Over the course of 11 days, we unveiled rankings of the top 10 NFL players at every offensive and defensive position group. Just as teams rise and fall, so do players, and every group had at least one player who fell from last year's charts , whether because of performance, injury or the strength of the rankings.
Those players are represented here. A reminder of the rankings process: Voters ranked their own top 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on the number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen as well as ESPN Research.
More than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed contributed to placements.
This was not a five-year projection or a career achievement award, but meant to answer a simple question: Who are the best players right now? Our rollout schedule: running backs (July 6), cornerbacks (July 7), edge rushers (July 8), defensive tackles (July 9), tight ends (July 10), offensive tackles (July 11), interior offensive linemen (July 12), quarterbacks (July 13), off-ball linebackers (July 14), wide receivers (July 15) and safeties (July 16).
Running backs Josh Jacobs , Green Bay Packers (6) : Jacobs couldn't duplicate his 2024 Pro Bowl form. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry (down from 4.4) and his yards after contact plunged from third in the NFL to 17th.
The 28-year-old is entering the third year of a four-year, $48 million contract. Joe Mixon (9): Mixon's 2024 debut season with the Texans was one of the best of his career.
However, he missed all of 2025 with a foot injury and was released by Houston this March. He's still unsigned as of July 17, as rookies begin to arrive to some training camps.
Alvin Kamara , New Orleans Saints (10): Kamara has long been one of the NFL's most dynamic, versatile running backs. But that may be waning; he managed only 182 receiving yards in 2025, far short of his average of 595 over the rest of his career.
His yards per carry also fell to 3.6, far short of his career average of 4.3. See who made the 2026 top 10 » Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson , Chicago Bears (8): Johnson missed 10 games in 2025 after ranking eighth.
An NFL personnel evaluator told Jeremy Fowler: "Time on task has been an issue. He missed a lot of camp and game action.
But he's young (27), so he should be able to get back to his top form. He's got juice when he's full tilt." See who made the 2026 top 10 » Edge rushers Trey Hendrickson , Baltimore Ravens (6): After leading the league with 17.5 sacks, Hendrickson missed 10 games in 2025.
One NFL personnel evaluator was concerned about what that means. "He's been a great performer but doesn't have the dominant traits as some of the others, so when age and injuries pile up, it's harder for him to stay toward the top," he said.
Jared Verse , Cleveland Browns (10): Verse was a very near miss, challenging Nik Bonitto for the last spot in this year's list. The centerpiece of the Los Angeles Rams ' trade for Myles Garrett , Verse generates a lot of pressure and is a strong run defender, but only wound up with 4.5 sacks in 2025.
See who made the 2026 top 10 » Defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike , Baltimore Ravens (7): Madubuike made Pro Bowls in back-to-back seasons, but he played only two games in 2025. He had neck surgery in April and is hopeful about playing this season.
DeForest Buckner , Indianapolis Colts (8): The two-time All-Pro has struggled to stay on the field, playing only 22 games over the past two seasons. An NFL defensive line coach had this to say: "No real drop-off in his play.
He's still elite -- just older and injured." Vita Vea , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9): Vea is still widely feared as one of the league's best nose tackles, but the 31-year-old's pressure numbers have fallen, and he was not one of the top 10 run-stopping DTs in ESPN's run stop win rate . Cameron Heyward , Pittsburgh Steelers (10): Heyward is still a good player, but his sacks and QB hits fell by more than half from 2024 to 2025.
The 37-year-old is eight sacks away from clearing 100 for his career. See who made the 2026 top 10 » Tight ends T.J.
Hockenson , Minnesota Vikings (7): Hockenson was not alone, as the Minnesota offense struggled last season. But the 29-year-old ended the year with 438 yards and 3 touchdowns, pushing him out of the top 10.
Isaiah Lik