NFL Top 100 Lists Are Just Engagement Farming With Shoulder Pads

The NFL is actively rolling out its Top 100 Players of 2026 rankings; the league's current news cycle is promoting Nos. 80–71, including Jordan Love's third consecutive appearance and Zay Flowers' first. Separately, ESPN's league-wide position rankings are being built from executive, coach and scout voting.

Our argument:

Nobody actually believes the 74th-best player in football can be identified.

Nobody.

Not the players.

Not the coaches.

Not the media.

Certainly not us.

Yet every summer we pretend there is a scientifically identifiable difference between the 61st-best football player and the 67th-best football player.

Why?

Because:

“Here are 25 excellent NFL players”

doesn't generate arguments.

But:

“JORDAN LOVE IS ONLY 74TH?!”

does.

These lists aren't rankings.

They're rage slot machines.

The NFL puts a player at No. 78, pulls the lever, and waits for Packers Twitter to start screaming.