Which colleges produce the most NFL players. How do college programs impact NFL earnings. What is the correlation between college choice and professional football success. Which universities dominate NFL rosters.
Top Colleges Producing NFL Talent: A Comprehensive Analysis
The National Football League (NFL) is the pinnacle of professional football, and the path to reaching this elite level often begins on college campuses across the United States. Certain universities have established themselves as veritable football factories, consistently churning out NFL-caliber talent year after year. This article delves into the data provided by Spotrac’s NFL College Tracker to examine which institutions are leading the pack in terms of active NFL players and their cumulative earnings.
The Big Ten Powerhouses
Ohio State University stands out as a dominant force in producing NFL talent. With 32 active players in the league, the Buckeyes top the list in terms of representation. These players have collectively earned a staggering $916,757,570, showcasing not just quantity but also the quality of talent emerging from Columbus.
Other Big Ten schools making significant contributions include:
- Wisconsin: 16 active players, $532,561,630 in earnings
- Penn State: 21 active players, $463,539,623 in earnings
- Iowa: 21 active players, $422,053,050 in earnings
- Michigan: 14 active players, $319,333,046 in earnings
These numbers underscore the Big Ten’s reputation as a fertile ground for NFL prospects, with its schools consistently producing players who not only make it to the league but also command substantial salaries.
SEC Dominance: Alabama and LSU Lead the Charge
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has long been regarded as a powerhouse in college football, and its impact on the NFL is equally impressive. Alabama and Louisiana State University (LSU) stand out as the cream of the crop:
- Alabama: 40 active NFL players, $908,087,795 in earnings
- LSU: 29 active NFL players, $910,384,700 in earnings
Despite having fewer active players than Alabama, LSU’s alumni have earned slightly more in total, highlighting the high-caliber talent produced by both programs. Other SEC schools making significant contributions include:
- Georgia: 16 active players, $628,817,980 in earnings
- Texas A&M: 17 active players, $727,006,079 in earnings
- Florida: 21 active players, $436,786,214 in earnings
The SEC’s impact on the NFL is undeniable, with its schools consistently producing players who not only make rosters but often become stars and top earners in the league.
Pac-12 Representation: California Schools Shine
While the Pac-12 may not have the same quantity of players in the NFL as the SEC or Big Ten, certain schools from this conference are producing high-quality talent that commands significant salaries:
- California: 10 active players, $775,850,587 in earnings
- USC (Southern California): 14 active players, $468,472,580 in earnings
- UCLA (California-Los Angeles): 16 active players, $357,101,486 in earnings
- Stanford: 16 active players, $334,595,274 in earnings
California’s impressive earnings figure, despite having fewer active players than many other schools, suggests that its alumni are securing lucrative contracts and performing at a high level in the NFL.
ACC Contenders: Clemson and Florida State Lead the Way
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is well-represented in the NFL, with several schools contributing significant talent to the professional ranks:
- Clemson: 19 active players, $511,755,479 in earnings
- Florida State: 16 active players, $439,274,560 in earnings
- Miami (FL): 15 active players, $285,019,375 in earnings
- Virginia Tech: 12 active players, $369,214,823 in earnings
Clemson’s rise to prominence in college football over the past decade is reflected in its strong NFL presence, both in terms of active players and their earnings.
Notable Non-Power Five Contributors
While Power Five conference schools dominate the top of the list, several programs from other conferences have made significant contributions to the NFL talent pool:
- Notre Dame (Independent): 22 active players, $561,269,221 in earnings
- TCU (Big 12): 13 active players, $331,767,662 in earnings
- Boise State (Mountain West): 8 active players, $194,698,525 in earnings
- Central Florida (American Athletic): 10 active players, $159,089,887 in earnings
Notre Dame’s independent status hasn’t hindered its ability to produce NFL-caliber talent, as evidenced by its impressive numbers both in active players and earnings.
Unexpected Contributors: Small Schools Making Big Impacts
Several smaller schools and programs not typically associated with football powerhouse status have managed to produce notable NFL talent:
- Delaware: 3 active players, $188,142,196 in earnings
- Eastern Illinois: 2 active players, $137,591,338 in earnings
- Florida International: 2 active players, $109,466,627 in earnings
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 2 active players, $86,456,263 in earnings
These figures demonstrate that NFL talent can emerge from any program, regardless of its size or perceived prestige. The high earnings associated with players from these smaller schools suggest that they are not just making NFL rosters but are often becoming impact players at the professional level.
Analyzing the Data: Key Takeaways and Trends
Examining the NFL College Tracker data reveals several interesting trends and insights:
Quality vs. Quantity
While some schools like Alabama and Ohio State lead in terms of the number of active NFL players, others like California and Texas A&M stand out for the high earnings of their alumni despite having fewer players in the league. This suggests that the quality of NFL-ready talent produced can be just as important as the quantity.
Conference Strength
The data reinforces the perception of the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC as premier conferences for developing NFL talent. However, it also shows that other conferences and independent programs like Notre Dame are significant contributors to the professional ranks.
Program Consistency
Schools like LSU, Alabama, and Ohio State not only produce a high number of NFL players but also maintain consistency in the quality of talent, as evidenced by the high earnings of their alumni. This speaks to the strength of their football programs and their ability to recruit and develop top-tier talent consistently.
Emerging Programs
The presence of schools like Clemson near the top of the list reflects their rise to prominence in college football over the past decade. This suggests that as programs improve at the collegiate level, their impact on the NFL can increase relatively quickly.
Small School Success Stories
The significant earnings associated with players from smaller schools like Delaware and Eastern Illinois highlight the importance of scouting and player development at all levels of college football. NFL teams are clearly willing to invest in talent, regardless of its origin.
Do NFL teams favor certain college programs when drafting or signing players. The data suggests that while there is a clear preference for players from powerhouse programs, talent from any school can succeed at the professional level if given the opportunity.
Is there a correlation between a school’s success in college football and its ability to produce NFL talent. While many top producers of NFL talent are also successful in college football, the relationship is not absolute. Some schools known for their college success may not translate that into a high number of NFL players, while others with less college football prestige still manage to produce NFL-caliber talent consistently.
