r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2022 Season - #10-6

Welcome to the 10-6 Rankings for the r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2022 Season!

Link to Previous Post (20-11)

Players whose average rank landed them in places 10-6 are on this portion of the list revealed today. Players are associated with the team they finished playing for at the end of the 2022 season

Below you will see some write-ups from the rankers summarizing the players’ 2022 season and why they were among the best in 2022. Additionally, their ranks from previous years are available for y’all to see

METHODOLOGY

Link to more detailed writeup on our methodology

• Step 1: A Call to Rankers right after the Conference Championship games

• Step 2: Rankers from each team nominated players to rank, with a 11 game minimum threshold. Players are associated with the team they played for in 2022

• Step 3: The Grind. We instructed users to tier positions groups into T25, T50, etc based on 2022 regular season play only. This took several weeks as the rankers tiered each position group and discussed them. There were no individual player threads and no arbitrary position caps. Just questions and rankings.

• Step 4: Users submitted their own personal Top 125 lists.

• Step 5: User lists were reviewed by myself, u/mattkud , and u/MikeTysonChicken . The rankers were expected to answer questions about their lists. They were allowed to make any changes to their list, and were not forced to make any changes

• Step 6: The Reveal… where we are now!

And without further ado, here are the players ranked 10-6 in the r/NFL Top 100 Players of the 2022 Season!

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#10 - Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals - Quarterback

Previous Ranks

2021	2020
21	N/A​

Key Stat:

Burrow had the 2nd lowest time to throw, but still had the 2nd best passer rating on deep passes

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Written by: u/KingDing-a-Ling13

Introduction

The Cincinnati Bengals decided to end the Andy Dalton era after the 2019 season, without a single playoff win in his nine year tenure. It was worse than that, though. The playoff win drought for the Bengals stretched back all the way to 1990, the longest such drought in the league. With the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, they had the chance to alter the course of their franchise. The Bengals needed a winner to lead them, and they turned to the leader of national championship-winning LSU, Joe Burrow. Things didn’t get off to a perfect start between Cincinnati and Burrow, as Burrow was surrounded by a porous offensive line and had his season cut short after injuring just about every part of his knee. There were questions before his sophomore year about how well Burrow would play following such an intense injury, and Burrow answered by leading the Bengals to not only their first playoff win in 30 years, but also a Super Bowl appearance. He won Comeback Player of the Year, and firmly planted himself among the top QBs in the league, both now and in the future. With sky-high expectations, Joe Burrow entered the 2022 season, and exited with his best individual year to date. So good he needs two nicknames, Joe Brrr/Shiesty is an elite QB, and he is here to stay.

2022

Joe Burrow’s campaign started off on the wrong foot, as he threw four interceptions in a week 1 loss to the Steelers. With sports media and discussion as reactionary as ever, hot takes came flying in early, suggesting that the Bengals Super Bowl run was a fluke and Burrow didn’t actually belong in the top echelon of quarterbacks. After that initial hiccup, whatever doubts people had were crushed, as Burrow proceeded to throw only 8 more interceptions the rest of the season, finishing with a 35-12 TD-INT ratio, an even better ratio than he had in 2021. He did that despite still throwing behind a subpar offensive line and Ja’Marr Chase missing a third of the season, and he guided the Bengals to their second division title in as many years. Burrow has all the traits you want to see in a pocket passer. Watch this mashup of throws against my own Patriots. Burrow can make throw after throw into small windows where only his receiver has a chance to make a play, and perhaps more importantly, he has the confidence in himself to take those risks. Of course, it helps that he has had a lightning connection with one of the NFL’s top wide receivers all the way back to his LSU days. This next section is called “Joe Burrow throws the ball to Ja’Marr Chase”. This touchdown against the Browns demonstrates Burrow’s elite accuracy as well as the timing he has with Chase to know exactly when the window is going to be open. On this touchdown against the Buccaneers, Chase only has about a yard of separation from the CB with the safety roaming over to help over the top, and Burrow drops the ball perfectly into Chase’s arms where neither defender can make a play. The back shoulder throw is a product of the rapport between QB and WR, and Burrow to Ja’Marr’s back shoulder is automatic. On both sides of the field. Moving away from Chase, Burrow shows why he deserves the moniker “Joe Brrr” on this throw to Tee Higgins, standing cool in the pocket and delivering a strike to help win the regular season game against the Chiefs. After his rookie season injury, there was plenty of concern about Burrow’s ability to move around the pocket and his willingness to stand in it and deliver behind below average blocking. Well, like every other aspect of his game, his pocket presence is also elite, as shown on that Higgins throw, or on this touchdown run by him after he stepped up in the pocket to avoid the pressure, or on this play-extending wizardry. Yes, Burrow has maybe the top receiving corps in the league surrounding him, but make no mistake, the explosive Bengals passing offense does not exist without him.

