Top 100 Players of 2026, Nos. 40-36: Cowboys WR George Pickens debuts after career year
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert lands at number 39 on the Top 100 Players list of 2026.
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 | 996 snaps | 32 QBP allowed | 4 sacks allowed (per Pro Football Focus)
Death, taxes and Williams making the NFL Top 100 list. The 12-time Pro Bowl left tackle has now played 15 seasons and has 13 appearances in the Top 100. He remains one of the most important parts of San Francisco’s offense heading into his age-38 campaign, having just signed a two-year extension through 2027 he admitted will "probably" be his last. That means Williams, who has allowed a sack rate under 1% for five straight years, still has a couple shots left at an elusive Super Bowl ring to complete his Hall of Fame career.
NFL Pro Insight for Williams: Williams allowed a 0.6% sack rate in 2025, tied for fifth among left tackles with at least 200 pass block snaps.
2025 stats:16 games | 66.4 pct | 3,727 pass yds | 7.3 ypa | 26 pass TD | 13 INT | 498 rush yds | 2 rush TD
Herbert had the unenviable task of spending much of last season without his starting offensive tackles. The result? Facing 268 pressures and a 43.3% pressure rate, both league highs, and yet the Pro Bowler still guided the Chargers to their first back-to-back playoff berths since 2008-09. He also constantly made magic while avoiding the rush. Herbert threw 10 touchdowns on the run in 2025, most in the NFL, and his 1,192 passing yards under pressure ranked fourth. With better protection on the way this season, perhaps Herbert will achieve his first postseason win -- or even stack a few of them.
NFL Pro Insight for Herbert: Herbert threw deep (20-plus air yards) on 11.1% of his attempts last season, the second-highest rate of his career, completing a personal-best 40.4% of those attempts for eight deep passing TDs, third-most in the NFL.
2025 stats: 16 games | 93 tackles | 4 tfl | 2 INT | 1 FF
DeJean built on a dream rookie season that included winning a Super Bowl with a pick-six in the big game by going on to make his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in 2025. The 23-year-old was a key piece of Philadelphia’s defense, which ranked top five in points allowed for a second straight year. He spent the majority of his time in the slot last season, but he’ll be taking on a new challenge in Year 3, as he’s set to play safety when the Eagles operate in a base defense. There’s little reason to believe he won’t rise to the occasion.
NFL Pro Insight for DeJean: DeJean aligned as a wide cornerback on 30.1% of his snaps in 2025 after logging just nine snaps there during his 2024 rookie year (1.5%).
2025 stats: 16 games | 998 snaps | 19 QBP allowed | 2 sacks allowed (per Pro Football Focus)
A large part of the Lions’ reputation as enforcers relies on Sewell. The 2021 first-round behemoth has now made four straight Pro Bowls and three consecutive All-Pro teams. Most blockers would be ecstatic with Sewell’s 80.3 PFF pass blocking grade from last season, which ranked 11th among offensive tackles, but that’s actually his area with the most room for growth. Sewell was PFF’s top-graded OT both overall (95.1) and in run blocking (96.7), his third straight year with a 91-plus run blocking mark.
NFL Pro Insight for Sewell: Sewell finished eighth among offensive tackles in 2025 with a 6.2 quarterback pressure percentage allowed.
2025 stats: 17 games | 93 rec | 1,429 rec yds | 15.4 ypr | 9 rec TD
Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. Pickens always possessed the talent, but he put it all together after his trade to Dallas. The 25-year-old wideout set career highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns by a wide margin. He proved himself capable of carrying the WR1 burden when CeeDee Lamb missed time, too, putting up 427 yards and five scores on 24 catches between Weeks 3-6 as his teammate dealt with a high ankle sprain. Pickens subsequently made his first Pro Bowl, All-Pro team and NFL Top 100 list, and now he’s gearing up for an encore while playing on the franchise tag.
NFL Pro Insight for Pickens: Pickens enjoyed his highest catch percentage (67.9) and highest catch rate over expected (+8.5) in his first year with the Cowboys.