How does the financial success of NFL players impact their alma maters. While the direct financial impact on universities may be limited, the success of alumni in the NFL can significantly boost a school’s reputation, potentially attracting more top recruits and improving the overall quality of the football program.
Future Outlook
As college football continues to evolve, with factors such as conference realignment, the transfer portal, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals changing the landscape, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the production of NFL talent. Will traditional powerhouses maintain their dominance, or will we see new schools emerge as top producers of professional football players.
The NFL College Tracker data provides valuable insights into the relationship between collegiate football programs and professional success. It highlights the schools that are most effective at preparing players for the NFL, not just in terms of making rosters but also in terms of earning potential. As the football landscape continues to evolve, this data will remain a crucial tool for understanding the pipeline of talent from college to the professional ranks.
NFL College Tracker | Spotrac
| College | Active Players | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 32 | $916,757,570 |
| Louisiana State | 29 | $910,384,700 |
| Alabama | 40 | $908,087,795 |
| California | 10 | $775,850,587 |
| Texas A&M | 17 | $727,006,079 |
| Georgia | 16 | $628,817,980 |
| Oklahoma | 17 | $579,938,977 |
| Mississippi State | 13 | $576,901,311 |
| Notre Dame | 22 | $561,269,221 |
| Wisconsin | 16 | $532,561,630 |
| Clemson | 19 | $511,755,479 |
| Southern California | 14 | $468,472,580 |
| Penn State | 21 | $463,539,623 |
| Florida State | 16 | $439,274,560 |
| Florida | 21 | $436,786,214 |
| Iowa | 21 | $422,053,050 |
| Virginia Tech | 12 | $369,214,823 |
| California-Los Angeles | 16 | $357,101,486 |
| Nebraska | 11 | $337,964,684 |
| Stanford | 16 | $334,595,274 |
| Texas Christian | 13 | $331,767,662 |
| Washington | 19 | $327,320,304 |
| Michigan | 14 | $319,333,046 |
| Arkansas | 12 | $312,318,064 |
| Michigan State | 6 | $308,059,365 |
| Pittsburgh | 11 | $289,944,493 |
| Miami (FL) | 15 | $285,019,375 |
| Oregon | 12 | $276,207,694 |
| South Carolina | 13 | $275,702,529 |
| Texas | 19 | $264,708,957 |
| Kentucky | 8 | $243,649,704 |
| Mississippi | 12 | $241,120,709 |
| North Carolina State | 13 | $239,917,868 |
| Fresno State | 5 | $239,834,419 |
| Oregon State | 8 | $232,375,460 |
| Maryland | 8 | $231,060,616 |
| Tennessee | 15 | $226,106,822 |
| Louisville | 6 | $221,636,903 |
| Missouri | 10 | $218,079,890 |
| Temple | 12 | $211,734,326 |
| Colorado | 8 | $203,989,316 |
| Auburn | 13 | $198,383,759 |
| Boise State | 8 | $194,698,525 |
| North Carolina | 7 | $194,614,400 |
| Delaware | 3 | $188,142,196 |
| Syracuse | 6 | $187,091,692 |
| West Virginia | 15 | $177,036,836 |
| Cincinnati | 9 | $169,491,650 |
| Brigham Young | 8 | $168,453,760 |
| Central Florida | 10 | $159,089,887 |
| Kansas State | 9 | $156,376,649 |
| Boston College | 11 | $155,283,485 |
| Rutgers | 8 | $152,337,666 |
| Wyoming | 6 | $150,907,105 |
| Utah | 8 | $140,836,124 |
| Buffalo | 5 | $140,649,932 |
| South Florida | 5 | $137,703,569 |
| Eastern Illinois | 2 | $137,591,338 |
| Texas Tech | 9 | $136,685,546 |
| Utah State | 6 | $124,225,337 |
| Central Michigan | 6 | $120,337,149 |
| Western Michigan | 5 | $113,663,983 |
| Duke | 6 | $113,599,671 |
| Florida International | 2 | $109,466,627 |
| Houston | 8 | $109,272,953 |
| Virginia | 8 | $109,050,187 |
| Southern Methodist | 5 | $108,334,316 |
| Eastern Washington | 5 | $101,637,440 |
| Colorado State | 5 | $97,813,122 |
| South Carolina State | 4 | $95,634,938 |
| Georgia Tech | 4 | $94,052,906 |
| Baylor | 4 | $90,967,310 |
| Nevada | 3 | $88,260,905 |
| East Carolina | 2 | $87,561,702 |
| Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 2 | $86,456,263 |
| Kansas | 4 | $83,178,126 |
| Colorado State-Pueblo | 3 | $79,362,937 |
| Samford | 3 | $77,821,215 |
| Middle Tennessee State | 5 | $74,185,238 |
| Oklahoma State | 9 | $71,782,927 |
| Western Kentucky | 4 | $69,917,903 |
| Louisiana Tech | 6 | $67,895,865 |
| West Alabama | 1 | $67,139,171 |
| Minnesota | 4 | $66,881,027 |
| Minnesota-Mankato | 1 | $65,131,941 |
| Rice | 4 | $63,745,985 |
| Texas El-Paso | 4 | $60,858,436 |
| Purdue | 5 | $59,127,965 |
| Vanderbilt | 9 | $57,858,001 |
| Illinois | 8 | $56,964,103 |
| Toledo | 7 | $56,636,508 |
| Arizona State | 6 | $55,427,376 |
| Northern Illinois | 2 | $54,839,985 |
| Arkansas State | 2 | $54,347,618 |
| Northwestern | 7 | $53,382,117 |
| Grand Valley State | 1 | $52,822,220 |
| Missouri Southern State | 1 | $52,343,733 |
| Memphis | 4 | $46,614,870 |
| Iowa State | 4 | $45,217,621 |
| Florida Atlantic | 3 | $45,212,413 |
| San Diego State | 8 | $45,082,116 |
| Alabama-Birmingham | 2 | $44,686,124 |
| Harvard | 3 | $44,285,247 |
| Marshall | 2 | $43,232,382 |
| Northern Iowa | 2 | $41,097,239 |
| Connecticut | 3 | $39,774,995 |
| Georgia Southern | 3 | $39,702,541 |