Legacy

As alluded to in the introduction, Joe Burrow has already cemented himself as a Cincinnati sports legend in just three years. The last time the Bengals won back to back division titles was 1981/1982, which includes a strike-shortened season. The Bengals have had a pretty decent quarterback history, with Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, Carson Palmer, and Andy Dalton all experiencing extended periods of success with the team. Not a single QB in Bengals history has helmed the team to back to back division titles in full seasons until Mr. Shiesty came along. He’s a clear top 5, maybe top 3, quarterback in the league. He’s a potential MVP for the next decade. No player has ever looked cooler smoking a cigar. Joe Burrow is here to make his mark on NFL history.

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#9 - Tyreek Hill - Miami Dolphins - Wide Receiver

Previous Ranks

2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
33	28	N/A	24	83	N/A​

Key Stat:

Most yards by a receiver on his first year with a team in NFL history

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Written by: u/Matt_Forte_

Introduction

After 6 Pro Bowl Caliber Seasons in Kansas City (one as a return man) Tyreek Hill found himself at a pivotal point in his career, for the first time ever he would not be coached by Andy Reid, and he would not have the generational arm of Patrick Mahomes, or the consistent play of Alex Smith with him on the field. He would be trading out a legendary coach for a millennial who vapes on the sidelines and a then unproven Tua Tagovailoa, going from the comparatively soft AFC West to a division containing the likes of a Belichek defense and Tre White to contend with 4 times a year. Pairing up with sophomore superstar Jalen Waddle, Tyreek would have a lot to prove in 2022.

The 2022 Season

Remember when I said that Tyreek would have to contend with a Belicheck defense? He quickly showed that would be no issue, catching 8 passes for 94 yards en route to a week 1 victory, before following that up with a MONSTER performance of 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-38 barnstormer where the Dolphins were down as much as 3 scores before Tyreek took it to the house twice in less than 3 minutes of gametime.

Tyreek’s season would continue in solid fashion when disaster struck week 4 when Tua suffered what many believed to be his second concussion in as many games. Teddy Bridgewater would fill in admirably for Tua, but Tyreek and the Dolphins would lose both games he was absent for with a complete stifling of the offense in Week 5 at the hands of the Jets, and Sauce Gardner and a losing effort in week 6 to the Vikings where Tyreek would catch 12 passes for 177 yards. Tua would return in week 7, and for the next several weeks, all was well. Tyreek would drop back to back 188 and 143 yard performances on the Lions and Bears respectively before settling into a consistent 60-80 yards for many games down the stretch save for a 103 yard performance against Green Bay, giving him 100 or more yards against every NFC North team.

However, another concussion for Tua would render him out for the year, and without his top 2 QBs, Skylar Thompson was not able to give Tyreek the passes he needed to lead the Dolphins to the promised land.

Ultimately, Tyreek Hill did not miss a beat in 2022. He maintained his elite speed threat to all levels of the field and posted his highest Yards per Game of his career at 100.6, ending his season with 1710 yards through the air. His body control, hands, and ability to catch contested balls is still all ELITE, not to mention his speed and ability with the ball in his hands.

Legacy

Upon being traded in a contract year, Tyreek signed a 4 year, 120 million dollar contract keeping him in Miami until after the 2026 season (or until after the 2024 season if Miami wants to cut him and avoid the crazy high cap hit in the last year of the deal) where he will most likely continue to dominate, with McDaniel and a hopefully healthy Tua, he is positioned to continue to be one of if not the consensus best pass catchers in the entire league.

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#8 - Lane Johnson - Philadelphia Eagles - Offensive Tackle

Previous Ranks

2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
34	N/A	55	80	22	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat:

