Ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, the TGH staff have ranked their top 100 players for the 2021 season.
Five TGH staff members voted on their top 75 players, who were given scores based on their ranks, then sorted by their final score. The players were ranked regardless of position, and the editors broke any ties at their discretion.
Each article in this series will list 10 players at a time, with brief comments on their 2020 performances and what is expected of them in 2021. Make sure to check back every Friday for the next 10 players in our list!
Today, we list and evaluate players 10-1 in our list of the 2021 NFL Top 100.
[Check out the other entries in the 2021 NFL Top 100 here: #100-91, #90-81, #80-71, #70-61, #60-51, #50-41, #40-31, #30-21, #20-11 ]
Bakhtiari has been protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blindside for years and has been one of the league’s most unsung heroes. The left tackle was a former fourth-round pick who has two Pro Bowls in his career. When he is healthy, Rodgers is able to survey the field and light up defenses.- Joe DiTullio
Travis Kelce has consistently been one of the best tight ends in the league for a while now. He has had five 1,000 yard receiving years. The Chiefs tight end did much of the same in 20. He had a career high numbers in both receiving yards and touchdown catches. He had 1,416 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Kelce finds his success by being a reliable pass catcher and using his size to gain yards after the catch. There is no reason to not think that Kelce will be just as impressive in 2021 and he deserves his place at 9 on this list.-Matthew Brown
A lot of people undervalue guards in the NFL, but Nelson is consistently one of the best players in the league. The Notre Dame product has the smarts, athletic ability and toughness to dominate his opponents. He won’t make many mental errors and is the main reason why the Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league-Joe DiTullio
Josh Allen has found success in the last couple seasons. He broke out as a quarterback to watch in 2019 with 3,089 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. Allen proved that he is one the league’s elite quarterbacks as he had a monster year in 2020. He had 4,544 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. He led the Bills to their first playoff win since 1995. The Buffalo quarterback also earned his first bid to the Pro Bowl with his successful 2020 campaign. Allen is also pretty mobile and can find ways extend plays with his legs. Look for Allen to have another successful year in 2021 as they look to win a Super Bowl.- Matthew Brown
If it weren’t such a quarterback-happy league, Derrick Henry would be taking home MVP trophies. Rushing for 2,000 yards is no small feat and the 2020 season gave him the oppoortunity to break that milestone. He runs fast for a running back his size, but he will also run defenders over. There are a lot of reasons why the Titans are making the playoffs, but being able to rely on Henry is a major factor.- Joe DiTullio
Davante Adams is four-time Pro Bowler and has spent his whole career with the Packers. Adams has had success in the NFL for most of his career, but he has been playing on a different level the past few seasons. In 2018, he had a season high 1,386 receiving yards. He also had 10 touchdowns that year. In 2019, Adams performed well once again, but didn’t have as good of a year, as he had 997 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He proved why he is one of the best receivers in the NFL in 2020. He had 1,374 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. The touchdown total ranked as the best in the league. Adams has a lot of speed and is a great route runner. He is also a reliable receiver that can find the end zone often. Look for Adams to do more of the same in 2021.-Matthew Brown
After posting 14.5 sacks in 20219, Watt posted 15 sacks in 2020. The Steelers’ defense has been playing well over those two seasons and Watt’s pressure on the quarterback helps the rest of the defense elevate their games. He will have a lot more work cut out for him without Bud Dupree on the opposite side of the line, but Watt should still be able to have a very successful season bringing down quarterbacks.-Joe DiTullio
A year after the Packers focused on running the ball more, Rodgers came back to life and took home the MVP. While he is aging, Rodgers has proven that he can still carry a team. Despite the Packers not drafting him much help, Rodgers was able to make the Packers one of the best teams in the league in 2020. With some more help, Rodgers could match this level of play for a few more years. Hopefully for his sake it will result in a Super Bowl.-Joe DiTullio
Taking a team to a Super Bowl in two straight seasons is hard in the NFL. Mahomes is the new face of the league with his highlight-reel throws. He has a strong arm, good accuracy and can make just about any throw asked of him. With him locked up in a new contract, Mahomes will perenially lead the Chiefs to winning seasons. The future is bright for Mahomes.-Joe DiTullio
Donald wreaks havoc on the defensive side of the ball. He blows up running plays and mauls quarterbacks on passing downs. While he gets a lot of love around the NFL, Donald may not get enough credit for how good of a player he is. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro with 85.5 sacks. Interior defensive linemen aren’t supposed to rack up that many sacks, but he is that good of a player. He already is one of the best players in the history of the sport and still has a few good years ahead of him.-Joe DiTullio
