NFL Top 100: Undervalued Player From Each Show

The Top 100 Players of 2017 was the the seventh countdown of the top 100 players in the NFL as voted on by the players themselves. The show has aired every summer since 2011, and ended last night with Tom Brady becoming the first player to be voted twice as the best player in the NFL by his peers. Everyone has their own opinions, but here are some of the guys I feel were underrated for each show.

 

100-91

100. Joey Bosa, Chargers DE

99. Malcolm Butler, Patriots CB

98. Adrian Peterson, Saints RB

97. David DeCastro, Steelers G

96. Damon Harrison, Giants DT

95. Kelechi Osemele, Raiders G

94. Dont’a Hightower, Patriots LB

93. Brandon Graham, Eagles DE

92. Everson Griffen, Vikings DE

91. Lorenzo Alexander, Bills OLB

 

The choice: Joey Bosa, Chargers DE (100)

I would say the NFL is tougher on rookies, but Ezekiel Elliott was voted as the top running back, so that isn’t the case. Joey Bosa made a huge impact for the Chargers, recording 10.5 sacks after a long holdout and missing the first three games of the season. He doesn’t turn 22 until a couple more weeks, so at least Bosa should have plenty of chances to move up the list.

 

90-81

90. Malcolm Jenkings, Eagles S

89. Thomas Davis, Panthers OLB

88. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks WR

87. Travis Frederick, Cowboys C

86. Jurrell Casey, Titans DE

85. Chandler Jones, Cardinals OLB

84. Mike Daniels, Packers DE

83. Calais Campbell, Jaguars DE

82. Clay Matthews, Packers OLB

81. Alex Smith, Chiefs QB

 

The choice: Chandler Jones, Cardinals OLB (85)

It couldn’t have been easy to go from the New England Patriots to… anywhere else, but Chandler Jones played just as well in the desert as he did in Foxborough. Having turned 27 in February, Jones is right in the prime of his prime, and could help the Cardinals enjoy a bounce back season if they can stay healthy on both sides of the ball.

 

80-71

80. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots RB

79. Sean Lee, Cowboys LB

78. Brian Orakpo, Titans OLB

77. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers S

76. Justin Houston, Chiefs OLB

75. Delanie Walker, Titans TE

74. Harrison Smith, Vikings S

73. Philip Rivers, Chargers QB

72. Taylor Lewan, Titans T

71. Julian Edelman, Patriots WR

 

The choice: Julian Edelman, Patriots WR (71)

Edelman makes clutch catch after clutch catch for the Pats in the biggest moments, and that alone should move him up the list. He only had three touchdowns in the regular season, which could be the reason he isn’t higher, but Edelman did have a career-high 1,106 yards in 2016.

 

70-61

70. Kirk Cousins, Redskins QB

69. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins RB

68. Geno Atkins, Bengals DT

67. Greg Olsen, Panthers TE

66. Xavier Rhodes, Vikings CB

65. Jordan Reed, Redskins TE

64. Casey Hayward, Chargers CB

63. Chris Harris, Broncos CB

62. Cameron Wake, Dolphins DE

61. T.Y. Hilton, Colts WR

 

The choice: Casey Hayward, Chargers CB (64)

This was a close one between cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Casey Hayward, but I went with Hayward. After spending his first four years in Green Bay, Hayward signed with the Chargers and had his best season yet, totaling seven interceptions and limiting some of the game’s top receivers.

 

60-51

60. Dez Bryant, Cowboys WR

59. Josh Norman, Redskins CB

58. Zach Martin, Cowboys G

57. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers QB

56. Cliff Avril, Seahawks DE

55. Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins DT

54. Janoris Jenkins, Giants CB

53. Amari Cooper, Raiders WR

52. Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers DT

51. Andrew Luck, Colts QB

 

The choice: Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins DT (55)

Suh has seemingly flown under the radar since joining the Dolphins, but he has been just as good in Miami and he was in Detroit. Last season, the game-wrecker set a career-high in tackles, so Suh still has a lot left in the tank as he enters his age-30 season.

 

50-41

50. Marcus Mariota, Titans QB

49. Jadeveon Clowney, Texans DE

48. Jordy Nelson, Packers WR

47. Trent Williams, Redskins T

46. Michael Bennett, Seahawks DE

45. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals WR

44. Cam Newton, Panthers QB

43. Marshal Yanda, Ravens G

42. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins WR

41. Devonta Freeman, Falcons RB

 

The choice: Jordy Nelson, Packers WR (48)

This one really baffled me, as Nelson came back from a torn ACL to lead the league with 14 receiving touchdowns and also had 97 catches for 1,257 yards in the regular season. Jordy showed great toughness, too, as he played through a broken rib in the playoffs. I don’t see how there are eight receivers better than him, but that’s how the players voted.

 

40-31

40. Vic Beasley, Falcons OLB

39. Bobby Wagner, Seahawks LB

38. Fletcher Cox, Eagles DT

37. Aqib Talib, Broncos CB

36. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs WR

35. J.J. Watt, Texans DE

34. Kam Chancellor, Seahawks S

33. DeMarco Murray, Titans RB

32. Marcus Peters, Chiefs CB

31. Matthew Stafford, Lions QB

 

The choice: J.J. Watt, Texans DE (35)

Despite J.J. Watt saying himself that “this list is a joke” for ranking him so favorably while playing just three games, it is the top players for 2017, so this is probably too conservative for arguably the NFL’s best defensive player. Watt is sure to climb back into the top ten if he is healthy this year.

 

30-21

30. Earl Thomas, Seahawks S

29. Mike Evans, Buccaneers WR

28. Landon Collins, Giants S

27. LeSean McCoy, Bills RB

26. Travis Kelce, Chiefs TE

25. Joe Thomas, Browns T

24. Russell Wilson, Seahawks QB

23. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots TE

22. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers QB

21. Richard Sherman, Seahawks CB

 

The choice: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots TE (23)

The same is true for Rob Gronkowski, who is the choice here because it’s getting a little tough to pick the undervalued guys as we move higher and higher. Gronk is probably the best tight end ever, and put up insane numbers in limited action last season.

 

20-11

20. Luke Kuechly, Panthers LB

19. Patrick Peterson, Cardinals CB

18. Tyron Smith, Cowboys T

17. A.J. Green, Bengals WR

16. Drew Brees, Saints QB

15. Aaron Donald, Rams DT

14. Dak Prescott, Cowboys QB

13. Eric Berry, Chiefs S

12. David Johnson, Cardinals RB

11. Derek Carr, Raiders QB

 

The choice: Patrick Peterson, Cardinals CB

I just said it’s getting a little tough to pick guys, but this group could have been a few players. Drew Brees just led the league in passing yards (again), Aaron Donald could easily be in the top ten, David Johnson might be the best running back in the league, and Derek Carr was a legitimate MVP candidate last year. I went with Patrick Peterson, though, as he was a lockdown corner all season.

 

10-1

10. Matt Ryan, Falcons QB

9. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers RB

8. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants WR

7. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys RB

6. Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB

5. Khalil Mack, Raiders OLB

4. Antonio Brown, Steelers WR

3. Julio Jones, Falcons WR

2. Von Miller, Broncos OLB

1. Tom Brady, Patriots QB

 

The choice: Matt Ryan, Falcons QB (10)

I honestly thought Matty Ice would be a top-three player after winning the 2016 NFL MVP, but the players put him all the way down at #10 for one reason or another. They could be holding the Super Bowl loss against him, but it’s not like he was chucking interceptions; the #1 player and his team simply refused to lose after being down 25 points.