JKFOOTBALL Top 100 Players for 2024: 40-26

 We are starting to get close to the end here of the annual list! Today we will enter into the top 40 players for the upcoming season and end off right at spot #26, leading us to next time out going into the top 25 all the way to player 11, before finally reaching THE top 10! Here we go.

40. Daron Bland, Cornerback, Dallas Cowboys | LAST YEAR: N/A

2023 stats: 69 total tackles, 9 INTs (5-returned for TDs), 15 pass deflections

Daron Bland is coming off of a sophomore season for the ages. Bland came into the league one year prior as an unheralded 5th round pick, but quickly found his footing in a loaded Dallas secondary and made headlines with 5 INTs as a rookie, 2nd most in the league. Fans were excited to see what he could do in 2023, and boy did he exceed those expectations for the most part in a big way. Bland led the entire NFL in interceptions with a whopping NINE. Not only that, Bland had 5 pick-sixes! FIVE! That is an NFL record for a single season is just insane. He had more TDs than some top end WR talents, like Justin Jefferson, DK Metcalf, and Davante Adams just to name a few. Insanity. Bland would have probably not only just won DPOY with ease, but also been a lock to be a top 10 player on my big list if not for his iffy coverage. While he is a truly insane ball-hawk, right now, that is kind of all he is. Bland actually got picked on a fair amount this season, letting up big plays left and right at times. His main downfall was a TNF game against the Seahawks where DK Metcalf straight up abused him, going for 130 yards and 3 scores. Bland has the makings of a hall of fame type of ball hawk, but he needs to improve his coverage ability going into 2024. If he does, he can be a top 3 CB in the NFL for a long time to come. Top 40, not bad for a player entering just his third year in the league. 

39. Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks | LAST YEAR: N/A

2023 stats: 79 total tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT (returned for TD), 16 pass deflections (limited to 14 games, injury)

Another young corner finds his name inside the top 40 to debut on my Top 100! Devon Witherspoon was an absolute dawg in his rookie year for the Seahawks, and surpassed pretty much all expectations as he is already a top 10 CB in the NFL. Many raised eyebrows when Seattle elected to take him at the rich slot of pick #5 overall in the draft a year ago, passing on now-Eagle DT Jalen Carter. Fans who did not like the pick quickly changed their minds, as the second Witherspoon stepped onto an NFL field in the blue and green, he was a playmaker. Witherspoon brings a rare physicality to the CB position, being compared to HOF Safety Troy Polamalu by HC Pete Carroll and citing that as a reason they drafted him (Carroll having coached Polamalu in college). While that is insanely high praise, Witherspoon genuinely could have a chance to one day go down as an All-Time great CB if his rookie year was any indication. Witherspoon played sticky coverage all year long, all the while delivering bone crushing hits to WRs around the league. Witherspoon's 16 pass breakups was also tied for top 5 in the league, yet another indication of just how good he was right away. Witherspoon enters his second year entrenched already as the team's no. 1, lockdown level CB, and forms an elite (possibly league best) CB duo with other young stud in Seattle Tariq Woolen (ranked #50 on this list). While Witherspoon was snubbed of DROY, he ends up a top 40 player in my rankings, while Will Anderson of the Texans, the real winner, did not make the cut for me. 

38. Derrick Henry, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens | LAST YEAR: #18

2023 stats: 280 carries for 1,167 yards, 12 TDs rushing

Even during his age 29-30 season, and with so much mileage on him already, King Henry did what he always does, and led the league in carries once again, and was second in the league in rushing yards. Henry is simply inevitable. Even with all this tread on his tires and getting a little bit slower himself, he produces week in and week out, year in and year out, no matter what talent he has around him. Now for the first time in his decorated career, he will be donning new colors this Fall. Henry signed with the Baltimore Ravens this off-season and enters what possibly is the best potential fit for him anywhere in the league. No team in football likes to run the ball more than Baltimore, and why wouldn't they? They have had a great set of RBs over the last few years and oh, 2x MVP winner Lamar Jackson at QB who is arguably the greatest dual threat QB ever! Now combine Henry and Jackson, boy defenses are going to struggle. How in the world do you execute good defense against a read option with those two. You can't win, even if you guess correctly! Henry is 30, and will likely begin to slow down soon like most RBs do after the age of 30, but Derrick Henry is also clearly not the average RB. He is a future Hall of Famer and has a genuine shot to have one of the better years of his illustrious career now with the Ravens, and finally has a real shot to win a Super Bowl ring. Henry drops 20 spots since last year, but is still firmly a top 40 player in football until proven otherwise.

