49ers linebacker Fred Warner debuted at No. 70 on the NFL’s list of the top 100 players.
The first member of the 49ers showed up on the NFL’s list of the top 100 players as voted on by the players. Linebacker Fred Warner landed at No. 70 in his first appearance on the annual list.
Warner earned the starting Mike linebacker job as a rookie and hasn’t looked back. The former third-round pick out of BYU has started all 32 games he’s played in two seasons and stuffed the stat sheet in those games. He has 242 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 15 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown in Week 16 against the Rams.
Finding gems like Warner in the middle rounds are how the 49ers so quickly rose from bottom dwellers to Super Bowl participants. He took over the most important job in the middle of the defense and played extremely well. He also filled in as one of the team’s emotional leaders after Kwon Alexander went down with an injury in Week 11.
There are several question marks on the 49ers’ defense going into 2020, but Warner won’t be one of them.
As teams prepare to kick off training camp this week, the countdown to the No. 1 player has already begun, with some like Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen already voicing their displeasure about their ranking.
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David, who has a 90 rating in Madden NFL 21, found himself at No. 100 on the list this year.
“David ends a four-year absence in the Top 100 after leading the Bucs in tackles in 2019, which has been the case in seven of his eight seasons. David, who just eclipsed 1,000 career tackles, was ranked as high as No. 35 in 2014 after his only All-Pro season.”
David and fellow linebacker Devin White could easily be the best linebacker duo in the game today. White came on strong in the second half of last season, and playing alongside a guy like David should only help his maturation and development in Year 2 of his NFL career.
The NFL Network is unveiling their Top 100 players as voted on by the athletes. Here is a running tracker of each selection.
As they do every year, the NFL Network is rolling out their countdown of the Top 100 players in the league, as voted on by the players themselves. On Sunday night, the league unveiled the first 30 players, and here is a running tally of the selections to date.
100-91
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
100. Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
99. Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
98. Brandon Brooks, G, Philadelphia Eagles
97. Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals
96. Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks
95. Frank Clark, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
94. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles
93. Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears
92. Darius Slay, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
91. Grady Jarrett, DT, Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David returns to the Top 100 after missing out the previous four seasons, kicking off the list. David is a force in the interior of the Tampa Bay defense, which has vastly improved over the course of the past two seasons. David cracked the Top Five in Touchdown Wire’s countdown of the game’s best off-ball linebackers.
In just his first season as a starter, Darren Waller produced at a high level for the now-Las Vegas Raiders. Waller led the team in receptions (90) and receiving yards (1,145). He is a true mismatch type of player, with the athleticism to run away from linebackers but the size to create space against defensive backs. With the addition of Henry Ruggs III this off-season, Waller might find even more space to operate in 2020.
The Philadelphia Eagles got some difficult news in the past few weeks when Brandon Brooks suffered a torn Achilles, sidelining him for the entire 2020 campaign. Brooks is one of the game’s best interior offensive linemen, and the team was forced to bring back Jason Peters and move him to guard to replace Brooks on the inside. His combination of power and technique make Brooks one of the league’s best guards.
Hybrid defenders are all the rage in today’s NFL, particularly at the safety spot. Budda Baker is a player in such a mold, who led the NFL in solo tackles last season with 104. Baker has the ability to play free safety, box safety and even as a slot cornerback, and that versatility makes him a special player for the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson cracks the Top 100 for the first time in his short career. Carson notched his second 1,000-plus season last year, and also contributed to the Seattle passing game. Carson set career high marks in targets (47), receptions (37), yards (266) and first downs receiving (10). His growing ability to contribute in both the passing and the running game marks his entry into the Top 100.
Sure Frank Clark might have dropped some spots in this year’s version, falling 11 spots from the 2019 edition of the Top 100, but you can be sure the pass rusher would gladly take such a fall in exchange for a Super Bowl ring. Clark was impressive during Kansas City’s run to a title, tallying five sacks during the post-season.
The Philadelphia Eagles are the first team to see two of their players crack the NFL Network’s Top 100, as center Jason Kelce joins guard Brandon Brooks. Kelce has been a mainstay in the heart of the Eagles’ offensive line for years, and shows both the processing speed as well as the technique you need to dominate in the interior. Oh, and he gives a great rally speech…
Allen Robinson cracking a list like this is not a surprise to us here at Touchdown Wire. Robinson produced at a high level in 2019, leading the Chicago Bears in yards and touchdowns, despite seeing inconsistent play from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. His traits as a receiver saw him land in our Top 11 outside wideouts, and if the Bears can get improved QB play in 2020, Robinson might climb even higher in the season ahead.