| North Dakota State | 3 | $38,723,118 |
| Indiana | 4 | $37,216,389 |
| San Jose State | 4 | $36,133,542 |
| Ohio | 2 | $32,602,017 |
| Pittsburgh State | 1 | $31,620,975 |
| Appalachian State | 3 | $31,227,519 |
| Washington State | 5 | $30,366,116 |
| Eastern Michigan | 3 | $30,100,741 |
| Southern Mississippi | 6 | $30,080,384 |
| Manitoba | 1 | $30,017,451 |
| Valdosta State | 1 | $29,502,810 |
| Old Dominion | 5 | $29,157,166 |
| Wake Forest | 5 | $28,975,101 |
| Georgia State | 3 | $26,718,137 |
| San Diego | 3 | $26,066,182 |
| McGill | 1 | $25,829,109 |
| Albany State | 1 | $25,687,386 |
| Arizona | 2 | $25,505,020 |
| Citadel | 1 | $24,052,929 |
| Hawaii | 4 | $23,694,206 |
| Texas-San Antonio | 1 | $23,294,895 |
| Tulane | 4 | $21,770,075 |
| South Alabama | 2 | $21,028,479 |
| Western State Colorado | 1 | $20,966,224 |
| Presbyterian | 1 | $20,849,328 |
| MIssouri Western State | 2 | $20,806,043 |
| James Madison | 4 | $19,952,110 |
| Yale | 1 | $19,896,931 |
| Bloomsburg | 1 | $19,804,740 |
| Idaho | 2 | $19,645,496 |
| South Dakota State | 1 | $19,579,620 |
| Charlotte | 1 | $19,537,475 |
| Ferris State | 4 | $18,656,171 |
| Humboldt State | 1 | $18,262,884 |
| Weber State | 2 | $17,668,769 |
| Marist | 1 | $17,332,056 |
Stephen F. Austin | 1 | $17,242,935 |
| Ball State | 1 | $17,046,443 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $15,603,158 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $15,261,538 |
| Maine | 1 | $13,671,849 |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | 1 | $13,332,206 |
| Sioux Falls | 2 | $13,204,335 |
| Southern Illinois | 3 | $12,851,315 |
| William & Mary | 2 | $12,644,534 |
| North Carolina A&T | 2 | $12,582,919 |
| Alabama State | 1 | $12,422,517 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $12,337,086 |
| Greenville | 1 | $12,100,286 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 1 | $11,983,813 |
| Virginia Commonwealth | 1 | $11,809,348 |
| Central Arkansas | 2 | $11,703,072 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $11,456,979 |
| Canisius | 1 | $11,024,971 |
| Augustana | 1 | $10,954,193 |
| Ashland | 1 | $10,765,928 |
| Tennessee-Chattanooga | 4 | $10,381,323 |
| Texas State | 1 | $10,128,754 |
| California (PA) | 1 | $10,039,918 |
| Fordham | 1 | $9,687,389 |
| North Texas | 3 | $9,424,241 |
| Indiana State | 1 | $9,360,022 |
| Villanova | 1 | $9,290,468 |
| Miami | 1 | $9,076,408 |
| Wisconsin-Platteville | 1 | $8,308,963 |
| Minnesota State-Mankato | 1 | $8,232,858 |
| Southern Utah | 1 | $8,151,213 |
| Furman | 1 | $7,508,683 |
| Western Washington | 1 | $7,320,418 |
| Portland State | 1 | $7,316,695 |
| Navy | 1 | $7,256,454 |
| Jacksonville State | 1 | $6,717,676 |
| Youngstown State | 2 | $6,497,097 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 1 | $6,474,986 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 2 | $6,373,725 |
| Western Carolina | 1 | $6,168,777 |
| North Carolina Charlotte | 1 | $5,744,680 |
| Missouri State | 1 | $5,527,576 |
| Holy Cross | 1 | $5,509,401 |
| Murray State | 1 | $5,379,388 |
| Grambling State | 1 | $4,689,150 |
| Fort Hays State | 1 | $4,642,044 |
| West Georgia | 1 | $4,452,038 |
| Drake | 1 | $4,330,731 |
| Sacramento State | 1 | $4,181,308 |
| Wisconsin-Whitewater | 1 | $4,153,759 |
| Virginia State | 1 | $4,047,723 |
| Alcorn State | 1 | $4,010,042 |
| Charleston | 1 | $3,780,067 |
| Western Illinois | 1 | $3,772,728 |
| Illinois State | 1 | $3,484,564 |
| Southern | 1 | $3,437,391 |
| Tarleton State | 1 | $3,392,736 |
| Assumption | 1 | $3,292,200 |
| Elon | 1 | $3,164,715 |
| Southern Arkansas | 1 | $3,124,796 |
| Bowling Green | 1 | $3,112,840 |
| Morgan State | 1 | $3,071,446 |
| Montana State | 1 | $3,057,998 |
| East Central | 1 | $2,907,571 |
| Washburn | 1 | $2,623,572 |
| Akron | 1 | $2,508,796 |
| Stetson | 1 | $2,430,329 |
| McNeese State | 1 | $2,338,155 |
| Limestone | 1 | $2,233,199 |
| Bucknell | 1 | $1,922,944 |
| Wagner | 1 | $1,804,122 |
| Duquesne | 1 | $1,542,200 |
| Princeton | 1 | $1,471,663 |
| California-Davis | 1 | $1,342,037 |
| British Columbia | 1 | $1,257,285 |
| Marian | 1 | $646,533 |
| Lamar | 1 | – |
2022 NFL Rosters — Which Schools Have the Most Players in the NFL?
Dylan Reubenking
With the 2022 NFL season underway, I took a look at every player on every roster in the NFL to explore the question in the headline.
I think most of us can guess which schools and conferences have the most players just by watching a Sunday Night Football intro, but my curiosity couldn’t resist finding out for myself.
I set a couple of rules for myself with this research. I only included players on 53-man rosters, as well as the Reserve/Injured, Reserve/Non-Football Injury, Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform, and Reserve/Suspended by Commissioner lists. Practice squad players were not included.
The rosters are finalized as of Sept. 12, 2022, just before the Week 1 Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.
I’ll display the top 25 schools with the most NFL players, and then sort them all out by conferences.
