-- Mike Zimmer, Vikings coach, Who knows what kinds of numbers Jones could have put up three years into his career had the Packers used him more earlier. Signature stat: Buckner is one of 10 defensive linemen with at least 30 QB pressures and 30 defensive stops in each of the past three seasons, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He's certainly further ahead. This is also arguably the best cast of receivers Brady has ever had, with Pro Bowlers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin along with young speedster Scotty Miller, go-to tight end Rob Gronkowski, O.J. But his numbers speak for themselves." What they are saying: "First of all, Demario is one of the smarter players I've played against and with. There are the obvious superstars, then there are the players who elicit an "oh, really?". -- Nick Wagoner. Watch on ESPN+, What they are saying: "There are things that you see, for a man of his size and athletic ability, every day. 11. He's a dynamic player. What they are saying: "Cook is a very bright guy. When you're in that go-to opportunity, and that's the guy, everybody knows Kenny Golladay is getting the ball and everybody knows he's still going to make the play. Everyone talks about their edge rushers. But early on in camp, it's clear that not only can Brady hit Evans deep on passes traveling 35, 40 and 50 yards through the air, but Brady will help Evans open up a new dimension in his game: yards after the catch. Entering his ninth NFL season, the 6-foot-1, 202-pound Gilmore still has the combination of size, speed, athleticism and football sense that makes him a true lockdown corner. -- Mike DiRocco. Signature stat: Sherman returned to his ball-hawking ways in 2019. He's always talking, and I think that's part of what makes him such a good safety and such a good leader. -- Justin Houston, Colts defensive end, 2020 projection: 62 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, Stafford was playing at a Pro Bowl level through the first eight games of last season, on pace for a 5,000-yard season after completing 187 of 291 passes for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. -- Jake Trotter. He led the league with 408 completions last season, and his completion percentage of 66.2% ranked in the top seven. Signature stat: Ngakoue has posted at least eight sacks in each of his first four seasons in the NFL. His sack numbers have increased every season, and he recorded 12 tackles for loss last year. It's easy to find the tallest, fastest or heaviest players in the NFL , but ranking strength is a whole different animal. -- Tyrann Mathieu, Chiefs safety, Roethlisberger has done just about everything in his 17-year NFL career. Tom Brady | QB | Buccaneers — Tom Brady didn’t have a ton of help in 2019, but he still eclipsed 4,000 passing yards and led the Patriots to a 12-4 record. With Marshal [Yanda] gone now, Ronnie is really stepping up into that leadership position, and he does a great job just being himself and we love him. 10. Cleveland is one of several offensive linemen who improved their stock this week and may have secured a spot late in the first. His preternatural field vision and deceptive power make it a winning wager. Only two other linebackers have at least 200 tackles and 25.0 disrupted dropbacks in that span (Darius Leonard, Cory Littleton). -- Courtney Cronin. I like the look in his eye right now. Despite dealing with a knee injury last season, Mahomes was as fun to watch as ever and continued to light up the scoreboard. A three-year starter at Boise State, he earned All-Mountain West Conference honors each of the past two seasons as the protector of the blind side for Broncos quarterbacks. Watch out in his second season in Matt LaFleur's offense.”. From CBS Sports: “Watt had 14.5 sacks and two picks last season and was a force against the run.”. Nick Bosa | DE | 49ers — Bosa burst into the league as a rookie in 2019, and he made an already solid 49ers defensive line even better. What they are saying: "He would have been a great center fielder. I like a lot of things about him physically, I like the person that he is, and [he] has great ball skills. 53 carved out a key role in Ohio State's powerful defense as well. He sees the game instinctively so well that he's a hard matchup." Moving people. The Chiefs are the team to beat this season, having scooped the 2020 Super Bowl title back in February and with quarterback of the moment, Patrick Mahomes on their side. -- Ike Hilliard, Steelers wide receivers coach, 2020 projection: 81 catches, 1,035 yards, 7 TD. He hinted that new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will utilize him beyond his lockdown cornerback role, perhaps indicating that he will have the opportunity to make more plays on the ball. He's not overly fast, but you can play him multiple positions. Kansas City Chiefs . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. What they are saying: "It just shows up every day how hard he works in practice, how hard he works in the weight room, how hard he studies film. What they are saying: "I do think he's had a hell of an offseason. For every $100 million player, there's a low-key riser on a rookie deal who doesn't resonate with the casual fan but is a legitimate weapon in the eyes of the league's coaches and decision-makers as well as in the eyes of their peers. He has those instincts, you can't teach that part." There are more than a few young players in the league who made their presence known in 2019 and worked their way up this ranking. Ohio State defensive tackle Davon Hamilton is one player whose stock has steadily risen in the pre-draft buildup and that continued inside Lucas Oil Stadium this week. Back there, he runs the show, and he's a really, really bright guy, and he's a smart guy and he studies the game." -- Cameron Brate, Buccaneers tight end, 2020 projection: 47 catches, 640 yards, 4 TDs, Smith-Schuster's first season as the Steelers' No. Signature stat: Kittle caught 79% of his targets last season, the highest percentage in a single season by a tight end with at least 900 receiving yards since 2001. From CBS Sports: “He came back for another year to try and get a second Super Bowl as he continues to play at a high level.”