The 2024 NFL season is just around the corner. The writers of Last Word on Sports voted on their top ten NFL players, and the results combined into a list of the top 42 players heading into the 2024 NFL season. A first-place vote was worth ten votes, second-place nine, etc. Each writer was given a chance to give an honorable mention, which counted as a half point for the sake of tie-breakers and many of the players on this list. Without further adieu, here are some of the top NFL players for 2024.
Top NFL Players Heading Into 2024: 31 Through 40
Honorable Mentions – Players to Watch on the Rise
Kendre Miller, RB New Orleans Saints
Expectations were low for the third-round pick out of TCU. He was buried on the depth chart in New Orleans, but now gets a chance to prove his capabilities in 2024.
Jakobi Meyers, WR Las Vegas Raiders
Meyers continues to stay under the radar. Not for this list, as he was listed as an honorable mention by one writer. Three straight seasons of 800+ yards with sub-par quarterback play were enough to catch someone’s eye.
40. Jalen Carter, DT Philadelphia Eagles
Carter was the number three overall player on the 2023 NFL big board. Evidently he’s done enough to earn the respect of the Eagles department, and is a player to watch in 2024 and beyond.
39. Quincy Williams, LB New York Jets
Following a college career that had Williams playing multiple positions, his adjustment to the NFL has been slow. Now that he’s had some time to marinade, he’s an impact tackler for the New York Jets.
38. Christian Darrisaw, OT Minnesota Vikings
Due to a 2023 season with hundreds of snaps and zero holding penalties, Darrisaw earned some respect. Compared to the league average, Darrisaw is a master of his craft and should continue to grow in ability at just 25 years old.
37. Jaylon Johnson, CB Chicago Bears
Is there a team with more different expectations from 2023 to 2024? Keeping Johnson was the first step to set up the Bears for success, and they’re a team to watch in 2024.
36. Demario Davis, LB New Orleans Saints
Another impact tackler, Davis is a former All-Pro with plenty of gas left in the tank. Unless something crazy happens, he’s likely to go to his third Pro Bowl in a row. Thus, he’s rightfully earned a spot in the top NFL players for 2024.
35. Orlando Brown Jr, OT Cincinnati Bengals
Despite not being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in five years, Brown Jr proved he was well worth his huge contract. He may take some time to adjust to his new team, Brown Jr is a stalwart on the Cincinnati line.
34. George Pickens, WR Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens? Dog. He finally gets a quarterback upgrade, and the sky is the limit in 2024. His projection makes him an extreme value in fantasy football, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if he had 10+ touchdowns for the first time in his career.
33. James Cook, RB Buffalo Bills
Once Stefon Diggs went to Houston, Bills fans had to wonder how they would replace him. At this instant, they’ve decided to replace him in the aggregate, and Cook is at the center of it all. He’s the best skill position player not named Josh Allen for 2024.
32. Chris Godwin, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evidently the voters prefer Godwin to Mike Evans who didn’t make the list. Maybe the news of Godwin returning to the slot caused optimism, or maybe the age cliff is coming for Evans this year. Either way, Godwin is one of the top receivers in the NFL and has plenty to prove in 2024.
31. Derrick Henry, RB Baltimore Ravens
It used to be a dream. Derrick Henry next to Lamar Jackson causing nightmares for defenses around the league. Sure, running backs matter less than they did in 1994, but Henry has gravitational pull and the Ravens are set for a huge 2024.
30. Travis Kelce, TE Kansas City Chiefs
Travis Kelce has a substantial case for the GOAT of his position. Compared to the other players on this list, his spot is more a testimony to a great career than lofty expectations for 2024. Following a year with the second most yards among tight ends, he’s still not over the hump and can keep performing as long as Patrick Mahomes has a psychic connection with him.
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