Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 100-91: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa makes another appearance

2024 stats: 16 games | 82 rec | 1,149 rec yds | 14.0 ypr | 7 rec TD | 2 fumbles

One year in the league, one appearance on the Top 100 list. McConkey was everything the Chargers could hope for and more as a rookie. He led the team in targets, receptions and yards, only getting stronger as the season progressed. The shoes left by the departed Keenan Allen as an always-open chain-mover fit remarkably well. Now, McConkey enters Year 2 as L.A.'s unquestioned WR1.

NFL Pro Insight for McConkey: Ladd McConkey had 50-plus receiving yards in each of his final 10 games of 2024. That is tied with Malik Nabers for the longest streak by any rookie since 1970.

2024 stats: 16 games | 64 tackles | 16 tfl | 11 sacks | 1 INT | 1 TD

What did Williams do to celebrate hitting the decade mark in the NFL? Nothing major, apart from producing his finest season yet. He reached double-digit sacks for the second time as a pro and snapped a seven-year Pro Bowl drought during his first full campaign with the Seahawks. His 87.1 PFF defensive grade marked the best in his career by far, something he’ll look to build on now that he's fully immersed in Mike Macdonald’s scheme.

NFL Pro Insight for Williams: Leonard Williams generated 50 total pressures last season, the fourth-most among defensive tackles. Williams also recorded a position-high 11.0 sacks and finished with the second-highest sack rate (2.5%) among defensive tackles with at least 200 pass rushes (Dexter Lawrence, 2.9%).

2024 stats: 17 games | 255 att | 1,138 rush yds | 4.5 ypc | 5 rush TD | 51 rec | 408 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 5 fumbles

Put out to pasture by the Packers, Jones proved he’s still capable of a workhorse role in Minnesota. He logged the most carries of his career, leading to a personal best in single-season rushing yards. Far removed from losing a step, Jones was the Vikings’ rushing attack; no other ball-carrier reached 300 yards. Although Minnesota acquired Jordan Mason this offseason to muster a better 1-2 punch, Jones is still the mighty dangerous 1 in that combo. 

NFL Pro Insight for Jones: Aaron Jones averaged a speed of 12.81 mph on his rushes in 2024, the sixth-fastest among running backs with at least 100 carries.

2024 stats: 17 games | 100 rec | 1,271 rec yds | 12.7 ypr | 9 rec TD

A breakout season led London to break through to the Top 100 for the first time. He paced Atlanta in receiving across the board, a target hog who delivered consistently for the league's fifth-ranked passing offense. His output across quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s three starts paints an especially pretty picture for the future: 352 yards and two TDs on a whopping 37.1% target share. Might it only be the beginning for the young Falcons duo? It's a tantalizing thought.

NFL Pro Insight for London: Drake London was targeted on 34.9% of his routes run from the slot last season, the highest rate among receivers with at least 150 slot routes run. He gained 555 yards across 45 receptions out of the slot, the sixth-most in the NFL.

2024 stats: 17 games | 122 tackles | 9 tfl | 5.5 sacks | 1 INT | 1 FR

There’s little doubt he’s a Buccaneer for life at this point. David is a linebacking team legend, helping deliver five straight playoff runs after starting his career with eight misses. Whatever he’s lost in speed, he’s made up for with savvy, still proving to be a takeaway machine and cohesive leader. David, the NFL’s active leader in solo tackles (1,111), signed up to run it back once again in Tampa, where he’s set to hit 200 career starts a couple of weeks into his 14th season.

NFL Pro Insight for David: Lavonte David had 122 tackles and three forced fumbles in 2024, marking the fifth time in his career he has hit triple-digit tackles with at least three forced fumbles. No other player since 2000 has more than three such seasons.

2024 stats: 16 games | 41 tackles | 9 tfl | 8 sacks

Sweat might have made the list on his Super Bowl performance alone. He was the most damaging of Philadelphia’s game-wrecking pass rushers, leading the defense with six quarterback pressures and 2.5 sacks as the Eagles thwarted the Chiefs’ three-peat dreams. He then cashed in this offseason with the Cardinals. If history serves, Sweat should excel for a largely remade front seven -- he is reuniting with former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, under whom he had 18.5 sacks and a Pro Bowl appearance from 2021-22.

