The 2026 NFL season is nearing closer and closer with each passing day! This offseason, the staff here at Last Word on NFL came together to vote on the top NFL players heading into the 2026 season. This was a collaborative effort between 19 writers, three editors, and two Site Managers.
Each person submitted an anonymous ballot ranking the top 50 players in the league. In order to determine the final consensus rankings, the first-place player earned 50 points, the second-place player earned 49, and so forth, all the way to number 50. There was a bit of a consensus at the top, but as we got further and further down, there was a wide variety of selections. But at least our methodology (having all 24 voters rank 50, rather than just 10 like the “official” NFL 100 does…) is sound.
So, without further ado, let’s continue the Last Word on NFL Top 50 players heading into the 2026 season!
ALSO READ: 50-41
Last Word on NFL Top Players Heading Into 2026: 31-40
40. Quenton Nelson, OG, Indianapolis Colts
Cracking the top 40 is likely the top guard in the NFL. Quenton Nelson is about as elite as it gets when you look at the interior offensive line. While he is the fifth-best offensive lineman on our rankings (spoiler), he’s the top guard and second-best IOL.
Last year, his 84.7 overall PFF grade was the fourth-best among guards. Across 1,039 snaps, he allowed 15 pressures, including one sack and two quarterback hits.
Since being drafted with the sixth-overall pick in 2018, Nelson has racked up eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro honors. Perhaps the best part of his game is the fact that he’s started all 17 games in each of the last four seasons.
He enters a contract season. If the Colts don’t pony up some serious cash, someone will.
39. Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Houston Texans
Perhaps one of the most underrated EDGE rushers in the NFL, Danielle Hunter has quietly put together an incredible career. To kick off his career, Hunter racked up 54.5 sacks over his first five seasons. Then, he had two injury-riddled years, missing all of 2020, then suffering a season-ending pectoral tear in 2021.
However, if there was a concern, it was squashed. In the four seasons since, he totaled 51 sacks. He moved from the Vikings to the Texans ahead of the 2024 season, and he’s just continued his top-tier play. The five-time Pro Bowler put up the fifth-best PFF grade overall (89.1) and was credited with the fifth-most pressures (83).
Father Time may be undefeated, but Hunter is going to take him a few rounds before going out. The 31-year-old is still among the elites.
38. Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
The next corner on our list is none other than Super Bowl champion Devon Witherspoon. He was the fifth-overall pick in the 2023 draft and has more than lived up to those expectations. He isn’t mentioned in the same breath as the top corners for some reason, but in our rankings, he came in as the fourth-best at the position.
Witherspoon has suited up for three seasons with the Seahawks. In those three seasons, he’s made the Pro Bowl each time, finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, and was a second-team All-Pro a year ago. In terms of counting stats, he has 249 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions (one pick-six), 32 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Dipping back into the PFF well, Witherspoon was the highest-graded cornerback overall with an 89.9 mark, and was the second-best run defender among corners (86.7).
He may not be as flashy or as hyped up as others, but Witherspoon certainly deserves the attention.
37. T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The greatest pass rusher in Pittsburgh Steelers history is likely on the back end of his career, but he’s still getting the job done. He has shattered the record for most sacks in franchise history and is only going to add to it.
In nine seasons, Watt has racked up 115 sacks and 136 tackles for loss from his linebacker spot, leading the NFL in sacks three times. He’s the active leader in forced fumbles with 36, also leading the NFL twice.
He took a step back in 2025, but he was still a menace. Needless to say, the eight-time Pro Bowl, four-time first-team All-Pro, and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is headed to Canton. In addition to that one DPOY, he finished second in 2020 and 2023, third in 2019, and fourth in 2024.
36. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Speaking of elite defenders on the back-end of his career, Chris Jones slots in here at 36. Despite playing the often-ignored defensive tackle position, Jones is well-known as one of the most disruptive defenders in the game.
From his interior defensive line position, Jones has racked up 87.5 sacks and 99 tackles for loss across his illustrious 10-year career. He’s made seven consecutive Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pros, and three second-team All-Pros.
