Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 90-81: WR Jerry Jeudy, CB Trent McDuffie make list for first time

2024 stats: 16 games | 61 tackles | 15 tfl | 8.5 sacks | 40 QBH | 1 safety

After six seasons, Allen has cracked the Top 100 list on the heels of his best-ever campaign. He made second-team All-Pro as a key piece of the NFL’s top sack-getting defense, which also allowed the third-fewest points. If Denver takes another step in 2025 following a surprise playoff appearance, Allen will again play a pivotal role. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see him improve upon his sack total, given the pressures he was racking up last season.

NFL Pro Insight for Allen: Zach Allen led all defensive tackles with 67 pressures in 2024, which tied for ninth among all pass rushers in the NFL. Allen was particularly successful against double teams, generating 14 of his 67 pressures in such matchups, tied for fifth in the NFL.

2024 stats: 16 games | 207 att | 1,009 rush yds | 4.9 ypc | 16 rush TD | 32 rec | 258 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 1 fumble

Cook has been a godsend for the Bills since coming into his own during his 2023 sophomore season, reducing the weight on Josh Allen's shoulders. Last year, he showed his second-season breakout was no fluke, along the way developing a newfound knack for scoring. Cook quintupled his career rushing TD total while tying for the league lead in scores on the ground. He was efficient and explosive, and currently stands to make a good chunk of change heading into a contract year.

NFL Pro Insight for Cook: James Cook ran to the weak side of the formation on 54.6% of his carries in 2024, the highest rate in the NFL (minimum 150 total carries). He averaged 1.7 yards before contact per carry on runs directed to the weak side compared to just 1.0 yards before contact per carry on runs directed to the strong side of the formation. 

2024 stats: 17 games | 79 tackles | 18 tfl | 11.5 sacks | 19 QBH | 2 INT | 2 TD

Reuniting with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, his former Dolphins head coach from 2019-2021, was well worth it. Van Ginkel helped transform Minnesota’s defense into a top-five unit. Beyond hitting double-digit sacks for the first time in his career, Van Ginkel was also superb as a cover man. He received an 81.0 PFF coverage grade, sixth among edge rushers, and was the only player in the NFL to nab multiple pick-sixes. The Vikings know exactly what they have in him, too -- they extended him through 2026 in April.

NFL Pro Insight for Van Ginkel: Andrew Van Ginkel generated 50 pressures and recorded 28 run stops during the 2024 season, the third time in his career with 25-plus of each (2021, 2023, 2024).

2024 stats: 16 games | 37 tackles | 8 tfl | 6 sacks | 18 QBH

Williams is good enough that even down years net Pro Bowls. The affable DT, a Pro Bowler three seasons straight, remains a force to be reckoned with, though he wasn’t his usual run-stuffing self in 2024. His 50-spot drop in the Top 100 mirrors the 32.9 decrease in his PFF run defense grade (90.4 to 57.5). Regardless, Williams was -- as always -- a plus-pass rusher from the interior, and you can bet he’s raring to reclimb the ranks under a new regime in Gotham.

NFL Pro Insight for Williams: Quinnen Williams generated pressure on 11.2% of his pass rushes on early downs, the fifth-highest rate among defensive tackles (minimum 150 pass rushes). Williams has now finished top five in early down pressure rate generated in back-to-back seasons.

2024 stats: 17 games | 1,026 snaps | 19 QBP allowed | 2 sacks allowed (per Pro Football Focus)

Five times a Pro Bowler with the Texans, Tunsil was the fourth-ranked offensive tackle in pass-blocking situations in 2024, per PFF, and even in his age-30 season took new strides -- his 72.7 run-blocking grade was his best yet. Tunsil's excellence couldn’t lift a leaky O-line, though, nor did it justify a young Houston team keeping his pricy contract on the books this offseason. The Commanders, presumably a few pieces away, were ecstatic to hear one of the 6-foot-5, 313-pound variety was available for trade.

NFL Pro Insight for Tunsil: Laremy Tunsil recorded an 8.3% pressure rate last season, 12th-lowest among left tackles with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps. Tunsil managed to play a full 17 games and logged 624 pass-blocking snaps, his most in a season since at least 2018.