Hasn't allowed a sack in the 4th quarter since 2018

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Written by: u/wrhslax1996

Introduction

Lane Johnson comes in as the top-ranked offensive lineman in this year’s r/NFL Top 100 players of the 2022 season and, while some in the comments may disagree for a litany of reasons, he absolutely earned it. Lane has been among the NFL’s best offensive linemen for the better part of a decade. His pass protection is amazingly consistent, his run blocking has paved the lane (lol) for many a running back, and he’s a hugely vocal advocate for mental health and being open about things like anxiety and depression. This is a guy who has dealt with a multitude of trials and tribulations who has, without fail, fought through it all to be a better football player (and person) on the other side. Early in his career, he appeared to be on the path of self-sabotage, getting suspended for PEDs twice. Since that second suspension in 2016, Lane has remained as clean as a whistle while also being a 300+ pound human being with a six pack. In 2020, Lane Johnson’s season ended early after fighting through a chronic ankle injury all season. It got so bad that Johnson described his ankle as having “imploded”, if I recall correctly. He underwent a bunch of surgeries after that season and, after rehabbing his ass off, came back better and stronger than ever to start out 2021. Finally, in 2021, he missed 3 games of the season due to some serious struggles with anxiety and depression. Upon returning after his hiatus, he played at an all-pro level, missing out on the honors due to missed time. However, he built on that elite level of play in 2022 and earned his second-ever First-Team All Pro nod. I’m going to do my best to do his season justice in the next section, but I just wanted to say how happy I am to have the opportunity to write a well-earned top 10 write-up for Lane.

2022 Season

Lane was, as I said earlier, the best offensive lineman in football last year. I’m sure there will be two main causes for disagreement in the comments. Firstly, people will say Trent Williams is better. Trent’s a great player and is the best left tackle in football. I think Lane was slightly better last season and, as long as they ended up being ranked close to one another in/around the top 10, I was going to be happy. The second reason people might be upset in the comments is because Lane is a right tackle and, for whatever reason, a subset of football fans still believe that RT is inherently less valuable than LT simply because Sandra Bullock told them so. This article helps give some background as to why the LT > RT take is outdated. Now that I’ve done my best to curb any dissenters, I’ll hop into the film.

Lane was absolutely elite in pass protection throughout 2022. He has not allowed a sack since the 2020 season. That is an absolutely insane stat and I’m going to talk about some of the things he does that has helped him achieve this feat. The first thing I want to talk about is Lane’s ability to recover. No NFL lineman is perfect and they all have momentary lapses. However, you can differentiate the good from the great when you see their ability to recover. I think this is an insanely impressive rep. On the snap, Lane kick slides and gains depth; however, when the EDGE initiates contact, Lane’s body is not in a good position. He’s insanely upright, his hand positioning is terrible, and he basically has no leverage whatsoever to turn this into a positive rep. After giving some ground, Lane is able to sink his hips, reset his arms into the defenders chest, and he drops the anchor just in time to buy Hurts time to release the ball. One of the biggest skills an offensive lineman can have is turning losses into wins and this is a prime example of Lane doing just that. Here’s another example of phenomenal recovery against one of the NFL’s best pass rushers. Lane gains good depth on his kick but slips when Bosa initiates contact. Now, at this point in the rep, Bosa makes most tackles look like children and totally disrupts the play. But Lane isn’t about to let that happen. In an instant, Lane gets his feet back underneath him and uses a strong punch to stand Bosa up. From there, it’s a clean win with Lane stonewalling one of the best EDGE rushers in the league. That’s textbook recovery and is remarkably impressive. This next play showcases Lane’s athleticism. The Steelers shift the line before the snap and, in an effort to open up the a-gap they rush two guys wide on the right to draw Lane and Seumalo over. I think Lane here is perfect teach tape for how to mirror/match movements with smaller and probably quicker dudes. He gains exceptional width and depth to match the EDGE’s movements while maintaining a balanced and athletic base. When the defender makes his move to try to beat Lane around the edge, Big Johnson anchors himself to the defender’s inside shoulder and rides him around the back of the play and keeps Hurts clean from his side. While the defense wasn’t running the game to get a pressure off of Lane in this case, this rep clearly showcases his freakish athleticism. Here’s another really fun rep which showcases another one of my favorite parts of Lane’s game. Lane is the master of late hands. When pass protecting, if you offer up your hands too early, any EDGE rusher worth his salt is going to have a field day with a swipe or a chop. When your hands come away from your body, you’re opening yourself up to getting off-balance and really looking like a fool. Lane waits until Bosa is practically on top of him before punching. On the punch, Lane is able to redirect Bosa outside and then rides him around the outside of the play to buy Hurts more time. Lane is one of the most patient dudes on the planet. He doesn’t need to punch early because he has the strength, the smarts, and the athleticism to always win no matter how late in the rep he does his thing. It’s absolutely remarkable to watch. This patience has always made me think that Lane tends to pass protect like the cockiest asshole on the planet. With his late and intentional hand use, he almost baits opposing rushers into a bull rush but his ability to adjust his hands, lock in, and drop the anchor is unmatched in the league and it makes him an absolute treat to watch. The last pass pro clip I want to share is this one. Lane always keeps his head up and knows what’s going on around him. On the snap, he sees Bosa start to loop around, so he keeps his head up and moves laterally to cover the opening created by the penetrator on the stunt. When Bosa does finally loop back into the play, Lane is there waiting for him. He’s strong, he’s smart, he’s fast, and he recovers beautifully. All of these things combine to make Lane one of the league’s best pass protectors.