37. Andrew Thomas, Offensive Tackle, New York Giants | LAST YEAR: #43

2023 stats: 576 snaps played, 2 penalties, 4 sacks allowed, 76.1 PFF grade

Even in an injury riddled season for Andrew Thomas, he remained one of the best OTs in football. Thomas rises 6 spots from last year despite what some could call a down season from the elite young left tackle. Thomas remains one of the best pass protectors in the sport and doubles as a great run blocker. The Giants had not only a bottom 2 OL in football, but it has to be up there for bottom 5 offensive lines in NFL HISTORY. Aside from Thomas, they had nothing, and Thomas was in and out of the lineup a lot due to injury. With AT out so much, and the Giants statistically being just so damn awful in terms of line play, it proved to me just how valuable Andrew Thomas really is to this team. With a year of health hopefully in 2024, Thomas should get right back to All-Pro form, hence him rising 6 spots in a list that is a mix of predictive and reactive!

36. Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Las Vegas Raiders | LAST YEAR: #22

2023 stats: 103 receptions for 1,144 yards, 8 TDs receiving

Another perennial player on the list who is starting to get a bit older. Davante Adams produces year in and year out like it is no one's business. No matter who is under center, he is going to establish chemistry with them and produce. And that is what he did this season again. Adams wanted to go to Vegas two years ago to team up with his former college QB in Derek Carr, and while the two did get to enjoy one massively productive season together, Carr left for New Orleans a year ago in the off-season, leaving Adams alone on the Raiders. While Adams still produced at an extremely high level, recording his fourth straight season of both 100+ catches and 1000+ receiving yards, the Raiders were awful, and were plagued by inconsistent QB play. Things do not look much better in Vegas in 2024, as currently Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew are duking it out for the starting QB job. Adams should still be an elite producer this year, even in his age 31 season, but the Raiders are unlikely to be a good team with one of those guys likely taking the helm at QB. There are some swirling trade rumors that Adams could be traded to the Jets at some point between now and the deadline to reunite with Aaron Rodgers, but it still feels like a bit of a longshot. I'd love to see Adams get something out of what could be one of, if not the last seasons of his prime, but he is going to produce either way with his elite hands and route running. Adams falls 14 spots from last year, but is still an elite WR1 in the NFL right now!

35. Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans | LAST YEAR: #21

2023 stats: 107 receptions for 1,183 yards, 8 TDs receiving

Stefon Diggs is in kind of a similar spot in his career right now to Davante Adams, and he ranks just one spot higher than Adams for the second straight season (21/22 last year, 35/36 this year). Both receivers are entering seasons above the age of 30, but are still wildly productive. Both receivers are arguably two of the top 5 route runners in the sport over the last decade. Stefon Diggs hit a bit of a wall to end last season, and was then abruptly traded to Houston this off-season. Even with a 13 game streak (including playoffs) to end off the year of not recording 100 or more yards in a game, Diggs still finished the year with nearly 1,200 receiving yards, over 100 catches, and 8 TDs as well. Diggs finds a way to get open deep, and has some of the best hands you will ever see. He now heads to a great situation in Houston, as they have one of the most loaded offenses in football with CJ Stroud running the show at QB, and an elite pair of receivers to join up with in Nico Collins and Tank Dell. It will be interesting to see what Diggs does this year. He could go nuclear, fully taking over WR1 duties in Houston and forming an elite duo with Stroud, or he could just kind of fall in line with Dell and Collins, with each being a productive talent that contributes to winning. Either way, Diggs remains a top 35 player in football in my eyes until proven otherwise.

34. Fred Warner, Linebacker, San Francisco 49ers | LAST YEAR: #40

2023 stats: 132 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 4 INTs, 11 pass deflections

In my opinion, Fred Warner is coming off of easily the best season of what looks to be a Hall of Fame career. Warner has been hailed by many as the best LB in football ever since Panther great Luke Kuechly retired a few years back, and 2023 showed us good reason. Warner is one of the few true DO IT ALL LBs in the game right now. He tackled well (132), he got to the QB a couple of times (2.5 sacks), he forced FOUR fumbles, which is elite, and he was also awesome in the middle of that vaunted Niner D as a lurker, picking off 4 passes and deflecting 11. At 27 years old, Warner is in the midst of his prime and should have another elite year ahead of him. He has continuously rose on this list the last couple of seasons as he has ascended from an up and coming talent to arguably the best LB in the sport in just a few short years. The Niners are going to be so good again, especially having probably the most reliable coverage LB in the game barking out orders in the middle of their defense again in 2024!

