- Jalen Hurts’ and Milton Williams’ Super Bowl run catapults them into PFF 101: Two Eagles secured their spots on this list due to exceptional performances in the postseason, leading Philadelphia to their second Super Bowl Championship.
- Tee Higgins slots into the top 80: Unless he gets strapped with the franchise tag, Higgins will enter the 2025 offseason as the PFF’s top available free agent. Despite missing five games with a hamstring injury, Higgins rallied to produce the best receiving grade (88.3) of his career.
- 2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF's best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025's top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team.
Estimated Reading Time: 26 minutes
Super Bowl 59 brought a close to the 2024 season, and before we move on to the excitement of free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, let's reflect on some of the best individual performances of the year.
The PFF 101 highlights the top individual performances in 2024, regardless of position, and credits the best players of the season that was.
PFF remains a player evaluation site at its core, and the 101 is our chance to acknowledge and praise the best players from the 2024 season one last time before we look ahead to assembling rosters for the upcoming year.
Here is a quick reminder of our basic criteria:
• This list is based solely on play in 2024. Past or future play is not accounted for. This isn't about class or talent; it's about performance throughout the 2024 NFL season.
• This list is created with an “all positions are created equal” mantra. So, you won't see 32 quarterbacks heading the list, even though that is the game's most valuable position. Instead, we take a look at how players performed relative to what is expected from their position.
• Unlike PFF's awards, the 101 factors in the postseason, so some players who won PFF awards may find themselves jumped in the 101 by rivals who had a playoff run worthy of a change in ranking.
• Disagree with the players we've included here? Let us know on X, formerly known as Twitter, (@PFF).
101. S Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle reached a three-year, $36 million extension with Pro Bowl safety back in July, which Love answered with a career year in 2024. Love was the fourth-highest-graded safety in PFF’s advanced coverage grading and held the second-highest PFF run-defense grade (89.5) at the position, showcasing his massive impact in both facets.
100. G Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers struck gold when they selected Puni with the 87th pick in last April’s draft. The first-year guard finished as not only the highest-graded offensive lineman in the 2024 class, but his 81.9 PFF overall grade landed him in the top six among qualifying guards in the league.
99. CB Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
While some inconsistency marred by penalties hindered the elite corner from notching a third-straight All-Pro nod, his talent is undeniable. Gardner finished the year ranked ninth among cornerbacks in advanced coverage grade, a credit to him charting in the 90th percentile in a variety of PFF’s stable cornerback metrics, including single coverage grade (93rd) and forced incompletion rate (99th).
98. T Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
While Jaylon Moore filled in admirably for Williams after the perennial All-Pro went down in Week 11, it’s difficult to fully replace his impact. Prior to his injury, Williams’ 86.6 PFF overall grade ranked sixth among tackles and placed him within reach of cementing his fifth consecutive season surpassing the 90.0 grading threshold.
97. T Spencer Brown, Buffalo Bills
Just prior to the Bills kicking off their 2024 season, Buffalo locked up Brown to a four-year, $72 million extension, and the Bills were certainly glad they did. While Brown had shown promise across his first three seasons, 2024 put him on the map. In the playoffs, the Bills tackle emerged as a true impact blocker, as he earned an 83.5 PFF overall grade — fourth highest among all offensive linemen this postseason.
96. EDGE Greg Rousseau, Buffalo Bills
With a contract extension on the horizon, Rousseau showed exactly why the Bills should cut him a check, after earning his third-straight season surpassing an 80.0-plus overall grade. During the regular season, the 24-year-old pass-rusher generated 63 total pressures — tied for the 10th most among edge defenders.
95. WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
In just his second year, Flowers made franchise history becoming the first Ravens receiver to be voted to the Pro Bowl (at the receiver position, not as a returner). The dynamic threat is electric with the ball in his hands, as he finished 2024 ranked in the top 12 in yards after catch (467; 12th) and missed tackles forced on receptions (18; eighth) among receivers.
94. CB Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
For the second-straight year, Johnson lands in the PFF 101, credit to another year showcasing his sticky coverage ability. While Johnson’s coverage metrics may have dipped slightly, his advanced coverage grade finished in the 98th percentile among all qualifying coverage defenders.
93. S Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons
Bates is another player to be voted to the PFF 101 in back-to-back years, continuing to provide this Atlanta secondary with a consistent eraser on the backend. The Falcons safety finished the regular season with the 14th-highest advanced coverage grade at the position.
92. DI DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Although a high ankle sprain in Week 2 limited Buckner to 12 games, his presence in the back half of the year was pivotal to the Colts‘ late-season push. Indy’s defensive captain clocked the sixth-highest PFF overall grade (81.9) among interior defenders, which was highlighted by his ability to press the pocket and bring down passers. Buckner managed to collect seven sacks on just 332 pass rush snaps, still placing him in the top 12 at the position despite missing five games.
91. QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts may have finished the regular season as just the NFL’s 21st-highest-graded quarterback, but he would not be denied in the playoffs, making his inclusion on this list a must. During the Eagles’ run to becoming Super Bowl 59 champs, the dynamic signal-caller clocked an 87.2 PFF overall grade — second to only Lamar Jackson — highlighted by his postseason-leading 93.8 clean pocket passing grade.
90. DI Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles
Williams was another player crucial to the Eagles’ Super Bowl run, dominating as the highest-graded pass-rusher (91.4) this postseason, which will undoubtedly earn him a lucrative payday in free agency. He also finished the regular season with career-high marks in sacks (six), pressures (44), pass-rush win rate (17.7%) and pass-rush productivity rating (8.2).
89. T Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks
This past season was a breakout year for Cross, as he generated his best PFF grades to date, setting new high watermarks as both a run (77.9) and pass (81.3) blocker. The Hawks tackle is a powerful road-grader in gap concepts, grading in the 94th percentile among tackles.
88. T Bernhard Raimann, Indianapolis Colts
While Raimann missed the better part of four games in the middle of the year due to a pair of injuries, he never skipped a beat upon his return. The third-year tackle produced a top-eight overall grade (85.9) at the position, showcasing his talents in both facets of the game while landing in the top 15 in both run blocking (80.7; 10th) and pass protection (82.0; 14th).
87. EDGE Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville franchise tagged Hines-Allen last offseason and then promptly signed him to a five-year, $141.25 million extension. The explosive edge rusher rewarded that belief with a huge performance in 2024, piling up 63 total pressures — tied for the 12th most in the NFL — off a 15.9% pass-rush win rate.
86. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
Had Hutchinson not fractured his leg in early October, he would have likely been in contention to be named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. He may have played just 280 snaps in 2024 — the lowest of any player in the PFF 101 — but his impact was undeniable. Across his five starts, the explosive Lions edge rusher racked up eight sacks thanks to his massive 38.3% pass-rush win rate, paving the way to a 95.0 PFF pass-rush grade — the highest charted by any defender with 150 or more pass-rush snaps.
85. T Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
Bolles has been the model of consistency across his NFL tenure, to which he parlayed another great year in 2024 into a four-year, $82 million extension in December. The veteran tackle continues to elevate his game as a pass blocker, having generated an 88.8 grade this season — fourth highest at the position — while surrendering the sixth-lowest pressure rate (3.1%).
84. LB Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions
In his first year as a professional, Campbell largely struggled in coverage and looked to be a linebacker that had to come off the field on passing downs. Now, the Lions linebacker is a fully-fledged playmaker in the middle of this defense, finishing with top-10 marks fitting the run (82.5 grade) and in coverage (74.2) during the regular season.
83. T Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans
Tunsil continues to showcase what a premier pass protector looks like at the left tackle position. His 88.6 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked sixth in the NFL during the regular season, highlighted by an impressive 98.9 pass-block efficiency rating — second only to Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs.
82. EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings brought in Greenard last offseason with a significant free agent contract — four-year, $76 million — and they couldn’t be happier with the addition. The 27-year-old edge defender clocked the most snaps of his career, which allowed him to set a new career-high in total pressures (78), during the regular season. That mark places him among the top three edge rushers in the NFL — behind only Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson.
81. RB James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Conner followed up his placement on this list last season with a career year in 2024. The Cardinals back earned the highest rushing grade of his career (90.6), as he notched his second-consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. That production is largely a credit to Conner’s innate ability to shed would-be tacklers (68) and break off explosive runs (34 of 10 or more yards) — both of which ranked in the top five among backs in 2025.
80. WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Unless he gets strapped with the franchise tag, Higgins will enter the 2025 offseason as the PFF’s top available free agent. Despite missing five games with a hamstring injury, Higgins rallied to produce the best receiving grade (88.3) of his career. That mark placed him as the seventh-highest-graded receiver in the NFL this season, due in part to his innate ability to find the end zone. Higgins finished the season as one of two receivers to notch double-digit touchdowns of 500 or fewer receiving snaps.
79. WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Thomas had an outstanding rookie season in which he finished among the top-10 wide receivers with an 83.4 receiving grade. His 1,282 receiving yards led all rookies and placed him third in the NFL behind fellow LSU alumni Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. He also finished fourth in the league in yards after catch, which wasn’t thought to be his strong suit during the draft process. Thomas is already in the upper echelon of NFL wide receivers.
78. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles
Mitchell started every meaningful game for Philadelphia as a rookie this season and excelled. He earned an outstanding 79.8 coverage grade, which places him sixth among qualified cornerbacks and second among rookies behind teammate Cooper DeJean. Mitchell’s 10 pass breakups, postseason included, tied him for seventh-most at the position. He proved in just one year that he will be a mainstay in the Eagles’ secondary and potentially an All-Pro very soon.
77. DI Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
Carter continues to prove he is one of the NFL's premier interior pass-rushers. He finished the season with an 84.4 pass-rush grade that is bested by only three other qualified defensive tackles. He also placed 10th among that same group with a 12.9% pass-rush win rate. Just two years into his career, Carter is already the foundation of Philadelphia’s defensive line.
76. RB James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Including the postseason, Cook tied for the NFL lead with 19 rushing touchdowns this season while finishing eighth among running backs with an 88.6 rushing grade. He also set new career highs with 47 missed tackles forced and 3.24 yards after contact per attempt. Cook should continue to create a dynamic backfield duo with Josh Allen in the near future.
75. TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Despite his postseason shortcomings, Andrews had another excellent campaign after his 2023 season was cut short due to injury. He scored 11 touchdowns to lead all tight ends while posting an 84.6 receiving grade that ranked fourth at the position. Andrews was elite in the intermediate 10-to-19-yard range, where he posted a 99.3 receiving grade.
74. DI Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Simmons headlined a Tennessee defensive tackle unit that finished second in the NFL in overall grade. Individually, he earned an 81.6 pass-rush grade that placed him seventh among qualified defensive tackles. This was Simmons’ third out of six career seasons with an 80.0-plus overall grade.
73. CB Garrett Williams, Arizona Cardinals
Williams emerged as one of the NFL's best slot cornerbacks this season. His 82.0 overall grade tied him with Trent McDuffie for third among all cornerbacks. He intercepted two passes while breaking up six others. Williams also improved his tackling as the season progressed. After missing seven tackles in the Cardinals’ first seven games, he missed just two in the final 10 games.
72. S Brandon Jones, Denver Broncos
Jones’ first season in Denver could not have gone any better. He finished third among qualified safeties with an 89.8 coverage grade while reeling in three interceptions. He also broke up six passes and allowed just 9.1 yards per reception into his coverage, both top-12 marks in the NFL.
71. WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
McConkey quickly established himself as the top receiving threat in the Chargers’ offense. Including his incredible postseason debut, he finished this season with an 85.0 receiving grade, the 12th-best among wide receivers, and over 1,300 yards. His downfield efforts earned him an elite 94.4 receiving grade on 10-plus yard targets, the ninth-highest among wide receivers.
70. S Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
James bounced back from a career-worst season in 2023 and turned in one of his best performances this year. His 80.9 overall grade placed him among the top 10 qualified safeties, and he set a new career-high with an 87.9 run-defense grade. Of course, James is known for his blitzing prowess as well. He led all safeties with six sacks this season while racking up 15 total pressures, the second-most among that same group.
69. C Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
Three years into his career, Linderbaum has become the anchor of the Ravens’ offensive line. His 79.9 overall grade and 85.3 run-blocking grade both put him in fourth place among centers this season. He also did not allow a sack for the second consecutive year. He is undoubtedly one of the best centers in the game.
68. EDGE Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans
The Texans made a big splash when they signed Hunter last offseason, and he certainly returned the favor. His 84.6 overall grade sits in 12th place among qualified edge defenders to end the season. He racked up 74 pressures and 12 sacks, including the postseason, and was one of just 14 qualified edge defenders to record at least a 16% pass-rush win rate.
67. CB Christian Benford, Buffalo Bills
Benford was the biggest positive development in an otherwise woeful Bills secondary. He finished the regular season with the fourth-best coverage grade among qualified cornerbacks with an 82.8 mark. He also missed just two tackles all year. The only cornerback who played at least 400 snaps and bested Benford’s 2.8% missed tackle rate was NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner Patrick Surtain II.
66. WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
McLaurin clearly liked Jayden Daniels throwing him the football, as he racked up over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns, including the postseason. His 84.8 receiving grade is his best since 2019 and places him 14th among qualified wide receivers. McLaurin was also one of just five qualified wide receivers who finished with a perfect 99.9 deep receiving grade.
65. EDGE Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Highsmith missed a handful of games due to injury but performed at a nearly elite level when he was on the field this season. He finished with an outstanding 89.1 overall grade that made him and T.J. Watt the only pair of teammates that both ranked inside the top 10 in overall grade. Despite playing just 12 games, Highsmith racked up 54 pressures and seven sacks while carrying an excellent 17.5% pass-rush win rate.