Surprise surprise. Alabama has the most with 63, but the margin between the Tide and the rest of college football is not nearly as wide as I would have thought. LSU has only six fewer and Ohio State has eight fewer. Georgia is the only other school with at least 40 players.
Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, Florida, Iowa, Clemson, and Washington have 30 or more.
Now, let’s sort it the schools out by conference. The percentages are out of 1,884 players in the NFL.
SEC – 405 (21.5%)
Alabama – 63
LSU – 57
Georgia – 47
Florida – 34
Auburn – 26
Texas A&M – 25
South Carolina – 24
Ole Miss – 23
Tennessee – 22
Kentucky – 19
Mississippi State – 19
Missouri – 19
Arkansas – 16
Vanderbilt – 11
BIG TEN – 308 (16.3%)
Ohio State – 55
Michigan – 38
Penn State – 37
Iowa – 34
Wisconsin – 29
Nebraska – 18
Illinois – 15
Michigan State – 15
Minnesota – 14
Maryland – 13
Rutgers – 13
Purdue – 12
Northwestern – 8
Indiana – 7
ACC – 224 (11.9%)
Clemson – 32
Miami (FL) – 23
Florida State – 21
Virginia Tech – 21
North Carolina – 18
NC State – 17
Pittsburgh – 17
Boston College – 16
Duke – 12
Wake Forest – 11
Virginia – 10
Georgia Tech – 9
Syracuse – 9
Louisville – 8
PAC-12 – 200 (10.
6%)
Washington – 30
UCLA – 26
Stanford – 24
USC – 22
Oregon – 20
Utah – 17
California – 16
Arizona State – 13
Oregon State – 10
Colorado – 8
Washington State – 8
Arizona – 6
BIG 12 – 164 (8.7%)
Oklahoma – 37
Texas – 28
Oklahoma State – 18
TCU – 17
Baylor – 15
Texas Tech – 13
West Virginia – 12
Kansas State – 10
Iowa State – 9
Kansas – 5
AMERICAN – 105 (5.6%)
Cincinnati – 17
Houston – 16
Temple – 16
Memphis – 13
UCF – 13
SMU – 12
Tulane – 7
Tulsa – 4
East Carolina – 3
South Florida – 3
Navy – 1
MOUNTAIN WEST – 63 (3.3%)
Boise State – 12
San Diego State – 9
Utah State – 8
Wyoming – 8
Colorado State – 7
Fresno State – 6
Nevada – 5
San Jose State – 4
Hawaii – 2
New Mexico – 2
Air Force – 0
UNLV – 0
INDEPENDENTS – 62 (3.
3%)
Notre Dame – 39
BYU – 11
UConn – 5
UMass – 4
Army – 2
Liberty – 1
New Mexico State – 0
CONFERENCE USA – 57 (3.0%)
Florida Atlantic – 9
Louisiana Tech – 7
Middle Tennessee State – 6
Western Kentucky – 6
Rice – 5
UAB – 5
UTEP – 5
UTSA – 5
Charlotte – 3
Florida International – 3
North Texas – 3
SUN BELT – 56 (3.0%)
Appalachian State – 8
Louisiana – 6
Old Dominion – 6
Southern Miss – 6
Georgia Southern – 5
South Alabama – 5
Arkansas State – 4
Coastal Carolina – 3
Georgia State – 3
James Madison – 3
Marshall – 3
Texas State – 2
Louisiana-Monroe – 1
Troy – 1
MAC – 46 (2.4%)
Western Michigan – 11
Toledo – 9
Central Michigan – 7
Buffalo – 5
Eastern Michigan – 3
Miami (OH) – 3
Northern Illinois – 3
Bowling Green – 2
Ohio – 2
Ball State – 1
Akron – 0
Kent State – 0
Other Notes:
– 1,301 of the 1,884 (69.
1%) players in the NFL are from Power Five schools.
– 327 of the 1,884 (17.4%) players are from Group of Five schools.
– 1,690 of the 1,884 (89.7%) players are from FBS schools.
– 134 of the 1,884 (7.1%) players are from FCS schools.
– 48 of the 1,884 (2.5%) players are from Division II schools.
– 5 of the 1,884 (0.3%) players are from Division III schools.
– 4 players are from U Sports, 1 is from the BAFA National Leagues, 1 is from the International Player Pathway Program, and 1 is from VCU, who doesn’t have a football program.
Dylan Reubenking
Read more posts by this author
I am an Oregon Ducks fan who graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. At the UO, I did on-site reporting with Duck TV Sports and KWVA Sports 88.1 FM and have covered events such as the 2020 Pac-12 Football Championship Game and the 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament.
I previously wrote for Ducks Digest on the Sports Illustrated network.
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ESPN Top 20 College Football Players – First & Goal
How did this list come about? The site’s 32 college football contributors rated each player on a scale of one to ten based on their expected level of performance in the 2016 season. And that’s what happened.
No. 20. Jalen Tabor, cornerback, penultimate year, Florida 90,005 90,002 Average rating: 8.45 90,003 90,002 Despite the fact that last season all eyes were on Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, later drafted 11th overall Tampa Bay, some in the Gators’ camp thought Tabor’s play was more meaningful. In the 2015 season, he made 4 interceptions, two of which were returned to the opponent’s end zone. In addition, Tabor knocked down 18 passes, which was the best record in the SEC.
No. 19. Jourdan Lewis, cornerback, senior year, Michigan
Average score: 8.
46
Lewis could easily have been selected in the first round of the last NFL Draft if he went there. In the 2015 season, he set a program record for the number of passes downed (22). Instead, Lewis chose to finish his university career completely and once again be an integral part of Jim Harbaugh’s defense.
No. 18. Jamal Adams, safety, penultimate year, Louisiana State
Average score: 8.52
Another player from the Louisiana State system for many years, who is already attracting the attention of NFL scouts long before graduation. Everything is going to the fact that Adams will soon join the ranks of one of the professional teams through the first round of the draft. Last season, he made 4 interceptions and knocked down 10 opponent passes. In 2016, he will again be in the lead roles in one of the best secondaries lines in the country.
No. 17. Raquon McMillan, linebacker, penultimate year, Ohio State
Avg: 8.53
Even before McMillan was recruited, the Ohio State already saw him as a model inside linebacker.