Darius Slay made the NFL Network’s Top 100 for the third-straight year, and he is poised to make it yet again after this upcoming season. Slay moved to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, and playing under Jim Schwartz he will be in a scheme very conducive to what he does best. Schwartz often tasks his defenders with playing off coverage, which taps into Slay’s ability to decipher a route and close on the football. This could be a great landing spot for him.
Grady Jarrett makes his debut on the Top 100 after a season where he set a career-high number in sacks with 7.5. He is the kind of dominating interior presence that defensive coordinators covet, and his ability inside landed him in our list of the Top 11 interior defensive linemen. Jarrett has the power to speed ability that you see from edge rushers, but he does that on the inside.
Former Ohio State and current Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has been named to the NFL Top 100 for 2020.
The annual NFL Top 100 countdown is off and running for 2020 and we’re keeping tabs on all the former Ohio State players that are named to this edition of the list. As always, there are quite a few, but the first former Buckeye appearing this time around is Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. He checks in at No. 84, up four spots from last year’s ranking of No. 88.
Heyward was a force at Ohio State under Jim Tressel, being named a consensus All-American after his freshman season in 2007. He finished his career off in Columbus as a First Team All-Big Ten performer before being drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Once Heyward reached the NFL, he has developed into one fo the best defensive lineman in the game, using his brut strength, tenacity, and technical skills to provide significant resistance for opposing offensive lines.
Former Ohio State and current New Orleans Saints’ cornerback Marshon Lattimore is ranked the No. 76 player in the NFL’s Top 100 for 2020.
Former Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been a force on an island since he entered the NFL back in 2017. He did so well his first season that he was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro-Bowl. He’s been an All-Pro now twice in his short career in New Orleans, and folks are taking notice.
Not only was Lattimore named a top ten cornerback for 2020 by ESPN, but he has also firmly in the NFL’s top 100 players that NFL.com has been publishing yearly. This time around, he is ranked as the No. 76 ranked player for 2020, up a few spots from No. 82 last season.
Lattimore is entering his fourth year in the league, and there’s no doubt he’ll show some of the same tenacity and coverage ability he’s shown so far. And this year, he’ll be joined with another former Buckeye and Pro-Bowler, Malcolm Jenkins.
The appearance on the list is Ramczyk’s first in his three-year career after being named a first-team All-Pro and receiving a ProFootballFocus grade of 90.9 last season.
Here’s what NFL.com had to say about the former Badger:
Ramczyk has become one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL just three years into his career. The Saints RT allowed zero sacks in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus, earning a First-Team All-Pro honor and his debut on the Top 100.
The former Badger is set to start at right tackle for the Saints’ offense this season as he continues to climb the ranks of the best offensive tackles in the NFL.
The remainder of the list is set to be released this week and I predict there will be more than a few former Badgers towards the top of the list. Check back in as we recap where Wisconsin alums fall among the ranks of the NFL’s best.
The NFL’s top 100 list had the social media world going crazy.
The annual NFL Top 100 players list started its rollout, as NFL Network revealed numbers 100-71 on Sunday night.
Among the players who checked in the back end of the rankings was Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, who was ranked as the No. 77 overall player heading into the 2020 season.
Allen was not pleased with it, feeling like he was ranked too low. The 28-year old went to his Twitter, where he claimed himself as a better receiver than Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill and Buccaneers’ Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
He also said that he is the best wideout in the AFC West.
Allen’s tweet has stirred up plenty of debate. With that being said, here is a look at some of the top tweets in regards to Allen being snubbed on the top 100 player’s list.
Tyreek hill plays with mahomes mike Evans plays with Brady and Keenan Allen played with Philip rivers and now Tyrod Taylor / Herbert …give him either of the other QBs and he’s ranked higher lmao pic.twitter.com/PrU9MpFu8j
— PlantBasedPapì 🇭🇹🌱✨ (@LifeOfVenzel_) July 27, 2020
Missed games over the last three years: Tyreek Hill – 7 Mike Evans – 4 Chris Godwin – 2 Stefon Diggs – 4 Adam Thielen – 6 Amari Cooper – 3 Davante Adams – 7 Keenan Allen – ZERO Yet Keenan is the one who is injured too often???
