And here’s where the list really gets interesting. After this episode wraps up, we’ll be officially half way through and the sheer number of new members to the NFL Network;s Top 100 Players of 2017 list is startling. This is usually the area where that calms down, but half of the newest entries below are new guys. Counting the following list, 27 out of the bottom 50 players weren’t ranked here last season. In fact, in only the 90-81 area of the rankings, did we have less than five new guys show up.
We’ll talk more about this as we roll on.
60. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Last year: No. 51
2016: 50 catches, 796 yards, eight touchdowns
Bryant hasn’t been fully healthy in two years and that’s kept him in this range on the Top 100 rankings. He did play in 13 games last season and was his regular, elite weapon self. Bryant was the first Cowboy that publicly seemed to embrace the changing of the guard with the team and even be prepared to step back in a supporting role. He’s achieved a lot as an individual, but the man is looking for a Super Bowl ring at this point. It’s smart.
59. Josh Norman, CB, Washington Redskins
Last year: No. 11
2016: 67 tackles, two forced fumbles, 19 passes defended, three interceptions
Norman’s performance on the field was just as elite as it’s been the past three seasons. In fact, you could argue it’s better since he was playing on an inferior defense in Washington than he helped get to the Super Bowl with the Carolina Panthers. Yet, he somehow drops 48 spots in the list. Norman’s fellow NFL players are fickle. Needless to say, this is way too low for Norman here. The Redskins spent big money to get “Josh Norman” and so many times in free agency, that just doesn’t happen. Players move to new systems (and sometimes get a big influx of cash) and just don’t measure up to the hype they brought it. Norman did anything but that and the Redskins have to feel great about money well spent.
58. Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys
Last year: Not Ranked
A lot of love for guards so far this season and Martin deserves it. The Cowboys boast the best offensive line in the league and they smartly continue to work on it in the draft and free agency, continually building and replacing pieces. Martin was a first round pick and has performed at the level ever since he entered the league in 2014.
57. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last year: Not Ranked
2016: 60.8 completion percentage, 4,090 yards, 28 touchdowns, 18 interceptions
The last time Tampa Bay had a young quarterback on the NFL’s Top 100 list, it didn’t work out so well. Josh Freeman made the 2011 Top 100 list at No. 86. It wasn’t too long after that his time with the Buccaneers came to an end. Winston, hopefully, is on a completely different career trajectory and is already better than Freeman ever was. There’s no question that Winston is one of the NFL’s Top 100 players. It’ll be interesting to see if his draft-mate, Marcus Mariota is on the list and in the Top 50.
56. Cliff Avril, DE, Seattle Seahawks
Last year: Not Ranked
2016: 39 tackles, 11.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three passes defended
Avril has been the best Seahawks defensive lineman for years, but for whatever reason, has been overshadowed by line mate Martellus Bennett. For most of his career Avril has hit double-digit sacks or pushed right up against it, whether it’s with the Seahawks or his former team, the Detroit Lions. This is a good spot for Avril, but it’s ridiculous that this is the first time he made the list.
55. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Miami Dolphins
Last year: No. 40
2016: 72 tackles, five sacks, one fumble recovery, six passes defended
Like Norman, switching teams on a huge contract didn’t make Suh a different player. He’s continued to be the same, dominating force in the defensive line interior has he was with the Detroit Lions. If there is a disappointment about Suh in his career, it’s only based on the outrageous year he had as a rookie and how monstrous he looked coming out of Nebraska. Suh is an elite, Top Five NFL defensive tackle. Back in 2009 and 2010 he looked like he could be the best that ever played.
54. Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants
Last year: Not Ranked
2016: 49 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack, 18 passes defended, three interceptions
Like Avril, Jenkins’ absence from past lists was a crime. At least with Jenkins, it was because he was on a bad team with a worse head coach, the then St. Louis Rams. That’s not to say Jenkins wasn’t significantly better in New York because he was. Under an actual NFL head coach and qualified defensive coordinator, he was a much more disciplined and dominant player. I was not surprised and neither were the Giants, who paid big money to add Jenkins to their defense in 2016.
53. Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland Raiders
Last year: Not Ranked
2016: 83 catches, 1,153 yards, five touchdowns
The last time a receiver came into the league with Cooper’s pro-ready skillset, it was Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. That’s certainly not to diminish Odell Beckham Jr. and other wideouts that burst onto the scene as rookies, but only to highlight that Cooper was pro-ready and didn’t rely on the fact that he was a genetic athletic freak like Beckham or Randy Moss his rookie season, with seemingly superhuman powers. Cooper is like Isaac Bruce, a pro route runner and virtuoso at the position. The truth is, in a couple of years, he and Beckham will probably be the top two wide receivers in the league with completely opposing skillsets. Cooper is No. 52 this year. He’ll probably jump 20 spots next season.
52. Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last year: No. 63
2016: 34 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five passes defended
There was a time when McCoy was the only Tampa Bay play you could expect to see on this list. It shows how successfully a rebuild effort can be with the right people in charge. McCoy, at 6-4 and 295, is a big defensive tackle with the skillset of a smaller, pass rushing interior lineman. It allows him to make a ton of plays in the backfield and eat up blockers at the same time. He hovers around this are of the rankings every season and probably will until he retires.
51. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Last year: No. 92
2016: 63.5 completion percentage, 4,240 yards, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 64 rushes, 341 yards, two touchdowns
Andrew Luck at 51 is ridiculous and I’ll explain why. The players voted here and they, until maybe the Top Five, don’t give enough weight to the quarterback position. I can tell you, without hesitation, there are only three quarterbacks in the NFL that their team wouldn’t jump at the chance to trade for Andrew Luck straight up today (Packers, Falcons and Panthers). Every other team would make that deal in a heartbeat, including the New England Patriots (Brady is 40. Luck is in his prime. You think Belichick doesn’t pull the trigger on that deal, you’re nuts). That’s how good Andrew Luck is.
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
