"The Top 100 Players of 2017" reaches its finale on Monday, June 26, with the final 10 names revealed in a two-hour special beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The conversation will continue on the "Top 100 Players Reactions" show, airing immediately after at 10 p.m. ET.
For the second straight year, NFL Media's Ike Taylor is sharing his own spin on "The Top 100," listing who he thinks is among the league's best heading into next season. Let's continue by revealing his next set of rankings, Nos. 71-80:
» No. 71:Antonio Gates, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
» No. 72:Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
» No. 73:Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
» No. 74:Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars
» No. 75:Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
» No. 76:Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
» No. 77:Anthony Barr, LB, Minnesota Vikings
» No. 78:Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers
» No. 79:Vic Beasley, LB, Atlanta Falcons
» No. 80:Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
I can't say enough about the Los Angeles Chargers' trusty QB-TE duo. It seems Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates have been at this forever. The 36-year-old tight end, who will enter his 15th season this fall, is still Rivers' go-to target and the veteran QB is consistently one of the most passionate players on the field -- trash talk and all. If you add up the number offseasons the other two quarterbacks on this list have played, it still doesn't equal Rivers' 13-year total. I believe Andrew Luck, who ranks 12th among quarterbacks in my top 100, will get back to that dominant, franchise player for the Colts if he can stay injury free. Cousins still hasn't gotten over the hump. The Redskins have put a lot of cars in his garage, but I see him walking too often. Cousins has to take advantage of the players at his disposal to establish himself as one of the league's top signal callers.
Vic Beasley -- last season's sack leader (15.5) -- keeps getting better, and his growth under Dwight Freeney was just what the Falcons needed, as Beasley developed into a dynamic edge rusher and professional. Kawann Short hasn't reached his potential quite yet, but he's still a force on the Panthers' D-line -- a reason why Short just got paid. Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr has been the most consistent, young linebacker in his draft class (save Khalil Mack), and I think the former UCLA star should get more credit. Jalen Ramsey is the youngest defender in this space so far, but he has a bright future. Already in Year 1, we've seen the kind of competitor he is. I mean, not many people -- especially rookies -- are confident enough to have words with Steve Smith Sr.
Like Ramsey, Tyreek Hill makes his debut after a great rookie campaign, and I can't wait to see how Andy Reid uses him in 2017. Hill is a healthy version of Percy Harvin and should be a Pro Bowl receiver in Year 2. And Dez ... you just keep putting up that "X."
Follow Ike Taylor on Twitter _@IkeSwagginU_.
