Five members of the Green Bay Packers cracked the top 101 players list from Pro Football Focus for the 2019 season.
Two players landed inside the top 40, while one new entry made the list just outside the top 50.
Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, the team’s prized free-agent acquisition, was the highest-rated Packers player at No. 19. He led the NFL in total pressures with 93 and finished as the No. 2 edge player on the list, trailing only T.J. Watt.
Smith is the highest-ranking Packers player since Aaron Rodgers finished No. 3 on PFF’s list in 2016.
Receiver Davante Adams was the Packers’ highest-rated offensive player this year. He ended up at No. 33, 15 spots ahead of where he finished the 2018 season. Only three receivers (Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin and Julio Jones) finished higher on the list. Over 14 games, including the postseason, Adams caught 100 passes for 1,295 yards and seven scores.
Next up was running back Aaron Jones, who made the list for the first time. He came in at No. 56, making him the fourth-highest ranked running back in the NFL in 2019 – trailing only Nick Chubb, Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler. Jones scored 23 total touchdowns and finished with just over 1,700 total yards during a breakout season.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made the list for a second straight year, but he dropped down to No. 83. PFF noted a declining level of consistency for Rodgers’ drop. He ranked in the top 50 last year.
Last but not least is defensive lineman Kenny Clark, who made the list for the third straight year. He finished at No. 97 in 2019, largely due to a midseason lull created in part due to several lingering injuries. He still finished with the second-most pressures (69) among interior defensive linemen, trailing only Aaron Donald.
Overall, the Packers had the No. 2 ranked edge defender, No. 3 ranked wide receiver, No. 4 ranked running back, No. 7 ranked quarterback and No. 8 ranked defensive lineman on the list.
The five total players making the list were the most by the Packers since the team had six in 2016. They had four last season.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari, who was the team’s highest-ranked player in 2018, didn’t make the top 101 list in 2019. He was named a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro.
Previous years
2018: David Bakhtiari (39), Aaron Rodgers (41), Kenny Clark (43), Davante Adams (48)
2017: David Bakhtiari (30), Kenny Clark (69), Mike Daniels (89)
2016: Aaron Rodgers (3), David Bakhtiari (20), Mike Daniels (68), Jordy Nelson (74), Bryan Bulaga (77), T.J. Lang (94)
2015: Mike Daniels (47), T.J. Lang (56), Josh Sitton (65)
2014: Aaron Rodgers (2), Jordy Nelson (30), Josh Sitton (35), Eddie Lacy (51), Randall Cobb (58), T.J. Lang (78), Mike Daniels (99)
2013: Josh Sitton (25), Jordy Nelson (39), Eddie Lacy (70)
2012: Aaron Rodgers (11), Clay Matthews (24), Casey Hayward (36), Sam Shields (93)
2011: Aaron Rodgers (1), Clay Matthews (38), Jordy Nelson (53), Bryan Bulaga (71), Josh Sitton (98)
2010: Aaron Rodgers (1), Josh Sitton (48), Tramon Williams (51), Clay Matthews (56), Desmond Bishop (82), Greg Jennings (87), Cullen Jenkins (98)