Strap in for the unlucky thirteenth installment of my endless summer series The Grand List, or: the best 1000 pro football players in (mostly) NFL history. There are a few Hall of Famers who probably seem way too low, along with some likely head scratchers who you will feel are too high. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer on lists like these. We just use the evidence available to us to make the most informed decision we can, bringing our preferences and biases along for the ride. ^[1]I have spent years trying to understand my own biases and build safeguards into my work in order to catch them. I promise that I will still fail in that regard, like all other humans, but hopefully … Continue reading

Previous articles in the series

The Grand List, part 1: Includes honorable/special mentions and players 1000-990.
The Grand List, part 2: Includes players 989-965.
The Grand List, part 3: Includes players 964-940.
The Grand List, part 4: Includes players 939-901.
The Grand List, part 5: Includes players 900-876.
The Grand List, part 6: Includes players 875-851.
The Grand List, part 7: Includes players 850-810.
The Grand List, part 8: Includes players 809-780.
The Grand List, part 9: Includes players 779-750.
The Grand List, part 10: Includes players 749-700.
The Grand List, part 11: Includes players 699-650.
The Grand List, part 12: Includes players 649-600.

In the immortal words of Al Bundy: let’s rock.

The Grand List, Continued

599. Charlie Johnson (1977-1984)
Nose Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings

Johnson had a short career, but he packed a great deal of studly play into his brief tenure. He was active against the run in the Krumrie mold, and he would regularly eclipse 100 tackles per season. His reputation for rushing the pass takes a hit because he would often leave the field in obvious passing situations, but on early downs, when he had to focus on both the run and the pass, he usually mustered a decent rush (though no one would confuse him for Alan Page). Despite being a nose tackle, Johnson once intercepted three passes in a season, and he had fumble return touchdowns of 44 and 50 yards. Not bad for a big fella.

598. Bill Fralic (1985-1993)
Offensive Guard
Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions

A brute who blew opponents off the ball in the run game, Fralic put out some of the best highlight reel tape of any offensive lineman (yes, that is a thing that exists). He was voted the league’s top lineman by the NFL Alumni in 1986 (the only non-HOFer to win the award that decade). The year prior, Dr. Z named him the best guard in the league. Fralic had occasional lapses in concentration that resulted in some bad reps in pass protection, and he lack the down-to-down consistency possessed by some of the other guards of high acclaim, but his prowess in the ground game was evident to all who watched him. I think of him as Diet John Hannah.

597. Irving Fryar (1984-2000)
Wide Receiver
New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Washington

Fryar was not a very good guy, but a very good receiver who continued to produce at an advanced age. He began his career a quality return specialist before finally working his way into a top receiving option. Hampered by lackluster quarterback play for a good portion of his career, he nonetheless proved to be a reliable target wherever he went, though he didn’t really become the guy until he was 29.  Prior to that he made the most of his scarce targets, posting good yardage averages and getting to the end zone at a high rate. Oddly, Fryar’s best season came at age 35, when most receivers are adjusting to life after football. Many would suggest that the ability to put up big numbers at that age suggest he was capable of it during typical prime years but was in an unfavorable situation. I am not making that argument, but I am acknowledging its existence. When Fryar retired, he ranked fifth in career receptions, seventh in yards, and ninth in touchdowns. The subsequent passing explosion has moved him down the list considerably, just as it did many of the great receivers he passed on his way to those ranks. His peak wasn’t spectacular, but he is one of just 30 wide receivers with at least nine seasons over 900 True Receiving Yards. ^[2]Fryar’s top seasons by True Receiving Yards: 1390, 1388, 1303, 1079, 1013, 993, 921, 910, 909 All the others are ahead of him on this list.

596. Stanley Morgan (1977-1990)
Wide Receiver
New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts

A speed burner and true deep threat, Morgan wasn’t content to just catch a few deep balls a year. He caught a lot of them, and he did so for a long time, which is a remarkable feat for a long ball specialist. Morgan led the league in receiving average thrice, in a case of the numbers matching exactly what showed up on tape – a guy who just blew by defensive backs and stole huge chunks of yardage at a time. But he also retired as the fifth leading receiver in history, which is incredible for a player in his role. Of the top 12 on that list, only he and sixth place Harold Jackson aren’t in the Hall of Fame, and his 19.2 receiving average is easily the highest among that group. When he called it quits, he trailed only three men in 100 yard games, two of whom played in the AFL. To this day, no one else has both more catches and a higher yards per catch average than Morgan. ^[3]Morgan’s top TRY seasons: 1713, 1354, 1255, 1200, 1153, 1064, 1063, 975.

