We’ve arrived at the end of our journey with the NFL Network. They’ve now announced all of their Top 100 players, as voted on by their peers and all that’s left now is for the rest of us to argue about it. Saturday the NFL Network is running a marathon of the shows in case you missed any or need a refresher or just don’t want to be spoiled at my thoughts on the list.
10. Odell Beckham Jr., Wide Receiver, New York Giants
Beckham has been in the league two years and as far as I can see he’s the best wideout in the game. No other receiver in NFL history has caught more passes for more yards over his first two seasons than Beckham and he’s only getting better. He’s a super start that doesn’t give you any reason to root against him and that’s rare these days. He moved up 22 spots from last year’s list and he’s probably still not high enough. Last year: No. 32
9. Rob Gronkowski, Tight End, New England Patriots
Gronkowski at No. 9? Probably still too low. He’s the best mismatch in the NFL and maybe in the history of the league. You can chart the Patriots’ postseason success bases solely on Gronkowski’s health on gameday. If he plays and is 100 percent, he’s almost impossible to stop. And putting a linebacker on him is just stupid, but teams keep doing it. Last year: No. 10
8. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
We’re arguing position here, not worth or talent, so when I say that Odell Beckham Jr. is the best wide receiver in the NFL, that only means I would rank him above Julio Jones. But Jones would be my No. 2. He’s a freak of nature with his combination of size and speed. You’d think a Calvin Johnson-type receiver would come along just once in a lifetime, but for a while we had two of them. Last year: No. 13
7. Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Carolina Panthers
Kuechly is probably the smartest defensive player in the league right now. No player in the NFL is more valuable to his team, not only in talent, but in his intangibles. He’s heading into his fifth season and has never had fewer than 118 tackles and that right there was a career low. If you’re looking for the next Ray Lewis, he’s right here. And he just might be better. Last year: No. 14
6. Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Former St. Louis Rams defensive tackle D’Marco Farr once said that if you want to know what Kurt Warner would have been like if he could move, you don’t have to wonder. It’s Aaron Rodgers. And as far as his accuracy and clutch performance, I would agree. But Warner never had the arm that Rodgers has. It’s an indictment of their entire coaching staff that he’s only won one Super Bowl. Six is too low. Last year: No. 2
5. Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
There was a chance over the offseason that another team could have come in and traded for Adrian Peterson after he sat out a year for beating his son with a switch. It was a different time then and teams were reticent to make such a blockbuster deal to a guy that came with that kind of baggage. How many teams would make that deal today? Last year: No. 62
4. Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brown is the heir apparent to Marvin Harrison and Isaac Bruce. They were the best route runners in the league in their day and now Brown is in his. I have him No. 3 on my list. The players put him as the No. 1 wideout. There’s nothing really to argue about. At the end of his career he’s going to own every single receiving record in Pittsburgh, a place that’s already put a few wide receivers in the Hall of Fame. Last year: No. 8
3. J.J. Watt, Defensive End, Houston Texans
What a drop for Watt from last year. Two whole spots. A disaster. He’s the gold standard for defensive linemen now, regardless of the system. Watt is the first name mentioned and the one comparison virtually no other player can live up to. In his five seasons he’s had 17.5 sacks or more three times and two of those times he hit 20.5. That’s unreal and he does it every year. Last year: No. 1
2. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots
Here’s the deal. Tom Brady is probably one of the Top Five people on Planet Earth I would love to punch in the face, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t an incredible quarterback and one of the greatest to ever play the position. The irony of his DeflateGate scheming is he’s better playing with a fully-inflated ball. I hope that eats at him a little. Last year: No. 3
1. Cam Newton, Quarterback, Carolina Panthers
There has never been an athlete like Cam Newton in the NFL and maybe there never will be again. He’s that special. To have his natural ability, yet still be able to play the position as its drawn up, as a drop-back passer, is something not a lot of athletic quarterbacks can do. But then you take that ability to throw for 3,887 yards and 35 touchdowns and add what he can do with his legs, there’s no question about it. He’s the best player in the league. You done good, NFL players. Last year: No. 73
