When I was in middle school and high school, my springs and summers were spent anticipating the weekly episodes of the NFL Top 100 Players going into the upcoming season. Ten players per week were revealed on NFL Network, and there were reaction shows right after each episode. The list was voted exclusively by the players, and they were usually spot on with the rankings every year.
But this year, the list is drawing major criticism on Twitter. Lamar Jackson is ranked No. 69. Okay, yes, Jackson missed four games last year and wasn’t as dynamic as he was in 2023 or 2024, but the players are saying there are 68 players better than Jackson?
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Going into this season, they think there are nearly 70 players better than two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson? Look, availability is the best ability, and players do pay attention to production. A player’s whole career, though, should be taken into account when compiling this annual list.
From a Bengals’ perspective, Joe Burrow checked in at No. 44 last week. So, there are 43 players better than Joe Burrow?
Yeah, sure.
But the ridiculousness doesn’t stop there. Tee Higgins and Dexter Lawrence didn’t even make the list. They were ranked just outside the top 100, as revealed early this week.
Hold on… so the players who voted think there are 100 players better than BOTH Higgins and Lawrence? Humor me, a little bit.
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Tee Higgins absolutely justified the Bengals paying him with a terrific 2025 season. All he did, playing with three different starting quarterbacks, was score 11 receiving touchdowns on 59 receptions for 846 yards.
Lawrence may have only had a half-sack last season. But as we have talked about at length this offseason, a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs to get back to his beast-like production from the middle of the defensive line. Let’s not forget he had nine sacks in 2024, and that was only in 12 games.
Look, players and coaches know the NFL game better than anybody. That’s why the NFL Top 100 Players list used to matter significantly. It was a refreshing concept to have the players be the only ones voting. But this year, the list is coming into serious question and is being heavily criticized. For the players who voted, thinking there are 100 better players than Tee Higgins and Dexter Lawrence is lunacy.
And 43 better players than Joe Burrow? Come on.