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) July 27, 2020
I’ll fasho take Keenan Allen over everybody in that discussion
So let me get this straight…Keenan Allen had a better year in 2019 than in 2018 in every statistical category WITH far worse QB play…and he drops 36 spots?? SMFH #NFLTop100
Keenan Allen is the best route runner in the game. Evans ain’t even the best 50/50 guy. Gimme Julio, Odell, and Hopkins over him on the 50/50 ball. If you aren’t the best at what you do, don’t say the guy that IS the best at what he does isn’t on your level
The NFL Network began its yearly countdown of the Top 100 players in the league. Players are starting to react.
My family just finished a wonderful week down in the Outer Banks, a socially-distanced vacation of course. During the hours spent on the beach taking in the sun and collecting sea shells, my wife spent some time catching up on some celebrity magazines. One of her favorites, “Us Weekly,” has a section titled “Stars, they’re just like us!” In that section various celebrities are photographed doing everyday things like pumping gas, picking up takeout, and wearing masks.
If anyone wanted to create a version of that concept, they could start here: “NFL Players, they’re just like us: They overreact to rankings!”
Those of us who cover the game, or love the game (or both!) spend way too much time on Twitter and elsewhere overreacting to rankings. Whether they are Madden ratings, Pro Football Focus rankings, the Touchdown Wire Top 101, or in recent hours, the NFL Network’s list of the game’s Top 100 players. The NFL Network released the first group of names on Sunday night, and players themselves took to Twitter to react.
One of the more notable names to make his case on social media is Los Angeles Chargers wideout Keenan Allen. First was his initial reaction:
Credit to Allen for tagging Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill in defense of himself, but you have to feel for Chris Goodwin. Not the Tampa Bay WR, but rather the professional business trainer who has not tweeted since 2013.
Evans did not pass up the chance to respond:
You tagged the wrong Chris Godwin lol and don’t be mad at us we ain’t make the rankings or care about em. I like the confidence but be realistic you not on my level bro https://t.co/AONodMpfkW
You tagged the wrong Chris Godwin lol and don’t be mad at us we ain’t make the rankings or care about em. I like the confidence but be realistic you not on my level bro https://t.co/AONodMpfkW
Of course, not everyone was as frustrated as Allen. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey cracked the Top 100 for the first time in his career and was appreciative of the recognition:
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen did not hold back with how he felt about the ranking.
NFL’s annual top 100 list, which gets released prior to the season, is always prone to stir up some hot debates and arguments.
On Sunday night, No. 71-100 were unveiled, and the Chargers had their first representative, which was wide receiver Keenan Allen – checking in at No. 77 overall.
When it came out, Allen was not happy with it, at all. He tweeted that he was “tired” of keeping quiet when it came to the rankings. He said he was better than Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Buccaneers’ Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Allen’s tweet drew responses from Evans and Godwin.
You tagged the wrong Chris Godwin lol and don’t be mad at us we ain’t make the rankings or care about em. I like the confidence but be realistic you not on my level bro https://t.co/AONodMpfkW
Allen is entering Year 8 with the Bolts. He was selected to his third straight Pro Bowl in 2019 after tallying 104 catches for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns. It was the third straight season he’s had more than 1,000 yards receiving and six touchdown receptions.
Cameron Jordan calls him “a pure baller” and “the next Russell Wilson.”
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 after starting every game, passing for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 544 yards as well.
He set franchise rookie records and league rookie records.
He is a special talent and NFL players recognize it.
After his rookie season, he makes an appearance in NFL Network’s yearly NFL Top 100 Players. He came in at No. 90.
Here is the video of his selection.
There wasn’t much narration. It was simply a bunch of highlights from his rookie year and him rapping.
A few players had things to say, all defensive players.
Teammates Chandler Jones and Corey Peters were among those interviewed.
Jones said Murray “deserves to be on the list” this year, even after only one year in the league.
Peters said, “He’s dynamic. He’s got a live arm and can make all the throws.”
Ndamukong Suh called Murray “a super athletic young kid who seems to be running that offense at a high level.”
Bengals safety Von Bell said “he’s got wheels, I can tell you that.”
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan gave him the highest praise of all.
“The next Russell Wilson,” he called Murray. “He’s a pure baller.”
Murray is No. 90 for now. If he continues on his trajectory, he will make a huge leap in 2021 and for many years to come.
