Top 100 Players in the NFL 2026: 100-91
- Zak Drapeau
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
by Zak Drapeau
Sportz Nation - 5/24/2026
100. Olaivavega Ioane
Ravens Guard
Last Year's Rank: Unranked
And we start the Top 100 Players of 2026 with an immediate hot take as I have rookie Guard Vega Ioane with the #100 spot. As the clear #1 Guard in the 2026 NFL Draft and being drafted by one of the best running offenses in the league, I'm confident that Vega belongs on this list and I may even be selling him short at #100.
As my 6th Guard on this ranking, Vega Ioane was more of a pass blocker in college but should become an instant run blocking dominator due to his power and the O-line coaching in Baltimore. This is a player I could easily see being among the leguaes elite interior lineman and even inside of the Top-50 as early as 2028.
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99. Jalen Pitre
Cornerback Texans
Last Year's Rank: Unranked
After 4 years in the league, Texans' Nickel corner Jalen Pitre has quietly become one of the best at his position before putting together a terrific 2025 campaign while being part of the best team defense last season. Pitre's ability to play the run from the slot is either the best or second best in the league and his intermediate route recognition consitently puts him in position to disrupt ANY pass within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Truthfully, Pitre's skill is well above the #99 spot on this list however I've docked him somewhat significantly because of his availability in the last 3 seasons. Playing only 40 games of a possible 51 in the last 3 seasons, Pitre is a force when on the field but I'd like to see him staying on that field a little more in 2026.
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98. George Pickens
Cowboys Wide Receiver
Last Year's Rank: Unranked
I realize this is an immediate red flag for this list after Pickens put up 1,429 and 9 in his first year in Dallas. I have always liked Pickens and I believe a place like Dallas is where he could rise to his potential, (as he did in 2025) but I do believe that last season was the ceiling of that potential.
Other factors helped him realize his superior season such as Ceedee Lamb missing 3 games in which Pickens was targeted 26 times for 19 catches, 359 yards and 4 TDs. When Lamb was healthy, Pickens averaged 5 catches for 76 yards and .4 TDs per game. Decent stats but no where near what he was valued as as a potential #`1 receiver this offseason.
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97. Jordyn Brooks
Dolphins Linebacker
Last Year's Rank: Unranked
Jordyn Brooks is one of the best running back hunters in the entire league and is surrounded by a roster in Miami that gives him the absolute best chance to stand out. Brooks is a bit of a one-trick pony however, with little in the way of an effective coverage artist or hard hitter.
Being named to the All-Pro 1st team last season after leading the league in Tackles, Brooks will have the added affects of defensive specialist Jeff Hafley as his new Head Coach. I believe that Hafley will help Brooks but should also help rookie Jacob Rodriguez to be an effective MLB 2 to more resemble his defense in Green Bay. While Brooks will be the Captain of this unit, he will likely have some more help and his statistics will suffer because of it.
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96. Jalen Ramsey
Steelers Safety
Last Year's Rank: #53
Ramsey is a bit of a curveball for me this season but he is too talented to leave off this list because of uncertainty. To be truthful, I'd be a lot more hopeful for his second season in Pittsburgh if Mike Tomlin was still in charge. With Mike McCarthy, this team should shift to more of an offensive focus and while I don't think that will affect a player the caliber of Ramsey, I don't think it will help either.
Ramsey's move to Safety/Nickel/Corner last season was one that in theory should bring the most out of his abilities as a tackler and a zone cover specialist. He ended up having a pretty good season with more than a few highlight plays but his age has definitely shown and is no longer reaching that elite status he once did. Will 2026 see a resurgence of the best DB in the game? Probably not but it should still be a good one as the leader of Pittsburgh's secondary.
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95. Byron Young
Rams Edge Rusher
Last Year's Rank: Unranked
In his 3rd season in the league, Young went from averaging 8 sacks a game to 12 in 2025 as the Rams' top pass rusher. Clearly benefiting from having Jared Verse as a rushing partner, Young broke out last season and has shown that he still has plenty of room to grow.
Young hasn't missed a game in his 3 years in the league which I love and if his progression continues, could be pushing the 15 sack mark this season. In my opinion however, him and Verse should plateau this season on a defense that began to show cracks in the post season. I think Young remains as a double digit sack guy for them but without much more to his game.
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94. Caleb Williams
Bears Quarterback
Last Year's Rank: #51
Uggghhhh... I hate that I had to place Williams this low but I had to be honest with myself. Williams is a good improvisor at Quarterback and should keep getting better but I think the ceiling we all once thought Wiliams had may be a bit lower than we thought.
I love the Bears again this season but let's not pretend Caleb is putting them on his back. A solid O-line with intricate pass catchers and an ever-evolving defense was the story of 2025 while Caleb played fine but didn't really wow us at any point. This is not an indictment of Caleb especially with Ben Johnson's coaching, but more of a "show me more" plea to the player I still believe could eb the face of the league in 6 or 7 years time.
(Author's Note: I really do believe the Bears could make the NFC Championship this season but Caleb will not be the sole reason they get there.)
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93. Sam LaPorta
Lions Tight End
Last Year's Rank: Unranked
LaPorta had an injured-2025 season and drops down in the rankings because of it but let's not forget that he is one of the best blocking Tight Ends in the league who also happens to be a good receiver on one of the best passing offenses in the league.
LaPorta's health will be extremely important this season after a herniated disk in his back kept him out of most of last year. When back at full health, he should be a Top-5 in his position in the league but falls to #6 on my TE rankings until he fully proves he can go 16+ games.
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92. Denzel Ward
Browns Cornerback
Last Year's Rank: #57
Of all the players I feel bad for their situation in the NFL, Denzel Ward is very high on my list. As a pure corner, Ward is one of the BEST man cover corners in the game but has the unbreakable barrier above him of being a Cleveland Brown.
Ward had probably his worst season in 8 years in Cleveland in 2025 and was still a better than average corner on the year. With new DC Mike Rutenberg taking over there is hope that the Browns' defense will be as good as they have been over the past few years but along with Myles Garrett, Ward may never reach his true potential as a member of this organization.
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91. Tee Higgins
Bengals Wide Receiver
Last Year's Rank: #95
As a pure player, Higgins is probably closer to the 70-80th best player in the league but having to compete with Ja'Marr Chase for catches would hinder anybody. I'm VERY high on the Bengals this year and still think Higgins gets around 1,110 yards on the season but with around only a modest 70 catches and 5 TDs.
If Burrow can stay healthy for a full season, Higgins should eat all year. Having missed the 1,000 yard mark 3 seasons in a row now but proved that even if Flacco and Browning are throwing him the ball, he can surpass 10 TDs in a season. Truth be told I'm not even sure what Higgins potential is with Burrow for a season or even if he was a #1 option somewhere else but I know it's good enough to be on this list. Yet again, this is a situation of "I'll believe it when I see it.
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-Z.D.