Zak Drapeau's Top-100 NFL Players of 2025: 25-11

by Zak Drapeau 8/30/25 Sportz Nation

Photo by John Munson/ Associated Press

25. Malik Nabers

Giants Wide Receiver

Last Year's Rank: N/A

The 2024 NFL Draft Class was the greatest collection of college receivers ever to enter the league and introducing the very best of the best: Malik Nabers. The 2nd WR to be drafted after the equally-impressive Marvin Harrison Jr, Nabers hit the ground running and became one of the league's best slot receivers right away. Even after missing 2 games to injury, Nabers ended the season with 109 catches, 1,204 yards and 7 TDs with Daniel Jones throwing him the ball. With a full season ahead of him as the Giants' #1 option and Russell Wilson behind Center, Nabers should be even better in 2025.

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24. Bijan Robinson

Falcons Running Back

Last Year's Rank: N/A

Bijan has gotten better and better over his first two seasons in the league and will be an absolute "bell cow" in Atlanta this year. Bijan not only ran for 1,456 yards and 14 TDs but he'd also snag 61 catches on 72 targets earning 431 more yards and 1 TD. More than just stats, watching a Falcons game will show you just how much this offense revolves around it's back with more than 75% of their plays either giving him the ball or running play action. Bijan is firmly in the upper echelon of NFL Running Backs now and with Michael Penix under center, could be relied on even more in 2025.

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23. Jalen Carter

Eagles Defensive Tackle

Last Year's Rank: 41

At 24-years old, Carter has quietly become the next version of Aaron Donald in the NFL. A big, but not huge and athletic interior D-Tackle, Carter may have taken a dip in sacks in 2024 but his presence in the pass rush and against the run has clearly become elite for Philadelphia. At just 24, Carter will now get an even bigger role on the D-Line with Milton Williams departure. Likely to dramatically increase his Sack and TFL numbers, Carter's ranking by the end of the season could be even higher than this.

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22. Nick Bosa

49ers Defensive End

Last Year's Rank: 13

Nick Bosa's 2024 was marred by injury and a lack of spark we've been used to from a man of Bosa's skill. Still earning 9 sacks and 15 TFLs, Bosa had a good, not great season similarly to almost everyone else on the 49ers last season. With Robert Saleh back in town as DC and a healthy team at this point in the season, Bosa should return to double-digit sacks and someone deserving of a Top-25 ranking in the league.

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21. Dexter Lawrence II

Giants Defensive Tackle

Last Year's Rank: 32

Lawrence is one of the most all-around players in the league regardless of position. In 2024, Lawrence made a leap as a pass rusher with 9 sacks and 16 QB hits. Before, Lawrence was one of the

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20. Fred Warner

49ers Linebackers

Last Year's Rank: 17

The best linebacker in the league for his 3rd or 4th year in a row, Warner had another terrific season in 2024 and is part of the 49ers defense that will be adding Robert Saleh as it's DC again this year. Behind a very new and rebuilt D-line could hinder Warner's ability to be downhill and attack the line of scrimmage this year but regardless, he'll be all over the field and Captain this defense as well as anyone else in the league.

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19. Penei Sewell

Lions Tackle

Last Year's Rank: 19

Penei Sewell is the best run blocker in the NFL and the perfect "Alpha" offensive lineman for Dan Campbell's offense. Time will tell what Ben Johnson's departure from the team will do to it's daunting zone blocking but Sewell will continue to be as consistent of a Tackle as there is in the league and still at only 24-years old.

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Photo by Cooper Neill/ Getty Images

18. Creed Humphrey

Chiefs Center

Last Year's Rank: 68

My 2nd best offensive lineman in the league, Creed Humphrey may be the most underrated player in the entire league. Likely because of the undervaluing the league does for the Center position, Humphrey leads this great offensive line and captains the pre-snap adjustments and assignments. In the revolving door the Chiefs have had on it's boundary, the interior of this offensive line has continued to be among the best in the league thanks also to Guard Trey Smith, but mostly to Humphrey's all-around game and intelligence.

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17. Justin Jefferson

Vikings Wide Receiver

Last Year's Rank: 15

I will continue to die on my horse that Justin Jefferson made Kirk Cousins, he made Sam Darnold last season and will make J.J. McCarthy this season. Quite frankly he is the perfect receiver for today's game; sticky hands, beautiful routes, speedy and athletic and swagger for days. If Jettas had a more consistent and elite QB it's very likely he would be in my Top-5 but until McCarthy plays a full season, I can't put Jefferson any higher than this.

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16. Kyle Hamilton

Ravens Safety

Last Year's Rank: 37

Not to make light of this ranking, but adding Malaki Starks to this defense and pairing with Hamilton is going to make him even better. The signer of a recent $25.1 Million AAV contract, Hamilton may be one of the most versatile defensive players in the league, think 2015 Tyrann Mathieu but 15 pounds heavier and 7 inches taller. Able to play LB, NB or Safety, Hamilton is the swiss army knife that this defense will be building around for a decade and at only 24, he will keep getting better.

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Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/ Imagn Images

15. Patrick Mahomes II

Chiefs Quarterback

Last Year's Rank: 1

Alright if we were to make this list based off of just "winning", Mahomes would be closer to the top. The days of Mahomes dragging his team to the Super Bowl are in the past however and while he doesn't make mistakes and is arguably the Quarterback you'd most want on your team in the 4th Quarter or the Playoffs, he is no longer the best of the best. #15 is still elite though and my QB4.

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14. Tristan Wirfs

Buccaneers Tackle

Last Year's Rank: 25

The best lineman in the league, Wirfs has flirted with the ranking for 3 seasons now but his 2024 solidified it. The best pass blocking Left Tackle in the league, Wirfs allowed only 1 QB hit last season and 0 sacks. Like Sewell is also young at only 26 years old and should keep gtting better.

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13. Sauce Gardner

Jets Cornerback

Last Year's Rank: 3

Sauce had a down year in 2024 and was still a Top-15 corner in the league. From a pure skill perspective, Sauce has as much as any Cornerback in the league and the athleticism to back it up. After his first two seasons were spent as the arguable #1 cB in the league, Gardner came back to Earth last year but still has so much promise to get back to his spot in the future. Maybe it's just the Jets...

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12. Maxx Crosby

Raiders Defensive End

Last Year's Rank: 20

This ranking is sure to ruffle some feather but just hear me out... Pete Carroll is about to make Crosby a DPOY candidate in 2025. The Pro Bowl edge rusher had his worst season in 3 years thanks to an ankle injury suffered in Week 2 and requiring surgery after Week 14. Now healthy and with a defensive coaching staff behind him, I truly believe Crosby is about to put the league on notice as my 3rd best pass rusher.

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Photo by Tommy Gilligan/ Imagn Images

11. Derrick Henry

Ravens Running Back

Last Year's Rank: 40

Moving to Baltimore from Tennessee was the best decision Derrick Henry has ever made. Likely to fall off just a bit thanks to returning depth RBs in Baltimore, Henry should stay the dominant tailback and hit at least 275 carries again in 2025. The most dominant back of the last decade, Henry just hit his 7th season in a row with double-digit TDs and should make it 8 this year with relative ease.

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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the 2025 NFL Off season. Come back Next Saturday, 9/6 at Noon for Zak Drapeau's NFL Top-100 Players of 2025 TOP-10.

-Z.D.