The "NFL Top 100" -- voted on by the players themselves -- reveal is underway on X! Two players will be revealed at 10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. daily Monday through Friday from June 22-Aug. 21, before one Top 10 player is unveiled each weekday beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 4.
2025 stats: 16 games | 94 tackles | 2 sacks | 7 PD | 3 INT
There are few utility men in the NFL as stellar as James, whoâs recognized as one of the finest safeties in the league, but is really a positionless standout. He secured his second straight Pro Bowl selection and his fifth overall ahead of garnering a three-year, $75.6 million extension that made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL on an annual basis. Applied in the pass rush more than previous seasons, the six-time Top 100 member had a 12.9 blitz percentage that led to 16 QB pressures, which were second among defensive backs (minimum 25 pass rushes) and commanded the respect of being chipped on 11.9% of his rushes -- also second among DBs. Heading into his age-30 season, Jamesâ three picks last year matched his career high from his 2018 rookie campaign.
NFL Pro Insight for James: James was one of five defenders in 2025 to align on the line of scrimmage (123 snaps), at linebacker (231) and at safety (141) for at least 100 snaps.
2025 stats: 17 games | 1,149 snaps | 15 QBP allowed | 0 sacks allowed (per Pro Football Focus)
Is this high enough for the first-ever NFL Protector of the Year? Thuney, who was voted the AP's top interior offensive lineman, helped to resurrect the Bearsâ beleaguered line, a key factor in Chicago winning the NFC North, and was then voted the leagueâs most outstanding offensive lineman at NFL Honors. Thuneyâs stellar season was highlighted by an 88.6 pass-blocking grade from PFF, tops among 81 qualified guards. He allowed zero sacks, one QB hit and was flagged just twice. A four-time Super Bowl champion, Thuney has gone to four straight Pro Bowls and been an All-Pro three years running. Despite those accolades, Thuney is making his NFL 100 debut after his 10th NFL season.
NFL Pro Insight for Thuney: Thuney played 99.5% of the Bearsâ offensive snaps (second on the team), which included 643 pass blocks, and just a 4.5% pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats.
2025 stats: 17 games | 49 tackles | 12 tfl | 8 sacks | 28 QB hits
For the AFC South champions, Hines-Allen was the pass-rush threat. Jacksonvilleâs sack leader had 25% of the teamâs sacks. His team-best 80 QB pressures saw him emerge as the only Jaguar with north of 31. His QB hits (28) and tackles for loss (12) were also team-high tallies as he checked in on the Top 100 for the third year in a row and in the top 50 for the second time.
NFL Pro Insight for Hines-Allen: Hines-Allen's 80 QB pressures were tied for fourth in 2025 and were 46 more than any other Jaguars player, the largest gap in the league between a teamâs two leading pressure players.
2025 stats: 16 games | 45 tackles | 1 FR | 17 PD | 0 INT
Quickly rising up the ranks of the gameâs elite cover men, Mitchell has been sensational in each of his two NFL seasons. The Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2024 when Philly won the Super Bowl, Mitchell has garnered noticed as evidenced by earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl accolades in his sophomore campaign. The Eagles were eighth in passing yards allowed and allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the league, further supporting just how valuable their young corner already is.
NFL Pro Insight for Mitchell: Following the Eagles' Week 9 bye, Mitchell aligned as the boundary cornerback on 74.1% of his snaps from Week 10 to the end of the regular season. In that time, Mitchell had more passes defensed (nine) than receptions allowed (six) across 29 targets faced and 233 coverage snaps when aligned to the boundary. Those figures translate to a 20.7% completion percentage allowed, a mark over three times lower than the season-long NFL average from that alignment (65.5%).
2025 stats:11 games | 57 rec | 628 rec yards | 11.0 ypr | 7 rec TDs
A torn Achilles limited Kittle to 11 games last season, but what he accomplished in those weeks and his reputation among his peers is enough to keep him inside the top 50 for a remarkable eighth straight year. A Pro Bowler for a fifth year in a row and seventh overall, Kittle's overall game remains outstanding. He still finished second on the 49ers in receptions and touchdowns catches (tied). He dropped just two passes, per PFF, and garnered an overall 90.8 grade -- first at his position. His receiving grade of 91.2 was also tops at TE and he posted 72.2 grades in run and pass blocking. A fan favorite and clearly a favorite among his fellow players, Kittle's all-around game continues to set a standard in an era in which tight ends are more important than any before.
NFL Pro Insight for Kittle: In 11 games, the 49ers averaged 4.1 yards per carry on designed runs with Kittle on the field (213 carries) in comparison to 3.7 yards per attempt on 205 carries without him on the field.
2025 stats:16 games | 123 tackles | 24 tfl | 3.5 sacks | 7 PD | 2 INT | 18 QB hits
After a breakout 2024 campaign in which Baun was a focal point in the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning endeavors, the veteran held his reputation as one of the league's best off-ball backers. Now a back-to-back Pro Bowler, Baun led one of the NFL's best defenses in tackles by a 30-tackle margin. His 83.0 overall PFF grade was fifth among linebackers with his 84.5 coverage grade second. He was also a major value in the pass-rush department, registering a 27% pressure percentage with 20 QB pressures, accentuating Vic Fangio's pressure-from-all-angles defensive scheme.
NFL Pro Insight for Baun: Baun played a team-high 998 defensive snaps (1,019 total including 21 special teams snaps), which was tops on the Eagles and 11th in the NFL.