The AFC might be perceived as the superior conference in the NFL, but there are still plenty of talented players in the NFC.
The San Francisco 49ers have the most players in Pro Football Network’s NFL Top 100 list, but other NFC contenders in the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions aren’t far behind. Which players from the NFC made the cut, and which quarterback was ranked the highest?
NFC Players in PFN’s NFL Top 100
1) Micah Parsons, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys (4th overall)
While Micah Parsons’ 14 sacks ranked just tied for seventh in the NFL in 2023, pressures are more indicative of performance than pure sacks.
Parsons led the league with 102 total pressures, per PFF. He finished first in pass-rush win rate (37%) despite being double-teamed at a higher rate (34%) than any other edge defender. That shouldn’t be possible.
2) Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers (5th overall)
The gap between Christian McCaffrey and the rest of the NFL’s running backs may have been the widest delta between the top player at a position in the league and his cohorts in 2023. CMC posted 2,023 yards from scrimmage despite sitting out Week 18; no other RB put up more than 1,600.
His 21 total touchdowns tied for the NFL lead, while he generated more first downs — both in the passing game (31) and running game (83) — than any other running back.
While many NFL running backs are fungible, McCaffrey is a true outlier at the position.
3) Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (6th overall)
Although he missed seven games with a hamstring injury, Justin Jefferson still finished the 2023 campaign with 1,074 receiving yards. He’s posted more receiving yards (5,899) through his first four NFL seasons than any player in league history. Jefferson is the all-time leader in receiving yards per game (98.3) and is 12+ yards per game ahead of second-place Calvin Johnson.
Jefferson won Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after leading the league with 128 catches and 1,809 yards and is now the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback after inking a $35 million per year extension in June.
4) Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers (10th overall)
Although he’s 36 years old and just wrapped up his 13th pro campaign, Trent Williams remains the best offensive tackle in the NFL. With 10 consecutive Pro Bowl berths and three straight first-team All-Pro nods under his belt, Williams has built a Hall of Fame résumé.
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Williams is still the most physically dominant left tackle in football, and his ability to wash out blockers allows the San Francisco 49ers to deploy a creative run attack.
5) Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers (13th overall)
The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year put up another phenomenal campaign in 2023. While Nick Bosa dropped to 10.5 sacks after leading the league with 18.5 in 2022, he ranked first with 21 quarterback knockdowns and finished second to Parsons in total pressures.
Bosa was double-teamed at a 26% clip; only Parsons and Garrett saw extra attention more often.
6) CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys (14th overall)
Having improved in every season of his four-year NFL career, CeeDee Lamb set career highs across the board in 2023 with 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns on a league-leading 135 receptions while earning first-team All-Pro honors.
Lamb can run any route from any alignment, and that versatility makes him the focal point of the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive attack.
7) Penei Sewell, OT, Detroit Lions (15th overall)
The Detroit Lions boast one of the NFL’s most impressive offensive lines; Penei Sewell is the star of the unit and the best right tackle in the league entering the 2024 campaign.
The former No. 7 overall pick routinely shuts down opposing pass rushers with his size, strength, and technique, but Sewell is also more than athletic enough to make inconceivable run blocks in space.
8) Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers (18th overall)
Fred Warner can do it all. He’s the perfect modern linebacker thanks to his ability to cover any type of receiver, take on blockers against the run, and blitz from the second level.
Warner allowed just an 81.7 passer rating as the nearest defender in coverage, the best mark among linebackers with at least 300 coverage snaps in 2023. He’s missed just one game through six seasons in San Francisco.
9) Dexter Lawrence, DT, New York Giants (19th overall)
There’s no other NFL player quite like Dexter Lawrence. He’s one of the league’s best pass rushers despite standing 6’4” and 340 pounds. While most defensive tackles his size merely take up space, Lawrence finished seventh among interior defenders with 65 pressures in 2023.
Lawrence managed that production despite playing most of his snaps in the A gap, aligned head-up over the center, where he was regularly double-teamed at a 71% rate. He already owns the top two QB-hit seasons (28 in 2022 and 21 in 2023) among players weighing at least 340 pounds.
10) Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Detroit Lions (22nd overall)
Aidan Hutchinson’s sack production only increased from 9.5 to 11.5 from 2022 to 2023, but his underlying metrics made a much more significant leap. The ex-No. 2 overall pick more than doubled his QB hits (from 15 to 33); he went from 53 pressures in his rookie campaign to 101 last year.
Triple-digit pressure totals are rarified air. Future Hall of Famers like Donald and J.J. Watt hit that mark, while Crosby and Parsons reached 100+ pressures after the NFL added a 17th game in 2021.
11) A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (23rd overall)
A true physical marvel, A.J. Brown remains one of the sport’s most terrifying gamebreakers. He’s become a more well-rounded wideout since joining the Philadelphia Eagles in a 2022 draft-day trade.
Brown has 18 total touchdowns and nearly 3,000 receiving yards in two seasons in Philadelphia. He received second-team All-Pro nods in both years, and the Eagles just gave him another new contract.
12) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions (24th overall)
While the Lions don’t necessarily have a prototypical WR1 on their roster, Amon-Ra St. Brown more than fills the role.
A genuine draft steal as a fourth-round selection, ASRB ranks fifth in receptions, sixth in targets, and eighth in receiving yards among WRs since entering the league in 2021. Only Hill and Lamb have generated more receiving first downs over the past two seasons.
13) Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26th overall)
A true Swiss Army Knife who can do just about everything, Antoine Winfield Jr. spent roughly 60% of his 2023 snaps at free safety but also played in the box and the slot. He filled up the stat sheet for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading the league with six forced fumbles while adding six sacks and three interceptions and earning first-team All-Pro honors.
14) George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers (28th overall)
Catching passes in San Francisco’s highly schemed offense, George Kittle posted 15.7 yards per reception; Kyle Pitts was the only other TE with at least 40 targets to put up even 12 yards per catch. And let’s not forget that Kittle remains the NFL’s best blocking tight end and could probably play offensive tackle if needed.
15) Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30th overall)
Tristan Wirfs moved to left tackle in 2023 after beginning his career (and earning All-Pro nods) on the right side of Tampa Bay’s offensive line. He was just as good on the left side, which should only increase his market value.
Wirfs could surpass Sewell as the NFL’s highest-paid offensive tackle when he signs an extension.
16) Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (32nd overall)
Will 2024 be Dak Prescott’s final go-round with the Cowboys? Jerry Jones and Co. seemingly haven’t come any closer to extending their franchise quarterback after he led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) last season.
A second-team All-Pro in 2023, Prescott will have one more shot at increasing his value before potentially hitting the open market next offseason. One of the most intelligent signal-callers in the league, Prescott’s pre-snap diagnoses, post-snap awareness, and physical talent make him a consistent top-10 option under center.
17) Jordan Mailata, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (34th overall)
Jordan Mailata had never played a down of football before the Eagles selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. After spending two years on injured reserve, the ex-Australian rugby player took over at left tackle in 2020 and hasn’t looked back.
A massive man at 6’8″ and 365 pounds, Mailata still managed to run a 5.12 40-yard dash at his 2018 pro day. That athleticism is apparent on tape. Mailata suffocates defensive linemen in pass protection, but he’s also magnificent in the run game.
18) Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears (37th overall)
Although Jaylon Johnson flashed over his first three NFL seasons, he put all the pieces together in 2023, when he was arguably the league’s top CB. Johnson set career bests in completion rate (55.2%), yards per target (4.8), and yards per completion (8.7) last season.
The former second-rounder allowed only 195 yards and a 33.3 passer rating as the nearest defender in coverage, both of which paced the league.
19) Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (38th overall)
Brandon Aiyuk has steadily ascended over the past four years, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after hauling in 75 catches for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. Nearly every advanced metric liked Aiyuk’s production, as he ranked first in ESPN’s receiving tracking scores and sixth in yards per route run (2.65).