64. G Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles
Dickerson set new career highs with a 78.6 overall grade and a 79.4 run-blocking grade during the Eagles’ championship run this season. Both marks sit inside the NFL's top-eight qualified guards. He also turned in the single-game performance of his career with a 94.0 grade in the team’s divisional-round win over the Rams. Dickerson is an extremely valuable piece of arguably the NFL's best offensive line.
63. QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Under yet another new offensive play caller, Mayfield earned an 85.9 overall grade this season, which represents a new career-high for him and ranked him sixth in the NFL. Including the postseason, his 43 passing touchdowns tied him for second-most in the league. His signature performance came in Week 18 with an NFC South title on the line, as he posted a career-best 94.8 overall grade.
62. WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans crossed the 1,000-yard threshold for the 11th consecutive season, though it wouldn’t have been so close had he not missed three games due to injury. When he did play, he was outstanding as usual. His 90.2 receiving grade ranked him fourth among qualified wide receivers and represents the second-highest mark of his career.
61. CB Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
Humphrey played a crucial role in the turnaround of the Ravens’ secondary this season as he moved nearly full-time into the slot down the stretch. Regardless of his position, Humphrey still earned an outstanding 81.0 coverage grade while picking off six passes and breaking up 10 others. Amazingly, his 79.0 overall grade was a new career-high.
60. G Kevin Zeitler, Detroit Lions
Eight years after making his first PFF 101 appearance, Zeitler is back on this list. The journeyman who’s played for five different teams was an immediate star in his first year with the Lions.
His 87.2 run-blocking grade was second among all guards in the league this year while he placed third in overall grade (86.8). Zeitler finished his 13th season in the league as the fourth-most-valuable guard according to PFF’s wins-above-replacement metric.
The soon-to-be 35-year-old is once again a free agent and is still one of the top guards available even at his age.
59. WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Nabers was the best receiver in college football last year at LSU, and he was the NFL's best rookie receiver this season.
His 1,204 receiving yards ranked seventh among all receivers in the league in 2024 while his 86.7 PFF grade was eighth. Nabers was especially dangerous after the catch, placing third in receiving yards after contact (256) and fifth in forced missed tackles (19). The Giants drafted an LSU receiver in the first round 10 years ago in Odell Beckham Jr., and it looks like they struck gold again with the same exact method.
58. RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Arguably the biggest surprise from the 2024 draft class, Irving was phenomenal in his rookie season. The fourth-round pick from Oregon was the only back in the league who posted 90.0-plus PFF grades both as a runner and as a receiver. His 90.8 overall grade was fourth in the league among running backs as well.
Despite finishing with the 10th most catches among tailbacks (47), Irving broke the second-most tackles after the catch (20). That elite contact balance translated over to his rushing ability as well, as he led the league with four yards after contact per attempt.
57. LB Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
For the fifth straight season, Warner finds himself on the PFF 101.
At a position where it’s hard for players to be consistently elite, he has been just that. The 28-year-old has been one of the four highest-graded linebackers in football in each of the last five seasons and has now placed second three years in a row, this time earning an 89.2 PFF grade. While he’s the third-ranked linebacker on this list, it’s hard not to view Warner as the gold standard for the position.
56. S Xavier McKinney, Green Bay Packers
One year after placing 57th on this list, McKinney moves up one spot to No. 56 after looking like one of the best ballhawks in the league in his first year with the Packers.
The former New York Giant picked off eight passes in 2024, which tied with Kerby Joseph for the most in the NFL. McKinney’s 90.2 coverage grade trailed only Joseph among all safeties as well.
55. S Brian Branch, Detroit Lions
The first of two Lions safeties on this list, Branch has now made the PFF 101 in each of his first two seasons.
The Alabama product led all safeties in the NFL with a 90.8 run-defense grade while his 83.7 overall grade ranked fifth. Branch finished 2024 as the second-most-valuable safety in the league according to PFF’s wins above replacement metric.
54. EDGE Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
Mack continues to age like fine wine at 33 years old, as he’s now a member of the PFF 101 for the ninth time in his 11-year career.
His 87.7 run-defense grade trailed only T.J. Watt among all edge defenders while his 90.2 overall grade ranked fifth. The future Hall of Famer looks to capitalize on his back-to-back stellar seasons in free agency this offseason, where he’s one of our top-five free agents available.
53. DI Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Lawrence continues to play like one of the best defensive tackles in football, earning a top-three grade at the position for the third straight season. In fact, he was the only interior defender in the league with 80-plus grades both as a pass-rusher and run defender in 2024. Lawrence’s nine sacks on the season were the third most among defensive tackles as well.
52. OT Terron Armstead, Miami Dolphins
Armstead is back on the PFF 101 for the first time in four years after having his best season yet as a Dolphin.
