NFL Trade Rumors
July is the driest month of the year when it comes to NFL news, which makes it the perfect time for something like a top 100 players list. For the fourth straight year, we’re happy to bring you our 2025 NFLTR Top 100 Players.
We’re not the only outlet that does a top 100 — NFL Media has done one with at least some democratic input from current players since 2011 — but our goal is to give more credit to players and positions that are often easy to overlook, especially in the trenches. We build it using traditional and advanced statistics, awards, positional value, career trajectory and a good old-fashioned dash of the eye test. Our list won’t be perfect but the goal is to give as much credit where it’s due as possible.
We’ll be rolling this list out over the next couple of weeks, so keep checking back for updates to our 2025 NFLTR Top 100 Players list.
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It’s probably safe to say Gibbs has vindicated Lions GM Brad Holmes against the criticisms of him for taking a running back in the first round in 2024. Positional value is a factor in this list, which works against some positions like running back and safety where a player’s contributions have to be truly excellent to stand out from his peers. Gibbs reached that bar last season, rushing 250 times for 1,412 yards with a staggering 5.6 YPC and 16 touchdowns. Add in his passing game contributions with another 52 catches for 517 yards and four scores, and Gibbs flirted with 2,000 yards from scrimmage and had 20 total touchdowns.
Gibbs is lightning in a bottle for the Lions, with wiggle and speed to turn any touch into a big play. Even though he was in a committee with fellow Lions RB David Montgomery, that didn’t dilute his impact much. Gibbs ranked fifth in the NFL with 68 missed tackles forced, per PFF, and third with 27 runs of 15-plus yards. He did it with significantly fewer carries than nearly every back ahead of him, however.
Gonzalez was on his way to becoming a Day 1 star in his rookie season before a shoulder injury curtailed things after only four games. He more or less picked things up where he left off in his second season in 2024, though the Patriots’ overall struggles hurt his recognition. Gonzalez started 16 games and picked off two passes, broke up 11 others and returned a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown. He wasn’t voted to the Pro Bowl but he did earn second-team AP All Pro honors.
Per PFF, Gonzalez went from allowing...
