Top 100 Players of 2024, Nos. 10-1: Tyreek Hill becomes first WR to haul in top spot

One would be hard-pressed to find a more desirable pass rusher than Crosby, whose refusal to give up on plays and willingness to leave it all out on the field was best exemplified in 2023. Despite a knee injury suffered in Week 2, which required offseason surgery, the Raiders defensive end enjoyed a career-best season, notching 14.5 sacks, 50 QB pressures, 31 QB hits, 23 tackles for loss and 90 tackles to earn him a third consecutive Pro Bowl trip. Crosby, who’s strong and aggressive yet nimble and crafty, has yet to miss a game through five seasons and the former third-round pick has embraced the “Raider Way” in virtually every way possible. What’s more amazing is that he’s largely grown to become a star without much help. With that set to change in 2024, the sky’s the limit for the Raiders’ star pass rusher. 

Kelce reached new heights of popularity in 2023, but that kind of recognition among his peers has been a constant in the Top 100. The Chiefs' star is the highest-ranked tight end for the fourth consecutive year despite falling 16 yards short of his eighth straight 1,000-yard season in 2023 (93 receptions, 984 yards, five touchdowns in 15 games). A sure-handed model of consistency, Kelce was a force to be reckoned with during Kansas City's successful run at back-to-back Super Bowls, catching 32 balls for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers support Kelce's charge toward Jerry Rice's all-time postseason receiving records (2,245 yards, 151 receptions, 22 TDs). The 34-year-old knocked one off the block in 2023 (165 receptions) and is well within reach of the trifecta sitting at 1,903 yards and 19 TDs. Kelce, who sits fourth all-time in receiving for TEs, has put together an incredible Hall of Fame career that was once quietly preserved. Today, it's anything but for pop culture's latest heartthrob.

Watt returned with a vengeance in 2023 following an injury-riddled season that temporarily halted his historic sack-collecting pace. The Steelers' star pass rusher resumed it in remarkable fashion, leading the league with 19.0 sacks -- the third time in four seasons he's been the NFL's sack champion. Watt also produced 50 QB pressures, 36 QB hits, four forced fumbles, one interception, three fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown in his fourth All-Pro campaign. Pittsburgh's defense has fed off Watt's energy since his 2018 arrival, and the 29-year-old is already the all-time sack leader (96.5) of a historically rich franchise. Averaging 0.93 sacks per game, Watt is on pace to hit 100 career sacks in his 108th game, which would make him the second-fastest player in history to the milestone behind Reggie White, according to NFL Research.

Aging like a fine wine, Williams is the highest-ranking offensive lineman on the Top 100 at 36 years old. Anchoring Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense the past three seasons, Williams’ skill set as an elite run- and pass-blocking left tackle renders the complex scheme into a seemingly painless process. In 2023, the 11-time Pro Bowler earned the second-highest run-blocking grade from PFF (92.5) while helping to pave the way for the league’s rushing champion. He also didn’t allow a single sack last season despite seeing weekly matchups against the opposition’s best pass rusher. It resulted in Williams earning his third consecutive All-Pro honor and receiving the proverbial flowers from his NFL contemporaries.

Jones has long been the focal point for offensive coordinators game-planning against a defense that has supported Kansas City’s ongoing dynasty. In 2023, the 30-year-old captained the youngest defense in the league to back-to-back Super Bowl glory, collecting 10.5 sacks, 39 QB pressures, 29 QB hits and 13 tackles for loss. What makes Jones so impressive is the seemingly effortless way in which he causes havoc for opposing linemen, which he can produce from anywhere across the defensive line. His play recognition is superb, and his knack for batting down passes at the line of scrimmage makes him even more of a nuisance for quarterbacks. Riding a streak of five straight Pro Bowl bids and two All-Pro honors, Jones earns his highest ranking to date in the Top 100. 

The appreciation and acclaim of Garrett continues as the Top 100’s highest-ranked defender. Cleveland's daunting edge rusher was invincible through the first 11 games, securing 13.0 of his 14.0 season sacks during a span that included a memorable showcase of dominance against the Colts in Week 7. A shoulder injury halted Garrett’s sack pace, but even his burdened presence was a major factor for the Browns’ No. 1-ranked defense because of the attention he requires. Garrett still managed to earn top-10 finishes in sacks (14.0), QB hits (30), QB pressures (37), tackles for loss (17) and forced fumbles (four) by season’s end, but the full understanding of his impact wasn’t told in numbers, which is why he earns further recognition after securing his third All-Pro honor and his first Defensive Player of the Year award.

Mahomes, two-time holder of the Top 100's No. 1 spot, is seemingly chasing his otherworldly accomplishments of season’s past at this point. The two-time MVP’s 4,183 passing yards and 27 touchdowns this past season neared his career-low totals of 2019, but those figures would be the magnum opus for many NFL quarterbacks of today and yesteryear. Mahomes persevered through a trying season that was well documented with the struggles of his wide receiving corps and saw him toss a career-high 14 interceptions, which tended to signify his frustrations. Mahomes course-corrected in the playoffs, however, guiding the Chiefs to a third Lombardi Trophy and winning his third Super Bowl MVP within a five-year span. Perhaps Mahomes’ latest campaign was more impressive under the right context. The 28-year-old wizard is already considered one of the best QBs the game has ever seen, and there’s no telling where he will rank when it’s all said and done in sports history, let alone the NFL. 

McCaffrey flourished during his first full season in San Francisco, becoming the NFL’s rushing champion (1,459 yards) while leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,023) and touchdowns (21) in 16 games played. The two-time All-Pro running back was the fireball within Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense, and opposing defenders had a tough time stopping McCaffrey, who led the NFL in yards after contact (949), according to Next Gen Stats. McCaffrey, whose breakaway speed makes him the prototypical backfield weapon, became the first 49ers player since Jerry Rice (1993) to win Offensive Player of the Year and his image will grace the cover of Madden NFL 25 following his best season to date. 

One of the most electrifying dual-threat quarterbacks the game has ever seen, Jackson’s arm was relied upon more than ever in 2023, as he registered career highs in completions (307), pass attempts (457), completion percentage (67.2) and passing yards (3,678) while providing an efficient touchdown-to-interception ratio (24-7). But Baltimore’s star playmaker continued to be a marvel with his impulsive act, leading all QBs with 821 rushing yards (5.5 yards per carry; five TDs) as he powered the Ravens to an NFL-best 13 wins. It resulted in Jackson, 27, winning his second Most Valuable Player award, which makes him the second-youngest player to accomplish the feat. Jackson’s 70-spot jump from last year’s Top 100 ranking is the biggest improvement in 2023’s edition, and his talent ceiling is only rising after an enhanced showing.

Hill becomes the first wide receiver to grace the No. 1 spot in the Top 100’s 14-year history following a spectacular season when he flirted with Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving record (1,964). He led the league with 1,799 receiving yards (on 119 receptions) and 13 receiving touchdowns, but a late-season ankle injury hampered his run at history. It's well known that speed is the name of Hill’s game, and the Dolphins exploited his skill set to perfection in 2023 with an incredible metric that best describes his prolific campaign: 602 receiving yards on quick passes (time to throw is less than 2.5 seconds) of 10-plus air yards, which was 308 yards more than the next pass catcher, per Next Gen Stats. Megatron’s record is no longer an impossible feat thanks to the four-time All-Pro; the same can now be said for wideouts yearning to reach the pinnacle of the Top 100, all thanks to the Cheetah.