. Over the past two years, Brees had the two best passer ratings of his career and the two lowest interception rates of his career. Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams says frustration led to deleted tweet. From CBS Sports: “He's also good against the run, but he does need more help around him.”. See who our experts think were left off the list. The Seahawks view Adams as a "chess piece," in the words of one source. Since the start of 2016, Ngakoue is one of just five players with at least 35 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He works extremely hard, he's always taking care of his body, he loves his family, he loves family time and he's just cool. A lot of pass-rushers just focus on pass rush, and a lot of guys you feel like you can get your advantage back in the run game. If he stays healthy, he's primed for a resurgence that puts the Steelers firmly in the conversation for another AFC North title -- and more. So it's the same thing since he walked through the door. I'm a gritty player.". Will Dalvin Cook suit up for the Vikings? From CBS Sports: “He missed time last season, which hurt his MVP chances, but he will be right back in the race this year. -- Courtney Cronin. Signature stat: Over the past two seasons, no one has more rushing yards, rushing yards after contact and rushing TDs when facing a loaded box (eight-plus defenders) than Henry. Few safeties are able to track down the football better than Byard. At times you're like, 'Hey, hold on, let somebody else ask a damn question.' You can see that just during the offseason. But Cam is kind of wearing you out in both. But Peterson is still an elite corner and one of the best lockdown corners in the league because of his ability to play press-man coverage on an island. 13. But Arians has made it clear that Godwin is a huge part of the offense, so it could be another 100-plus target season. Signature stat: Since Schwartz debuted in 2012, the only player who has played more regular-season offensive snaps than his 8,060 is Tom Brady (8,297). From CBS Sports: “He remains a top-level back, but his 20-plus runs were down from 11 to 4 from the previous season.”. Signature stat: Since 2017, Cox has recorded 140 quarterback pressures, good for second among defensive tackles in the span, trailing only Aaron Donald's 207 (NFL Next Gen Stats). 1B, especially after they let right tackle Bryan Bulaga leave in free agency last offseason. NFL execs pick the most underrated players for 2020: Cooper Kupp, Jonnu Smith, Dion Dawkins, more. 6 in the NFL last season, a jump from 26th in 2018 (minimum 200 pass-rushing snaps). His size and the movement abilities are unique to have both." -- Mike Smith, Packers outside linebackers coach, 2020 projection: 55 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumble, Chubb was 47 yards away from winning the rushing title in 2019. He's big-time." The 26-year-old safety was named an All-Pro in 2018 when he intercepted six passes and scored three defensive touchdowns. Signature stat: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Fitzpatrick was targeted as a defender quite a bit less in the second half of the season. Hamilton was the strongest defender at the combine, but only found himself inside the Top 5 of the most powerful overall. His 33 reps of 225 were the most by a Buckeyes player since former center Corey Linsley had 36 reps in 2014. He covers, blitzes, calls the defense and is a major part of the Vikings' success against the run. What's scary is he still can make strides as a passer, especially on downfield throws. In fact, he may only continue to get better. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. What they are saying: "He has got to stay wire-to-wire healthy, and we've got to get more out of him in the passing game, get him more on the field on third down. -- Mike Triplett. He has the talent and the experience, and now finally the help around him. From those ratings, we were able to rank the best of the best, 1 to 100. NFL reviews are a bit skewed on Davis, who was a 3-4 defensive end with the Huskers and could prove his versatility at the next level with a move inside. -- Brett Veach, Chiefs GM, 2020 projection: 43 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, Although he's on this list, Jarrett still doesn't get the respect he deserves as a dominant, disruptive interior force. 7 to off the list in two short years », who our experts think were left off the list. Only Marlon Humphrey and Stephon Gilmore (both 49.2%) have allowed a lower completion percentage than Slay (51.8%), per NFL Next Gen Stats. He's the hardest-working guy. The addition of Jordan Reed could help spell Kittle in addition to complementing him and creating more favorable matchups. Here's the full list, starting with the reigning Super Bowl MVP: Jump to a notable outside the top 10: -- Jamison Hensley. It's been really impressive. The only safeties with more were Tyrann Mathieu, Justin Simmons and Jamal Adams. -- Vic Fangio, Broncos coach, 2020 projection: 52 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumble, The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year quickly established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Jarrett spent this offseason trying to elevate his game to yet another level, and 2020 promises big things. Just things that kinda go overlooked when you’re training in a large college setting. "I know the game and I’m willing to learn it and just be a team guy and help my team.”. Henry's 6-foot-3, 247-pound build and his conditioning make him fully capable of another 300-plus-carry season. Signature stat: Nelson is the only drafted offensive lineman to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons since the 1970 merger, per the Elias Sports Bureau.