The NFL’s full top 100 player rankings for the 2024 season have been released and the only member of the Indianapolis Colts to make the list was linebacker Zaire Franklin at No. 100.
Since taking over as a key member in the middle of the Colts’ defense in 2022, Franklin has broken the team record for tackles in each of the last two seasons–setting the mark in 2022 and then breaking it in 2023.
Last season, specifically, ranking recorded seven pressures with a whopping 178 combined tackles. In coverage, he allowed 10.0 yards per catch with five pass breakups. In the run game, Franklin tallied the ninth-most run-stops among linebackers and was 14th in run-stop rate.
“He’s a dog,” head coach Shane Steichen said at the end of last season. “He shows up every single day. He works his tail off. He prepares the right way. He leads in the locker room the right way and he plays with great intensity, great effort and energy.
“Obviously, (he) studies tape. You can see it. He’s in the right spots making tackles over and over and over again every week. Shoot, it’s been a pleasure to have him on this football team, and being around him for my first season with him.”
When it comes to the Colts’ players that were left off this list, guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner are the two that stand out the most.
Nelson has been a Pro Bowler in all six of his NFL seasons and was an All-Pro in 2018 and 2019. In 2023, Nelson allowed only one sack and 21 pressures, according to PFF, and ranked sixth among all guards in pass-blocking efficiency.
Buckner, meanwhile, has been nothing but disruptive since joining the Colts in 2020. He finished the 2023 season ranking seventh in pass-rush win rate and 11th in PFF’s run-stop rate as well. His 52 pressures were the 14th most among his position group last year as well.
These rankings are voted on by the players, but Nate Atkins of the Indy Star provides a peek behind the curtain when it comes to voting:
Friendly reminder that there’s no process to the NFL Top 100 voting.
Players scribble some names in like 3 minutes after practice and before showering. They often just put their teammates first.
One Lions player asked me to fill his out once.
Truly a meaningless list.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) August 3, 2024