His 89.4 PFF grade was fourth among all offensive tackles in the NFL, as he earned top-10 grades as both a pass blocker (eighth) and run blocker (fourth). Armstead was also eighth among all tackles with a 3.4% pressure rate allowed.
51. EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
One year after winning the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year, Anderson cracks his first PFF 101 list. His 81.1 run-defense grade was sixth among all edge defenders while his 17% pass-rush win rate and 11 sacks were both 10th. Anderson’s 88.8 overall grade stood ninth among all edge defenders as well.
50. G Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Nelson was the best guard in football across his first three seasons in the league, leading them all with a 91.3 PFF grade from 2018-2020. He wasn’t nearly as effective across his following three years, placing 19th among all guards with a 72.3 grade in that span.
The 28-year-old got back to his elite ways this past season, placing fourth among all guards with an 81.3 PFF grade. He was one of only two guards in the NFL with top-five grades both as a pass blocker and as a run blocker. Nelson wrapped up the season as the second-most-valuable guard in the league according to our wins above replacement metric.
49. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
St. Brown was the most valuable receiver in the NFL this past season according to PFF’s WAR metric. He earned a top-five grade at the position for the third straight season while placing second in catches (115), fifth in receiving yards (1,263) and third in touchdowns (12). St. Brown was the only receiver in the NFL with 100-plus catchable targets with only one drop.
48. OT Zach Tom, Green Bay Packers
Will Anderson Jr. revealed in a recent interview with ESPN’s Kevin Clark that Tom is the best offensive lineman he’s gone against. It’s hard to argue against that considering how good the third-year tackle was this past season.
Tom’s 85.8 PFF grade was sixth among all offensive tackles in the league while his 87.8 run-blocking grade trailed only Jordan Mailata and Penei Sewell. He finished the year as the fourth-most-valuable tackle in the league according to our wins above replacement metric.
47. C Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions
Ragnow has been one of the NFL's best centers throughout his entire career and makes his third PFF 101 list here.
After leading all centers with an 88.1 PFF grade last season, the 28-year-old was second this year with an 86.1 mark. His 90.9 run-blocking grade, in particular, was the best among all centers in the league.
46. G Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
Thuney has been one of the league’s 10 highest-graded guards in each of the last seven seasons. While he’s been the model of consistency at guard, his versatility led to his fifth PFF 101 ranking.
He was forced to be Kansas City’s starting left tackle from Week 15 all the way through the Super Bowl due to their struggles there. While it wasn’t perfect, he still earned a solid 65.6 grade there and at least provided some much-needed stability at that spot.
45. CB Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles
DeJean was the hero of Super Bowl 59, picking off Patrick Mahomes and returning it for a touchdown midway through the second quarter to give the Eagles a commanding 17-0 lead. He finished with a career-best 90.9 PFF grade in the victory and had a case to win Super Bowl MVP.
The rookie earned a spot in the top 50 of this list for more than what he did in the final game though. The second-round pick’s 86.3 PFF grade led all cornerbacks in the NFL, as he locked down the slot for the Eagles, an area where they ranked dead last the year before.
44. DI Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks
Williams makes the PFF101 for the first time in four years, his first instance as a Seahawk. He led all defensive tackles in 2024 with 11 sacks while his 54 pressures were tied for sixth. Williams also had 26 run-defense stops, which ranked eighth at his position as well.
His 87.1 PFF grade on the season was fourth among all interior defenders.
43. CB Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans
After struggling as a rookie, Stingley has now made the PFF 101 in back-to-back seasons. His 84.4 coverage grade trailed only Pat Surtain II among all cornerbacks, and Surtain took home the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Stingley’s 47.0 passer rating allowed and 45.8% completion rate allowed were each the best marks among all corners in the NFL.
42. TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
McBride set a new NFL record this season as he didn’t score a touchdown once on his first 97 catches. While he lacked end-zone production, he was still one of the best tight ends in the league.
He was second among all tight ends in PFF grade (86.8), receptions (111), receiving yards (1,146) and yards after the catch (526). McBride finished the year as the most valuable tight end in the league according to PFF’s WAR metric.
41. LB Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders
An ageless wonder, Wagner makes the PFF 101 for the eighth time in his career and served as the veteran leader for a Commanders team that made a Cinderella run to the NFC Championship Game.
The 34-year-old’s 88.3 PFF grade during his first year in Washington was third among all linebackers in the NFL as he led all linebackers in pass-rush grade (90.9) while placing second in run-defense grade (91.2). Wagner is one of the 10 greatest linebackers who’s ever played the game and is once again a free agent this offseason.
40. TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers' first year in the NFL was one for the record books. His 88.4 PFF receiving grade is the highest ever recorded by a first-year tight end in the PFF era (since 2006), highlighted with record-breaking marks in receptions (112), yards after catch (596), first-down receptions (61) and contested catches (16). The latter also ranks among the top eight all-time at the position, placing him alongside the likes of Travis Kelce (2018) and Jimmy Graham (2017).
39. QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
After ranking in the top five of the PFF 101 in each of the previous two seasons, Mahomes saw a notable dip in production and impact during the 2024 campaign, leading to a slight slide. However, he remains one of the best in the game at limiting mistakes—one of the most valuable traits a quarterback can have—ranking in the 82nd percentile in avoiding negative plays.
38. EDGE Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
A high ankle sprain sidelined Parsons for a month, but he returned in peak form, earning his fourth consecutive 91.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grade. Despite missing four games, the Cowboys‘ star edge rusher still finished third in the NFL with 14 sacks. His dominance was reflected in his 20.2% pass-rush win rate, which ranked top three among edge rushers with at least 100 pass-rush snaps.
37. G Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos
Meinerz’s steady progression as an interior blocker continues to elevate his profile across the league. After a career year in 2024, it won’t be long before he becomes a household name—at least in homes that appreciate offensive line play. The 26-year-old guard made significant strides in pass protection, earning a career-best 81.4 PFF grade. His 99.0 pass-blocking efficiency rating tied for the second-highest among all qualifying linemen this past season.
36. RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
After a promising rookie season in 2023, Gibbs vaulted into the upper echelon of NFL running backs in 2024, earning a top-three PFF rushing grade (91.4). His elite quickness and explosive burst made him a constant big-play threat, as he finished in the 98th percentile among qualifying backs in breakaway rate (percentage of runs that went for 15-plus yards).
35. EDGE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
Bosa battled a pair of nagging injuries throughout the season, eventually missing a crucial stretch for the 49ers—a loss that may have contributed to their second-half skid in 2024. Replacing his impact on the defensive line is no easy task, and when healthy, he remained dominant, posting a 20% pass-rush win rate, a top-five mark among qualifying edge rushers.
34. RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Even in a new uniform, Jacobs made his mark and put up a career-high 92.4 PFF grade. That performance puts him in elite company, as he joins Adrian Peterson and Derrick Henry as the only running backs to eclipse a 91.0 overall grade in multiple seasons since PFF began tracking data in 2006. Jacobs and Henry are the only players to accomplish the feat with two franchises.
33. QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
If Herbert’s 2024 season taught us anything, it’s that success is about how you finish, not how you start. Through Week 6, he ranked 29th in the NFL with a 58.2 passing grade. From Week 7 onward, however, he flipped the script, posting a 92.6 passing grade—the second-highest in the league over that span—while leading the NFL with 26 big-time throws to close out the regular season.
32. EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson’s league-leading 18 sacks in 2024 will grab headlines, but his impact extends far beyond the raw sack total. The eight-year veteran posted some of the most dominant advanced pass-rushing metrics in the league, ranking above the 95th percentile in several of PFF’s most stable categories — including overall pass-rush grade, grade on true pass sets, grade on plays without play action and pass-rush win rate.
31. WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Since entering the NFL in 2022, London has shown promise, but 2024 marked his true breakout season. He surpassed the 90.0 PFF receiving grade threshold for the first time in his career, establishing himself as a premier playmaker. The 23-year-old receiver excelled at fighting through contact and winning at the catch point, finishing in the top five among wide receivers in both contested catches (22) and explosive receptions (33).
30. WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
While the Eagles' rushing attack often steals the spotlight, Brown’s impact on the offense cannot be overstated. He was virtually unguardable in single coverage, earning the NFL’s highest receiving grade (96.3) when matched against a lone defensive back. His dominance was key to the team’s success throughout the season.
29. WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua finished the 2024 season with the NFL’s highest receiving grade (92.6), leading the league in both yards per route run (3.23) — well ahead of the next closest qualifier (2.86) — and threat percentage (35.6%). He would have been a lock for the top 10 on this list if he had maintained that production over a full season. However, with just 350 receiving snaps — less than half of the league leader—his limited workload pushes him slightly further down the rankings.
28. G Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
Despite some struggles in pass protection this past season, Lindstrom remains the gold standard for elite run blocking in the NFL. The Falcons guard led the league in run-blocking grade for the second time in three years, earning an outstanding 94.6 mark in 2024. That grade isn’t just impressive for this season—it stands as the highest recorded by a guard in the past decade.
27. EDGE Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
As PFF’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, Verse rightfully earns his place on this list ahead of some more established names at the position. While many top edge rushers unleash their explosiveness primarily on passing downs, Verse’s relentless motor shows up on every snap. He finished in the top 10 among edge defenders in both pass-rush grade (85.5) and run-defense grade (81.0), proving his all-around impact.
