It’s an annual thing going back to 2011. For whatever reason, the league and NFL Network have been scaling back the production in recent years. In my opinion, it’s been disappointing. The 2025 edition has been on the smallest scale yet. It’s been a couple reveals a day over the past several weeks. There was no NFL Network programming. It was all on social media. It was easy to miss. Blink, and you missed it. That was until it came time for the Final 10 of the Top 100. Yesterday, there was an hour-long program on NFL Network revealing the Top 10 Players of 2025. Here are those 10:

10. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos

  9. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

  8. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

  7. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

  6. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals 

  5. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

  4. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals 

  3. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

  2. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

  1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles 

Some Thoughts:

The immediate thought is that Justin Jefferson is way, way, way too low. He’s the best player in the league. Unless a non-quarterback is coming off a particularly ridiculous season, the top spot is always going to a quarterback. This year, Saquon Barkley is that non-quarterback. After taking receiving’s “triple crown,” Ja’Marr Chase came close. Well, close if #4 is considered close. Chase’s season wasn’t quite as ridiculous as Barkley’s. 

Defense rarely gets their proper respect. Only two defensive players (Patrick Surtain II and Myles Garrett) made this year’s Top 10. T.J. Watt and Chris Jones are probably more deserving of Top 10 status than Derrick Henry and Joe Burrow. 

My Top 10 probably looks something like this. 

10. Chris Jones

  9. Patrick Surtain II

  8. Patrick Mahomes

  7. Myles Garrett

  6. Ja’Marr Chase

  5. T.J. Watt

  4. Lamar Jackson

  3. Josh Allen

  2. Saquon Barkley

  1. Justin Jefferson

Considering the gradual downsizing of the annual NFL’s Top 100, I’m probably in the minority in hoping that it continues. As long as the player’s are interested in doing it, I’m interested in seeing it. The reveals are fun. The player commentary is awesome and entertaining. The rankings are what they are. An opinion. And the players rarely get one.