In the run game, Lane is equally devastating. First and foremost, Lane is SMART. Similar to his pass pro, Lane can bait opposing EDGE rushers into doing whatever he wants. On this designed QB run, Lane knows he wants the EDGE to try to beat him around the outside to clear a gap for Hurts. Lane intentionally takes minimal depth on his kick which baits the EDGE into trying a speed move around the outside. In the blink of an eye, Lane opens up his body and punches the EDGE upfield which creates a huge hole for Hurts to capitalize on. Mr. Johnson truly is a master baiter. While Lane is exceptionally smart, he also uses his absurd speed to fire through holes and pull through as a lead blocker. On the snap, Lane and Isaac fly over and Lane gives LVE a really nice pop in the open field to clear things up for Miles Sanders. It’s a genuine shame that Devonta couldn’t work to the opposite shoulder of the DB he’s blocking because that would’ve gone for 6 otherwise. Another thing Lane does remarkably well is down blocking to seal the rushing lane. On the snap Lane immediately works his way to the outside shoulder of the IDL and clears a path for a pulling Dickerson & Mailata to wreak havoc on the second level defenders. That play does not work without a perfect block down and into the scrum from Johnson and he executes it perfectly. Here’s a similar example on a different run concept. On the snap, the DT flows with the blockers who are zone blocking left. Lane knows that he needs to do his part to open things up for Miles Sanders so he crashes HARD on the DT’s outside shoulder and uses his strength and leverage to remove the defender from the play entirely. Here’s a fun ass play that likely served as a welcome to the NFL moment for rookie Aidan Hutchinson. We’ve established that Lane is smart, we’ve established that he’s fast. This shows how strong he is. He immediately engages with Hutchinson and starts churning his legs. Lane does not let up for a second and, when Hutch halfheartedly tries to disengage to make a play, Lane punishes him for his mistake and plants his ass. This is what you want out of a run blocking OT.

In summary, Lane was an elite pass protector and an elite run blocker last year. He was as close to perfect as you’ll see in this day and age of the NFL and he more than earned his spot at the top of this year’s list.

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#7 - Micah Parsons - Dallas Cowboys - EDGE Rusher

Previous Ranks

2021
11​

Key Stat:

The only player to have more tackles than Parsons with 20 of more sacks in their first two seasons in the league is Reggie White

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Written by: u/lowkeyguerrila

Introduction

“If you’re a dog, you’re going to be a dog. It shouldn’t matter where you are at on the field.” -Micah Parsons

It is not very often that you will find a player that is as impactful to a team as Micah Parsons is to the Cowboys. From 2020 to 2022 the cowboys have gone from a bottom 5 defense in points allowed to the sixth best. In this time Parsons has quickly turned the cowboys defense into an elite unit, and has established himself as one of the best in the game. But the thing is, his greatness isn’t just restricted to one aspect in the game. He has made an impact throughout all areas of the defense. Whether the cowboys would need him to drop into coverage or rush the quarterback, he would do so at a high level. His versatility and competitiveness are what drive him to be great.

Look, Micah Parsons is revolutionary to the modern NFL. He has set a new standard for what teams look for when drafting the face of their defense. As a 6’3, 245 lb backer-edge rusher hybrid, 4.39 speed is absolutely insane. Along with this explosiveness, his overall power, and ability to absolutely manhandle opposing linemen (Mike McGlinchey), the cowboys may just have the best athlete in the game.

2022 Season:

First off, let’s take a quick look at the numbers. 65 totals tackles, 13.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries, and a touchdown. The numbers alone are solid but they don’t tell the whole story. With nearly a 20% pressure rate (1st) and 22% pass rush win rate (3rd), his 90 pressures led whole league according to PFF. To the average viewer, pressures don’t mean much if you can’t get to the quarterback. But these pressures are vital to the secondary, as it creates a better opportunity for interception. The cowboys defense who ranked 1st overall in turnovers and 7th overall in interceptions strive on these turnovers. These turnovers didn’t go to waste either with the cowboys offense who ranked 4th in points per game being able to capitalize off of these opportunities.

