NFL Top 100: 10 Players Voted Too Low in Bottom 30 of Rankings

This week, the NFL Network released players 70-79 in their rankings of the 100 best in the NFL. Like the previous 20 players listed, the latest 10 was littered in questionable placements. 

Combined with players 80-100, we break down the names voted too low in the bottom 30 of the rankings below.

The current list of NFL Network's top 100 players can be found here.

Carl Nicks (No. 76)

For whatever reason, the players voted Nicks down 21 spots from his 2011 position of No. 55. Looking back on the '11 season, it's hard to understand why. Nicks put in another All-Pro quality season at left guard for the Saints, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers handsomely paid the game's best interior lineman to jump ship in the NFC South.

His place at No. 55 made a lot more sense last season. 

Nnamdi Asomugha (No. 79)

I'm guessing Asomugha got knocked for playing a part in the collapse of the "Dream Team" last season. But that's unfair for Asomugha overall, as the shutdown corner allowed just 29 receptions and a passer rating below 90 in 2011.

Thinking that Asomugha did something to drop him 61 spots in the rankings is ludicrous. 

Vince Wilfork (No. 81)

Wilfork had arguably his best season as a pro in 2011, including a dominant postseason in which no offensive lineman could seem to block the monstrous nose tackle. Yet Wilfork was dropped from No. 35 in 2011 to 81 in '12.

Why the fall? The decline of the Patriots defense overall could have played a factor. 

Joe Thomas (No. 82)

Facing some of the game's best pass-rushers twice a year in the AFC North, Thomas has allowed less than five sacks a season during his decorated NFL career. There's a pretty good case for Thomas being in the top two or three offensive tackles in the game.

Did I miss something from 2011? Thomas dropped 39 spots from No. 43 overall after 2010. He should be a top-50 talent. 

Navorro Bowman (No. 85) 

Bowman put his name among the linebacking elite after one of the better seasons from a player at the position in recent memory. According to Pro Football Focus, only Patrick Willis' 2009 season at inside linebacker trumps the overall grade Bowman received last year.

His name isn't as well known as it should be, but Bowman's film from 2011 was good enough for consideration in the top 25.

Darren Sproles (No. 86)

The point of offenses is to score points, but you have to chew up yards to eventually get the ball in the end zone. No player in NFL history was as productive in acquiring yards as Sproles was last season, and you could argue that his introduction into the Saints offense was a big reason why Drew Brees broke the passing yards record in 2011. 

Sproles doesn't need to be a whole lot higher, but 86 seems low for such a productive all-around player.

Hakeem Nicks (No. 90)

You need no more evidence than the Giants' playoff run to understand why Nicks at No. 90 is a crime. The physical receiver took over the NFC playoffs, helping will the Giants offense past both the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers on their way to a Super Bowl title. 

As long as Nicks stays healthy, there's no reason to think he can't push to be a top-five receiver in the game. 

Tony Romo (No. 91)

Say what you want about Romo's "clutch gene," but the guy has season-in and season-out put up great numbers in the Dallas offense. And really, having Joe Flacco (No. 74) that far above Romo in the rankings is questionable at best. 

Like Sproles, Romo doesn't need a big jump up. But he needs to be above a quarterback like Flacco if we're just looking at the player. 

Ryan Kalil (No. 99)

The brother of Matt, who the Vikings drafted No. 4 overall in last month's draft, Ryan may actually be one of the game's most underrated players. He's emerged as one of the very best centers and a sure bet to make the Pro Bowl in the NFC every season. 

Most won't agree with me, but I'd have Kalil in the mid 70s of these rankings. 

Chris Johnson (No. 100)

CJ2K has been more CJ1K over the last two seasons, but to think that a home run threat as dangerous as Johnson would be the 100th-best player in the NFL might be one of the voting's worst offenses. 

In just four years in the NFL, Johnson has accumulated over 7,000 yards of total offense and 42 touchdowns. And to think that Tebow guy is at No. 95 overall...