595. Art Powell (1959-1968)
Wide Receiver
Oakland Raiders, New York Titans, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings

For the first six seasons of the AFL, Powell averaged 75 catches for 1252 yards and 13 touchdowns per 16 games. He wasn’t the deep threat Alworth was (though he was plenty fast), but King Pin used his big frame to win battles for the ball all over the field. When he played alongside Hall of Famer Don Maynard, it was Powell who defenses feared most. He didn’t have the longevity of some of the other all timers, but at his peak, he was up there with all but a select few. The quality of the median talent of early AFL defenses is the only thing keeping him from ranking much higher on this list. ^[4]Powell’s top TRY seasons: 1819, 1627, 1564, 1383, 1348, 1179, 1077

594. Gene Washington (1969-1979)
Wide Receiver
San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions

Brodie’s favorite target. Washington had big play numbers at a high volume. In the depths of the dead ball era, his totals don’t stand out, but he ranked third in yards and second in touchdown receptions for the decade, which include a throwaway season in Detroit at the end of his career. Washington’s lethal combination of size and speed made him a dangerous downfield target, as he could generally go over the top of anyone he couldn’t outrun. That led to him finishing five different seasons with over 19 yards per catch, ultimately retiring with a solid 17.8 average. He also managed to lead the league in yards and touchdowns once apiece. ^[5]Washington’s top TRY seasons: 1751, 1474, 1345, 1033, 1012, 909

593. George Christensen (1931-1938)
Tackle (pre-modern)
Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions

Big Chris was aptly named, but his nickname doesn’t tell the full tale. Sure, he was a big guy, but he was also a tremendous athlete. While he was the largest player on the team, he was known to teammates as one of the fastest as well, and defenders looking at the oncoming freight train didn’t earn enough money to have the luxury of making a business decision. In addition to straight speed, he was quick and used that to be an effective puller when executing tricky single wing blocking assignments. Christensen had a high aptitude for locating defenders in the open and delivering crushing blocks to spring his runners free downfield. He was a dominant force on the 1936 squad that rushed for 240.4 yards per game, a mark that ranks behind only the gaudy 261.6 record set by the 49ers in the AAFC in 1948. ^[6]The 49ers rushed for 232.3 yards per game the following year, meaning they ran for the most and third most yards per game in history in consecutive seasons. As you may expect from his size, he was incredibly powerful and stood out on defense as well, consistently getting a good push. Christensen will probably never be in the Hall of Fame, but he’s as deserving as anyone from his era.

592. Clay Matthews III (2009-present)
Rushbacker
Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams

Clay Matthews played four seasons for the 49ers in the fifties. His son Bruce had a 296 game career with the Oilers/Titans (more on him much later). His son Clay played 278 games with the Browns and Falcons (more on him a little later). That Clay continued the tradition of naming humans after himself, and Clay III has played 156 games and counting. Early on in his career, the third generation superstar looked like he may have a Hall of Fame future. However, he played in schemes that were at times incoherent, and he lost much of the effectiveness that made him feared at his peak. Then coaches moved him away from his rushbacker role to the inside to take advantage of his smarts and hope he could help against the run, but the role change did more harm than good. While Matthews had the ability to make the transition, the move away from his more natural position just kept him from regularly doing the thing he did best – rush the passer. In his first six seasons, he averaged 11 sacks per 16 games, and he was a stud in the postseason. His forced fumble in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl directly led to the points that decided the game. He appears to be near the end, but at 91.5 sacks, he could supposably cross the beloved century mark.

591. David Bakhtiari (2013-present)
Offensive Tackle
Green Bay Packers

Taking the reins from Joe Thomas, Bakhtiari is the premier pass blocker of his era. Despite having the difficult assignment of blocking for a guy who holds the ball longer than most quarterbacks and rarely receives or accepts his share criticism for it, the stud tackle stands strong and keeps the golden boy clean. When Rodgers missed over half the season with injury in 2017, Bakhtiari continued to shine while keeping a relatively unaware backup on his feet. Some tackles are aesthetically pleasing on film, like Joe Thomas or Anthony Munoz. Bakhtiari’s play is about as smooth as his surname, but he always makes it work even if he doesn’t win style points. His excellent quickness off the ball allows him to neutralize most any edge rusher, and he has proven to handle spin moves with élan. I gave him my Guardian Award for best tackle in both 2017 and 2018.

590. Eric Berry (2010-present)
Safety
Kansas City Chiefs

Berry is a universally praised defender who received acclaim from both the old guard and the new. Despite that, his most impressive feat is inarguably recovering from cancer and not just coming back to play, but doing so at a high level. Berry could play all over the field, with elite speed that let him play deep in single high looks, tackling ability that let him play in the box, and man cover skills that helped him thrive as a slot defender. He has made the Pro Bowl in all five of his healthy seasons, and he has earned an all pro nod in three of them. So great is the respect contemporary observers have for him that he made the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 2010s despite playing just 89 games in that period.