Last season, he finally established himself in this role, making packs of grabs and telling his partners what to do in a given situation. McMillan is clearly a successor to the glorious traditions of the Ohio State linebacker school.
No. 16. Derwin James, defensive back, sophomore, Florida State
Average: 8.66
national level. It would be unfair to consider him a simple safety, given his excellent ability to play cornerback, linebacker, and even a pure pass rusher. Experts are sure that we have before us – potentially one of the best defensive backs in the history of college football.
No. 15. Jonathan Allen, DI, Senior Year, Alabama
Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) reacts after tackling Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) during the game at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama won 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Average Score: 8.76
Speaking of a perfect 3-4 end… Allen (191cm, 133kg) has the perfect size to stop running play.
In addition, he is very fast, which allows him to get to the opponent’s quarterback even before the o-line suspects something. Duck Prescott (Mississippi State QB) who Allen hit three sacks in a game last season won’t lie. A future NFL first-round draft pick will play one more season for Alabama.
No. 14. Calvin Ridley, wide receiver, sophomore, Alabama 90,005 90,002 Avg: 8.83 90,003 90,002 We all thought Alabama’s reception game would fade after Amari Cooper left at the end of the 2014 season. Wrong. Behind Cooper all this time, his exact copy (in terms of size, speed and style) was waiting for his chance in the face of Calvin Ridley. As a freshman last season, he received over 1,000 receiving yards.
No. 13. Ju Ju Smith-Shuster, wide receiver, penultimate year, Southern California
Average score: 8.86
Smith-Schuster’s size (188 cm, 100 kg) allows him to dominate smaller cornerbacks, and the ability to put up a stiff-arm and avoid capture has collected more than one tens of thousands of views on video services.
At the same time, he has speed and the ability to clearly follow the routes. Total: 89 receptions for a total of 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns in the 2015 season.
No. 12. Jet T Barrett, quarterback, penultimate year, Ohio State 90,005 90,002 Average score: 8.87
Barrett may not have gone quite the way last season, but towards the end of the season, this running quarterback took back the Ohio State offense and delivered some big touchdowns. Barret enters the new season healthy and freed from intra-team competition: nothing can stop him from having a great year.
No. 11. Nick Chubb, running back, penultimate year, Georgia
Georgia running back Nick Chubb (27) outruns Arkansas cornerback Jared Collins (29), safety Rohan Gaines (26) and safety Alan Turner (27) for a 43-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Little Rock, Ark., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/David Quinn)
Avg: 8.90
Chubb suffered a devastating knee injury midway through last season, but doctors say his recovery is progressing by leaps and bounds and well ahead of schedule.
In the two seasons prior, he had amassed 2,294 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. In the first half of the 2015 season, Chubb averaged 9.5 yards per carry wider than the tackle, which was second most in all five elite conferences.
No. 10. Cam Robinson, offensive tackle, penultimate year, Alabama 90,005 90,002 Average: 8.97 90,003 90,002 With Laremy Tancil moving to the NFL, Robinson is now by far the most talented o-lineman in college. It is likely that this powerful player (198 cm, 148 kg) will also be selected in the first round of the draft. It is also possible that he will enter the draft after the end of the 2016 season.
No. 9. Jabrill Peppers, Linebacker, Sophomore, Michigan 90,005 90,002 Average: 8.98 90,003 90,002 The Peppers may be the most versatile player in all of college football this season. According to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, the only player he had ever worked with who was just as quick to grasp was Andrew Luck. Sharp football mind combined with cosmic athleticism results in something incredible.
No. 8. Desmong King, cornerback, senior year, Iowa
Nov 14, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) during warmups against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Average score: 9.03
The first person in our ranking to cross the 9 point mark is last year’s Jim Thorpe Award winner (a prize for the best secondary player in college football). Needless to say, the Iowa staff was in seventh heaven to learn that King was not going to the draft a year before graduation. Last season, he tied the program’s record with 8 steals in a season.
No. 7. Royce Freeman, running back, penultimate year, Oregon 90,005 90,002 Average: 9.14 90,003 90,002 Freeman is a nimble running back, like all Oregon runners in recent years. However, what distinguishes Royce is his size: with a weight of more than 100 kg, he is able to both cut corners at speed and push through defenses.
The combination of these qualities makes it a true college-level yarding machine.
No. 6. Baker Mayfield, quarterback, penultimate year, Oklahoma
Average rating: 9.21
In 2015, Mayfield had 3,700 passing yards with 43 touchdowns, making him the best offensive player in the Big 12. He is believed to still be able to improve a lot, so we should look forward to the new season from the Sooners something more.
No. 5. Miles Garrett, defensive lineman, penultimate year, Texas A&M
Average rating: 9.59
In two seasons Garrett has 24 sacks and 33.5 tackles with a loss of yards, which automatically puts him in any possible lists, ratings and hit parades. He is arguably the best pass rusher in college football right now, with two more years to go.
No. 4. Delvin Cooke, running back, penultimate year, Florida State
Average rating: 9.60
Along with Deshawn Watson, who we’ll get in the rankings, Cooke is considered by the ACC coaches to be the best offensive player (and some even not at all).
puts Cook in the first place). Few had as many explosive runs last season, and 2016 shouldn’t get any worse in that regard.
No. 3. Christian McCaffrey, running back, penultimate year, Stanford
Average score: 9.90
Last year’s sensation: white running back tearing defense to shreds. McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders’ record for rushing yards in a season (3,864) and managed to play running back, wide receiver, returner and even quarterback (having made two touchdown passes). He did all this at the age of 19.
#2. Leonard Fournette, running back, penultimate year, Louisiana State
Louisiana State University Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs for a gain during the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game against Texas Tech University Red Raiders on Tuesday Dec. 29, 2015, in Houston. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Average rating: 9.97
The question is not whether Furnett deserves to be on the top lines of this rating (of course, he does).
The question is whether he will be able to at least repeat the achievements of his last season. With 1,953 rushing yards in a season, he tied for the second most in SEC history, and he also led the nation with a 162.8 rushing average per game.
#1. Deshawn Watson, quarterback, penultimate year, Clemson
Average score: 9.98
What does an average score of 9.98 mean? That out of 32 voters, only one was greedy for “tens” for Watson. Here’s a list of college football quarterbacks with 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season: Watson… End of list. On the way to the ACC championship and the national finals, he had a hand in 47 touchdowns for Clemson. In 2016, Watson will be one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.
