The Top 100 Players in the NFL Today

This list will make people angry. I know that's a bit of a rough opening lede, but there it is. After all, can you ever make everyone happy boiling 1,600-plus players down to just 100?

No, you cannot. Yet here I am on my Quixote quest to rank the 100 best players currently active in the league.

Why? Because it's fun, because it's always a great conversation starter and because, dammit, it's there. Like Mount Rushmore, it may be crazy, but dang it, I'm climbing.

This is my list, and I expect you to have some issues with it. So drop who you think I missed in the comments, tell me player A is too high and B too low. Try to keep it civil—after all, there is no definitive right or wrong (except I am always right). Have some fun.

A few insights into how I approached this. I didn't try to balance out representatives of the positions. Some positions have a better collection of athletes and players than others. I went for the best of the best, regardless of positions.

No rookies, as we don't even know where they land for another month.

Speaking of rookies, some of last year's crop are on the list. While I tried to balance out historical play (a guy who is consistent over the course of several years) versus a great 2011, some guys just haven't been around that long and yet impressed me to the point where I tossed them in.

Finally, this is my list. I don't expect it to make everyone do cartwheels, and I do expect differing opinions on it. I expect some good discussion. I did not throw in players to generate controversy because Lord knows it comes anyway, whether I like it or not.

So with all that in mind, have at it!

Players 100-91

100. Jamaal Charles

99. DeMeco Ryans

98. Vincent Jackson

97. Devin Hester

96. Brian Cushing

95. Ike Taylor

94. Mario Williams

93. Andrew Whitworth

92. Marshal Yanda

91. Logan Mankins

Let's just start right at the top and say that if Charles weren't coming off of a major injury, I would have him higher up. As it stands, he is, and he has Peyton Hillis as his backup. Now, Hillis isn't going to take that job but the Chiefs may spell Charles.

Devin Hester at No. 97 might shock people, but is there a better return guy in the league? He's only a fair receiver, but his ability to turn a game's momentum on a kick return is shocking to this day, even though we've seen it before. As his impact is so absolute, I had to include him on the list.

Cushing had a tremendous rookie season and then fell to earth again post-drug test suspension. He rose back up in 2011 and showed that whatever the suspension may have said about him, he is a tremendous athlete.

Mankins isn't as good as he once was—some might say he's overrated—but is still a very effective guard for the Patriots and one of the best in the league.

Players 90-81

90. Roddy White

89. Charles Johnson

88. Eric Wood

87. Jason Witten

86. Brent Grimes

85. Lardarius Webb

84. Matt Schaub

83. Elvis Dumervil

82. Dwayne Bowe

81. Jason Peters

As we finish the 90s, I have the first of many wide receivers on the list. Roddy White has produced five straight 1,000-plus yard seasons in a row, and even the arrival of Julio Jones did little to slow him down. In fact, in 2011 he was targeted a career high 191 times and totaled the third highest amount of yards in his career. White continues to play at a high level, and I don't see him slowing down for some time.

Witten may seem a little far back in the rankings, but with the receivers he fights with for targets (when everyone is healthy) and the fact that he doesn't fit into the current style of tight end, he slips a bit. He's an outstanding tight end, just on the slow slope downhill for his career, as opposed to the guys like Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski, who are clearly ascending.

I think Brent Grimes is one of the most underrated corners in the game and a name that casual fans had best start remembering.

Schaub is on the list for the excellent play he produces when healthy—the "when healthy" is why he's way back at No. 84.

Elvis Dumervil has proven to be a tremendous player, flourishing on the line with Von Miller to form a nucleus for the Denver defense.

Bowe looked like he might repeat 2010 but fell off during the season. He has the talent to be higher on this list—he lacks the consistency.