589. Cameron Jordan (2011-present)
Defensive End
New Orleans Saints

Another member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan has been a versatile and productive lineman since jump street. He has the speed to play on the edge and the bulk to play inside, both with disruptive results. The star end has consistently ranked among the league’s best pass rushers without sacrificing a bit against the run. By consistent, I mean he is chalk for over 70 pressures per year, and he has converted 87 of those into sacks. Jordan has a powerful punch that sends blockers reeling. A smart player, he understands blocking schemes and has the moves to counter them. A truly complete end.

588. Robert Mathis (2003-2016)
Edge Rusher
Indianapolis Colts

Mathis was an undersized pass rush specialist with uncanny balance who could turn the corner on the best tackles in the game. He was quick off the ball and a master of the strip sack. With 54 forced fumbles in his career, he may be the career leader in the stat (official numbers don’t cover most of history, because football recordkeeping is stupid). Mathis led the league in the category thrice, including during his age 32 season in which he recorded an astounding 10 forced fumbles, 19.5 sacks (nearly as many as the rest of his teammates combined), and a safety. ^[7]He would sit out the next season after testing positive for PEDs, but I haven’t seen evidence he actually used them during the year in question. An excellent designated rusher, he thrived on a team that played with the lead often. Given he was only a regular starter in two of his first seven seasons, he is fortunate to have played where he did, because he may not have seen the field that much playing for a team with a bad offense. Mathis played almost exclusively as a left end in a 4-3 and received criticism that he couldn’t beat left tackles. When Chuck Pagano came and converted to 3-4, Mathis rushed from both sides and saw a career high in sacks, putting that theory to bed. He wasn’t a great run defender, but so what, really?

587. Clyde Simmons (1986-2000)
Defensive End
Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals

Simmons played at a high level for a long time, and continued to produce at an old age, despite seeing his jersey change every few years. He was tall and long, and he was athletic enough to score on two interception returns and two fumble returns during his career. While he played elite run defense, setting the edge especially well and locking out with his lengthy appendages, his pass rush gets him ranked this high. He generally played the edge, but he could move inside and give his teams the option to field four pass rushers. When he couldn’t play the full game anymore near the end of his career, he was a terrific situation rusher who provided efficient pressure. Simmons retired with 121.5 sacks, with a high of 19.0 in 1992. He also contributed on special teams, blocking 11 kicks in his career.

586. Rich Gannon (1987-2004)
Quarterback
Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington

Gannon had a weird career arc. He rode the bench for his first three seasons before putting together a string of unimpressive seasons, injuring his shoulder, returning to the bench, getting another shot in a more friendly environment, and ultimately becoming a perennial all star beginning at age 34. He was a very good athlete who could run with the best of them, and he excelled at playing on time and mitigating mistakes. Naturally, he thrived in Gruden’s version of the West Coast Offense that required great accuracy and timing and didn’t ask passers to have an arm like Favre’s to succeed. Gannon led the league in passing yards on his way to a consensus MVP in 2002. Prior to that, he earned a Bert Bell player of the year award for his performance in 2000. Among all quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays (regular and postseason combined), he currently ranks 44th in Total Adjusted Yards over Average (VAL) at 3045 and 37th in TAYP+ (106.8).

585. Phil Simms (1979-1993)
Quarterback
New York Giants

Before he made our ears bleed spouting nonsense on television, Simms was a great quarterback hampered by one of the worst receiving groups any notable passer has ever had the misfortune of leading. Outside of Mark Bavaro, who was a genuinely incredible tight end, his top option was a guy who gained 3941 yards in seven NFL seasons. In an offense that was predicated on slamming the ball into a stacked box and hoping for the best on third down, Simms was tasked with essentially having to manufacture pass offense himself. It’s a testament to his talent that, outside of his injury-riddled early career, he was consistently above average in every passing category except sacks (which you may expect from a guy trying to do everything himself). Simms took home the NEA MVP award for the 1986 regular season and then capped off the year with a Super Bowl MVP in arguably the best performance any passer has ever had in the big game: 22 of 25 for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns while taking just one sack and throwing no picks. ^[8]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Simms ranks 88th in VAL (990) and 96th in TAYP+ (102.2).

584. Lawyer Milloy (1996-2010)
Safety
New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks

The 1998 winner of my Tunnell Vision Award for best safety, Milloy was a prototype strong, box safety. He could cover all the underneath stuff well and would lay the lumber on those shallow crossers. Although he wasn’t known as a playmaker in terms of creating turnovers, his interception of Kordell Stewart iced the AFC Championship game for the Patriots and gave Bledsoe his moment of redemption. Milloy’s real forte was blowing up the run and harassing passers on the safety blitz. He had over 1400 tackles in his career (an absurd number), including 21 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss, putting him on the level of Larry Wilson in terms of plays at the line of scrimmage.

