On Wednesday, CBS Sports activities author Pete Prisco printed his annual checklist of the NFL’s prime 100 gamers.
Prisco makes no secret of it: these rankings are his opinion — though he acknowledges that some “conversations with some league personnel” enter into his yearly evaluations. “Largely, although,” he says, “it’s my checklist.”
But it surely isn’t straightforward. That a lot I can promise you. Placing collectively a prime 100 checklist is more durable than you suppose — except for No. 1, in fact. That’s straightforward. That’s a participant who now clearly seems to be down from the highest spot of those rankings and shortly may be trying down from the highest spot of all rankings of gamers in NFL historical past.
Prisco is speaking in regards to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes — the primary of seven Kansas Metropolis gamers in his prime 100.
1. Patrick Mahomes · QB · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2023 rating: 1st)
His numbers have been down final season, however he confirmed within the playoffs that he’s the most effective participant within the league — and on his method to being thought-about the most effective ever. If he three-peats this season, is it time to say he’s the most effective ever?
Sure, it will be. However let’s not get forward of ourselves. The Chiefs have an extended, troublesome street forward of them—and large targets on their backs. That’s why a 3rd consecutive NFL championship could have a lot to say about Mahomes’ place on the all-time checklist.
14. Chris Jones · DE · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2023: thirteenth)
The Chiefs leaned closely on their protection to win final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl, with Jones being the catalyst of that unit. He can take over video games, and might achieve this from the within and the skin. He can wreck an offensive line.
All true. However I’ll quibble with Prisco’s identification of Jones as a defensive finish. That’s so 2021. He’s again to taking part in most of his snaps on the inside. Nonetheless, although, he can win from anyplace.
18. Travis Kelce · TE · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2023: sixth)
He wasn’t fairly pretty much as good final 12 months as he’s been in his profession with too many drops, however he nonetheless stays the most effective within the league. A nasty 12 months for him was catching 93 passes, however his yards per catch fell to 10.6, the bottom of his profession. He did amp it up within the postseason with 32 catches in 4 video games.
Prisco acknowledges that for Kelce, a “down” season can be one another tight finish can be proud to say. Even after taking part in in simply 15 video games, he had solely 36 fewer receiving yards than league chief George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers — whom Prisco ranks thirty seventh. In the meantime, no tight finish with 90 or extra targets had extra first downs (or a better success fee) than Kelce. That claims so much about how the Kansas Metropolis offense continues to rely on him.
30. Trent McDuffie · CB · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2023: NR)
He had his finest season in serving to the Chiefs’ protection lead the group to a Tremendous Bowl victory. He performed within the slot within the second half of the season and confirmed off his abilities there to do a whole lot of issues, together with rush the passer.
Prisco doesn’t purchase the concept that the Chiefs traded away their finest cornerback. L’Jarius Sneed — now with the Tennessee Titans — ranks 51st on his checklist. Sure… it’s potential the Kansas Metropolis secondary might take a step again when McDuffie and Sneed are now not collectively within the defensive backfield. However beneath Brett Veach, Kansas Metropolis has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to search out high quality gamers for the secondary — so it’s not very potential.
48. Creed Humphrey · C · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2023: fortieth)
He stays one of many league’s finest facilities, though his play was off a bit final season. He’s good in each the run sport and in cross safety, serving to kind the most effective inside trios within the league.
86. Joe Thuney · G · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (2023: eightieth)
As a part of the most effective interior-line group within the league, he excels in cross safety. He did miss time final season and within the playoffs, which is regarding since he turns 32 in November.
90. Trey Smith · G · Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (Final season: NR)
He’s a mauler within the run sport who has improved in cross safety, which is a should of their offense. He helps kind the most effective inside trios within the league with Joe Thuney and Creed Humphrey.
Whereas the defending Tremendous Bowl champions have a gap to fill on the left finish of the offensive line, there’s no difficulty on the within. Prisco has correctly recognized the league’s finest inside trio. The large downside will are available a 12 months when two are scheduled to be free brokers.
Closing takeaway
After successful Tremendous Bowl LVII, Prisco had 5 Kansas Metropolis gamers on his prime 100. A 12 months later — after successful Tremendous Bowl LVIII — there are seven. Three gamers from the group’s Tremendous Bowl LIV squad — broad receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Charvarius Ward and security Tyrann Mathieu — watched the Chiefs win back-to-back championships whereas taking part in for different groups. All three — now joined by Sneed — are on Prisco’s prime 100 for 2024.
Positive… it’s only one man’s opinion. However his opinion results in a selected conclusion: the Chiefs group isn’t constructed to win a championship. It’s constructed to win a number of championships.
The one query is what number of.
