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Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 50-45: Will Anderson Jr. debuts; Trent Williams makes list for 12th time

"The Top 100 Players of 2025" -- voted on by the players themselves -- is underway on X and NFL+! The top 10 will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. ET live on NFL Network. Check back on Thursday for the 44th- and 43rd-ranked players.

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50
Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · QB

2024 stats: 17 games | 71.4 pct | 4,500 pass yds | 7.9 ypa | 28 pass TD | 10 INT | 378 rush yds | 3 rush TD | 13 fumbles


Mayfield's Tampa Bay career renaissance continued in 2024, with his second campaign as a Buccaneer bringing him back into the Top 100 rankings for the first time since the 2021 list and matching his best ranking from his rookie season. He's gone from former first-rounder to journeyman to the starting quarterback for Tampa Bay, leading his team to the NFC South title each of the last two years. Mayfield earned an extension ahead of last season, and proceeded to outperform almost every statistic from his first season with the team, even receiving MVP and Offensive Player of the Year votes -- a far cry from the position he was in just two seasons ago. He'll have more to prove in 2025 without former offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who departed Tampa Bay in favor of a head coach gig in Duval.


NFL Pro Insight for Mayfield: Baker Mayfield finished with a 106.8 passer rating and a 71.4% completion percentage during the regular season, both of which set new Buccaneers franchise records.

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49
Quinyon Mitchell
Philadelphia Eagles · CB

2024 stats: 16 games | 46 tackles | 12 PD


The second of the cornerbacks the Eagles drafted to appear on this list, first-round selection Mitchell was tasked with shadowing some of the best wideouts in the game as a 22-year-old rookie and was more than up to the task, playing shutdown defense throughout the year. While his stat line might not jump out on first glance the way it does for other players, that's partially because quarterbacks just weren't throwing his way due to his sticky coverage. Among the star WRs he limited to few or no catches, Mitchell completely silenced the Commanders' Terry McLaurin in Week 11, leading to praise from the NFC East rival. Many had Mitchell as the best defensive rookie in the NFL last season, and though he ultimately finished second in voting for the honor, it's clear the cornerback is already playing like a veteran. The Eagles have to be eager to see just how high he can climb in Year 2 and beyond.


NFL Pro Insight for Mitchell: Quinyon Mitchell allowed an average of 1.5 yards after catch as the nearest defender in coverage this season, the fewest by any player with 30-plus targets and 0.4 fewer than the next-closest cornerback, Patrick Surtain II .

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48
Jonathan Greenard
Minnesota Vikings · LB

2024 stats: 17 games | 59 tackles | 18 tfl | 12 sacks | 4 FF | 1 FR


Greenard signed a four-year contract to join the Vikings last offseason, putting big expectations on his shoulders to produce and aid in the pass rush out of the gate. And Greenard did just that, establishing himself quickly in the Minnesota defense as a QB-hunting threat and part of the team's turnover-happy unit. Responsible for a quartet of takeaways himself, Greenard was rewarded for his impactful performance with his first Pro Bowl nod and a few points for Defensive Player of the Year voting. Set to stay in Minnesota for the long term, Greenard figures to maintain his new key role in the defense going forward, especially after some significant free agency departures.


NFL Pro Insight for Greenard: Jonathan Greenard was one of just two edge defenders in the NFL (alongside Myles Garrett) to record 50+ pressures, 10+ sacks, 25+ run stops (run tackle for a loss in EPA), and 10+ run stuffs.

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46
Tyreek Hill
Miami Dolphins · WR

2024 stats: 17 games | 81 rec | 959 rec yds | 11.8 ypr | 6 rec TD


Hill falling from the No. 1 player in last year's list to midway through the Top 100 in 2024 is a shocking drop. But viewing Hill's season in the context of the circumstances, it's certainly understandable. Hill and the Dolphins offense were without Tua Tagovailoa for a chunk of the season and utilized four QBs overall. And Hill, though he didn't miss a game, admitted he was battling a wrist injury the whole season. Despite all that, the wideout still managed to lead his team in receiving yards and flirted with a 1,000-yard campaign.


NFL Pro Insight for HillTyreek Hill tied for the second-most receptions (23) and gained the fourth-most yards (202) after being in motion at the snap last season. Hill has gained 797 receiving yards after being in motion at the snap since joining the Dolphins in 2022, most in the NFL during that span.

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46
Will Anderson Jr.
Houston Texans · DE

2024 stats: 14 games | 37 tackles | 16 tfl | 11 sacks | 1 FF | 1 FR


With the Texans offense's struggles last season, the team's defense played a key role in Houston making it back to the playoffs. Ranking No. 6 in total yards allowed under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the front line was particularly vicious, ranking fourth in sacks behind the dynamic duo of Anderson and Danielle Hunter. Anderson was a Pro Bowler and Defensive Rookie of the Year in his opening campaign in Houston, and though he didn't return to the Pro Bowl in 2024, the defensive end was no less impactful. Topping his previous sack total by four, Anderson was efficient at getting into the backfield and finishing the job. The Texans have to be excited to see how the man they traded a haul of picks to draft will continue to grow and wreak havoc on offenses.


NFL Pro Insight for Anderson: Will Anderson converted 19.0% of his total pressures (58) into sacks (11) last season, nearly doubling his sack conversion rate from his rookie season in 2023 (10.9%).

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38
Trent Williams
San Francisco 49ers · OT

2024 stats: 10 games | 649 snaps | 17 QBP allowed | 1 sack allowed (per Pro Football Focus)


A lingering ankle injury for Williams ended a streak of Pro Bowl selections at 11 straight seasons starting with his third season and dropped him from a Top 10 ranking on this list last year. But though his streak of accolades was halted and even with the hampered ankle, Williams still remained one of the top tackles in the business, consistently protecting quarterback Brock Purdy and ranking sixth among tackles with an 85.6 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus. The 36-year-old Williams said this offseason he has no plans of retiring yet and would love to reach at least 40 before hanging up the cleats. If he continues to maintain the high standard of play he's brought into his mid- and now late-30s, that goal could be in reach.


NFL Pro Insight for Williams: Trent Williams allowed an average time to pressure of 3.78 seconds last season, longest among left tackles with at least 25 pressures allowed. Williams allowed pressure on 7.6% of his pass blockings snaps, 10th-lowest among left tackles with at least 200 pass blocking snaps.

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