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Source: ESPN
Top 50 players in the NFL right now.
PFF Version – First & Goal
Note: Ranking reflects players’ value ahead of the 2021 season and does not reflect performance in the 2020 season. The value of positions was not taken into account, that is, safety, guards and even runners could take a high place in the list.
1. Aaron Donald (defensive lineman, Rams)
You can think as highly of Donald as you like and still don’t rate him highly enough. PFF has been evaluating players for 15 years and we have never met a monster like Donald. The league is full of hyper-talented players and outstanding performers, but the Rams defensive tackle towers over them all.
How good is Donald? The weak aspect of his game is considered to be the stoppage. At the same time, Donald has been ranked first among the NFL’s internal linemen for this indicator for three seasons now.
2. Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs)
Mahomes is special. He throws passes that other quarterbacks can’t even dream of.
And the arsenal of such throws at his disposal is becoming wider every year. Of course, no other passer has even come close to matching his 137 explosive passes since Mahomes started. He’s only 25, and he’s left with several offensive line errors from winning two consecutive Super Bowls.
3. Travis Kelsey (Tight End, Chiefs)
Kelsey was unstoppable last season, narrowly missing out on the receiving yard lead. And that’s just the regular season – in the playoffs, Kelsey razed his opponents to powder in his usual style and proved that he remains one of the most difficult receivers in the NFL to guard.
4. Quenton Nelson (offensive guard, Colts)
On the PFF WAR, Nelson was the best offensive lineman last season. And the season before. This is despite the fact that he plays in the offensive guard position, which is considered less valuable than the tackle position. But that says a lot about how good Nelson is at his job.
In three seasons, he allowed only three sacks on his quarterback, and in the 2020 season, he missed only 15 pressures throughout the regular season and the wild card game of the playoff round.
5. Davante Adams (RW, Packers)
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No other receiver has been as effective per snap as Adams. He didn’t even have much competition, as he gained 2.96 yards per route, which is 0.3 more than the closest pursuer. Adams caught 78.8% of his passes and made just one drop. In the 2020 season, he proved that he not only executes routes at the elite level, but also impeccably performs all other aspects of the game as a receiver.
6. Kalil Mak (Wing Lineman, Bears)
Mack again finished in first place in the lineman rankings with a score of 92.3. Only he and T.J. Watt scored above 90 on both rush defense and pass rush.
Mack scored his 90+ rating for the 5th time in seven years in the NFL, although he never dropped below 86.
0 in the other two. Including the playoffs, he chalked up 59 pressures.
7. Tom Brady (QB, Buccaneers)
Only Brady and Jerry Rice have been successful in the fight against athletic aging. The 43-year-old Brady scored a 93.3 last season, although he moved to a new team and learned a new offensive system for the first time in two decades.
Brady still plays at the elite level. The only question is how long it will last.
8. Bobby Wagner (linebacker, Seahawks)
The players around Wagner are getting worse, so the area of responsibility for Seattle’s defensive leader continues to expand. But he does not slow down and takes on increased responsibility.
In the blitz, Wagner got 23 pressure on the quarterback and also knocked down 7 passes. Right now, Wagner is the gold standard in the linebacker position. But if Seattle takes care of strengthening the defense, then Wagner will only look cooler.
9.
George Keatle (Niners tight end)
Injuries left Keatle only 443 snaps in 2020, but posted the best tight end mark in history (94.4) a season earlier . PFF was lucky to capture Rob Gronkowski’s entire career, and in a single season, Keetl looked just as good. Like Gronk, he influences the game not only as a pass target, but also as a run blocker.
10. Aaron Rodgers (QB, Packers)
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A year ago, it looked like Rodgers was about to slide down the list. Largely because of this, Green Bay chose a potential replacement for him in the draft. Rodgers responded to this challenge more than adequately – he had the best season in his career and one of the best in the position of a passer in history.
Rodgers leads the NFL in passing game score (94.3) and explosive shooting percentage (7.7%), while trailing only Tom Brady (1.8%) in potential loss percentage (2.0%) .
11. TJ Watt (Front Lineman, Steelers)
Watt has been a serious contender for Defensive Player of the Year for the past two seasons.
This is not surprising, since he holds the best PFF rating among the wingers (92.6) and the best pass rush game rating (92.2). He also leads the league with 12 passes and has added 3 interceptions to his credit.
12. Derrick Henry (running back, Titens)
For the last two seasons, Henry has been playing as if he wants to prove to everyone that running back is still relevant. He has more yards after contact (2,758) in two years than any other running back in just rushing yards (269).2 by Delvin Cook). Henry also leads the NFL with 133 tackles thrown and has 3.7 yards after contact in the playoffs for a rush attempt.
13. Zach Martin (offensive guard, Cowboys)
Dallas’ offensive line thinned out a lot last season, but Martin had his best career play before the injury. Before the injury, his score was 91.3, and in 10 matches he missed only 13 pressures. Plus, he’s only let his opponents sack one over the past two years.
14.
Jair Alexander (cornerback, Packers)
Alexander was the league’s leading cornerback last season, passing under 20 yards 11 times and allowing quarterbacks to rack up a 54.3 passer rating against him. Opposite him stood the NFL’s elite wide receivers, but he “ate” every one of them. He missed more than four passes only once in a season, when in week 12 Mitch Trubisky completed 50 passes and threw 10 of them towards opponent Alexander. Result: 5 receptions for 47 yards.
15. David Bakhtiari (offensive tackle, Packers)
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Since Joe Thomas retired, Bakhtiari has become the gold standard for tackles on the passing block. In 4 of the last 5 seasons, Bakhtiari has received a passing block rating of at least 91.6. And this despite the fact that he had to work with a quarterback who holds the ball longer than others. In 12 matches last season, Bakhtiari missed only 9 pressures.
16. Jaylen Ramsey (cornerback, Rams)
Ramsey passed 11 yards or less in 8 games last season.
In three more matches, he allowed the opponent to gain less than 22 yards.
Ramsey is an outstanding player who takes on the lead receiver and allows the rest of the Rams secondaries to concentrate on less dangerous players.