583. Bill Stanfill (1969-1976)
Defensive End
Miami Dolphins

Stanfill was equally adept at defending the pass and the run. His massive lower body made him a handful to try to move off his spot in the run game. He would anchor and use his long arms to toss blockers aside and wrap up the runner. Against the pass, he would use the power rush most of the time, and it served him well, particularly in 1973 when he dragged down passers 18.5 times. Additionally, he stopped runners for a loss another ten times. Those 28.5 plays in the backfield earned him my Deacon Award for best defensive end. With five pro Bowls, three all pros, and a pair of rings, Stanfill looked destined for the Hall of Fame before neck injuries took their toll on his career.

582. George Saimes (1963-1972)
Safety
Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos

With the AFL’s emphasis on the long ball, safeties in the league had to be able to cover the deep field well, lest they get torched by the high flying offenses. Saimes was adept at taking away deep routes, but he was even better playing the run or blitzing. He was a sound tackler in the open field, and he was a closer when Joel Collier needed pressure form the second level. In a 1964 game against the Broncos, Saimes got home four times on the safety blitz, which is more than most will ever reach in a season. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and all pro nods, took home two championship rings, and earned the simultaneously prestigious and anonymous Tunnell Vision Award in 1965.

581. Tim McDonald (1987-1999)
Safety
San Francisco 49ers, Phoenix/St. Louis Cardinals

Another winner of the Tunnell Vision Award (1989), McDonald was an elite force safety who rates among the best ever against the run. He was a nightmare for teams trying to establish the run, finishing his career with 49 tackles for loss. On top of that, he notched nine sacks on the safety blitz. While he was known for his prowess as an extra linebacker type, he could cover short to intermediate stuff well. His play was good enough to earn him recognition on a lackluster Cardinals team, and he continued his high level of performance when he signed with the perennial powerhouse 49ers. Playing behind a quality pass rush and alongside talented defensive backs, McDonald was able to remain productive even as age took some of his physicality from him. He retired with six Pro Bowls and all pro nods, as well as a Super Bowl ring.

580. Dennis Harrah (1975-1987)
Offensive Guard
Los Angeles Rams

Harrah was a powerful guard who didn’t get pushed around by anyone. Early in his career, he had good quickness, but age and the regular beating of line play took a bit of his athleticism at a relatively young age. To counter that, he worked hard to hone his technique and improve his pass set, which allowed him to have continued success despite losing some spring in his step. Harrah was part of a stellar line that help guide Eric Dickerson to the single-season rushing record in 1984. I named him the Hog Award winner for best guard for his work the year prior to that.

579. Ken Gray (1958-1970)
Offensive Guard
Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers

Despite making it to six Pro Bowls and making an all pro team in seven different seasons, Gray never stood out on tape the way someone like Hannah or Allen did. He was a steady performer who rarely overpowered opponents, instead using his quickness and sound technique to win his battles. A high school running back with the athletic ability you’d expect from that position, Gray moved more smoothly and naturally than did his peers. Those movement skills made him a superb puller and effective lead blocker at the second level.

578. Luis Sharpe (1982-1994)
Offensive Tackle
St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, Memphis Showboats

Like Bakhtiari, Sharpe sported excellent pass pro and decent run blocking that improved over the course of his career. From 1983-189, he played at an elite level each year save 1985. And that only came because he spent his offseason playing in the USFL and had no time to recover before embarking on another NFL season. His peak play was on par with anyone in Canton, and in some cases better, but he never seemed to get much recognition for it. I suspect some of this can be attributed to the fact that his best skill was pass protection, and  during his best years he was charged with the stewardship of a quarterback who held on to the ball far too long and too far too many sacks. In the mid eighties, “sacks are a quarterback stat” wasn’t the consensus view it is today.

577. Michael McCrary (1993-2002)
Defensive End
Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks

McCrary was a relentless pass rusher who never slowed down on the way to the quarterback. If he didn’t get there quickly, he’d scratch and claw to get to the passer by any means necessary. The guy never seemed to get tired. Unfortunately, he did get hurt, and bad knees killed his career. However, at his best, he was the best. His 1998 campaign was incredible. It was overlooked at the time, and it is all but forgotten now. He made a Pro Bowl and an all pro team that year, but those honors didn’t do his performance justice. With 14.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss, his 27.5 plays in the backfield were easily tops in the league, and when he wasn’t making the play himself, the frenetic playmaker chased ball carrier to his defensive mates. For his work, I gave him the Deacon Award, as well as the Godzilla Award for DPOY.

576. Chester McGlockton (1992-2003)
Defensive Line
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, New York Jets

McGlockton was a big, run stopping beefcake with 86.5 career tackles for loss against the run. What separated him from other hefty run stuffers was his ability to generate a pretty fierce pass rush. With 51 sacks and hundreds of other pressures, the guy just made plays behind the line of scrimmage, regardless of the offensive play call. His sack totals don’t sound like much, but among players over 330 pounds, only Dan Wilkinson has more sacks, and Big Daddy doesn’t have nearly as many run stuffs as McGlockton. He was obviously big, but he had a good explosion off the ball, and he was much faster than you’d think by the look of him. It’s like when your dumbest friend argues that he can outrun a grizzly bear and then uses a simple Google search to realize that Yogi and friends could reach 35 on flat ground.