Players 80-71

80. Sean Weatherspoon

79. Chris Myers

78. Fred Jackson

77. Ryan Kerrigan

76. London Fletcher

75. Carl Nicks

74. Brandon Flowers

73. Daryl Smith

72. Derrick Johnson

71. Miles Austin

Fred Jackson would be higher on this list if he hadn't been hurt for a chunk of the season. My other worry is that once again the Bills are talking backfield committee. Jackson and C.J. Spiller are totally different backs and could play well together, but I have a feeling that Jackson may not get the carries he should.

Nicks is one of the best guards in the league (arguably the best), and Tampa Bay picking him up was tremendous. Josh Freeman needs help staying upright as well as clearing the way for the running backs. Nicks was a huge factor on the Saints' offensive line and would be effective on any team.

Brandon Flowers isn't on the level of a Darrelle Revis or Charles Woodson, but he's no slouch. Among the best of the second/third tier corners, Flowers leads the pack.

Another on my list of "players who could be higher but were hurt" is Miles Austin. Dez Bryant and Jason Witten eating into his targets hurts as well. Austin is a great receiver who Cowboys fans are praying will stay on the field this year.

Players 70-61

70. Chris Long

69. Eric Weddle

68. Lance Briggs

67. Michael Vick

66. Vernon Davis

65. Joe Staley

64. Stevie Johnson

63. DeMarco Murray

62. Matt Ryan

61. Alex Mack

A bunch of quick hits on this section.

Eric Weddle is one of the top safeties in the NFL and is paid like it too. He's one of the few consistent bright spots on an otherwise troubled defense for the Chargers.

Vick's talents warrant him being higher but his consistent injuries kill his ranking. He can't stay on the field, and until he does, consistently, he isn't a valuable as a lot of other top quarterbacks.

If Mike Singletary did one thing right during his tenure with the 49ers, it's slap some sense into Vernon Davis. Although his yard totals dropped a bit, he had his second highest totals in targets and catches, and his athletic ability is the one thing the Niners can count on in the passing offense.

Joe Staley is, quite simply, the linchpin for a thin and somewhat scary offensive line. He's the rock in San Francisco, and he's what the team needs to build around to make the line better.

Stevie Johnson has the ability to be even higher here, but his maturity is lacking. If he can be more consistent and make some better decisions post-catch. he will rise up this list.

It might be a little high, a little soon for DeMarco Murray, but before he got hurt he showed what a game changer he could be. If he stays healthy, his upside is huge.

Ryan isn't flashy and has to be better in the postseason, but he's one of the most consistent quarterbacks out there and is still heading towards his peak.

Alex Mack is a bit inconsistent, but if he can square that away, should continue to improve and become one of the best centers in the NFL.

Players 60-51

60. Cam Newton

59. NaVorro Bowman

58. Philip Rivers

57. Calais Campbell

56. Jermichael Finley

55. Scott Wells

54. Joe Haden

53. Bryan Bulaga

52. Jason Babin

51. Frank Gore

I'd love to say I had Newton nailed last year, but even though I was reasonably optimistic, he still blew anything I said out of the water. I don't get the one-year wonder sense from him, and his ability to move outside the pocket and throw accurately when he does sets him apart. Also, unlike Vick, Newton can take a beating.

Rivers had a bad year but has been very consistent until 2011. I don't throw him out for one bad year—but if he cannot right the ship, he will fall off this list in 2013.

When it comes to tight ends, Jermichael Finley is a bit of an enigma. Prior to 2010, it appeared he was going to be the featured receiver. Then he was hurt. And 2011 saw him regress a bit in play. So will the real J. Finley please stand up? He has a great deal of talent but needs to put it together or risk getting lost in that developing wide receiver corps.

Frank Gore is wearing down a bit (and you know the Niners think the same with Brandon Jacobs being brought in) but is still an incredible running back. He can run with the ball, catch the ball, block—he can do it all. As long as he's healthy, which can be dicey.

Players 50-41

50. Steve Smith

49. Wes Welker

48. Terrell Suggs

47. Richard Seymour

46. Michael Johnson

45. Jason Pierre-Paul

44. Ben Roethlisberger

43. Brian Orakpo

42. Nnamdi Asomugha

41. Matt Stafford

Another section with a bunch of short notes and a deep 10 guys.

