Early this summer, PFT polled a panel of NFL media types and asked them to help us compile a list of the Top 100 players in the NFL -- a list that would be, we thought, better than NFL Network’s list of the Top 100 players, mostly because we asked members of the media who would actually take the exercise seriously, whereas NFL Network polls players who openly admit that they don’t give the vote much thought.
Now we have our final tally.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers tops the list, followed by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. We know that Top 5 will generate plenty of debate, especially the part about the league’s reigning MVP coming in fourth. Read through the whole list and tell us your thoughts.
1 Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers
2 Tom Brady, quarterback, Patriots
3 J.J. Watt, defensive end, Texans
4 Adrian Peterson, running back, Vikings
5 Calvin Johnson, receiver, Lions
6 Peyton Manning, quarterback, Broncos
7 Drew Brees, quarterback, Saints
8 Von Miller, linebacker, Broncos
9 Geno Atkins, defensive tackle, Bengals
10 Darrelle Revis, cornerback, Buccaneers
11 Patrick Willis, linebacker, 49ers
12 Richard Sherman, cornerback, Seahawks
13 Larry Fitzgerald, receiver, Cardinals
14 DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, Cowboys
15 A.J. Green, receiver, Bengals
16 Eli Manning, quarterback, Giants
17 Matt Ryan, quarterback, Falcons
18 Clay Matthews, linebacker, Packers
19 Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback, Steelers
20 Aldon Smith, linebacker, 49ers
21 Cameron Wake, defensive end, Dolphins
22 Joe Flacco, quarterback, Ravens
23 Joe Thomas, offensive tackle, Browns
24 Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle, Ravens
25 Andre Johnson, receiver, Texans
26 Rob Gronkowski, tight end, Patriots
27 Duane Brown, offensive tackle, Texans
28 Justin Smith, defensive end, 49ers
29 Brandon Marshall, receiver, Bears
30 Robert Griffin III, quarterback, Redskins
31 Julio Jones, receiver, Falcons
32 NaVorro Bowman, linebacker, 49ers
33 Arian Foster, running back, Texans
34 Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end, Giants
35 Andrew Luck, quarterback, Colts
36 Ryan Clady, offensive tackle, Broncos
37 Patrick Peterson, cornerback, Cardinals
38 Jimmy Graham, tight end, Saints
39 Marshawn Lynch, running back, Seahawks
40 Jared Allen, defensive end, Vikings
41 Russell Wilson, quarterback, Seahawks
42 Joe Staley, offensive tackle, 49ers
43 Julius Peppers, defensive end, Bears
44 Charles Tillman, cornerback, Bears
45 Vince Wilfork, defensive tackle, Patriots
46 Wes Welker, receiver, Broncos
47 Ray Rice, running back, Ravens
48 Eric Weddle, safety, Chargers
49 Earl Thomas, safety, Seahawks
50 Jamaal Charles, running back, Chiefs
51 Demaryius Thomas, receiver, Broncos
52 Colin Kaepernick, quarterback, 49ers
53 Percy Harvin, receiver, Seahawks
54 Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle, Lions
55 Cam Newton, quarterback, Panthers
56 Dez Bryant, receiver, Cowboys
57 Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle, Buccaneers
58 Marshal Yanda, guard, Ravens
59 Roddy White, receiver, Falcons
60 Vincent Jackson, receiver, Buccaneers
61 Daryl Washington, linebacker, Cardinals
62 Jason Witten, tight end, Cowboys
63 Jahri Evans, guard, Saints
64 Mike Iupati, guard, 49ers
65 Jerod Mayo, linebacker, Patriots
66 Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker, Ravens
67 Tony Gonzalez, tight end, Falcons
68 Logan Mankins, guard, Patriots
69 Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Panthers
70 Jairus Byrd, safety, Bills
71 LeSean McCoy, running back, Eagles
72 Troy Polamalu, safety, Steelers
73 Muhammad Wilkerson, defensive end, Jets
74 Maurkice Pouncey, center, Steelers
75 Victor Cruz, receiver, Giants
76 Tony Romo, quarterback, Cowboys
77 Doug Martin, running back, Buccaneers
78 Frank Gore, running back, 49ers
79 Carl Nicks, guard, Buccaneers
80 Maurice Jones-Drew, running back, Jaguars
81 Vernon Davis, tight end, 49ers
82 Evan Mathis, guard, Eagles
83 Alfred Morris, running back, Redskins
84 Joe Haden, cornerback, Browns
85 C.J. Spiller, running back, Bills
86 Calais Campbell, defensive end, Cardinals
87 Matthew Stafford, quarterback, Lions
88 Antonio Cromartie, cornerback, Jets
89 Jason Peters, offensive tackle, Eagles
90 Jordan Gross, offensive tackle, Panthers
91 Mike Pouncey, center, Dolphins
92 Mike Wallace, receiver, Dolphins
93 Reggie Wayne, receiver, Colts
94 Ed Reed, safety, Texans
95 Henry Melton, defensive tackle, Bears
96 Lance Briggs, linebacker, Bears
97 Steve Smith, receiver, Panthers
98 Antoine Winfield, cornerback, Seahawks
99 Max Unger, center, Seahawks
100 Matt Forte, running back, Bears