The 2025-26 NFL regular season is right around the corner, and each team heads into the new season with the same goal of winning the Super Bowl.
Granted, not all teams are created equal. Someone who may be the best player on one team might not even crack the top five for another team, depending on their roster structure and their priorities going into the new season. Regardless, every team has talented players; it is the NFL, after all.
To provide a quick glimpse at some of the top stars in the NFL, we have put together a list of the best player on all 32 NFL roster going into the new year.
AFC East | Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
It feels like an easy decision to say that the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player is the best player on his own team. Josh Allen has long been one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he finally reached that MVP level that had alluded him up until 2024.
The Buffalo Bills have a well-rounded, deep team with several impact players on both sides of the ball. Pro Bowlers like James Cook, Matt Milano and Dion Dawkins stand out as expected contributors. That said, their best player is Allen, undeniably.
Miami Dolphins: Tyreek Hill
Injuries at the quarterback position hurt Tyreek Hill’s production in 2024, but as a five-time first-team All-Pro and an eight-time Pro Bowler, the Miami Dolphins know that he’s one of the best wide receivers in the game.
Hill surpassed 1,700 receiving yards in his prior two seasons before 2024, and on the field, his elite speed makes him a perfect fit for Mike McDaniel’s offense. Jalen Ramsey stands out as a contender for this top spot, but with trade rumors looming large around the star cornerback, Hill is an easy choice here.
New England Patriots: Christian Gonzalez
The New England Patriots made plenty of big splashes in the 2025 NFL offseason, but they still lack in significant star power on the roster. They have a potential franchise quarterback on the roster in Drake Maye, but until he puts together a full season of the strong play he displayed in flashes as a rookie, he’s not the top guy on their roster.
Christian Gonzalez makes sense as the best player on the Patriots’ roster. After an injury-shortened rookie year in 2023, he bounced back in tremendous fashion in Year 2, tallying two interceptions and 11 pass deflections. He’s already a second-team All-Pro at age 22, so the sky is the limit for New England’s shutdown corner.
New York Jets: Quinnen Williams
Sauce Gardner deserves heavy consideration as the New York Jets’ top player, but coming off a down year by his standards, I decided to go with another fixture on their defense for the top spot.
Quinnen Williams has been a Pro Bowler each of the last three seasons, missing just two games in that span. He’s solidified himself as one of the elite pass-rushing interior defenders in the NFL, as he’s notched 23.5 sacks: tied for the second-most for a defensive tackle in that span.
AFC North | Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL currently. Names like Derrick Henry, Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton and Nnamdi Madubuike are all among the best at their respective positions. However, there’s only one choice when selecting the best player on their roster.
LAMAR JACKSON pic.twitter.com/7pFQ094Z1w
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) January 28, 2024
Lamar Jackson has been a first-team All-Pro quarterback each of the last two seasons, winning the MVP in 2023 and placing second in voting in 2024. He’s already the most prolific rushing quarterback in NFL history, he’s one of the league’s best passers, and he’s not even 30 years old.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow
Ja’Marr Chase would also be a tremendous choice in this spot, seeing as though he just accomplished the receiving Triple Crown, leading the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns. For the Cincinnati Bengals’ best player, though, I went with the man throwing him the ball.
Since entering the league in 2020, Joe Burrow has been a beacon of stability at the quarterback position for the Bengals. He led the NFL last year with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns, leading the way for one of the league’s most prolific offensive units. Also, through his first five seasons, he’s the NFL’s all-time leader in career completion percentage at 68.6%.
Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett
The Cleveland Browns might not have a super well-rounded roster yet, but they do have some talented pieces on both sides of the ball. The best of the bunch, though, easily has to be Myles Garrett.
Garrett has been a Pro Bowler and All-Pro off the edge in each of the last five seasons and has reached double-digit sacks in each of his last seven seasons, surpassing 14 sacks in his last four. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year is the personification of excellence at the defensive end position.
Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt
The likes of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cameron Heyward remain top contributors for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but when selecting the top overall player on their roster, it’s hard to go with anybody other than T.J. Watt.
Watt has led the NFL in sacks three times in the last five years, having been a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time first-team All-Pro in his eight-year career thus far. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, and he has been an All-Pro in five of his last six seasons. He’s one of the most consistent defensive stars in the league today.
AFC South | Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr.
C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter are all worthy consideration for this top spot. An argument could be made for Joe Mixon, as well. In the end, the Houston Texans’ best player might be their superstar cornerback.
Derek Stingley Jr. exploded in 2024, tallying five interceptions and 18 pass deflections in a first-team All-Pro campaign. He has ten picks in the last two seasons, and he’s solidified himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson
Quenton Nelson has made it to the Pro Bowl in every season he’s played since entering the NFL in 2018. A seven-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro, he’s on his way to a Hall of Fame career with a couple more seasons at this level of play.
