Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was named the NFL’s No. 1 player as NFL Network unveiled the top 10 of its 100-player countdown on Wednesday night.
The rankings for “The Top 100 Players of 2019” were determined by votes by NFL players. This year, NFL Films collected 1,098 ballots, according to the league.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Rams running back Todd Gurley rounded out the top five.
This was just the second time since the inaugural top 100 countdown in 2011 that a defensive player took top honors (J.J. Watt in 2015 was the other). This also was the first time that “The Top 100” countdown had two defensive players finish in the top three in voting.
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Donald has won the NFL defensive player of the year award the previous two seasons, joining Watt and Lawrence Taylor as the only players to win the award in consecutive seasons. Donald also was the NFL’s leader in sacks last season with a career-high 20.5.
Brees, who is entering his 19th NFL season, was a surprise selection at No. 2. Last season, Brees became the NFL’s all-time pass completions and yardage leader, and moved into second place for career touchdown passes.
The Dallas Cowboys led the NFL with eight players selected in the top 100. The Cowboys’ top-rated player was holdout running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was No. 18 on the list.
Elliott also was the top-rated current training camp holdout, followed by the Chargers’ Melvin Gordon (No. 34), Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney (No. 63) and Redskins’ Trent Williams (No. 81).
Biggest jump: Michael Thomas, from No. 81 in 2018 to 13 this year (68 spots)
Biggest drop: Carson Wentz, from No. 3 in 2018 to 96 this year (93 spots)
Full list of the top 100 NFL players of 2019:
1. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
3. Khalil Mack, LB, Chicago Bears
4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams
6. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
7. Antonio Brown, WR, Oakland Raiders
8. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
9. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons
10. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
11. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
12. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
13. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
14. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
15. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks
16. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
17. Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
18. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
19. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
20, Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
21. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
22. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots
23. Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns
24. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
25. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
26. Darius Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts
27. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
29. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
30. Eddie Jackson, S, Chicago Bears
31. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers
32. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
33. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings
34. Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
35. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
36. Chris Jones, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
37. Jamal Adams, S, New York Jets
38. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
39. Akiem Hicks, DT, Chicago Bears
40. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
41. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
42. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
43. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay Packers
44. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
45. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys
46. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
47. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
48. Melvin Ingram, DE, Los Angeles Chargers
49. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
50. Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns
51. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
52. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys
53. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
54. Calais Campbell, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
55. Xavien Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins
56. Joey Bosa, DE, Los Angeles Chargers
57. Danielle Hunter, DE, Minnesota Vikings
58. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
59. Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys
60. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
61. Jaylon Smith, LB, Dallas Cowboys
62. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
63. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, Houston Texans
64. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys
65. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
66. Eric Ebron, TE, Indianapolis Colts
67. Dee Ford, LB, San Francisco 49ers
68. Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos
69. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
70. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
71. C.J. Mosley, LB, New York Jets
72. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles
73. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings
74. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Dallas Cowboys
75. Gerald McCoy, DT, Carolina Panthers
76. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams
77. Taylor Lewan, OT, Tennessee Titans
78. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
79. Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
80. Mark Ingram, RB, Baltimore Ravens
81. Trent Williams, OT, Washington Redskins
82. Bradley Chubb, LB, Denver Broncos
83. Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings
84. Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns
85. Frank Clark, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
86. Darius Slay, CB, Detroit Lions
87. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
88. Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
89. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots
90. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
91. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Los Angeles Rams
92. Jurrell Casey, DT, Tennessee Titans
93. T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
94. Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
95. Kyle Fuller, CB, Chicago Bears
96. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
97. Byron Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys
98. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
99. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
100. Eric Weddel, S, Los Angeles Rams
Previous No.1-ranked players on “NFL Top 100”:
2018: Tom Brady
2017: Tom Brady
2016: Cam Newton
2015: J.J. Watt
2014: Peyton Manning
2013: Adrian Peterson
2012: Aaron Rodgers
2011: Tom Brady
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