17. Deandre Hopkins (wide receiver, Cardinals)
New team, new quarterback. Hopkins’ former dominance at the receiving end and the saving catch in the end of the game with the Bills are like icing on the cake. But Hopkins isn’t good at hitting or flashing—he became the league’s second wide receiver in yards and gained 2.25 yards per route despite a predictable position on the field and an average pass depth of just 9 to his side..0 yards.
18. Tyreke Hill (RW, Chiefs)
There is no more dangerous player in the NFL than Hill. This guy will give anyone a head start with a combination of speed and agility, so he threatens to score a touchdown on every play. Thanks to this, he changes the balance of power on the field, and in the 2020 season he became the league leader with 8 touchdowns on passes beyond 20 yards.
19. Chris Jones (defensive lineman, Chiefs)
Aaron Donald is unrivaled in the NFL by inside linemen, fighting the best players in history. But the fight for second place after Donald unfolds every season is very hot. Chris Jones looks very convincing in this role – over the past three seasons, he has the second best pass-rush rating from inside the line, and on pressure he is just behind Fletcher Cox. Importantly, Jones plays his best games at key moments and does not go into the shadows even in the Super Bowl.
20. Fred Warner (linebacker, Niners)
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In addition to being the NFL’s top linebacker last season, Warner was ranked #1 in the top 25 players under 25. Even at Brigham Young College, Warner was remembered for his unusual ability to combine the skills of a linebacker and slot cornerback. He did a great job transferring his skills to the professional level, which made him the cornerstone of San Francisco’s defense.
21. Joey Bosa (Front Lineman, Chargers)
Bosa has gone over a 90.0 pass rush mark three times in the past four seasons. And there is good reason to believe he could rise to new heights in 2021 as he plays under new head coach Brandon Staley. Staley built a top-notch defense at the Rams last season and has all the tools to shoot in 2021.
22. Russell Wilson (QB, Seahawks)
Last season was a very mixed one for Wilson as he was in MVP contenders in the first half of the season but fell out in the second half. But don’t be fooled – it’s Wilson who has been in second place behind Mahomes in the PFF since 2018. Over the past three years, he also leads the NFL in explosive assists (7.9%) and is second only to Rodgers in potential turnover percentage (2.3%).
23. Justin Simmons (safety, Broncos)
Simmons is the highest-rated safety in the league since the start of the 2019 season. His unique quality is that he influences the game and is ranked in the top 11 defensively each season, even though he plays in a free-safety position and far from the line of scrimmage.
24. Trent Williams (offensive tackle, Niners)
In the 2020 season, Williams mastered his blocking run, earning a grade of 91.8. Despite missing the 2019 season, Williams proved his reliability on the pass block as well, allowing only 19 pressures.
25. Miles Garrett (Front Lineman, Browns)
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There’s a sense in the PFF that Garrett is still capable of more, and we haven’t seen him at his best all season. He spent two consecutive seasons with a score above 90, but the 2019 season was cut in half due to suspension.
Garrett will now have a partner on the opposite side of the lane in the person of Jadevion Clooney. It is fair to expect that in a favorable situation, Garrett will be able to reach a new level.
26. Delvin Cooke (Running Back, Vikings)
Cook continues to outperform the block ahead of him. He earned a 90.2 rushing mark last season, the best of his career.
In 2020, he earned 91 first-down rushing runs, and in his NFL career, he is gaining 3.1 yards per rush attempt after contact.
27. Nick Bosa (Frontline, Niners)
It’s hard to believe that we only saw Nick Bosa in his rookie season, but he still ranks so high on the top of the list. This is not surprising when you consider that Bosa broke the record in PFF history for pushing a rookie quarterback with 80. He only looked better in the playoffs and dominated the Super Bowl with 12 pushes.
28. Ryan Ramchik (offensive tackle, Saints)
A mountain man who is exceptionally good at running. He hasn’t had a single weak or even average season in the NFL yet. In 2019, he showed his best game, receiving a score of 90.9.
29. Marlon Humphrey (cornerback, Ravens)
Humphrey is underestimated due to his specific defensive role for Baltimore. But you should not have any doubts about who is the leader of their defense.
Over the past two seasons, only Xavien Howard has achieved a top PFF score when playing solo cover. Humphrey achieved this result by playing 58.8% of snaps in the slot. This is an outstanding result, since it is much harder to keep the opponent from receiving in this zone.
30. Christian McCaffrey (running back, Panthers)
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Last season was a disappointment due to injury, but right now there’s no more versatile running back in the NFL than McCaffrey. This is an elite receiver and running back with a colossal load in one person. He makes more passes than other dangerous passing colleagues like Alvin Kamara or Austin Eckeler. However, he dropped only 9 of 388 passes to his side in his career, and also gains 2.6 yards for a clearance attempt after contact. Next season, he may return to his previous heights thanks to the strengthening of the Carolina squad and progress in the work of the coaching staff.
31. Cameron Hayward (defensive lineman, Steelers)
The longer Hayward has been in the NFL, the better he’s gotten. His highest PFF scores have been in his last four seasons, trailing only Aaron Donald for inside linemen. Hayward is second only to Donald in terms of pressure during this period. In other words, Hayward is the best inside lineman in the NFL whose last name is not “Donald.”
32. Harrison Smith (safety, Vikings)
There is probably no more consistent safety in the league than Smith. He had a rough season last season, but those words hold true for the entire Minnesota defense. Despite this, he remains a unique performer in his versatility, who easily plugs any gap in the defense. The problem is that in the 2020 season there were too many holes in the Vikings’ defense. In 2021, this situation should improve, since on paper the level of players looks more impressive.
33. Eric Kendricks (linebacker, Vikings)
The Linebackers have never had such a hard time playing cover, but Kendricks knows no equal.
Since 2019, wide receivers have been open on passes less than 50% of the time when Kendricks is playing against them. He also instigated more inaccurate passes than any other player in his position. In the case of passes to his opponent, the quarterback’s rating is only 75.0, which is about 30 points below the league average.
34. Allen Robinson (wide receiver, Bears)
Robinson has never played with a sane quarterback – ever since the high school level he has been picking up passes from passers of the caliber of Christian Hackenberg, Blake Bortles, Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Falls. Perhaps Justin Fields will change this situation. One way or another, even in this situation, Robinson retained a place in the top 5 in his position with a score of 88.4 according to the PFF.