33. Antoine Winfield Jr., Safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LAST YEAR: N/A

2023 stats: 122 total tackles, 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 3 INTs, 12 pass deflections

The son of another all-time great, Antoine Winfield Sr. broke out in an absolutely MASSIVE way in 2023. Winfield Jr. went from a nice young defensive piece for Tampa Bay, to their best player in one season. I mean just look at the numbers alone, what a fricken year. I will spoil now, but Winfield Jr. is my no. 1 safety on the list this year, and he deserves it. He was a tackling machine with over 120, he had a whopping SIX sacks for a safety, which is pretty much unheard of. He also led the entire NFL as a SAFETY with 6 forced fumbles as well, which is insane. Along with elite "linebacker" type numbers, he was also elite as a deep defensive back, picking off three passes and breaking up 12. Winfield was recognized as an All-Pro for the first time in his career and cashed in with a big money deal this off-season. At just 25 years old, Winfield Jr. has arrived and should be a top 2-3 Safety in the league for years to come. From unranked a year ago, to top 35 and my no. 1 safety in one season, wow!

32. Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers | LAST YEAR: #26

2023 stats: 3,134 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs passing | 52 carries for 228 yards, 3 TDs rushing (limited to 13 games, injury)

While still young at the age of 26, Justin Herbert has found himself in this general range for years now. He is right on the verge of a top 5 QB, just can't quite break through. 2023 was somewhat rough for Herbert, as he missed 4 games with injury and did not have a lot of help around him at WR other than Keenan Allen (now in Chicago). While Herbert has one of the biggest and best arms in the league, and is clutch as can be, his prospects for finally breaking through into that next tier of QBs in 2024 is a little bit clouded. While adding Jim Harbaugh as their HC is amazing for the Chargers organization, it might not be as great for Herbert, as Harbaugh employs a run first team philosophy, and doubled down on that with the hiring of run game 'merchant' Greg Roman as the team's OC. Another reason it is clouded is the Charger receiving core right now. The team lost both Allen and Mike Williams to the Bears and Jets this off-season, and 2023 first round pick Quentin Johnston reportedly continues to struggle with drops in camp. Herbert has one of the worst WR cores in the league around him right now. However, this is a Top 100 list and Herbert is ranked #32, making him one of the very best players in the whole sport. This shouldn't be all negative. Herbert, again, has an amazing arm and good mobility, and is able to make due with poor surroundings as we have seen time and time again. The team spent a top 10 pick on pass protecting anchor in OT Joe Alt from Notre Dame which should really help, and maybe a run first team will actually benefit Herbert taking shots downfield with Safeties potentially brought closer in. Herbert is a really good QB, but I am not sure if he is quite elite yet, he falls from #26 last year to 32 this year.

31. Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Rusher, Detroit Lions | LAST YEAR: #95

2023 stats: 51 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 7 pass deflections

One year after a promising rookie debut season saw him just barely make my top 100, Aidan Hutchinson has officially arrived and rises over 50 spots to #31! Hutchinson rose his totals in pretty much every category this season, reaching double digit sacks with 11.5 and also 3 forced fumbles. He was one of the more double teamed players in all of the league and yet still made his presence felt with that sack total along with a very high pressure rate. The Lions continue to churn out top 100 players this year, and Hutchinson is their best defensive talent. He is more than just an elite rusher, but is exceptional in run defense as well. At just age 24, Hutchinson is going to get even a lot better going forward, and he feels like a player who could likely be a future DPOY winner in Detroit!

30. L'Jarius Sneed, Cornerback, Tennessee Titans | LAST YEAR: N/A

2023 stats: 78 total tackles, 2 INTs, 14 pass deflections

Similar to Antoine Winfield above, another young DB absolutely bursting onto the scene in 2023! L'Jarius Sneed has also long been an above average young DB, but he really came into his own this past season and put the league on notice. As I have mentioned with some of the other CBs on this big list, some of the best CBs in the game sometimes do not have insane actual statistics because they are so good in coverage and genuinely make QBs not target them. Sneed was like that for the most part, yet still putting up pretty good numbers with 14 pass breakups and 2 picks. Still, he formed one of the best CB duos in the sport with Trent McDuffie on the Chiefs and was an instrumental piece in terms of KC repeating as Super Bowl champs. With the Chiefs having such a stacked roster and being unable to pay everyone, they were forced to move him this off-season to Tennessee, where the Titans instantly paid him a huge deal worth nearly $80 million ($19M apy). He instantly will come in and be the Titans' lockdown CB1 this year and for the future, one of the best moves of the entire off-season in my opinion. What a year from Sneed, as he rises from being unranked to a now top 30 player in the NFL going into 2024!