26. T Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
In his fourth year—and still just 24 years old—Sewell has firmly established himself as one of the nastiest blockers in the league. His athleticism shines in the run game, as evidenced by his 91.2 run-blocking grade on zone concepts, ranking in the 92nd percentile this past season.
25. WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans
A hamstring injury may have limited Collins' time on the field in 2024, but his impact when healthy was undeniable. His postseason performance helped him climb into the top 25 of this list, as the Texans receiver earned the highest receiving grade against single coverage (96.2) at his position.
24. WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson may have spent his first season without Kirk Cousins, but his connection with Sam Darnold didn’t miss a beat. The Vikings' star receiver remains the gold standard for deep threats in the NFL, leading the league with 45 receptions of 15 or more yards — a wide margin over the next closest receiver, who had 39.
23. T Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers
Slater took another step forward in 2024, further cementing himself as one of the NFL’s most consistent tackles. He earned a career-high 90.9 PFF grade, excelling in pass protection and the run game. Slater finished with the third-highest pass-blocking grade at the position (89.9) and led all tackles in run-blocking grade on zone concepts (92.6).
22. T Tristian Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In today’s NFL, a tackle’s most valuable trait is the ability to withstand the relentless pressure packages deployed by modern defenses and keep their quarterback clean. Wirfs exemplified that skill in 2024, earning a league-best 94.1 PFF pass-blocking grade. Not only did that lead all tackles this season, but it also ranks as the second-highest ever recorded at the position in the PFF era (since 2006).
21. WR Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase etched his name in the record books in 2024, becoming just the sixth receiver in NFL history to win the triple crown by leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17). His electric ability after the catch fueled his dominance, as he racked up an NFL-best 797 yards after the catch and forced 24 missed tackles on receptions.
20. QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Leading the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, Daniels delivered a stellar rookie season, earning a 90.6 overall grade — fifth among qualified quarterbacks and placing him among the best rookie passers of the PFF era. He led the NFL with a 1.5% turnover-worthy play rate and was the most elusive quarterback in the league, forcing 52 missed tackles as a runner. While Washington must add more support around him to compete for a championship, Daniels was everything they could have hoped for in his debut season.
19. S Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions
Joseph had a breakout season in 2024, leading all safeties with a 91.1 coverage grade and nine interceptions. His pairing with Brian Branch anchored the NFL’s top safety unit, even amid numerous injuries around them. Joseph was also one of the league’s most reliable tacklers, missing just six all season—the sixth-fewest among safeties with at least 600 snaps.
18. T Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
Johnson was one of just three offensive linemen in 2024 to earn at least an 85.0 grade in both run blocking and pass protection. He didn’t allow a sack through his first 18 games before surrendering one in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl against Kansas City. Incredibly, the future Hall of Famer recorded a career-best 88.9 overall grade at age 34, proving that he remains one of the best in the game when healthy.
17. DI Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Heyward continued building his Hall of Fame résumé in 2024, finishing second among qualified defensive tackles with a 90.1 overall grade. He tied Rams standout Kobie Turner for the most total stops at the position while also recording 60 pressures and 10 sacks. Additionally, Heyward became the first defensive lineman since Emmanuel Ogbah in 2021 to register at least 10 batted passes.
16. CB Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
McDuffie finally notched the first two interceptions of his career while continuing to play at an elite level for the Chiefs. His 82.0 overall grade tied for third among qualified cornerbacks, even as he transitioned to playing more on the outside after primarily working in the slot. He was also the only cornerback in the NFL this season to earn 75.0-plus grades as a run defender, pass rusher and coverage defender.
15. RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Robinson lived up to the hype of being the No. 8 overall pick, finishing second in the NFL with a 92.8 rushing grade. He was one of just two running backs—along with Josh Jacobs—to rank inside the top five in both rushing and receiving grades. Robinson also tied Jacobs for the most missed tackles forced in the regular season, with 88.
14. S Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
Hamilton is the glue that holds the Ravens’ secondary together, and he proved it once again in 2024 with an elite 90.1 overall grade. He was the only defensive player in the NFL to earn at least an 85.0 grade in both run defense and coverage. On top of that, he added 12 pressures and two sacks as a blitzer, cementing his status as the league’s best all-around safety.
13. TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Kittle once again proved why he is arguably the best all-around tight end in the NFL. He led the position with a dominant 92.4 receiving grade while also ranking second among tight ends with a 70.8 run-blocking grade. His 2024 season featured a career-high 70.6% contested catch rate and a 2.62 yards per route run mark—his best since 2020.