35. Julio Jones (RW, Titens)
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Jones has been plagued by injuries in recent years, but when he hits the field, he still claims to be an elite player in his position.
Yes, he only got 771 yards in 2020, but he was fourth in the league in yards per route (2.60) and allowed the quarterback to generate a 131.5 rating in the case of passes to his side.
36. Bryce Callahan (cornerback, Broncos)
Contender for NFL’s most underrated player. Slot cornerback, who was forced to move closer to the touchline due to injuries among representatives of the Denver secondaries. And Callahan not only did well, he shone in his new role. The quarterbacks had a 46.9 rating on passes to his opponent, and Callahan himself didn’t miss a touchdown or pass for 20+ yards. Another season like this and Callahan will need to be discussed as one of the best players in the league, regardless of position.
37. Nick Chubb (Running Back, Browns)
There is no more dangerous run player in the league than Chubb. He is just behind Derrick Henry in his clearance rating (92.6 vs. Henry’s 92.7), but he evades tackles more often (he has 168 provoked unsuccessful tackles in 680 attempts).
Chubb also has 101 rushes for 10+ yards in his NFL career, trailing only Henry by 19 in this statistic, even though he has 216 fewer rushes.
If Chubb could still catch passes…
38. AJ Brown (RW, Titens)
Brown had an impressive performance in his first two seasons in the NFL, but there’s a good chance we’ll see a new version of him in the upcoming regular season. All thanks to the fact that Julio Jones will enter the field at the same time.
Even before Jones arrived, Brown was earning an excellent 2.66 yards per route (2nd in the league) and folded more tackles than any other wide receiver (33 in two seasons). Brown proved his worth as the No. 1 wide receiver on a playoff-level team. It is believed that the neighborhood with Jones will help Brown to reach a new level.
39. Alvin Camara (running back, Saints)
In the twilight years of Drew Breeze’s career, Camara was the cornerstone of the New Orleans offense.
And, probably, after the departure of Breeze, the role of Kamara will not decrease, but only increase. Over the past five years, only one other running back (Austin Eckeler) has gained more than 2.0 yards per route (2.15 for Kamara). And the important thing is that Camara is not only great at catching the ball, but also remains one of the most unstoppable players with the ball in his hands. Some may not like the fact that Camara has never scored more than 228 clearance attempts in a season. The counterargument is that Camara has received more than 100 passes in every season in his career.
40. Josh Allen (QB, Bills)
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Allen has soared through the 2020 season that one wonders if he can keep up. The previous bar of expectations was at around 60+ according to the PFF, but last year it soared to 90.9. Yes, it is common for a player of his age to progress, but not at that pace.
The most impressive aspect of Allen’s leap forward has been his transformation in passing accuracy: in his NFL rookie season, Allen ranked last in adjusted pass percentage and last season was as high as 5th.
41. John Johnson 3rd (Safety, Browns)
The Clevelands stole the name player they needed on the free agency market. Johnson has scored above 85 twice in his career and never dropped below 80.0 on a cover game.
Johnson is consistent in both passing play (minimum 8 interrupted passing plays in three career injury-free seasons) and utility on the run (68 defensive plays in the last two healthy seasons). Perhaps there are more spectacular safetys in the NFL, or more hyped but as reliable as Johnson can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
42. Grady Jarrett (defensive lineman, Falcons)
Some people can only shine in optimal conditions. Jarrett is one of those who was able to squeeze out the maximum even in not the most favorable situation. It cannot be said that Atlanta did not try to fix its line of defense, on the contrary. But they were not successful in this matter. And Jarrett played at the highest level even without quality partners.
He’s averaged over 50 pressure over the last three seasons and plays at an 80.0 pass rush mark every year. Jarrett is the inspiring story of how a fifth-round pick fought his way to the top despite overwhelming competition for the position.
43. Terron Armstead (offensive tackle, Saints)
Armstead never has a bad season. Moreover, he very rarely has bad games. There is hardly another top-level offensive lineman in the NFL that is as consistent. For three seasons in a row, he’s been blocking passes to PFFs above 85.0 and backing those numbers up with quality run work. Yes, Armstead is not that good on the run (77.5 mark), but he is in the top 15 tackles in the NFL in this indicator. Largely thanks to Armstead, Drew Brees has been able to stay afloat for the past couple of seasons. The Saints’ new quarterback can rely on him, too.
44. Michael Thomas (RW, Saints)
Thomas threw only one touchdown and just 511 receiving yards last season.
Plus, in one of the playoff matches, he was left without a reception at all. But kicking him out of the NFL’s top 50 list would be overkill, as he had three consecutive years with a score above 90.0 until last season.
Last season, Thomas was a pale shadow of himself, but in 2021 it is fair to expect him to return to his former heights. Even without Drew Breeze in the lineup.
45. Stephon Digs (RW, Bills)
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In his first season at Buffalo, Diggs proved himself worthy of being a top-tier player. He broke his personal bests in receptions (by 25) and passing yards (by 403) and also caught more passes (78.4%) than in any other season in his career.
It doesn’t happen often, but Deegs lived up to his whims during his time in Minnesota. He said he was capable of more. He has proven that he is capable of more.
46. Ronnie Staley (offensive tackle, Ravens)
If the NFL had a separate prize for the best passing blocker, Staley would claim it every season.
In 719 snaps on passing plays, Staley allowed only 16 pressures on the quarterback and also allowed the defenseman to hit the quarterback only three times.
Staley is pretty good on the run, but when it comes to passing block, he’s practically unrivaled. Although it should be noted that it helps him that he is not defending anyone, but Lamar Jackson.
47. James Bradbury (cornerback, Giants)
It turned out that Bradbury just needed a change of scenery. After leaving the Carolinas, he posted the best overall and cover scores. In his first season in the NFC East, Bradberry knocked down 14 passes and allowed the quarterbacks to rack up a 70.1 pass rating.
48. Marcus Williams (safety, Saints)
Williams has been playing at an excellent level for four consecutive seasons. In two seasons out of four, he did demonstrate an exceptional game with a score above 88.2. He has no weaknesses – he works well both in cover and against clearance.
