"The Top 100 Players of 2025" -- voted on by the players themselves -- is underway on X and NFL+! The top 10 will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. ET live on NFL Network. Check back on Wednesday for the 86th- and 85th-ranked players.
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.