575. Art Still (1978-1989)
Defensive End
Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills

Standing 6’7″ sounds like an advantage, and in some ways it is. It usually comes with long arms that are good for keeping opponents at bay. However, it also means a player is on the wrong end of the leverage battle unless he works hard to maintain his technique. Playing end in a 3-4, Still had to focus hard to win those battles, and he sometimes had lapses. On the whole, however, he played the run and pass well. He also had a good motor and would chase down plays to the opposite side of the field. Still earned the Deacon Award in 1980, and Dr. Z also gave him his top DE spot (so I’m not crazy, or we both are). He was a rollercoaster ride of a player, and you never knew what you were going to get from one year to the next. This was especially true when he implemented a vegetarian diet prior to the 1983 season and struggled to keep on weight (this was before such a diet was as accessible as it is today). Still had his share of valleys, but his peaks land him this high on the list.

574. La’Roi Glover (1996-2008)
Defensive Tackle
New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, Barcelona Dragons

Glover was a big man with cat-like quickness. He flew off the ball, and he could pop blockers with a vicious jab. His footwork was sublime, and a modern fan might see a little Aaron Donald in his tape. Good pad level and balance allowed Glover to play the run well despite his relatively small size (285 pounds) for an interior lineman. However, his real strength was the pass rush, and he dragged down quarterbacks 83.5 times in his career, including a career high 17 in 2000. I named him the winner of the Mean Award for best DT in both 2000 and 2001.

573. John Offerdahl (1986-1993)
Linebacker
Miami Dolphins

As has been the case with many players on this list, injuries took away a good chunk of Offerdahl’s career. He was a fantastic open field tackler who used sound technique to get his man but could lay big hits when he wanted to lay down the law. His pursuit angles were near perfect, which enabled him to succeed despite lacking elite speed. He disengaged with blockers well and rarely got blocked out of a play. Often, he would meet a lead blocker in the hole and just blow up the play entirely. He wasn’t bad in pass coverage, but he wasn’t exactly Joe Schmidt either (that is to say it wasn’t a strength, but it wasn’t a liability).

572. Simon Fletcher (1985-1995)
Edge Rusher
Denver Broncos

Fletcher was a stellar pass rusher who was good at forcing turnovers. An every down player rather than a pure pass rush specialist, he racked up a good number of tackles for a rushbacker – about 60 per year. After becoming a starter in 1987, he never missed a start through his retirement 140 games later. He was always there and always ready to make plays in the backfield. With 97.5 career sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss against the run, Fletcher retired with 137 such plays. At one point, he had the official record for consecutive games with a sack (10). He also forced 21 fumbles, had a pair of picks, and blocked a kick and a punt.

571. Al Nesser (1910-1931)
Offensive Line (pre-modern)
Columbus Panhandles, Akron Pros, New York Giants, Canton Professionals, Cleveland Bulldogs, Akron Indians, Cleveland Panthers, Cleveland Indians

The best of the legendary Nesser Brothers, Big Al was a punishing blocker who helped the great Fritz Pollard reach success as a runner. Obviously I haven’t spent time grinding the film on him, given I can’t find any (and believe me, I have looked), but contemporary accounts generally hail him as one of the best, if not the very best, defensive players of both the 1910s and 1920s. He wasn’t huge, but he was pretty big for the time he played, and he was described by witnesses as fast with incredible football intelligence. In 1927, he was the most respected defender on a Giants squad that won the league title with a defense that allowed 20 points in 13 games, including ten scoreless contests. The team’s only loss that season came when they allowed only six points but failed to score any of their own. Going by the standards of his era, ^[9]In my opinion, those standards are much lower than are the standards of this era. he should probably be in the Hall of Fame already.

570. Dick Huffman (1947-1957)
Offensive Tackle, Defensive Tackle
Los Angeles Rams, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Calgary Stampeders

Huffman only played four years in the NFL, but he was utterly dominant in all four of them. In those four seasons, he earned four all pro nods as a nigh unblockable monster on the defensive line. He played with great power and would manhandle offensive linemen. It’s weird to read today, but he went to the CFL for more money and ended up making six all star teams in his seven seasons, ultimately earning induction into the league’s Hall of Fame. Up north, savvy offensive playcallers would avoid running his way entirely. Huffman didn’t have that much time in the NFL, but both the accolades and the tape show a dominant force who was as good as anyone ever to play the position. He was also a very good tackle on offense, using his trademark power to bully defenders.

569. Tom Newberry (1986-1995)
Offensive Guard, Offensive Center
Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers

Newberry began his career on a Canton-bound trajectory, but he faded like so many do. He wasn’t a big bruiser like is prototypical at the position – in the Parker/Hannah/Allen mold. Instead, he was a short guy built like a pit bull, and he could uncoil a ton of power into his initial pop. His low center of gravity seemed to aid in his ability to maintain good balance when pulling, and he ended up being one of the better pulling guards I’ve seen. He was fast and could get downfield in a hurry, which was a boon to Eric Dickerson. Newberry was an aggressive blocker who could miss when he laid out for blocks, but his good far outweighed the bad.

