Top-100 NFL players of 2026: 30-21
- Zak Drapeau
- Jul 19
- 8 min read
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 7/19/2026
30. Jared Goff
Lions Quarterback
Last Year's Rank: 55
Jared Goff had another outstanding season last year in Detroit in the midst of one of the worst teams Dan Campbell has ever produced and for that reason I'm seeing a LOT of people that are really underrating Goff this year. 4564-34-8 was his line last season and it was a statistical down year for him some how as he continues to show that he belongs at least in discussions of Top-5 QBs in the league.
With decent receivers and one of the best running backs in the game Jared Goff is in no way hurting for help in his offense but make no mistake, he is a HUGE reason players like Amon-Ra and Gibbs have risen to the level they are. At only 31-years old, Goff has the most TDs in the league over the past 4 seasons and has shown no reason to think he'll slow down come next year.
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29. Chris Jones
Chiefs Defensive Tackle
Last Year's Rank: 10
This is the first year since I've started doing this list that Chris Jones is outside of the Top-20 but even at 31-years old he is still in the fight for best DT in the league. Jones is such a rare player because he can literally do everything you'd want from someone in the middle of the field.
An amazing interior pass rusher for someone his size, an established run plug in the middle of the line and the best pass deflector too, Jones has really only fallen in this year's list because he's gotten some help on the D-line in Kansas City and thus doesn't have to quite be Superman for them anymore. He may be not as prominent on the line statistically anymore but make no mistake he is the leader and playmaker on the Chiefs' pass rush.
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28. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Seahawks Wide Receiver
Last Year's Rank: N/A
2025 can really be described as the year of JSN as he went from a 2nd-year Slot receiver with some upside to him to a one of the best route runners in the game in a HUGE way this year. His 73% catch rate was one of the most impressive stats he had last year and that includes his league-leading 1,793 yards and 10 TDs.
I've said it before and I'll say it again I don't care how many rings he wins, Sam Darnold is just okay at Quarterback. 2 years ago Jettas helped him earn his contract and last season JSN helped him get to a Super Bowl. Make no mistake it takes a Quarterback to get the receiver the ball but what Smith-Njigba did in his 3rd season while Darnold was throwing him the ball and being the obvious #1 option on this offense was nothing short of spectacular. I want to see if he can run it back in 2026 or if teams game plan for him a lot more and shut him down this season, but as of now there is absolutely no debating that JSN belongs at the top of the receivers rankings right now.
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27. Brian Branch
Lions Safety
Last Year's Rank: 80
I've spoken a lot about players that can do it all getting higher rankings on my list and Brian Branch is one of the best examples of that. The Lions have definitely been more of an offensive team in their recent, 4-year contenders dynasty but players like Hutch and especially Branch have been a HUGE reason they've been as good as they have been.
Branch is super underrated in coverage where he is probably the best disguised Safety in the game. He'll line up in a blitz package and sneak backward to the box only to make a killer step and break up or intercept a pass he had no business even being near. Then the next play he'll completely blow up the run in the backfield and then turn around and play center fielder again. His antics in terms of personality or maturity can definitely be questioned and stopped him from making Top-25 frankly but as a pure playmaker in the back end of the defense he is easily Safety #2 in the league for me and probably a Top-5 DB flat out.
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26. Jahmyr Gibbs
Lions Running Back
Last Year's Rank: 27
Here is already our 4th Lion in the 20's and Jahmyr Gibbs is fittingly the highest ranked as he looks to be the leader of the team for the next decade. Gibbs had his 2nd straight season as a Top-5 RB while continuing to progress his receiving ability out of the backfield where he is probably the best in the league now at this point.
The Lions #1 back will have his first season without his backfield buddy David Montgomery this season which I really think may hurt him in terms of not getting quite as much rest time in between plays but will ABSOLUTELY improve his stats come the end of the year. What Gibbs does for the Lions statistically is well known but when you start to look at his ability to move the chains on 3rd down either on the ground or through the air, his ability to break the first tackle, run inside or outside and how he has vastly improved his pass blocking as well, you begin to see that Gibbs is WAY more than just a good speed running back and the perfect fit for the Lions' offense.
