Freshlegs Diaz

Yesterday on Twitter, I saw the NFL Films account release some of the ballots for the NFL Top 100 and I felt obliged to pencil in my own ballot. While I’m not an active player in the NFL, when I watch games I will hold a football to feel like I’m a part of the team. That feels like motivation enough to interject my opinion and drop my ballot.

NOTE: This is based off players performance in the 2022-2023 season.

20. Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby

Mad Maxx Crosby isn’t just one of the leagues coolest players, he’s one of the best. Much like a lot of the other players on this list, Crosby was the reason that the Raiders defense was semi-successful. The Raiders didn’t have a fruitful season, but Crosby had an elite season. He tallied 89 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. His pass rushing bag is so incredibly deep as he uses speed, speed to power, and then funky moves like quick spins.

19. Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews

Personally, I think Mark Andrews has surpassed George Kittle as the league’s second best tight end. Last season solidified it when he had eight games with over 5 receptions and was the clear-cut number one option for Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. His blocking improved drastically to make up for the loss of Hayden Hurst a few seasons prior, and that’s set him above Kittle in my eyes.

18. Atlanta Falcons OG Chris Lindstrom

There’s a reason Chris Lindstrom is the league’s highest paid guard. He had a final season PFF grade of 95.0%, allowed 2 sacks, and committed 2 penalties on 1,047 snaps. He’s Atlanta’s best players and if I were to build a franchise around one offensive lineman in the league, he’d be in my number one pick.

17. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

It’d be a crime to leave Hurts off this list. He’s a major reason why Philly found themselves in the Super Bowl and proved that he’s not just a running quarterback. Over the playoffs and regular season, Hurts passed for 4,280 yards, 25 touchdowns, and also rushed for 903 yards and 18 touchdowns. At only 24, the league is in for it when they play Hurts for the next decade.

16. Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs is the only running back on my ballot. I could have put Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley, but when I watched them all play, Jacobs did the most for his team making the Raiders a two-dimensional offense. Jacobs rushed for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns while also catching 53 passes for 400 yards. Since entering the league in 2019, Jacobs hadn’t had a dominant season until 2022 when he mauled opposing defenses.

15. Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs

My ballot is stuffed with receivers. There are four on this list and Diggs comes in at fifteen. When a receiver is as good as the four I have on this list, it’s difficult to describe their game because they simply do everything the right way. Diggs does everything right from the way he runs his routes to the way he dismantles defensive backs. He’s the perfect Robin to his Batman, Josh Allen.

14. Miami Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey

Even when Jalen Ramsey has a “quiet” year, he’s still HIM. He broke up 18 passes and picked off 4 while going toe-to-toe with some of the league’s best receivers like Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs (see above), and CeeDee Lamb. He’s a great tackler and that shows when he comes down in run support. While I don’t have him as my highest ranked corner, he’s arguably the league’s best.

13. San Francisco 49ers DE Joey Bosa

Bosa was the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and while he wasn’t my pick, it was deserving. He tallied 18.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles making him the league’s most feared pass rusher. What Bosa did in the stat column was obviously impressive, but his play is able to elevate every other player in the 49ers front seven like Fred Warner, Arik Armstead, and Dre Greenlaw.

12. Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams

Like I mentioned with how Diggs does everything right, Adams also does everything right. He’s so crafty when he runs his routes that it looks like Allen Iverson hitting a shifty crossover on a helpless defender. Even though he was the Raiders number one option, he elevated his play when Darren Waller was out regardless of the extra heat he was taking. Just an all-around baller.

11. Baltimore Ravens ILB Roquan Smith

In my personal opinion, while it may be unpopular, I think Roquan Smith is the league’s best inside linebacker. He had 14 games with 8 or more tackles and totaled 169 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions. Like how Joey Bosa elevates his teammates efforts, Smith does the same. Baltimore had an average defensive line, but once he was traded to the Ravens, he made them right which upped their productivity.

10. Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill

Fast. If I had to describe Tyreek Hill in one word, it’d be fast. Just the way in which he runs by defensive backs is beautiful. I’m convinced he could tell a corner with a fifteen yard cushion that he’s running a post and Hill would still torch him by six steps. Aside from his elite speed, he’s also a tremendous route runner with great hands.

9. New York Jets CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner

As a rookie, Sauce Gardner became, in my eyes, the league’s best cornerback. Just watching the way he breaks on the ball from distance is like poetry in motion. His lanky frame aids that, but his light feet and ability to cut is what sets him apart from guys like Patrick Surtain and Jaire Alexander. There’s a bright future for Sauce that I’m hyped to see.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers OLB TJ Watt

While Watt didn’t play a full season, watching him dominate in the way in which he did was electric. There’s no doubt in my mind that when his career comes to an end, Watt, much like his brother, will posses multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards. He might be a primary pass rusher, but his length and athletic ability turns him into so much more.

7. Dallas Cowboys OLB Micah Parsons

I’m a bit upset that Micah Parsons is becoming a full time defensive end because watching him do everything is a blast. He was one of the Defensive Player of the Year finalists after tallying 72 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He was the pure heart and soul of the Cowboys defense and was able to let their secondary make play after play.

6. San Francisco 49ers OT Trent Williams

For the past few years, Trent Williams has been the best offensive lineman in the NFL. That notion hasn’t changed. In the run game, Williams plays like a grizzly bear mixed with Anthony Munoz and as a pass protector, he’s swift. Williams had a PFF grade of 93.0% and allowed only 1 sack on 871 snaps last season. He’s the 49ers most integral player and opens up their fantastic rushing attack.

5. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

It’s no longer a debate it Kelce is the best tight end in the league. The debate has shifted to asking “Is Travis Kelce the best tight end of all time?” Any matchup that he comes across whether it’s a corner, safety, linebacker, or all three, he’s going to dominate it and expose the weaknesses of a defender. He’s a fantastic route runner with unreal hands.

4. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen

Allen is the second best quarterback in the NFL. That’s a statement. It’s not up for debate. Patrick Mahomes is clearly the best (foreshadowing), but right behind him is Allen. He has the tools to take Buffalo to the Super Bowl and once he does, he’ll still be behind Mahomes which is okay. Allen has a dynamic play style with his bazooka arm and the ability to run through or past defenders.

3. Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones

Chris Jones was actually my pick for Defensive Player of the Year this past season. As an interior defensive lineman, Jones had the fourth most sacks in the league with 15.5. That’s virtually unheard of from the defensive tackle position unless it’s Aaron Donald. Jones was the heart and soul of Kansas City’s defense and a reason why teams struggled to run the ball against them. Just an absolute beast.

2. Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Is this a biased pick? Probably. As a Vikings fan I’ll always give Justin Jefferson the highest props and receiver can get, but he does deserve it. He faced every teams number one corner and a lot of the time battled double teams and still went on to catch 128 passes for 1,809 yards, and 8 touchdowns. He had eight games over 9 receptions and was a mismatch nightmare for defenses. At only 24 years old, the opportunities are endless for Jefferson.

1. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

I may not love him, but Patrick Mahomes is a ridiculously great player. And he’ll be that good for years to come which is even scarier. This past season, he secured his second Super Bowl ring and second MVP award while passing for 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns. His eccentric play style makes him the best player not just last year, but the best we’ve seen in years.