90. Darious Williams, CB, Los Angeles Rams
Williams took a huge step forward in 2020, playing over 900 snaps and locking down one of the outside cornerback spots for Brandon Staley’s defense. He was impressive in coverage, allowing a completion of just 48.7% when targeted, and an opposing passer rating of a mere 55.4 when quarterbacks threw in his direction. His 11 pass breakups were a career-high mark.
Williams also turned in one of the bigger plays of the post-season with this Pick-Six of Russell Wilson:
🚨 PICK 6 🚨
Darious Williams intercepts Russell Wilson and takes it back to the house! 🏠pic.twitter.com/r0dHlauPJs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 9, 2021
Everything about this play is perfect, from the recognition to the burst downhill to beat the football to the spot, as well as the play strength to work through the block and step in front of the receiver.
89. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders signed former Dolphins and Cardinals back Kenyan Drake this offseason, and it’s estimated that Drake will play more of a versatile role, including lining up as a receiver. Whether that happens or not, Jon Gruden already has a top-tier back in Josh Jacobs, who gained 1,065 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on 273 carries last season. Jacobs has been one of the better power/speed backs both of his years in the league, forcing 51 missed tackles last season and gaining 187 yards on 10 carries of 15 or more yards. Questions abound as to whether the Raiders’ offense will cook with a vastly different (and relatively talent-deprived) offensive line, but as much as any back can transcend his front five, Jacobs is a good bet to do so.
Great blocking for Josh Jacobs here, and watch how he takes advantage. If you're in a position where you're trying to arm-tackle him, that ain't gonna work. pic.twitter.com/wlCTaQ5iYT
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 7, 2021
88. Kenny Moore II, Slot, Indianapolis Colts
Moore was an undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State who made the Colts’ roster in 2017, and has shown himself to be more and more of an asset in coverage since. In 2020, he added great value to Matt Eberflus’ defense as the team’s primary slot defender, allowing 50 slot receptions on 66 targets for 463 yards, 259 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 80.6. Moore has the ability to follow any receiver all over the field — even gigantic receivers like Raiders tight end Darren Waller on this end zone interception, where Moore fakes Derek Carr out of a potential touchdown.
87. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Most rookie offensive linemen aren’t able to come right into the NFL and dominate more often than not, but Wirfs proved last season that he’s not most rookie offensive linemen. The Iowa alum, selected by the Buccaneers with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 draft, had an amazing rookie season in which he allowed just one sack, eight quarterback hits, and 15 quarterback hurries on a league-leading 851 pass-blocking reps. Wirfs’ combination of play strength, agility to either side, and control around the arc made him a Pro Bowl-level right tackle immediately, from his first game through Tampa Bay’s win in Super Bowl LV, and without a typical camp and preseason (actually, without any preseason at all). Not had for a guy who had to protect a quarterback in Tom Brady who had more deep attempts (119), and the second-most seven-step drops (54, behind only Justin Herbert’s 62) last season.
Tristan Wirfs took care of Dante Fowler AND Grady Jarrett in one rep
(🎥: @BenFennell_NFL)pic.twitter.com/z6ytIgWuYH
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) June 23, 2021
86. Joey Bosa, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers
It seems that when it’s time to discuss the best edge defenders in the NFL today, Bosa’s name doesn’t come up as often as it should. Perhaps that’s because Bosa’s name is now doubled in the NFL with the ascent of his younger brother Nick. Perhaps it’s because he had just eight sacks last season, or because the Chargers’ defense wasn’t exactly a world-beater in 2020. But Bosa has amassed 20 sacks and 133 total pressures over the last two seasons, and he possesses a rare combination of speed, power, technique, and fluidity to either side of the blocker that makes him excessively tough to deal with on a down-to-down basis. Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is probably still asking himself questions about the spin move Bosa gave him in Week 5.