He amassed double-digit sacks three times and was a linchpin in the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl-winning defenses.
35. Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
Now, let’s get back to the young guys. The 17th-overall pick from the 2023 draft had his rookie season cut short, but since then, Christian Gonzalez has been one of the best lockdown corners in the NFL.
Over his last two years, Gonzalez amassed 128 tackles, two interceptions, 21 pass breakups, and one 63-yard fumble return touchdown.
According to PFF, Gonzalez allowed the lowest completion percentage in coverage (43.4%) and has routinely shown off his impressive ability to recover and get a hand on the ball. The Patriots may have lost the Super Bowl, but it wasn’t the fault of Gonzalez; that’s for sure.
34. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
This could be a little recency bias, considering his playoff run, but this seems a little low for Drake Maye, no? Either way, the young Patriots quarterback ended up here at number 34.
As a rookie, Maye was pretty good, but he had his highs and lows. On the year, he finished with 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns, but also had 10 interceptions. He showed flashes, but the Patriots weren’t quite ready to compete, resulting in Maye leading the way to a 3-9 record.
Last year, he took a massive step forward. He led the Patriots to a 14-3 record and the number-two seed. In his 17 regular-season games, he threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the way by completing 72% of his passes. He made his second Pro Bowl as a result and even finished second in MVP voting (and fifth in Offensive Player of the Year voting…yeah, we don’t know).
He was not great in the playoffs, and it could be argued that he was carried by an elite defense, so there are parts to his game that need work. But, either way, Maye has an incredibly bright future ahead.
33. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Running backs may not matter to the casual viewer, but what Derrick Henry has been able to do over the course of his career is legitimately insane. Ever since his breakout in 2018, Henry has consistently been one of, if not the, best running backs in the NFL.
To date, Henry has amassed 13,018 yards and 122 touchdowns, both leading the way among active players. He eclipsed 1,000 yards seven times, including in each of his last four (he was only 63 yards away in 2021 despite only playing in eight games). He led the NFL in rushing twice and in touchdowns three times.
Somehow, he’s only earned five Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro selection.
Henry is still a cheat code. He is measured at six-foot-two and 252 pounds, but runs like a seven-foot Juggernaut, mowing down defenders left and right. His stiff arm sends defensive backs to the Shadow Realm, and he has been the textbook definition of workhorse.
If Father Time knocked on Henry’s door, he’d probably get shoved to the ground trying to wrap up the physical running back.
32. Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs
Centers deserve love, but Creed Humphrey may be hogging all of the attention (and rightfully so). Despite falling to the end of the second round in the 2021 draft, Humphrey has been one of the best at his position since day one. He finished third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, if that tells you anything.
To date, Humphrey has four Pro Bowls and has been the All-Pro center two years running. PFF loves him, as well. His 88.8 overall and 84.1 pass-blocking grades are best among centers, and his 88.5 run-blocking grade is second. He allowed eight pressures across 1,093 snaps, with one sack and two quarterback hits.
Humphrey is the only center on our top 50 list and is the fourth-best lineman. There is certainly an argument that he can be higher, but then you have to weigh positional value and whatnot. Regardless, Humphrey is a stud and has taken the torch as the top center from Jason Kelce after his retirement.
31. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Surprisingly, the first wide receiver we get to talk about is CeeDee Lamb. Despite that, there were five receivers voted higher than he was.
Lamb has only been in the NFL for six seasons, but he’s been one of the best and underappreciated receivers in the game. He’s on a run of five straight 1,000-yard seasons, and he even led the league in receptions in 2023. In total, he’s entering 2026 with 7,416 yards and 41 touchdowns on 571 receptions. Lamb is just as much of a home-run threat as any with five 50+ yard touchdowns.
The five-time Pro Bowler, one-time first-team All-Pro receiver, has been the star in Dallas. His productivity has declined over the last two seasons since his 1,749-yard, 12-touchdown season in 2023. He even finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting that season.
Lamb just missed the cut to the top 30, but if he can have another massive year (and, perhaps, lead the Cowboys back to the playoffs), he will have a better ranking next year.