568. Les Richter (1945-1962)
Linebacker, Offensive Center
Los Angeles Rams

A fair kicker and a pretty good center, Richter’s forte (and primary reason for Hall of Fame induction) was linebacker. He had decent playmaking numbers (16 picks, 12 fumble recoveries), and he was good at the mundane task of breaking down and tackling even shifty scat backs. His elite speed helped him stick to his man in coverage, and it also helped him find his way around the ball, even when he didn’t make the tackle (similar to Huff and Thomas). Richter had trouble shedding blockers. He could run around them, but if he was unable to, he didn’t have the ability to get back into the play. Still, his skill in coverage was particularly valuable.

567. Mike Wagner (1971-1980)
Safety
Pittsburgh Steelers

One of many amazing defenders on the Steel Curtain dynasty, Wagner was a rangy safety who could cover half the deep field well. His ability in coverage was perfectly suited to Bud Carson’s cover 2 that was basically identical to the “innovative” Tampa 2 that was all the rage because of Tampa Bay’s success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He could play near the line and do all the things you’d expect from a traditional strong safety, but his range in deep coverage was what made him really special. Wagner led the league with eight interceptions in 1973, and he has a pair of Pro Bowls and all pros to his name.

566. Devin McCourty (2010-present)
Defensive Back
New England Patriots

McCourty started his career at cornerback and played at Pro Bowl level, but he became an upper echelon safety after a position change. He’s incredibly smart and seemingly never misses assignments. A sure tackler who is great in coverage, he has shown time and again he can thrive in any situation. He has been a model of consistency at a position where variance is king, which is one of many reasons his notoriously unsentimental coach has kept him around. McCourty can play man coverage in the slot, he can play a single high look, or he can play in the box and support the run. Belichick asks much of his defenders, both mentally and physically, and McCourty has exceeded expectations from the get go.

565. A.J. Green (2011-present)
Wide Receiver
Cincinnati Bengals

Playing in eight of a possible nine seasons in his career, Green has averaged 1297 yards and 9 touchdowns per 16 games. Only he and Jerry Rice have reached 900+ yards in each of their first seven seasons. Efficient at earning targets and turning them into yards, only Antonio Brown and Julio Jones have higher yards per route run over the course of Green’s career. He is tall and long with an astounding catch radius that has served him well in a job where he is habitually asked to haul in inaccurate pass after inaccurate pass. While he has never had elite speed, he can win at the line and deceives defenders with change of pace. Green is also among the best ever at high pointing the ball and coming down with it over a defensive back. Often the focus of defenses, he has had to double as the team’s best deep threat and best possession receiver. ^[10]Green’s top TRY seasons: 1560, 1544, 1524, 1205, 1183, 1136, 966

564. Harold Carmichael (1971-1984)
Wide Receiver
Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys

With a 6’8″ frame, Carmichael almost looked too big to play receiver, as though he couldn’t possibly maintain control of a body that large well enough to do anything great at a position so reliant on body control. But he managed it, and he ended up being perhaps the best possession receiver of his day. He was also a peerless red zone threat, towering over corners and giving passers plenty of room to work with in the normally condensed area of play. Defenses couldn’t stop him from getting his hands on the ball, evidenced by the fact that he once held record for consecutive games with a catch at 127. ^[11]Steve Largent broke it in 1986 and took it all the way to 177. A little-known receiver named Jerry took that record to 274 and was definitely cool with it when the streak ended. He also caught a pass … Continue reading Carmichael only had three seasons over 1000 yards, but putting his production into the context of TRY, he topped 1000 seven times. ^[12]Carmichael’s top TRY seasons: 1455, 1422, 1366, 1220, 1197, 1073, 1010

563. Otis Taylor (1965-1975)
Wide Receiver
Kansas City Chiefs

Standing 6’3″ and 215 pounds with elite speed and a terror after the catch, Taylor resembled Terrell Owens running over AFL defenses. With the ball in his hands, he could tote the rock as well as any running back, running around or through defenders; his run after the catch to ice Super Bowl IV is the stuff of legend. The nature of Hank Stram’s offense, as well as playing in the sixties and seventies, make his numbers look like a backup wideout from today, but using TRY to put his numbers in better perspective is evidence he would have had bigger volume numbers in a more wide open offense. ^[13]Taylor’s top TRY seasons: 1914, 1611, 1417, 1292, 1124, 930 Also, as you’d hope from a guy his size, he could block downfield for the run, which teams cared about more back then.