Aiyuk was the only qualified wideout with an average depth of target (aDOT) of at least 13 yards who caught more than 70% of his targets.
20) Jessie Bates III, S, Atlanta Falcons (39th overall)
After five excellent years with the Bengals, Jessie Bates III joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 and put up the best campaign of his career. He registered more ball production than ever before, finishing second among safeties with six interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in a Week 12 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Bates truly thrives in a single-high role. He can sit back and read the quarterback’s intentions while driving on dig routes and defending the post. Atlanta is changing coordinators in 2024, but Bates fits any defensive system.
21) Chris Lindstrom, G, Atlanta Falcons (41st overall)
Chris Lindstrom had always been a powerful run blocker, but his work in the passing game showed clear improvement in 2023. He allowed just 15 pressures and three sacks on more than 500 pass-blocking snaps.
Lindstrom’s spatial awareness and functional strength make him an asset on the inside of an underrated Falcons offensive line.
22) Lane Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (42nd overall)
The definition of a technician, Lane Johnson has been the most dominant right tackle of his era. He’s a “set it and forget it” RT who’s been critical to Philadelphia’s success up front.
The Eagles are rolling with youth on the interior following center Jason Kelce’s retirement, making Johnson all the more important at tackle.
23) Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (43rd overall)
Did Jalen Hurts take a step back as a passer last year? Or was his 2023 regression the result of injuries and discord among the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coaching staff?
Hurts became the Eagles’ starter in 2021 and gradually blossomed from a run-first QB into a do-it-all threat. He finished second in MVP voting and came within a few plays of guiding the Birds to a Super Bowl title after the 2022 campaign.
With an excellent supporting cast and new OC Kellen More in tow, Hurts could rebound next season — and the Tush Push isn’t going anywhere.
24) Demario Davis, LB, New Orleans Saints (45th overall)
A late bloomer in the NFL, Demario Davis has become a genuine force since signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2018.
While he’s entering his age-35 campaign, Davis is still among the most productive linebackers in the league. He’s received a first- or second-team All-Pro nod in five consecutive seasons and has been named a Pro Bowler the last two. His 6.5 sacks in 2023 ranked second among off-ball linebackers.
25) Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers (46th overall)
Derrick Brown, the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has improved in every season of his career. He played the third-most snaps (938) among defensive tackles last year and was arguably as valuable as any interior defender in the league.
Brown set an NFL record for tackles by a defensive lineman (103) in 2023. He ranked first in ESPN’s run-stop win rate (47%) and posted more “stops” — tackles that result in negative EPA for the offense — than any DT last season, per PFF.
26) Charvarius Ward, CB, San Francisco 49ers (48th overall)
One of the more physical corners in the game, Charvarius Ward landed a free agent payday with the 49ers in 2022 and has continued his feisty play in San Francisco. His 34 pass breakups are the second-most in the NFL over the past two seasons.
A 2023 second-team All-Pro, Ward has the length and explosion to continue flourishing under new Niners DC Nick Sorensen.
27) Frank Ragnow, C, Detroit Lions (49th overall)
Frank Ragnow has a lost campaign on his ledger (2021), but his five other seasons for the Lions have been outstanding. Ragnow’s power on the interior of Detroit’s offensive line has been transformative, and he’s been rewarded with three Pro Bowls and two second-team All-Pro nods since 2020.
28) Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams (52nd overall)
Matthew Stafford looked cooked in 2022 but recovered for an exceptional 2023 campaign with the upstart Rams. He ranked second in PFF’s big-time throw rate while posting the fourth-best turnover-worthy play rate, a deadly combination that earned Stafford the second Pro Bowl nod of his career.
Injuries will be a concern as he ages, but Stafford is one of the toughest players in the NFL.
29) Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers (55th overall)
No quarterback was as efficient in 2023 as Brock Purdy, whose 0.338 EPA per play lapped the rest of the NFL. Of course, EPA can often tell the story of a successful passing unit — and few signal-callers had as talented a supporting cast or better coaching than Purdy.