Ryan Ramczyk is one of the NFL's best offensive tackles. No question about that. But here, Joey Bosa just puts him through the spin cycle. pic.twitter.com/hPvkUR6ul6
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) June 21, 2021
85. Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons
Last year was not the best season for the Atlanta Falcons, and that includes linebacker Deion Jones. But even as the team was struggling Jones found ways to impact the game and continue his growth as a linebacker. He set career-high marks with five sacks, six quarterback hits and eight QB hurries, as the Falcons tried to find ways to consistently pressure the opposing passer.
Jones also has great man and zone coverage skills for a linebacker, as we saw back in 2019. While he was picked on a bit more in coverage last season — he allowed an NFL passer rating of 103.8 when targeted, the worst number of his career — he still notched a pair of interceptions and three pass breakups. If his coverage numbers return to form, he’ll appear even higher on lists like this next summer. When you see Jones make plays like this — running up the seam to intercept a Kirk Cousins pass to Justin Jefferson — the upside is still very clear.
84. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
If you are going to be a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens, you need to have the complete tool-kit.
That is why Mark Andrews appears so high on this list. The Ravens are one of the teams in the league that relies the most on multiple-TE packages, running 22 offensive personnel (two tight ends) on 16% of their snaps, the highest percentage in the league. That tasks Andrews with not only being a factor in the passing game, but also handling the variety of blocking assignments in Baltimore’s offense.
Both of which he does very well. First the receiving part, which you see here as he separates from man coverage on a crossing route:
Then the blocking, which you see here as he serves as a lead blocker in a run out of a diamond pistol formation:
Expectations remain high in Baltimore, and with Andrews in the mix there are reasons to believe that the offense will take a big step forward in 2021.
83. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
By almost any measure, 2020 was a down campaign for Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints. Thomas suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener and did not return until the second half of the season, missing nine games. He also endured a torn deltoid in his shoulder, and as a result he will require multiple surgeries according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Beyond that, and coming off a season where he was held to 45 receptions for 511 yards and a single touchdown, the Saints are transitioning to life without Drew Brees under center.
Still, when healthy Thomas has some of the route-running, footwork and change-of-direction skills you want from a top NFL wideout. Look at the separation Thomas gets on this dig route:
Thomas’s break here against man coverage creates a huge window, and only a late throw from the QB makes this play close in the end.
Thomas can also win downfield, as he did in the playoffs on this vertical route against the Chicago Bears:
There is every reason to believe that a healthy Michael Thomas will ease the transition to a post-Brees era in New Orleans.
82. Emmanuel Ogbah, EDGE, Miami Dolphins
Through the first four years of his NFL career — three with the Browns, and one with the Chiefs — Ogbah was more of a rotational end than a superstar, totaling 125 total pressures over those four years. Then, he signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Dolphins before the 2020 season, and all heck broke loose when Ogbah was tasked to get after the quarterback in Brian Flores’s and Josh Boyer’s defense. With 10 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and 44 quarterback pressures, Ogbah was all of a sudden one of the most disruptive edge defenders in the NFL. Patriots right guard Shaq Mason, who couldn’t keep up with Ogbah on this sack of Cam Newton, would probably concur.
Of all the edge defenders I studied last season, Emmanuel Ogbah took the biggest step forward. He's top 10 now. pic.twitter.com/BjkPeALsA7
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) June 22, 2021
81. Bryce Callahan, Slot, Denver Broncos
Callahan had the fewest slot snaps of any player on this list (120), but given the excellence of his slot coverage over time when he’s healthy, it’s entirely appropriate to put him high on the list. Callahan was limited to just 10 games due to a foot injury last season, but on those 120 snaps, he allowed six receptions on 14 targets for 41 yards, 12 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and an absolutely preposterous opponent passer rating of 10.7 — by far the lowest of any regular slot defender in the NFL last season. The only thing keeping Callahan from the top spot on this list is a worrisome recent injury history — he also missed the entire 2019 season due to a 2018 foot injury that didn’t quite heal as everyone would have liked.