The 2026 NFL season is getting 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 | 31-40
Last Word on NFL Top Players Heading Into 2026: 21-30
30. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
One of the best running backs in the history of Wisconsin football (that’s saying something) is also one of the best running backs in the history of the Indianapolis Colts (that’s saying something). Heading into 2026, Jonathan Taylor has cracked our top 30 and was one of the top backs in the NFL last year in his first fully healthy season since 2021.
In 17 games, Taylor amassed 1,585 yards (third-most) and 18 touchdowns (most) on 323 carries (most). He got back to his bellcow role, eclipsing 300 carries for the third time in his career. It was his fourth 1,000-yard season and second time leading the league in touchdowns.
His best season was that 2021 season in which he finished with 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Pro honors. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and will be leaned on again to carry the Colts back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Only 27 years old, Taylor has plenty of great football ahead of him.
29. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, Houston Texans
When the Texans drafted Derek Stingley Jr. with the third-overall pick in 2022, they expected him to come in and be a shutdown corner. Now, four years later, he’s put together three incredible seasons, albeit one was shortened by injury.
Over the last three seasons, Stingley has been one of the top corners in the league. In terms of interceptions, his five in 2023 and 2024, and four in 2025, come in as the second-most in the NFL. In total, he’s amassed 172 tackles, six tackles for loss, 15 interceptions (one as a rookie), one pick-six, one forced fumble, and 51 pass breakups.
He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in each of the last two seasons, and, according to NextGenStats, he has the lowest completion percentage allowed (46.4%), lowest pass rating allowed (49.7), and most passes defensed (46). PFF rated him as the sixth-best player overall heading into 2026.
28. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans
One of the best defenders – not just defensive tackles – in the NFL is Jeffery Simmons. He’s an absolute nightmare to game plan against, just as any NFL offensive coordinator. He wrecks the offense with ease; usually, most teams can’t adjust. Remember that AFC Divisional Round game against the Bengals after the 2021 season? While the Titans may have lost, Simmons sacked Joe Burrow three times. It wasn’t his fault they lost that one.
It’s not often you see a defensive tackle have his best season in his seventh year, but that’s exactly what Simmons did last year. In 15 games, he put up 67 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hicks, and 11 sacks. Not to mention his three pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
His 64 pressures were the second most among interior defenders, and his 88.3 PFF grade was third. Simmons isn’t going anywhere and would likely have been number one here if not for a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
27. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Rarely do we see a tight end make such an immediate impact as we did with Brock Bowers. Coming out of Georgia, Bowers was as sure-fire a prospect as any; the discussion was just around positional value. As a result, he fell to 13th overall and was a superstar right away.
As a rookie, Bowers put up 1,194 yards and scored five touchdowns on 112 receptions, resulting in his first Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. Last year, he suffered a PCL injury and bone bruise in Week 1, played through it through Week 4, and was shut down so as not to exacerbate the issue. He returned in Week 9 and finished the season with 680 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite only playing in eight games, he was a Pro Bowler again.
Many analysts are expecting a massive year from Bowers this year. It would not be surprising if he’s much higher on this list next year.
26. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
One of the offensive architects of the Lions’ turnaround has been the Sun God himself, Amon-Ra St. Brown. As reliable as any player in the NFL, St. Brown has consistently been in the conversation as one of the best receivers in the league.
In each of his five seasons in the NFL, St. Brown has averaged over 10 yards per reception, with the lowest coming as a rookie. In 2023 and 2024, he led the league in first downs and has eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of his last four seasons.
Remarkably healthy, St. Brown has only missed two games in his career. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and earned All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2024. Among receivers since 2021, St. Brown has the most receptions, fourth-most yards, and fourth-most touchdowns.
25. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
One of the most electric players in the NFL, Saquon Barkley cracks our top 25! Before we get started, did you know he only has one All-Pro to his name? It really feels like he should have more.
Barkley broke into the NFL as a star for the Giants for six seasons. Including his injury-shortened 2020 season, Barkley ran for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns. Then, he signed with the Eagles before 2024 and had a renaissance. For the first time in his career, Barkley ran the ball 345 times, resulting in 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last year was a step back with just 1,140 yards and seven scores.
From his famous backwards jump over that poor Jacksonville Jaguars defender (which was immortalized as a Madden cover) to his many house calls, Barkley has been one of the best backs in the NFL almost yearly. We will have to see if the regression in 2025 is a sign of things to come or if it was just a fluke.
24. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders
The newest member of the Ravens…wait, never mind, they backed out of the trade. The current Raider and superstar of the defense, Maxx Crosby, clocks in here at 24. One of the best EDGE rushers and one of the best defenders overall, Crosby has been at the center of some wild stories this offseason. Alleged failure of a physical or not, Crosby is an elite player and a freak of nature.
Last season saw Crosby get back to his usual double-digit-sack total. In 15 games, he posted 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss (a career best), 10 sacks, an interception, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Thus far in his career, Crosby has made five Pro Bowls, but hasn’t made an All-Pro just yet. However, he’s finished top-six in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice and was the runner-up for the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year. He heads into 2026 with 69.5 career sacks and 133 tackles for loss.
23. Kyle Hamilton, SAF, Baltimore Ravens
Spoiler alert: the top safety in our rankings was none other than the Ravens’ stud Kyle Hamilton. Taking a safety 14th overall is a risk, but Hamilton has paid off that risk 100-fold.
The Ravens eased him into action as a rookie with just four starts in 2022. Then, he took over as arguably the best safety in the NFL in 2023. He broke out with 81 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, 13 pass breakups, and four interceptions (one pick-six). He was even better in 2024 and 2025, though his interception numbers have declined.
Over the last two seasons, he’s racked up 112 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one interception, 18 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Hamilton was a Pro Bowl pick in each of the last three seasons and was an All-Pro in 2023 and 2025.
No wonder the Ravens inked him to a four-year, $100.4 million extension that ties him to the club through the 2030 season.
22. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers
One of the top offensive linemen of this era, Trent Williams just missed out on our top 20. Williams’ 91.5 PFF grade is the best in the NFC West and the third-best in the NFL. He also posted the fourth-best PFSN overall grade with an 85. Last year, he allowed four sacks and eight quarterback hits with four flags.
The old man still has it. There is a bit of greatness fatigue with Williams, but he’s been one of the best in the NFL for years now. He has three first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, and 12 Pro Bowls.
He’s a sure-fire Hall of Famer whenever he plans on hanging up the cleats. According to the NFL’s executives, coaches, and scouts, he’s still the second-best tackle in the league.
21. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Finally, the second-best offensive lineman in the NFL according to our staff is Tristan Wirfs. The one-time 13th-overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Wirfs has catapulted himself into the elite echelon of offensive linemen over the course of his career.
He had his breakout in 2021, earning his first of five consecutive Pro Bowl nods. Additionally, he earned his first All-Pro nod, with his second coming in 2024.
According to PFF, his 92.7 overall grade was the second-best among tackles, and he was third in run blocking and fourth in pass blocking. Across 778 snaps, he allowed two sacks and just four quarterback hits.