562. Doug France (1975-1983)
Offensive Tackle
Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers

A former college tight end, France was an extraordinary athlete for an offensive lineman. He put on mass and power at the pro level and didn’t seem to lose his mobility. As you might expect, that made him especially useful handling quick pass rushers, trapping ends, and getting downfield to block linebackers and defensive backs. France became an imposing force when he wanted to, but he sometimes seemed to mail it in – similar to Randy Moss at left tackle.

561. Erik Williams (1991-2001)
Offensive Tackle
Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens

Williams wasn’t necessarily the most athletic or technically sound, but he was definitely the meanest, nastiest tackle in the game. I have seen linemen shut down Reggie White before, but Williams did it routinely and is the only one who made the legendary end seem to lose his will to continue the game. He was huge and powerful, and he drove defenders into the ground on run plays – at his peak he is one of the best run blocking tackles in history. Williams would earn his fair share of penalties, but that was a price the offense was willing to pay for having such a fantastic blocker on the right side. A car accident cost him a good chunk of his effectiveness, though he remained a very good player. Had he stayed healthy, he’d probably be the proud owner of a fine gold jacket right now. It’s not much consolation, but he earned Guardian Award for best tackle in 1993.

560. Aaron Smith (1999-2011)
Defensive End
Pittsburgh Steelers

Because he played a defensive end role that didn’t emphasize rushing the passer, Smith made just one Pro Bowl in his career. However, for the assignment he had, he was about as good as anyone could ever have asked. Dr. Z loved his play, and Hall of Fame voter Peter King considers him worthy of the honor, but there is no statistical backing for that, as is often the case with one gap, run stopping 3-4 ends who take a beating every down so their linebackers can look good and take home a slew of postseason honors. Many believed he was the anchor for the defense and the best player outside of Troy Polamalu. Smith is the guy people think of when they think of the prototype 3-4 end, just holding it all together so everyone else can make plays. He was excellent against the run and pass, and his 8 sacks in 2001 and 2004 are amazing given his role.

559. Cameron Wake (2007-present)
Edge Rusher
Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, BC Lions

Somehow, Wake failed to make an NFL roster coming out of college. He spent two seasons in the CFL, in which he earned consecutive DPOY awards. After that, the NFL took notice, and he got his shot. With 100.5 sacks and counting and tons of pressures (635), he has been a virtuoso pass rusher who pesters quarterbacks on a regular basis. He has never been a playmaker against the run, often seeming to get quick pressure and then failing to adjust to the run. However, it’s not 1942, and I will always go with the guy who can give quarterbacks nightmares.

558. John Abraham (2000-2014)
Defensive End
Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals

Abraham wasn’t great against the run, but he was a great pass rusher who gained 135.5 sacks and had double digit numbers in eight different seasons. He was adept at forcing fumbles, notching 47 for his career. That’s good for third place since 1993, when we have official forced fumble data. ^[14]Though players like Lawrence Taylor, with 53, unofficially have more. Abraham was a fluid athlete who fired of the ball quickly and worked his way to the passer. Outside of his high sack total, he got pressure at a high rate – around 16% of the time using available data and numbers extrapolated from film.

557. Jake Scott (1969-1978)
Safety
Miami Dolphins, Washington, BC Lions

Scott looked like a guy who sold hardware, and he only ran a little faster than one, but was as instinctive as they come. Despite his relatively heavy feet, he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Mainly because of his smarts, he had good range. He benefited from playing around stars at every level, but they also benefited from playing in front of him. Scott was a playmaker who had 49 picks in 129 games, plus another five interceptions in the playoffs. The highlight of his career came when he won Super Bowl MVP honors for his two interception performance in Miami’s 14-7 victory over Washington. He also earned the Tunnell Vision Award in 1972 and 1974. The five time all pro was also a reliable punt returner in a pinch.

556. Dick Anderson (1968-1977)
Safety
Miami Dolphins

Whereas his fellow safety looked like he sold hammers, Anderson resembled the antagonist high school principal in a coming of age movie. He also wasn’t a freak athlete but had good football intelligence and always seemed to know where to be in both the pass and run game. Having two savvy safeties who didn’t miss assignments, always nailed their run fits, and avoided mistakes while making big plays helped the Dolphins field one of the league’s top defenses for a solid half decade. A knee injury slowed him down and led to his early retirement, but in his prime he was a truly great player. Anderson had three different seasons with 8 interceptions, evidence of his knack for the big play. He earned three Pro Bowls and all pros and was named the DPOY in 1973 (and a Tunnell Vision Award for good measure).

555. Eric Weddle (2007-2019)
Safety
San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams

Weddle is probably the most versatile, well-rounded safety of his era. He didn’t have the range of an Earl Thomas or the thumping ability of a Kam Chancellor, but he combined everything you could want from a safety in the modern game. Nominally a free safety, he had the requisite deep range, but he could also play in the box or the slot effectively. He was consistent, never even producing a season I’d describe as mediocre, and he always graded high in coverage and was typically good against the run. An efficient blitzer, Weddle got pressure on about 19% of his pass rush attempts. He was equally solid in man or zone, and he had no issue taking on blockers against the run. I named him the Tunnell Vision Award winner in 2012.