NFL Pro Insight for Sweat: Josh Sweat led the Eagles with 8.0 sacks and was second on the team with 15 QB hits in 2024. Sweat is one of six edge rushers with four-plus sacks and 10-plus QB hits each of the last six seasons (Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Brian Burns, Montez Sweat).

2024 stats: 16 games | 60 rec | 726 rec yds | 12.1 ypr | 7 rec TD

While LaPorta's receiving numbers fell short of his record-breaking rookie season, his importance to the Lions’ top-ranked scoring offense in 2024 was in no way diminished. Initially knocked down a peg or two in Detroit’s pecking order, LaPorta finished strong as a receiver, and he was a sturdy run blocker throughout his second season for a club that loves to lay the lumber. A perfect, gritty fit under Dan Campbell, he remains among the league’s pass-catching elite at tight end in an offense with many mouths to feed.

NFL Pro Insight for LaPorta: In Weeks 13-18, Sam LaPorta generated 273 receiving yards on targets in the seams (third among tight ends) and was one of only five TEs to catch multiple touchdowns. This was a clear turnaround from the first 12 weeks, in which he recorded only 206 receiving yards (22nd among TEs) on such targets and did not catch a touchdown pass.

2024 stats: 17 games | 1,117 snaps | 7 QBP allowed | 0 sacks allowed (per Pro Football Focus)

Kansas City’s offensive line issues last season had zilch to do with Humphrey. PFF’s best-graded center (92.4) by 6.3 points, he boasted the highest pass-blocking grade at his position by an even larger margin (91.5; nine points) and received the second-highest run-blocking grade (90.5). Humphrey reached his third straight Pro Bowl and was recognized for the first time as a first-team All-Pro. Kansas City could face another difficult time figuring out its best five on the O-line in 2025, but Humphrey is locked in at the center of it all.

NFL Pro Insight for Humphrey: Creed Humphrey did not allow a quick pressure (under 2.5 seconds) across 653 pass-blocking snaps in 2024, the most pass-blocking snaps without allowing a quick pressure by any offensive lineman.

2024 stats: 17 games | 102 tackles | 2 tfl | 1 sacks | 10 PD | 4 INT | 1 FR | 1 TD

Consistency personified, Bates delivered another year to be proud of in Atlanta. The veteran safety continues to showcase versatility, making an impact against the run and roaming the outfield. He’s now had 100-plus tackles in five of his seven seasons, reaching triple digits in both of his campaigns as a Falcon. His 24 interceptions since he was drafted in 2018 rank fifth. Atlanta’s coaching churn at defensive coordinator nonetheless continues, but Bates’ third Falcons DC in as many seasons will benefit greatly from his varied talents. 

NFL Pro Insight for Bates: Jessie Bates had four interceptions in 2024, tied for sixth among safeties. Bates has had six seasons with at least three interceptions since he was drafted in 2018, tied for first in the NFL in that span.

2024 stats: 11 games | 72.9 pct | 2,867 pass yds | 7.2 ypa | 19 pass TD | 7 INT | 49 rush yds | 7 fumbles

Tagovailoa’s tumble down the Top 100 has everything to do with his injury issues. Miami averaged 13.3 points and went 2-4 in games he didn't start compared to a 6-5 record and 24.1 points per game in starts he made. Tagovailoa posted a career-low 6.1 average depth of target, seemingly to reduce injury risk, but he was effective and deadly accurate even as the approach lowered Miami's previously sky-high ceiling. For all his talent, he finds himself in familiar territory, again needing to prove his durability. 

NFL Pro Insight for Tagovailoa: Tua Tagovailoa recorded an average time to throw of 2.42 seconds last season, quickest in the NFL. As a product of his quick release, Tagovailoa faced pressure on a league-low 22.1% of his dropbacks.