2024 stats: 16 games | 316 att | 1,299 rush yds | 4.1 ypc | 14 rush TD | 34 rec | 182 rec yds | 2 rec TD | 5 fumbles

People keep on doubting Williams, and he just keeps on chugging. Thought to be headed toward a possible committee role after Los Angeles spent a third-round pick on Blake Corum, Williams promptly logged 88 more carries than he did the season prior, accounting for 70.2% of the Rams' rushing attempts. A hard-nosed runner who plays bigger than his size and possesses the shiftiness to leave defenders empty-handed, Williams is already "Old Reliable" for Sean McVay heading into Year 4. 

NFL Pro Insight for Williams: Kyren Williams played 843 offensive snaps in 2024, the most by any running back in the NFL. Since 2023, Williams has played on more than 80% of offensive snaps in 20 games, five more than the next closest RB (Saquon Barkley, 15).

2024 stats: 16 games | 59 tackles | 1 tfl | 11 PD | 2 INT | 1 FR | 1 TD

What Drake Maye is to the Patriots offense, Gonzalez is to the Patriots defense: a bright light pointing toward future prosperity. Gonzalez displayed sticky coverage skills while manning up against opposing WR1s. His ability to hold his own against elite talent in isolation didn’t carry over to New England’s overall output -- the defense ranked 22nd in both scoring and yards -- but it could eventually become a cheat code of sorts as the unit evolves around him.

NFL Pro Insight for Gonzalez: Christian Gonzalez bounced back from an injury-shortened rookie season, allowing just 46 of 86 targets to be completed as the nearest defender in coverage. Gonzalez's 54.5 completion percentage allowed was third-lowest among 33 players with 75-plus targets as the nearest defender in coverage.

2024 stats: 17 games | 71 tackles | 12 tfl | 8 sacks | 20 QBH

Father Time is undefeated, but he occasionally takes vacations. Heyward enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career at age 35, a statement that could be said yearly starting with a run of seven Pro Bowls in eight campaigns dating back to 2017. Heyward was the black hole in the middle of Pittsburgh's sixth-ranked rushing defense, closing lanes and engulfing runners with regularity. Fourteen seasons into his career, he posted an 87.1 PFF pass-rushing grade, the best he's had yet.

NFL Pro Insight for Heyward: The Steelers faced 303 carries with Cameron Heyward on the field this past season and allowed an average of 3.7 yards per carry (which would rank second in the NFL overall), compared to 5.1 yards per carry (which would rank 31st) on 109 carries without Heyward.

2024 stats: 17 games | 90 rec | 1,229 rec yds | 13.7 ypr | 4 rec TD

Often on the cusp of establishing himself as a difference-maker for the Broncos but never quite able to, Jeudy finally put together a statement season in his first year with the Browns. He finished sixth in the league in receiving yards and delivered a revenge game for the ages against Denver, posting 235 yards and a score on nine catches. His most eruptive outings came with Jameis Winston under center, though, who has since joined the Giants. An encore performance will require producing amid Cleveland’s four-way quarterback conundrum.

NFL Pro Insight for Jeudy: Jerry Jeudy had career highs with 90 receptions and 1,229 receiving yards in 2024. He led the NFL with 811 receiving yards from Weeks 11-18, more than he had in the entire 2023 season (758 in 16 games).

2024 stats: 16 games | 59 tackles | 6 tfl | 13 PD | 2 INT

Part of the reason the Chiefs were comfortable saving money and moving on from L'Jarius Sneed last offseason was McDuffie's ascendence. Though he went from a 2023 first-team All-Pro to a second-teamer last season, he continued to deliver tremendous defensive balance. McDuffie is an able and willing tackler, as well as a physical eliminator of opponents’ top pass catchers. Ranked third among corners in 2024 with an 83.1 PFF defensive grade, it’s hard to believe his first career pick didn’t come until his 41st regular-season game.

NFL Pro Insight for McDuffie: Trent McDuffie lined up fewer than 3 yards from an opposing receiver on a league-leading 63.5% of snaps this past season, the second-highest single-season press rate by any player with at least 250 outside snaps in the past seven seasons (2023 A.J. Terrell, 67.7%).