The 101 best players in the NFL today

Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Aaron Donald lead Doug Farrar’s and Mark Schofield’s list of the NFL’s top 101 players.

70. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

(Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports)

In the run-up to the 2020 NFL draft, there were some who looked at LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson and questioned his value in the first round. Why? Because the LSU Tigers used him almost exclusively out of the slot in his final year in college, with tremendous results. But is a slot receiver worthy of a first round pick?

Absolutely, when he also has the ability to play on the outside, as some argued.

Jefferson had a huge rookie season, catching 88 passes for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Those receiving yards set a record for rookie WRs, and he was also named to a Pro Bowl for his efforts. As you’ll see in these videos, Jefferson is already among the game’s best thanks to his combination of footwork, releases and concentration.

69. Terron Armstead, OT, New Orleans Saints

(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Armstead was one of the stars of the 2013 scouting combine, which is what happens when you run a 4.71-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5 and 304 pounds. The Saints selected him in the second round of that draft, and the Arkansas-Pine Bluff alum has proven beyond any doubt that HBCU guys can still get it done. In different iterations of one of the league’s most complex offenses, Armstead has never allowed more than five sacks in any season, and in 2020, with a quarterback situation in flux, he gave up just three sacks, eight quarterback hits, and eight quarterback hurries in 569 pass-blocking reps. Armstead also has the capacity to be a dominant run-blocker, but what really sets him apart from the pack is his on-field intelligence, and how he’s able to take what a defensive line is trying to do, and just blow it apart.

68. William Jackson III, CB, Washington Football Team

Perhaps it is a function of playing for the Cincinnati Bengals the past few seasons, but William Jackson III might be the best cornerback that remains under-the-radar in today’s game.

With his move to the Washington Football Team, that might change this season.

Jackson had another great year last season for the Bengals, allowing a completion percentage of just 52.5% when opposing quarterbacks targeted him in the passing game. Jackson also intercepted a pass and had five pass breakups to add to his resume. An area of his game that continues to improve is his tackling. Last season Jackson notched a career-high 43 tackles, and missed on just four attempts.

This stat, and video, illustrates what Jackson brings to the nation’s capital:

With impressive ball skills and great feel for the position, Jackson is among the game’s best cornerbacks.

67. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

(Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

The big news in Green Bay’s offense is of course the status of Aaron Rodgers, but the second most important Aaron in that offense is Jones, and he’s become one of the league’s most prolific backs. Since Jones’ rookie season of 2017, only Todd Gurley, Derrick Henry, and Alvin Kamara have more rushing touchdowns than Jones’ 37, and only six backs have more rushing yards than Jones’ 3,364. Jones has averaged 5.17 yards per carry in his career — only Nick Chubb has a higher yards per carry total since 2017 among backs with at least 500 carries in that time. In 2020, Jones had 11 carries of 15 or more yards for 425 yards, ensuring his status as a big-play back. Add in his receiving ability, and Jones is also one of the most complete backs in the league.

66. Chase Young, EDGE, Washington Football Team

(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Washington selected Young with the second-overall pick in the 2020 draft based on an athletic profile that has few peers. That profile showed up in Young’s rookie season, when he totaled six sacks, six quarterback hits, and 30 quarterback hurries. There were times when Young, even as part of a defensive line with five former first-round picks, found that his technique wasn’t quite up to the level of blocking he discovered in the NFL. But there were more than enough “wow” moments to speak to his potential over time, and when he did put it all together, Young was everything his NFL team hoped he would be.

65. Julio Jones, WR, Tennessee Titans

(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

One of the biggest stories of this past off-season was the decision by the Atlanta Falcons to not only draft Kyle Pitts with the fourth-overall selection — a move that would indicate they are in a “win now” mode — but to then pair that with a trade sending Julio Jones out of town. Of course, there were financial reasons for such a move, but moving on from Jones does seem in contrast with the selection of Pitts.

To be sure, Jones is in the back half of his career. He appeared in just nine games season, posting pedestrian numbers by his standards. But looking ahead to 2021 there is reason to believe that Jones will produce at a high level:

The scheme fit in Tennessee with the Titans. Here’s a look at how the Titans might utilize Jones in the season ahead:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp3Yhu1SBiY

As you can see, he is perhaps a perfect fit for what the Titans do conceptually, and his ability to get separation on that “blaze out,” manufacturing a two-way go with his ability to threaten leverage and then exploding away from defenders, remains an elite trait.

64. Kenny Clark, IDL, Green Bay Packers

(Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

Clark got himself a four year, $70 million contract extension from the Packers last August, and he then went about earning it with full intent. Last season, Clark was affected by an early groin injury, but that didn’t stop him from amassing 32 total pressures and 30 stops, as well as all kinds of havoc for anyone having to block him. When healthy, Clark is one of the top interior defenders and disruptors in the NFL today.

63. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings

(Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

Cousins has been a divisive quarterback for years. During his time in Minnesota he has put up elite or near-elite numbers, but the Vikings have struggled to advance deeper into the playoffs. Of course, when you make the kind of money Cousins commands with his contract, wins are what teams expect.

Still, the production and execution from Cousins has forced some to rethink their stance on him, including this author. Prior to this last season I argued that maybe Cousins is better than we — me — think. These videos dive into what Cousins does well on the field, from his awareness in the pocket to how he applies information gained earlier in the game on later downs:

62. Joe Thuney, OG, Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Thuney Patriots
(Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports)

Okay okay fine… let’s talk about it.

There are moments when it is hard to separate the fan part of the brain from the analyst part of the brain, and this is one of those moments. As someone who grew up a New England Patriots fan seeing Joe Thuney leave town — and head to the Kansas City Chiefs of all teams — this is a hard move to swallow.

Why? Because during his time in New England Thuney grew into an elite offensive guard. Few Patriots fans will ever forget his effort against Aaron Donald in Super Bowl LIII. And last season, as the offense went through a transition, Thuney was a steady force in the interior. The Patriots implement a varied run scheme, with a mix of both zone and gap/power concepts, and Thuney can handle them all.

Yet in today’s NFL we all know passing is king, and Thuney is stout in pass protection. He has the awareness and experience to identify twists and stunts up front, and the power, technique and lower-body strength necessary to win many one-on-one matchups. Take this example against the Baltimore Ravens:

Now he’ll be doing that in front of Patrick Mahomes.

I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine no really I’m fine.

61. Jessie Bates III, S, Cincinnati Bengals

(Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports)

Bates has become one of the NFL’s best and most underrated safeties, lost as he is in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s “Uh… what the heck was THAT?” schemes. Still, Bates had another fine season in 2020, giving up 19 catches on 35 targets for 178 yards, 72 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of just 42.3. Bates has the field awareness and closing speed to shut any play down. Here, Ryan Tannehill thinks he has A.J. Brown wide open in the end zone, but Bates is lying in wait for the interception.

60. Za’Darius Smith, EDGE, Green Bay Packers

(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Injuries limited Smith’s effectiveness to a degree in 2020, which is the only reason he didn’t repeat his role as our top edge defender. In 2019, Smith led the NFL with 105 total pressures, the most by any edge defender since Von Miller matched that total in 2015. He didn’t quite match that last season, but he still amassed 59 total pressures, splitting it up with 14 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and 31 quarterback hurries, and if he’s completely healthy in 2021, Smith has the strength, quickness, and impressive gap versatility to confound enemy blockers as well as any edge defender in the game.

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