However, the former seventh-round pick improved both as a distributor and an off-schedule playmaker last season, and it’s impossible to ding Purdy for flawlessly operating the offense put in front of him.
30) Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams (56th overall)
Puka Nacua’s 2023 receiving totals weren’t in the same dimension as any other rookie wideout. He had 500+ more yards and 20+ more receptions than Chiefs WR Rashee Rice, the next-best in both categories.
The BYU product’s statistics could only be compared to those of other high-end NFL receivers. Nacua ranked top six league-wide in targets (163), receptions (114), receiving yards (1,667), and yards per route run (2.75), all of which were new NFL rookie records.
31) Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers (58th overall)
Coming into the season with just one pro start in relief of former Green Bay Packers starter Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love finished second in the NFL in touchdown passes (32), fifth in passing efficiency, and ninth in QBR while leading Green Bay to nine regular-season wins and a Wild Card rout of the Cowboys.
In 2024, Love could become an MVP candidate while leading the NFL’s youngest offense.
32) Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams (59th overall)
Cooper Kupp won the NFL’s receiving triple crown with a 145-1,947-16 line in 2021, but injuries, age, and absurd usage have caught up to him as he enters his age-31 campaign.
He’s missed 13 games over the past two seasons and is now the second-best pass catcher on his own team. Can Kupp stay healthy and rebound in 2024?
33) Christian Darrisaw, OT, Minnesota Vikings (62nd overall)
Injuries – including two 2022 concussions and ankle and groin issues in 2023 – have hindered Christian Darrisaw’s availability over three NFL seasons. But the Minnesota Vikings left tackle has been elite when healthy.
Last year, Darrisaw ranked fourth among OTs in PFF’s pass-blocking grades in true pass sets, which exclude play action, screens, quick game, and other tactics that make life easier on offensive linemen.
34) Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions (64th overall)
Tight end is such a demanding position that rookies often have trouble adjusting to the NFL — but don’t tell that to Sam LaPorta.
After being drafted 34th overall by the Lions in 2023, LaPorta broke the league record for receptions by a rookie TE (86). His 10 touchdowns led all tight ends, while his 889 receiving yards ranked fifth.
35) Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys (67th overall)
A lock to enter the Hall of Fame when he eventually retires, Zack Martin is arguably the best NFL guard of the past 15-20 years. He’s beyond sound in pass protection, and his athleticism is regularly on display in the Cowboys’ run game.
Dallas will heavily rely upon Martin, a six-time first-team All-Pro, as it works in two rookie offensive line starters in 2024.
36) Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers (72nd overall)
Few NFL wideouts are as versatile as Samuel, who can line up out wide, in the slot, in motion, or in the backfield. Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme puts Samuel in the right position, but Deebo creates more yardage for himself than any receiver in the NFL.
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Samuel led WRs with 8.8 yards after the catch per reception in 2023. He ranked eighth in YAC/R league-wide, and every player who finished ahead of him played running back. Deebo also ranked first in yards after the catch over expectation (235), suggesting few players could have generated as much extra yardage given the same opportunities.
37) Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (74th overall)
One of the most consistent players in NFL history, Mike Evans has famously eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in every season of his decade-long career.
In 2023, Evans led the NFL with 13 receiving touchdowns, ranked fifth in contested catches (30), and was the only receiver in the league to average 2+ yards per route run while posting a 15+ yard aDOT.
38) DaRon Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys (75th overall)
Sure, DaRon Bland can be beaten at times. But he posted nine interceptions and an NFL-record five pick-sixes while earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2023.
Shifting from the slot to the perimeter after fellow Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs’ season-ending injury, Bland was among the most dangerous defensive backs in the game. He’s a turnover waiting to happen.
39) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons (76th overall)
Don’t judge Bijan Robinson on his counting statistics alone. While he didn’t clear 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie campaign, the Falcons only asked him to carry the ball 214 times. With fellow RB Tyler Allgeier handling 186 carries, Robinson didn’t have the opportunity to put up gaudy rookie year numbers.