Steve Smith has to be glad he didn't get the trade he wanted prior to the 2011 season and the arrival of Cam Newton. He's reborn and will have a few more productive years at least.

What, really, can you say about Welker that hasn't been said. A gutsy player who is good for moving the chains, he didn't drop any balls until deep into the playoffs. Sadly, more people remember his Super Bowl drop than his sure hands in the regular season.

JPP is a monster for the Giants and a big reason why they surged in the last quarter of the season and during the playoffs. His speed and power make him a dangerous man to try to stop.

Johnson finally settled into a groove last year and I believe is showing the talent people saw coming out of college.

Roethlisberger has refocused on football, and it seems to have made a big difference. Honestly, he seems like a guy who has been around the league longer than he has. He can hurt you scrambling or hurt you with his arm. One day, the Steelers may even have an offensive line for him.

Nnamdi Asomugha will seem a little bit off in this spot, but he is coming off a horrendous year. Some of the struggles stem from being used incorrectly in a new scheme, but some of it is on him. He can rise back up, but he has to really improve over last year's efforts.

Stafford was healthy last year and, as expected, it made a huge difference. Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Brandon Pettigrew and Titus Young all contributed. A run game would help Stafford, and the Lions need to find that answer soon.

Players 40-31

40. Antonio Gates

39. Rob Gronkowski

38. Von Miller

37. Trent Cole

36. Hakeem Nicks

35. Mike Wallace

34. Matt Forte

33. Lamar Woodley

32. LeSean McCoy

31. Ray Lewis

Antonio Gates and Rob Gronkwoski are nice bookends to the story on tight ends in the league these days. Gates is the original super-athletic tight end who can make amazing catches and plays almost like a wide receiver. Gronkowski is the next gen model, doing the same things but bigger and faster.

Von Miller is a beast and, as I said about Elvis Dumervil, is part of a very effective tandem. Miller slipped a bit at times last year, but he looked like he was just getting started on what will be a huge career.

I know that New York fell in love with Victor Cruz, but Cruz woduln't get half his catches if Hakeem Nicks weren't drawing attention away from him. Nicks is a speedy, big play waiting to happen and isn't afraid to go hard after a catch. Hands down the best receiver in New York.

Where will Mike Wallace land? The tag fee is a bit steep, but if I were a team like the Niners, I'd pay it. After all, how often does a young wide receiver with this skillset land on the market? If you answered, "Almost never," then you know why some team should cough up some picks for him.

Matt Forte was on pace for a huge season last year before he went down with an injury. Now he's franchised, watching as his team brings in other backs and generally angry. The Bears should sign him to a deal for what he's worth, but it might not make financial sense to them. That mercenary attitude could have Forte stewing and holding out.

Shady McCoy was the only thing on the Eagles' offense worth noting. That might seem like damning with faint praise but it isn't—McCoy would be the best thing in most offenses around the league. The Eagles could rely on him in any situation last year, and he always produced.

Ray Lewis may be getting older and slowly slipping down the path to retirement, but he's not going slowly. He'll fade off this list soon enough, but right now he's still a force to be reckoned with.

Players 30-21

30. Greg Jennings

29. Eric Winston

28. Cameron Wake

27. Nick Mangold

26. Jimmy Graham

25. Joe Thomas

24. Peyton Manning

23. Chris Johnson

22. Justin Smith

21. Ndamukong Suh

Jennings has slowly risen up the charts over the past few years and now has back-to-back big seasons where he proved himself able to be the No. 1 option in Green Bay.

If there were one good thing about the Jets' offensive line in 2011 (and really there was only one), that thing would be center Nick Mangold. When he was hurt, this line fell to pieces. Not only is he a key anchor for this line, he is a big asset to Mark Sanchez, who listens to him before, during and after plays as the savvy center spies defenses and makes adjustments.