12. CB Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
The NFL’s newest Defensive Player of the Year led all cornerbacks with an 85.1 coverage grade while remarkably not missing a single tackle all season. He and Cooper DeJean were the only cornerbacks to earn at least an 80.0 grade in both run defense and coverage. Surtain also recorded four interceptions and five pass breakups, and he allowed just two touchdowns in his coverage all year.
11. LB Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
PFF’s Breakout Player of the Year, Baun emerged as the NFL’s highest-graded linebacker in his first full season at the position. He led all linebackers with a 90.9 coverage grade, racking up 35 coverage stops, three interceptions and three pass breakups. His impact wasn’t limited to coverage; he also posted a strong 79.4 run-defense grade. After a standout season, Baun is poised for a big payday in free agency.
10. RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley turned in a historic performance this season, racking up over 2,500 rushing yards if we include the postseason. He led the NFL with 55 explosive runs this season while finishing second with 83 missed tackles forced. Barkley became the Eagles’ closer this season as he led all running backs in attempts, rushing yards and touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games.
9. EDGE T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Watt turned in another excellent season, as he led all defensive linemen with a 90.3 run-defense grade. His 90.1 pass-rush grade placed him sixth among qualified edge defenders, as he racked up 57 pressures and 12 sacks across his 18 games played. He also tied for the NFL lead among all players with six forced fumbles, further accentuating the numerous ways that he can affect a game on any snap.
8. DT Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Jones led all interior defenders with 88 pressures this season, earning an elite 91.5 pass-rush grade. This is the sixth time in the past seven seasons that Jones has recorded at least a 90.0 pass-rush grade. Jones also missed just one tackle all season, tied for the fewest among any defensive lineman who played at least 500 snaps this season.
7. C Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Among the 40 centers who played at least 300 snaps this season, Humphrey led the group with a 92.4 overall grade and a 91.5 run-blocking grade. That overall grade is the highest recorded by a center (min. 300 snaps) since Jason Kelce recorded a 94.1 grade in 2017. Humphrey’s first four seasons in the NFL have been so outstanding that he trails only Nick Mangold with a 94.9 career PFF Grade among centers.
6. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen earned his first NFL MVP award by ranking third among qualified quarterbacks in PFF grade and leading that group with a 93.6 rushing grade and 43 big-time throws. He is the first quarterback in PFF history to earn a 90.0-plus grade in five straight seasons, surpassing Tom Brady, who did it four times in a row from 2015 to 2018. On top of his amazing playmaking ability, Allen recorded a career-low 2.6% turnover-worthy play rate.
5. RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Henry reinforced himself as an opposing defense’s worst nightmare after joining Lamar Jackson in Baltimore’s backfield. He led the NFL with a 93.5 rushing grade and 88 missed tackles forced. He quickly became key to the Ravens’ offensive operation, as they were undefeated in the 11 games in which he ran for at least 90 yards. It seems almost unfair that at 30 years old, Henry is the first running back since 2012 to average at least 6.0 yards per carry across at least 150 carries.
4. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
As the situation around him crumbles, Burrow just continues to get better every season. This year, he finished second among qualified quarterbacks with a 92.8 passing grade while recording a career-best 1.9% turnover-worthy play rate. He finished the regular season with the most passing yards and touchdowns in the NFL. Behind poor protection, Burrow’s processing speed has hit a ridiculous level. He led all quarterbacks this season with a 93.2 passing grade on throws released in under 2.5 seconds.
3. OT Jordan Mailata, Philadelphia Eagles
Mailata missed a few games due to injury, but his impact was certainly felt when he was on the field. Not only did his 95.1 overall grade lead all offensive players this season, but it has only been bested once by an offensive lineman in PFF history dating back to 2006 – Trent Williams in 2021 (96.6). Mailata was dominant in the run game, earning a 94.5 grade in that department, while placing second among left tackles in pass-blocking grade and allowing just two sacks all season.
2. EDGE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Garrett led all defensive linemen who played at least 300 snaps with a 92.3 overall grade and a 92.8 pass-rush grade. This was his fourth consecutive season with at least a 92.0 overall grade. He tied division rival Trey Hendrickson for the most regular season pressures with 83 and recorded an incredible 23.1% pass-rush win rate. Garrett’s resumé speaks for itself at this point. No matter where he plays next season, he can be expected to record elite production.
1. QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson produced his best season as a passer in 2024 en route to leading all quarterbacks with a 94.9 overall grade. He is the first quarterback in PFF history to record a 90.0-plus passing grade and rushing grade in the same season. As a passer, he set new career bests with a 6.3% big-time throw rate and a 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate. On the ground, he led all quarterbacks with 1,035 rushing yards and 40 explosive runs, postseason included. This version of Jackson is simply unstoppable.
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