Zak Drapeau's Top-100 NFL Players of 2025: 10-1

Zak Drapeau
Sep 6
5 min read

by Zak Drapeau 9/6/2025 Sportz Nation

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10. Chris Jones

Chiefs Defensive Tackle

Last Year's Rank: 14

The Captain and actually the most consistent Chief over the last 5 years, Chris Jones has shown no sign of slowing down as the league's best interior defensive linemen. Jones may have dropped his total in sacks from 10.5 to 5 in 2024 but his pass rush was just as elite and his presence in the backfield was as good. With 20 QB hurries and 9 TFLs, Jones ability to shape the game from the interior position is better than anyone else not named Aaron Donald in the better part of 2 decades now.

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9. Micah Parsons

Packers Edge Rusher

Last Year's Rank: 16

The biggest trade of the off season and the best player to be traded since Christian McCaffrey went to the 49ers, it seems like Micah Parsons and the Packers could be a dream match. On a defense like Green Bay's with the players behind him and all the motivation in the world for Parsons to have a career season, I wouldn't be surprised if Parsons not only balls out but even has a DPOY season.

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8. Patrick Surtain II

Broncos Cornerback

Last Year's Rank: 36

The reigning DPOY, Pat Surtain had put up great season after great season and finally put it all together in a lights out 2024 campaign. Reminiscent of Revis Island, Surtain allowed only 6 completions of 15 or more yards and gave up a 61.1 passer rating. The 25-year old was a huge part in Denver's defensive success last year and with everyone staying in town plus new additions Hufanga and Barron in the secondary, can Surtain get even better in 2025?

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7. Josh Allen

Bills Quarterback

Last Year's Rank: 4

Now if you think the #7 sport is too low for the reigning MVP I understand but let me tell you why I have him here as my QB3 on this list. Quite frankly Allen's MVP was based off of not having the supporting cast of Burrow or Jackson but that's not to say he did everything on his own. We're also splitting hairs here and while Allen is a complete generational talent, he doesn't throw the ball like Burrow and he doesn't run like Lamar and didn't go further in the playoffs than either of them.

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6. T.J. Watt

Steelers Outside Linebacker

Last Year's Rank: 5

Watt is as good of a pass rusher as Micah Parsons two slots above him but the reason I have him higher is the prowess that is the Steelers' defense and his ability to also drop back as a true Linebacker. No one player has ever contributed as diverse of skills to a defense, pressuring QBs, tackling ball carriers behind the line, forcing fumbles, intercepting passes and more, Watt had a down year last year and still had 11.5 sacks, 19 TFLs, 27 QB hits, 6 forced fumbles and 4 pass deflections. In his 7th straight Pro Bowl selected season, Watt's consistency is also among the best in the league too.

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5. Ja'Marr Chase

Bengals Wide Receiver

Last Year's Rank: 21

Entering 2024 I believed Chase to be overrated at his 21 ranking and BOY WAS I WRONG. Paired with Joe Burrow definitely helps but Ja'Marr Chase separated himself as a Top-2 receiver in the league in 2024 and he might not be 2. As only the 13th player to earn the WR Triple Crown, Chase led the league in receptions, receiving yards and TDs in 2024. Chase's numbers could even warrant a higher ranking or even #1, but it's his first year hitting these marks unlike the Top-4, not to mention the guy throwing him the ball is also...

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4. Joe Burrow

Bengals Quarterback

Last Year's Rank: 18

#4 on our list and that'd be Joe Burrow. Joe Cool's place on this list was hard to pin down because if his defense was better he easily would've gone to the playoffs or farther but that isn't his fault right? If Burrow's completion percentage was 2% higher he would've joined his teammate as a Triple Crown winner after his 4,918-43-9. Truth be told there was no pocket Quarterback in 2024 than Joe Burrow. In just his third season without an injury, Burrow has begun to really make his case as the best passing Quarterback in the NFL.

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3. Myles Garrett

Browns Edge Rusher

Last Year's Rank: 8

The best defensive player in the league for a few years now, Myles Garrett comes in at 3 on our list after his 7th-straight double digit sacks season and his 5th straight All-Pro bid as well. Garrett's basically unguardable on the edge and in a Browns' defense that allows for double-teaming Garrett often, his combination of speed, skill and possibly the strongest player in the league makes him a guaranteed Top-10 player. His consistency and ability to play the pass rush or against the run for a team that has wasted his career but somehow not hindered his ability at all is all the backup i need to put him as my #3.

Unfortunately for Garrett and everyone else, there are 2 players ahead of them that are head and shoulders above everyone.

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Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty images

2. Saquon Barkley

Eagles Running Back

Last Year's Rank: 60

I struggled between Lamar and Barkley for weeks in making this list and only on Friday did I finally put Barkley at 2. They are both incredibly skilled and are coming off of amazing seasons where they were both in the Top-3 of MVP voting. When it came down to it I decided that Barkley's supporting cast is a lot better than Lamar's especially behind the Eagles' O-line. I still almost went with Barkley since he is a Super Bowl Champion but couldn't pull the trigger. Rushing for 2,000 yards is no small feet and he looks primed to have another amazing season in 2025.

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1. Lamar Jackson

Ravens Quarterback

Last Year's Rank: 6

The #1 player in all of football, Lamar Jackson should have also taken home his 3rd MVP award last season. 41 TDs to 4 INTs in the air, 915 yards and 4 TDs on the ground. Another AFC North title and doing it as a perceived running back with a very weak core of receivers and arguably tight ends as well. Lamar is simply the best player in the league and any eye test will tell you that. Already the best running Quarterback we have ever seen in the NFL, he followed that up with one of the legitimate greatest passing seasons ever. Along with Josh Allen, Lamar really needs to have playoff success to solidify his legacy in an All-Time debate but if we're strictly talking about this very moment and the upcoming 2025 season, for my money Lamar is #1.

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