Top-100 NFL Players of 2026: 50-41
- Zak Drapeau
- 19 minutes ago
- 7 min read
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 7/5/2026
50. Saquon Barkley
Eagles Running Back
Last Year's Rank: 2
After Barkley was debatably snubbed for the 2024 MVP award due to his 2,000-yard rushing season and Super Bowl winning season, we all thought Barkley and the Eagles were the best rushers in the league. With their 2025 season looking to be their Championship run part 2, both the team and the superstar fell well short of expectations.
It would have been almost impossible for Barkley to remain at the heights we saw him at in 2024 but his drop off can be looked at as staggering. The fault doesn't exactly lie with Barkley and certainly is not about his skill which in my opinion is still firmly Top-3 in the league at running back, but with the Eagles themselves. After Kellen Moore left his job as Eagles OC after their Super Bowl they missed with Kevin Patullo last season and now hired unproven Sean Mannion in his place. Barkley has the ability to be one of the best RBs in the league if not of all time but it's more a question if the Eagles will put him in a position to do so.
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49. Trent Williams
49ers Tackle
Last Year's Rank: 30
Another superstar who had a fall off but in Williams' situation it more has to do with his declining prime. That being said, Williams is already one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time and is a part of a 49ers' offense that I have more faith in for their consistency than most other franchises.
Williams is about as solid as you'll get on the boundary and even at 37-years old was voted to the All Pro-2nd team last season. Williams dealt with another hamstring injury which kept him out of a small amount of games but more so delivered the fact that the Hall of Famer is getting old. If I had more confidence that he'd play in at least 13 games next season he would've cracked my Top-30 but right now I don't.
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48. Trent McDuffie
Rams Cornerback
Last Year's Rank: 40
So here's the thing, McDuffie has proved to be one of if not the most versatile corners in the league and the best Nickel. He got traded to a defense I believe will be much better than the Chiefs' from last season was as well so why do I have him lower than his rank last season and all the way at #48?
You could say I have "L'Jarius Snead-PTSD." We have seen this exact prototype before where Chiefs' defenders and specifically Cornerbacks leave their system and maybe they still have good careers, but there never quite the same again. I've been a huge fan of McDuffie ever since his days at Washington and now that he's on the Rams which very well could be the best defense in the league this season I hope he does well but I can just as easily see him not getting acclimated to his surroundings for at least an extra season.
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47. Joe Thuney
Bears Guard
Last Year's Rank: 82
Joe Thuney was the recipient of the first ever NFL Protector of the Year award because he was correctly dubbed as the premier pass blocking Guard in the entire league with over 700 passing snaps played and allowing 0 sacks. In his first season in Chicago, Thuney cemented himself as an amazing Guard and perfect leader for Chicago's growing offense.
Thuney just had his 3rd-straight All Pro-1st team selection last season and has shown that he will be a premier Guard in the league no matter his scenery. Quite frankly I could have placed him a lot higher on this list but as good of a pass blocker he is, he can be seen as just above average in run blocking. Some may make the argument that Chicago's offense is based around the pass but I'd say that there's a hole in Thuney's armor. A very small hole that in now way diminishes his superb career and last 3 seasons but one that nonetheless prohibits him from reaching much higher on MY list.
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46. Justin Herbert
Chargers Quarterback
Last Year's Rank: N/A
Justin Herbert was among the tier of Quarterbacks in the NFL that had tremendous talent but never got anywhere with it and on paper that's exactly what happened in 2025 but the paper doesn't tell the whole story. The truth is with all of the injuries the Chargers faced last season including to Herbert himself, they should have won no more than 4 or 5 games last season but thanks to their Franchise QB, they even made the playoffs.
Herbert not only aired the ball out like everyone knew he can but had his best season on the ground as well proving that he may not be Lamar Jackson, but defenses need to prepare for his legs too. Herbert did all this with more than 10 different offensive lineman missing significant time including his Top-2 Tackles missing most of the season. If he can put together an above average season with his team literally crumbling around him, I can't wait to see what he does with a healthy one.
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45. Andrew Thomas
Giants Tackle
Last Year's Rank: N/A
I've had my worries about Andrew Thomas, specifically about his ability to stay on the field and his pass blocking consistency. While he missed 4 games last season to of them were from recovering from his 2024 Lisfranc surgery which was a good sign and as far as the other thing, Thomas put together one of the best seasons of his life.
I honestly believe that everything is pointing toward Thomas having the best season of his career as well as the Giants having their best season in a decade. With their offense expected to reach elite heights this season under Harbaugh and with Dart, Nabers and others, Thomas looks to be completely healthy and being surrounded by the best team and o-line he's had in his career. Thomas is entering his prime at age-27 and may if he can stay on the field, should solidify a Top-5 Tackle ranking this season.
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44. Quinnen Williams
Cowboys Defensive Tackle
Last Year's Rank: 38
Williams was surprisingly traded midseason last year to the Cowboys after 6 and a half on the Jets. When he got to the Cowboys we immediately saw him become more of a pass rush and less of a run stuffer which was a surprise but offered a unique insight into his future within his new team.
The Cowboys have been rebuilding their defense over the last two years with last season and this offseason and along with Rashan Gary on the outside, Williams will be the anchor of the defensive line moving forward. Look for Williams to continue to be used primarily as an interior rusher and maybe even challenge his career high in sacks which stands at 12 now.
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43. Ceedee Lamb
Cowboys Wide Receiver
Last Year's Rank: 28
Here's the thing, everyone is looking at Dallas and saying George Pickens may be their top receiver moving forward and after Ceedee had some injuries last year he could be just a sidekick but I'm here to remind everyone who Ceedee is.
As it is, 43 is almost disrespectful to him after his first season under 100 catches in over years. Lamb missed 4 games due to a high ankle sprain and still came back to average over 5 catches and 77 yards a game. Back at full health, Lamb will always be Prescott's #1 guy and I fully expect him to get back to his normal 100 catch, 1200 yard-seasons in 2026.
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42. Devon Witherspoon
Seahawks Cornerback
Last Year's Rank: 89
Truth be told Witherspoon would be higher on my list but I'm not sure how I feel about his potential role as full-time boundary corner this season. The Seahawks could still keep him inside at the Nickel after offseason moves and they should because in 2026, Witherspoon made his case as the best slot corner in the NFL.
Witherspoon is coming off his 3rd season in the league and one of the leaders of the best defense in football last season. He is a bit undersized to make the jump to boundary corner after Coby Bryant left the team but his skill and IQ will still make him a more than serviceable outside man if needed. If he does stay in the slot though get ready, because if he didn't prove he's #1 at the Nickel last year, just wait for 2026 when a max deal-contract extension is on the line for him.
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41. Brock Bowers
Raiders Tight End
Last Year's Rank: 39
Bowers is a polarizing player on this list for sure because his talent as a slot receiver and sometimes an inline Tight End is unquestionable but while he plays for the Raiders who plan to start Kirk Cousins this season, his 2026 season will definitely be questionable.
Bowers had an injured left knee for almost half of last season and still put up almost 8-80-1 averages per game. Bowers will be the Raiders' safety net for yet another season and as long as he stays on the field should have another 1,000 yard season even if the Raiders' QB room has another year of unpredictability. If somehow Cousins plays good football in Vegas or Mendoza takes over and makes a connection with Bowers that should come at some point then the Tight End should easily return to if not surpass his 2024 rookie season.
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-Z.D.
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