Quite simply, Graham is one of the two best young tight ends in the game, and the Saints will continue to use him until some defense stops him—I wouldn't hold my breath.

Manning's four neck surgeries have me concerned, and he seemed to be slipping even before they happened. He's not going to fall off a cliff, but he's not in the same league as Brady/Brees/Rodgers and his own brother—not anymore. That said, his 75 percent is better than most quarterbacks' 100 percent.

Chris Johnson got paid and appeared to get lazy. I'm hoping for a step back to the high level of play he put on display prior to his big-money contract. That he is just cracking the top 25 on this list tells you I remain skeptical.

If Suh could grow up, he'd be even better, which should give the NFC North some pause. As it stands, his foolish and uncontrolled impulses make him less effective at times and hurt his team. He needs to wise up if he wants to reach his full potential.

Players 20-11

20. Charles Woodson

19. Patrick Willis

18. Jared Allen

17. Ray Rice

16. DeMarcus Ware

15. Clay Matthews

14. Arian Foster

13. Darrelle Revis

12. Larry Fitzgerald

11. Haloti Ngata

Here's a section to drive Packer fans bonkers. Woodson at 20, Revis at 13. This argument is how I met fellow B/R staffer and Cheesehead Boss Aaron Nagler. Maybe I'll make some new friends here.

In short terms, both are tremendous players. Revis is the best cover corner in the game. He doesn't have all Woodson's tools yet, but he takes away half of the field. Woodson, for all his talents, does not. Give Woodson this, though: His stats and play haven't degraded all that much, and I could see ruing the day I ranked them this way.

Some will say Ray Rice shouldn't be this high, but the undersized back keeps getting better and better. Rice is a tremendous athlete, and he's a back I would happily build my team around. So is Arian Foster—I understand Foster is Australian for "still underpaid." Foster is an elite back and a class act. Off the field or on it, nobody will give himself up for the love of the game like he will.

Unless he wins the Madden Cover, in which case he's hosed.

Clay Matthews' stats might be off this year, but he's still an outstanding linebacker and a pivotal member of the Green Bay defense. If they can get someone across from him to pull blockers out of his way—wow!

Larry Fitzgerald defies any concerns about needing a good quarterback to excel. All any QB needs to do is throw to Larry—regardless of coverage, he will go and get it.

Players 10-1

10. Julius Peppers

9. Calvin Johnson

8. Maurice Jones-Drew

7. Andre Johnson

6. Troy Polamalu

5. Eli Manning

4. Drew Brees

3. Adrian Peterson

2. Tom Brady

1. Aaron Rodgers

This final section is very heavy on the quarterbacks. Why? Well, this is a passing league and only becoming more of one every year. If you don't have one of these guys, you need to find one. Any of the quarterbacks on this top 10 are guys I would build a team around and pay a ton of money to make happy.

Eli Manning is the biggest addition in my mind here. I was not on the Eli Train early last season. I have to say, I appear to have been wrong. He took a huge leap forward this season, and the Giants won a Super Bowl in no small part because of it. If only he scowled less... 

Brees, Brady and Rodgers, in that order to round it out. Brees is prolific and amazing, as is Brady. However, Rodgers is playing at an even higher level and has overcome an, at times, atrocious offensive line while keeping the Packers in just about every game.

It's a crapshoot and you can easily make arguments for any of the three, but to me Rodgers has all the tools and the youth to build a franchise on top of.

Peterson was a guy I almost dropped down due to the catastrophic injuries he suffered, but I believe he will bounce back and bounce back hard. I think he's the best back in the league, hands down—it's not even close. That he achieves what he does on a terrible team only makes me more impressed.

By the way, Maurice Jones-Drew may seem high, but he's not. I mean, speaking of doing a lot on bad teams—MJD is the whole offense in Jacksonville and can do it all. He defies all odds as he racks up yards in the crazy quest to keep Jacksonville from drowning.

Troy Polamalu might raise a few eyebrows, but for my money there is no better safety in the game and he is by far one of the best athletes playing in the NFL today.