29. Roquan Smith, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens | LAST YEAR: #68

2023 stats: 158 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT, 8 pass deflections

The 27 year old Roquan Smith has been considered one of the better ILBs in all of football ever since being dealt to Baltimore a year ago. It felt like he turned it up a notch in 2023, playing under elite DC Mike MacDonald and now is, in my opinion, the best ILB in football. Smith plays a bit different than Fred Warner (above). He is bigger and a little slower, and is a huge hitter who loves to come up and tackle and play great run defense. Smith was the guy that really made that elite Baltimore 2023 defense tick. He was their heart and soul. For the second straight season, Roquan made First Team All-Pro (4th overall All-Pro of his career). He was amongst the league leaders in tackles as well. At 27 years old, Smith is right in the middle of his prime, and should have another awesome season heading into 2024. He rises all the way from 68 to 29 in one year, and is the highest ranked ILB on my list!

28. Puka Nacua, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams | LAST YEAR: N/A

2023 stats: 105 receptions for 1,486 yards, 6 TDs receiving

Arguably the greatest rookie season of ALL TIME lands Puka Nacua as the 28th best player in the entire league going into his second season in 2024! We all know his name and story at this point, but in short, Nacua was drafted in the 5th round as a little known developmental type receiver to the Rams, but injuries made it so he had a prominent role going into week 1, and the rest is history. Nacua had the 9th most catches and the 4th most receiving yards in the league as a ROOKIE, and that yardage total is the most ever in a rookie season! Matthew Stafford simply loved the YAC monster Nacua, and he was the no. 1 target even when former OPOY Cooper Kupp returned from injury. Nacua is not the fastest, but he is so damn crafty and elusive, and finds his way open, and then is a bowling ball in the middle of the field after the catch. I am so curious to see how this sensation follows up that rookie season in 2024! 

27. Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle, Minnesota Vikings | LAST YEAR: N/A

2023 stats: 982 snaps played, 7 penalties, 6 sacks allowed, 82.4 PFF grade

After being in the 'just missed' column of my list a year ago, Christian Darrisaw played an awesome year, and finds himself now just outside the top 25! Darrisaw, simply put, is just one of the best all around linemen in the league right now. He has given Minnesota a reliable anchor on the left side to build around, and he will be instrumental in the development of new rookie 1st round QB JJ McCarthy. At 25 years old, he is just scratching the surface, and should be one of the best OTs in football for years to come. The Vikings struck gold drafting him in the mid first-round in 2021, and he makes his Top 100 debut at the elite ranking of #26!

26. Creed Humphrey, Center, Kansas City Chiefs | LAST YEAR: #36

2023 stats: 1,092 snaps played, 6 penalties, 4 sacks allowed, 78.2 PFF grade

As I have mentioned before, it takes a lot to make my list as an O-lineman. I continue to admit that I am underrating OL players and how important they are to a team, but it is just hard to really see all of the best of the best in terms of lineman, because we do not usually watch them every play. With that said, it makes it an honor to make the list as a lineman, and Creed Humphrey does it yet again, at the Center position as well, where I only have just TWO on my entire list. With Jason Kelce off to retirement, Humphrey, who is just 25 years old, is now the best Center in football. He has already risen as high as #26 this quickly into his career, and could be firmly within the top 25 a year from now. The Chiefs went back-to-back as we all know, and Humphrey was a vital piece to that, anchoring the line for the great that is Patrick Mahomes. He allowed just 4 sacks in nearly 1,100 downs played this year! This guy is already so dominant in one of the hardest positions in the game, and probably has another decade or more left in him. He is on the right track to be known as an all-time great when it is all said and done. Just 3 years in, and Humphrey has not only made this list, but risen each and every year of his career!

There you have it! Players 40-26 on my Top 100 for 2024! Next time out we will enter the top 25, the true best of the best!