However, he still managed 1,463 total yards, more than any other rookie RB in 2023. Robinson passed the eye test every week and could be an All-Pro if Atlanta’s new coaching staff gives him more touches in 2024.
40) DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys (78th overall)
While Parsons is the more dynamic Cowboys pass rusher at this stage, don’t forget about DeMarcus Lawrence. He’s the hidden gem of Dallas’ defensive front.
Lawrence’s relentless hustle is the key to his mauling run defense, and he’s earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons.
41) T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings (82nd overall)
T.J. Hockenson was in the midst of a career-best season (95-960-5) before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 16. A reliably explosive athlete, Hockenson posted 13 catches of 20+ yards, second-most among tight ends. He’s not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.
How Hockenson recovers – and meshes with Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy – will determine where he lands on the 2025 version of The PFN 100.
42) Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (83rd overall)
After a bounce-back Pro Bowl campaign in 2022, Saquon Barkley struggled in 2023. The former No. 2 overall pick missed three games with an ankle injury, rushed for just 962 yards, and lagged in efficiency, finishing fourth-worst in the league in rushing success rate.
Playing behind the Giants’ porous offensive line certainly didn’t help matters. Now that he’s working with one of the NFL’s best front fives in Philadelphia, will Barkley look like his old self again?
43) Brian Burns, EDGE, New York Giants (85th overall)
The New York Giants added Brian Burns this offseason, giving up a package centered around a second-round draft pick to acquire the pass rusher from the Carolina Panthers.
An athletic marvel, Burns was incredibly consistent for the Panthers, posting at least eight sacks and 18 QB hits in four straight years. Big Blue will blitz less often under new DC Shane Bowen, so they need Burns to help incumbent EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux get after opposing quarterbacks.
44) Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys (88th overall)
The Diggs brothers are as close in PFN’s rankings as they are in actuality. The No. 51 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Trevon Diggs was a first-team All-Pro in 2021 after leading the league with 11 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
While he tore his ACL during a September 2023 practice, Diggs should be ready for training camp and re-emerge as one of the league’s most minacious defensive backs.
45) DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears (89th overall)
DJ Moore established an instant connection with Justin Fields in his first season with the Chicago Bears, setting career-high marks across the board while ranking sixth in the NFL in receiving yards and success rate.
One of the league’s more underrated and dynamic wideouts, Moore has ranked inside the top 20 in average yards after the catch in four of the past five years.
46) Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers (90th overall)
Jaire Alexander’s high-end play is as good as nearly any NFL corner’s, but injuries have kept him off the field. A shoulder sprain cost him 13 games in 2021, while another shoulder issue kept Alexander on the sidelines for all but seven games in 2023.
However, he earned second-team All-Pro nods in 2020 and 2022, allowing a sub-70 passer rating in both seasons. If he can stay healthy, Alexander is the best player on a rebuilt Packers defense.
47) Jalen Carter, DT, Philadelphia Eagles (91st overall)
While the Eagles’ defense was one of the more disappointing units in the league in 2023, the club’s overall performance didn’t stop Jalen Carter from posting an outstanding rookie season.
Carter posted six sacks, second among first-year interior defenders, trailing only the Rams’ Kobie Turner. However, Turner also rushed the passer 70 more times than Carter. Among all NFL DTs, Carter ranked sixth in pass-rush win rate (16%) and 15th in pressures (50).
48) DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (93rd overall)
DeVonta Smith might be even more revered around the NFL if he weren’t fighting Brown for targets in Philadelphia.
Despite playing as an overqualified WR2, Smith has still posted at least 80 catches, 1,000 yards, and seven TDs in each of the past two seasons. A technician as a route runner, Smith is also surprisingly physical in spite of his 170-pound frame.
49) Xavier McKinney, S, Green Bay Packers (96th overall)
Xavier McKinney should be an immediate upgrade for a revamped Packers spine. The Alabama product played the best football of his career in 2023, spending time deep, in the box, and manning the slot while playing over 1,000 defensive snaps.
McKinney allowed the fifth-lowest passer rating (52.1) among safeties with at least 200 coverage snaps.