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25. Quinn Meinerz
Broncos Guard
Last Year's Rank: 90
When looking at Guards in the NFL, there is almost always an "All-Pro" type of guy that gets drafted every 3-5 years. Zack Martin was the guy for the 2010's, Chris Lindstrom sort of took it over from him. Quenton Nelson looked to be the new top dog for a while, but as of the last 2 seasons Quinn Meinerz seems to have firmly taken that mantle and should be the next great NFL Guard for the rest of the 2020's.
The Broncos' big guy is entering his age-28 season and is firmly in his prime after also earning All-Pro 1st team honors in back-to-back seasons. He also had back-to-back #1 PFF graded seasons as the top run blocking Guard in the NFL. Still a very good pass blocker, Meinerz has easily shown that he is the best zone blocker in the NFL and all you have to do is watch the tape where he consistently makes holes for Broncos' Running Backs and frankly makes them look a lot better than they are. There's nothing flashy about him, just a rugged, tough and consistent O-line leader that has shown he's still getting better.
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24. Micah Parsons
Packers Edge Rusher
Last Year's Rank: 9
Here's the thing, initial reports is that Micah Parsons is expected to miss "at least the first four games" and "should start the season on the PUP list" after tearing his ACL and meniscus last season. If Parsons was ready to go and played all 17 games, he would've been Top-10 for me and my #3 pass rusher but as it stands he is #24 and my 5th ranked pass rusher.
If you think about it in terms of how valuable pass rushers are, being the 5th best pass rusher with only 13 or less game played is insane but that's how good Parsons is. He was great on the Cowboys and then looked even sharper in only 14 games played in Green Bay last seasons where he was unblockable. He does more than just rushes the passer too with PDs, TFLs and even a threat in coverage.
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23. Jonathan Taylor
Colts Running Back
Last Year's Rank: 48
Is this a biased pick from a Colts fan? You be the judge but I truly believe there is no debating anymore that Jonathan Taylor is Top-3 in terms of pure running the football right now. In terms of team fit, the Colts have built their entire offense around giving Taylor the rock 25 times a game and letting him pick up big chunks of yards behind their big O-line and play action threats.
With question marks all over their offense without Michael Pittman and an uneasy feeling around Danny Dimes, I truly believe JT gets his 3rd straight 300-carry season. After last season's 1,585 yards and 18 TDs just on the ground, I think he can improve those numbers as long as he stays healthy and if he does we might not be talking about Taylor as just a Top-5 RB anymore...
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22. Trey McBride
Cardinals Tight End
Last Year's Rank: 79
I don;t know why we haven't been hearing so much more about what a legendary season Trey McBride just had for the Cardinals in 2025 and yes, I used the word LEGENDARY. On a team led by Jacoby Brissett of all people, McBride got 126 catches for 1,239 yards and 11 TDs and effectively got the Tight End triple-crown.
And here's the thing too, McBride is a really good blocker. I know that might not mean a lot to some of you and being SUCH a good receiving threat I can understand that, but it means everything to me. In terms of being position-for-position at the top of someone's game I'm not sure McBride shouldn't be closer to the top of this list but the fact is Tight End is not the most valuable position and while he is on the Cardinals he will never be one of the best [players in the league as unfortunate as it is. Still, McBride really impressed me last season and proved he is very much elite.
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21. Derek Stingley Jr.
Texans Cornerback
Last Year's Rank: 46
Stingley Jr. keeps getting better every season and the fact he is one of the leaders on the best defense in the league doesn't hurt either. The Texans' secondary is so nasty it's ridiculous and alongside Lassiter, Blankenship and Jalen Pitre, Stingley is the leader and best player in this "No Fly Zone".
And zone is the accurate word because I'm ready to say that Stingley is the best zone corner in all of football and I have stats to back it up. Never being put in a situation where he isn't destined to win the ball, Stingley's vision and break on the ball from any zone coverage is elite. His 14 INTs in the last 3 seasons ranks 2nd only to Kerby Joseph in that time and 12 of those 14 have come from zone assignments. Stingley is only 24-years old and has gotten better each of his 4 seasons in the league. Can he make the jump to Cornerback #1 in 2026 and make a play for Top-10? I truly believe he could.
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-Z.D.
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