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Jeremy Fowler
With 2025 NFL coaching camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard.
ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to assist us rank the highest 10 gamers at 11 positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the sixth version of those rankings, and as regular, a number of gamers moved up or fell off final yr’s lists.
A reminder of the rankings course of: Voters gave us their 10 greatest gamers at a place; then we compiled the outcomes and ranked candidates based mostly on variety of top-10 votes, composite common and dozens of interviews, with analysis and movie research assist from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In whole, greater than 70 voters submitted a poll on at the least one place, and in lots of circumstances all positions. Further voting and follow-up calls with these surveyed helped us break any ties.
Every part included quotes and nuggets from the voters on each ranked participant — even the honorable mentions. The target was to determine the very best gamers for 2025. This was not a five-year projection or a profession achievement award. Who’re the very best gamers at this time?
We rolled out a place per day over 11 days. The schedule: operating backs (July 7), defensive tackles (July 8), edge rushers (July 9), safeties (July 10), tight ends (July 11), inside offensive linemen (July 12), offensive tackles (July 13), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), broad receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).
Prime 10 operating backs
If 2024 was the yr of the operating again, then the Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Ravens’ Derrick Henry had been the boys of the yr. At a place the place the pattern line of respect goes upward, who adopted Barkley and Henry in our rankings?
Prime 10 defensive tackles
The highest tier of this season’s defensive sort out rankings had been clear-cut: three gamers, then a large drop-off. Inside that high tier, there was a two-man battle for the crown, and each gamers had been worthy of the highest spot. What key traits did our panel of scouts and execs herald about Dexter Lawrence II, Chris Jones and Jalen Carter — and others?
Prime 10 edge rushers
Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby received their new contracts within the spring. So did Danielle Hunter on a one-year deal. All three broke the $35 million threshold for annual wage. T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson entered the summer time with potential new offers on the radar. Aidan Hutchinson, two years from free company, is destined for large {dollars} ultimately, too. The place did these celebrity names land inside the 2025 high 10?
Prime 10 safeties
The Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton garnered probably the most first-place votes in a top-two that was clear-cut. The voting amongst Nos. 3-8 was extremely shut, however not many questions existed on this high 10. And the league’s greatest security tandem is now not up for debate — that duo resides in Michigan.
Prime 10 tight ends
The George Kittle vs. Travis Kelce battle raged on for a half-decade in superb trend.
And now it is over.
The highest tier of this yr’s checklist options a number of contemporary names — and a brand new tight finish king in Brock Bowers. However the place did Kittle and Kelce find yourself on the refreshed checklist?
Prime 10 inside offensive linemen
The retirements of Zack Martin and Frank Ragnow opened two prime spots on this yr’s high 10. A place that had gotten stagnant so far as top-end expertise now options 5 gamers between the ages of 24 and 26 within the high seven. There is a new No. 1… and No. 2… and No. 5. Three gamers are making their top-10 debut.
Prime 10 offensive tackles
Retirements by fixtures Terron Armstead and Tyron Smith offered upward mobility for a number of stars. One offensive sort out from the AFC makes his top-10 debut, which is yet one more than final yr. However the race for the No. 1 spot was intriguing for what it portends: A decade-long battle for supremacy between two supremely proficient tackles who play for playoff groups within the NFC.
Prime 10 quarterbacks
A number of themes emerged from this yr’s quarterback polling, none extra necessary than this: Tier 1 is traditionally good. The highest 4 quarterbacks left the remainder of the sector within the mud throughout this yr’s Prime 10 voting. All 4 are squarely of their primes, between 28 and 29 years outdated. They’ve 5 MVPs amongst them. And whereas three of those quarterbacks are nonetheless chasing Patrick Mahomes‘ Tremendous Bowl achievements, they seem like closing the hole by the yr.
Prime 10 off-ball linebackers
Probably the most uneven positional group of the highest 10 sequence, linebacker is top-heavy and void of consensus. Three gamers appeared on at the least 70% of the ballots — often that quantity is far greater — but 32 gamers earned at the least one vote. The highest-two is an identical to final yr, however the remainder of the sector is jumbled, with 4 first-time recipients and an ageing participant returning to the checklist after a couple of years out of the combo.
Prime 10 broad receivers
Final season, 21 receivers surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, down from 27 the yr earlier than however nonetheless spectacular. Final yr’s rookie class featured a number of budding stars — certainly one of whom debuted within the high seven and one other who pushed for the highest 10. The clear two-man race for No. 1 options two stars who grew up 10 miles aside, performed at LSU collectively and are buying and selling blows for the No. 1 rating right here every year.
Cornerbacks
The altering of the guard — er, cowl — is an enormous theme on this yr’s high 10 cornerbacks checklist, which options one participant older than 26 and 6 gamers 24 or youthful. A number of staples from latest high 10 lists have fallen out of the elite; half of the gamers on the checklist are nonetheless on their rookie contracts. Evidently dealing with the trials of matching the very best receivers stride for stride requires contemporary legs.