The Indianapolis Colts have a few star players on their roster, and players like Jonathan Taylor and DeForest Buckner stand out as notable high-end contributors. In the end, though, it’s Nelson who has been their most steady fixture for much of the decade.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr.
Though the Jacksonville Jaguars put together a disappointing season in 2024, their biggest bright spot was the rookie performance of Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas was one of the most productive wide receivers in the league last year, tallying 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. He quickly stepped into Jacksonville’s WR1 spot, proving himself as Trevor Lawrence’s favorite target and positioning himself for a potential All-Pro season in 2025.
Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons
Finishing as the worst team in the NFL surely wasn’t a preferred outcome for the Tennessee Titans in 2024. That said, they were able to rely on Jeffery Simmons to produce high-quality play along the defensive interior.
Simmons has been a Pro Bowler in three of his last four seasons. He has had 42 tackles for a loss and 26.5 sacks in his last four years, proving himself as a reliable force on all three downs for Tennessee. That team is still a ways away from becoming a playoff contender again, but they know they’ll have great defensive tackle play as long as Simmons is there.
AFC West | Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II
In his first four seasons of his NFL career, Patrick Surtain II is a three-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro, and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. It’s hard to think of too many cornerbacks who have started their careers better than that.
Only two cornerbacks have won the DPOY in the last 15 years, so Surtain’s accomplishment is nothing to take lightly. As the best cornerback in the NFL last year, he’s one of the most valuable non-quarterbacks in the league right now.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
It’s Patrick Mahomes.
Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers
Maxx Crosby is one of the top edge rushers in the NFL, making him an extremely difficult snub here. While he’s been consistent throughout his tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s hard to ignore the season that Brock Bowers had in 2024.
Bowers set rookie records for the most total receptions in a single season, as well as breaking the receiving yards record for a rookie tight end. He’s a rare athlete at the tight end position and has already proven himself as a difference-maker on offense.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert
The Los Angeles Chargers have some proven stars like Rashawn Slater, Derwin James and Khalil Mack on their roster, and young stars like Ladd McConkey and Joe Alt got off to a hot start in 2024. In the end, though, it’s their franchise quarterback who takes the cake.
The only two quarterbacks with more passing yards since Justin Herbert entered the NFL in 2020 are Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league today, and even with a run-heavy focus in the Chargers’ offense under Jim Harbaugh, he still put up tremendous numbers in 2024.
NFC East | Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons
CeeDee Lamb stakes a strong claim to being the best player on the Dallas Cowboys. In the end, Micah Parsons’ dominance since entering the league makes him the strongest option.
Missing four games due to injury limited Micah Parsons from reaching his fourth All-Pro in four seasons, but he’s still made the Pro Bowl in every year he’s played. He has 52.5 sacks in his career and has never had fewer than 12 sacks in a single season. He might be the best pass-rusher in the world today.
New York Giants: Dexter Lawrence
As enticing as Malik Nabers’ rookie year was, he’s just on the outskirts of being the New York Giants’ best player heading into the 2025 season. That honor would go to Dexter Lawrence, who has been one of the best defensive tackles in the league.
Lawrence has been a Pro Bowler each of the last three years, and he’s coming off of a career-high nine sacks in 2024. A rare athlete for a 340-pound man, he’s a dominant force who’s borderline unblockable one-on-one.
Philadelphia Eagles: Saquon Barkley
Choosing the best player on the defending Super Bowl champions is an incredibly difficult task. The Philadelphia Eagles have a stacked roster from top to bottom, and there are too many honorable mentions to name here.
Coming off of a 2,000-yard season, though, it’s hard to argue against Saquon Barkley for that honor. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year led the NFL in scrimmage yards and scored 15 total touchdowns, putting together one of the greatest seasons for a running back in recent memory.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
Players like Terry McLaurin, Laremy Tunsil and the ageless Bobby Wagner are all strong shouts to be named the Washington Commanders’ best player. It may be reactionary to put Jayden Daniels here, but his rookie season was truly impressive.
The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year made it to the Pro Bowl and the NFC championship in his first season in the NFL. He threw for 3,568 yards and ran for 891 yards, showcasing that he’s already one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in all of football. Expectations are very high for him going into Year 2.
NFC North | Chicago Bears: Joe Thuney
Jaylon Johnson deserves serious consideration for how well he has performed for the Chicago Bears as their top cornerback over the last few years. However, it’s hard to argue against a first-team All-Pro for this spot.
Joe Thuney has been a first-team All-Pro each of the last two years, finishing as a second-team All-Pro in 2022, as well. He’s one of the best guards in the NFL today, and as he prepares for his next stint in Chicago, he figures to be a massive upgrade along their offensive line.
Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell
The Detroit Lions have a handful of star players to choose from, with Amon-Ra St. Brown standing out as the most notable honorable mention. With two consecutive first-team All-Pro campaigns to his name, Penei Sewell stakes an incredibly strong claim as being their best player.
Sewell has been a superstar for much of his NFL career, and he’s arguably the best offensive tackle in the league today. At the very least, he’s certainly the best right tackle, as his consecutive All-Pro nominations would indicate.
Green Bay Packers: Xavier McKinney
Xavier McKinney was a quality starting safety for the Giants in the first four seasons of his career, and expectations were high for him when the Green Bay Packers signed him in 2024. Few could have imagined he’d have the year he ended up having, though.
With eight interceptions and 11 pass deflections, McKinney was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2024. He’s a difference-maker in coverage and might just be the best safety in the league right now.
Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson
Heading into Year 6 of his NFL career, Justin Jefferson currently has the all-time career record with 96.5 receiving yards per game. The Minnesota Vikings arguably have the most valuable non-quarterback in all of football.
Jefferson has surpassed 1,400 receiving yards in all but one of his five seasons, with his lone exception being an injury-shortened season, which saw him average his most receiving yards per game to date. He’s statistically been the best wide receiver in the league for the last few seasons.
NFC South | Atlanta Falcons: Chris Lindstrom
Bijan Robinson and Drake London deserve recognition as honorable mentions as the Atlanta Falcons’ best player. In the end, though, it’s Chris Lindstrom who fits the bill the best.
One of the best guards in the NFL currently, Lindstrom has been an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler each of the last three years. His five-year, $105 million extension in 2023 helped pave the way for interior offensive linemen to make tremendous paydays in future extensions.
Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown
Derrick Brown playing in just one game was a massive loss for the Carolina Panthers last season, and if he comes back to his 2023 form, he’ll be a huge addition back to their defense in 2025.
In 2023, Brown led all interior defenders with a whopping 103 tackles and a career-high 15 quarterback hits. He made a Pro Bowl for his efforts, a recognition one could argue was overdue given his strong play in previous seasons for the Panthers.
New Orleans Saints: Demario Davis
2024 marked the first season since 2018 that Demario Davis wasn’t named an All-Pro, but either way, the New Orleans Saints have to be incredibly happy with the returns they’ve gotten out of him so late in his career.
At 36 years old, Davis is still one of the better linebackers in the NFL, even if he took a slight step back in 2024. In his seven seasons with the Saints, he has tallied a whopping 811 combined tackles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tristan Wirfs
A first-team All-Pro in 2024 and a three-time All-Pro in his last four seasons, Tristan Wirfs has been one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL since coming into the league in 2020.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saw tremendous early returns out of Wirfs at right tackle, and even after moving to left tackle, he has been a dominant force for their offensive line. He’s a strong candidate to be named their best player heading into 2025.
NFC West | Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker
I came extremely close to putting Trey McBride here, as he was one of the top tight ends in the NFL after tallying 111 receptions in 2024. That said, the consistency of Budda Baker’s elite play for the Arizona Cardinals deserves recognition here.
Baker is a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro who has proven himself as one of the top safeties in the league for quite some time. His versatility as a tackler and in coverage makes him an extremely valuable asset in Arizona’s defensive secondary.
Los Angeles Rams: Puka Nacua
Even though his 2024 season was shortened by injury, Puka Nacua actually averaged one more reception per game and nearly three more yards per game from his Pro Bowl rookie year in 2023.
With Cooper Kupp’s departure, the Los Angeles Rams need Nacua to hold that bonafide role as their WR1 in 2025. If he continues the elite level of play he’s shown through his first two NFL seasons, they should be in tremendous hands.
San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams
The San Francisco 49ers have plenty of blue-chip players on their roster. George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa are all some of the best players in the league at their respective positions. Given how consistent Trent Williams has been over the years, though, it’s hard not to take him as their best player here.
Williams has been an elite offensive tackle throughout much of his tenure in the NFL. The only reason he missed the Pro Bowl in 2024 for the first time since 2011 was due to injury, but he was right on All-Pro pace had he stayed healthy. An ageless wonder who turns 37 in July, he’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and still one of the best offensive linemen in the game today.
Seattle Seahawks: Devon Witherspoon
Through two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Devon Witherspoon has two Pro Bowls to his name. That’s a pretty strong start to one’s NFL career.
With 27 pass deflections through his first two years in the league, Witherspoon is a reliable shutdown cornerback who can blanket opposing teams’ top wide receivers. He’s proven to be everything Seattle wanted out of him as the No. 5 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and then some.