554. Jim Hart (1966-1984)
Quarterback
St. Louis Cardinals, Washington

Brad Oremland may have put it best when he said: “Jim Hart was never the best quarterback in the NFL, but he was one of the best for a long time.” That’s the perfect description, I think. Hart played forever, and usually at a high level. He reached new heights under Don Coryell, but he also played very good football in his abbreviated 1972 campaign prior to the Air Coryell era. Hart played behind one of the great offensive lines ever, but he also boasted a quick release that made things easier on his blockers. When he retired, he ranked fourth in completions, third in yards, and tenth in touchdowns, ^[15]He didn’t play in New York or knock off The GOAT in two title games, so he will never come close to Canton. despite rarely hanging on to a quality receiver for a very long time. ^[16]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Hart ranks 41st in VAL (3464) and 81st in TAYP+ (103.4).

553. Crazy Legs Hirsch (1946-1957)
Wide Receiver, Running Back
Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Rockets

The man who was fortunate to have escaped the nickname “the Demented Duck” began his career as a halfback but was first injured and later benched by a coaching staff convinced he didn’t hit the hole hard enough. Luckily, he was able to find new life as a receiver. Hirsch had about six really good seasons, but his 1951 was easily his best. In fact, it is in the running for the title of greatest receiving season in history. He boasted a rare quadruple crown, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and yards per catch. ^[17]Other winners include: Ray Flaherty in 1932, Don Hutson in 1936, and no one else. By TRY, the massive 2477 figure ranks behind only Jim Benton’s 2555 in 1945. Crazy Legs’s yardage mark of 1495, set in 12 games, stood as the single season record until a good receiver got to play 14 games on a pass happy team against early AFL defenses. He is often credited with being the first flanker, and his status as an innovator usually sees him ranked much higher than I have him, but that status is just a myth that isn’t supported by facts. He was, however, a pretty good holder on placekicks, so credit where it’s due. ^[18]Hirsch’s top TRY seasons: 2477, 1442, 1106, 1068, 1000, 987

552. Harlon Hill (1954-1962)
Wide Receiver
Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions

Hill wasn’t necessarily an innovator for anything different that he did, but his pure speed and ability to beat defenses deep did cause a shift in the way defenses played him. The extra safety attention he commanded on a consistent basis means he was likely responsible for many of the “revolutionary” changes attributed to an Olympic sprinter who caught some balls for the Cowboys (more on him later). Hill’s peak was brief and ended too soon on account of a severed Achilles tendon, but when he was at his peak, he was a dynamo. He is one of the few receivers ever to win a major MVP award. ^[19]Others include: Don Hutson, Jerry Rice, and Lance Alworth. Also Pete Retzlaff, depending on your view of the Maxwell Football Club and the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club. Like Hirsch, he is on this list for his insane peak, though he didn’t have the extra seasons of above average play that Crazy Legs had. ^[20]Hill’s top TRY seasons: 2245, 1667, 1406, 919

551. Jordan Gross (2003-2013)
Offensive Tackle
Carolina Panthers

Gross was a remarkable player who had everything you want in a blindside tackle. Most importantly, he was chalk in pass protection. He didn’t just put out a few impressive reps and get lucky with quick passes from his quarterbacks. No, he was consistent on an every down basis. Heck, he was consistent on an every year basis, never putting a bad season on tape. Gross wasn’t lightning quick off the ball, so to counter that he resorted to false starting rather a lot, but he rarely lost a battle on clean plays. In the ground game, he won his blocks with technique, rarely manhandling opponents. He did help backs like Davis, Williams, and Stewart achieve great seasons, but he didn’t always look pretty doing it. For his steady excellence in both phases of the game, he earned the 2007 Guardian Award for best offensive tackle.

550. Shaun Alexander (2000-2008)
Running Back
Seattle Seahawks, Washington

Alexander makes the list based on five and a half seasons of prime (which is more than most players ever get). In that half decade, he put up numbers on par with just about anyone ever to play the position and picked up a consensus MVP award ^[21]Brad Oremland went with Tiki Barber that year. I went with Peyton Manning, with a tip of the cap to Carson Palmer.. From 2001-05, he averaged 1770 yards and 20 touchdowns per year, leading league in rushing yards once and total touchdowns twice, including both in his award-winning campaign. His last effective year was 2006, when he was on pace for 11 touchdowns and 1510 yards before fracturing his foot and never returning to form. Alexander was a big back with great speed for his size, and he was a fluid runner with effective open field moves. His excellent vision and first step allowed him to hit the hole explosively every time. The numbers say he should be higher, but I have him hanging out down here based on film study and my view that Big Walt and Hutch made the ground game go, and he was one dimensional compared to contemporaries like Barber, Holmes, Faulk, and James.