Looking game by game, Micah loves the challenge of going against the leagues best. Week by week he has taken on the challenge of facing the leagues premier offensive tackles. This year he has been able to showcase his talent and his ability to disrupt against the best competition. Putting up formidable fights against names such as: Trent Williams, Andrew Thomas, Christian Darrisaw, Lael Collins and Lane Johnson.

Film:

Thomas: https://youtu.be/9C4hDeB3GYQ

Michael Parsons vs Darrisaw: https://youtu.be/IMoz40DEqiY

Collins: https://youtu.be/Xw9DqMCR5Ts

The Micah Parsons Problem: https://youtu.be/rO09FmBIxZA

His son: https://youtu.be/PyGymZAecmI

Freak Speed: https://youtube.com/shorts/jrywooM1c3I?feature=share

Last second: https://youtu.be/iSIiVYqTFBQ

Athlete: https://youtu.be/TkAMjYsglpY

Although parsons is listed as an outside linebacker, 80% of his snaps were played as an edge rusher. By next season it is expected that he becomes a full time edge rusher. Legacy:

Parsons has drawn Lawrence Taylor comparisons and rightfully so. For the second year in a row Micah was 2nd in DPOY voting and as well as having earned his second set of pro bowl and all-pro nods. With this high level play, a DPOY award is bound to be around the corner.

Entering his 3rd season his future is as bright as can be. Parsons is expected to gain 10 pounds to add a bit extra protection to allow his longevity. The future is bright for the cowboys, and with Parsons as the face of America's team, all we can do is wait and see what they can accomplish. The sky is the limit for Parsons, and I expect him to be an all time great when all is said and done.

There is only one question left to answer: How bright will this young star shine?

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#6 - Chris Jones - Kansas City Chiefs - Interior Defensive Linemen (IDL)

Previous Ranks

2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
41	40	43	47	N/A	N/A​

Key Stat:

Jones was the most double teamed defensive tackle in the league and still produced by far the highest pass rush win rate

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Written by: u/TheUltimate721

Introduction

If you know nobody else on the Chiefs defense, you know about Stone Cold Chris Jones.

Even out of High School, he was a highly sought after player, being the #2 overall recruit in the class of 2013 as a defensive end. He impressed in college at Mississippi State and declared for the 2016 NFL draft after his junior season. Chris was praised for his strength and speed coming out of college, putting up 26 at the bench press and running a 5.03 40 yard dash at 310 pounds, but he was criticized for his pad level (He comes off notoriously high, which is literally one of the first things they teach you not to do at a peewee level) and lack of technique. He uhhh... also had an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction his first time running the 40 yard dash, which unfortunately overshadowed his impressive time for his size and overall great performance at the combine.

Nonetheless though he was drafted 37th overall by the Chiefs in the 2016 draft. After a decent but fairly quiet first two seasons being mentored by the Chiefs greats Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, his breakout year came in 2018, where he recorded 15.5 sacks and 19 TFL, putting him firmly on the national radar of pass rushers. After that season though, The Chiefs defense went through some massive changes. Chris Jones was the only pass rusher to return while Dee Ford was traded and Justin Houston was released. Longtime Chiefs DC Bob Sutton was fired and replaced with Steve Spagnuolo. Chris struggled to find a role for much of the 2019 season, but found his place in the inside as a defensive tackle instead of as a defensive end and was an integral part of the Chiefs Superbowl run. He continued to dominate the inside in the years to come, but he was always the #2 Interior Defensive Lineman to a certain different defensive tackle (you probably who I'm talking about)...

...until this year, that is...

THE 2022 SEASON

You probably wouldn't be surprised if I told you that a six-foot-six 310 pound defensive tackle is one of the strongest people in the NFL, but you might be if I told you he was one of the quickest too, and it makes an absolutely lethal pass rusher who can beat any offensive lineman put in front of him, center, guard, or tackle.

That's an ability that Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo used plenty in the 2022 season, lining him up over a tackle almost 30% of the time (Not technically as a DE or OLB though, unlike previous reasons). Watch as he just bull rushes Mike McGlinchey back into Jimmy Garrapolo to make a sack (here's him doing the same thing again later that game but getting the strip as well). His speed lets him make plays like this, where he just blows past the tackle while being held to get a sack. This one is one of my favorite plays to break down bit by bit. At full speed it just looks like he reaches around the backside of the guard, but if you watch on 0.25 speed, you can see his amazing technique in action too. Chris comes with an huge amount of momentum to outside shoulder of the guard, forcing him that direction to match, but he quickly pulls back and executes an almost flawless rip move to beat him to the inside instead, meeting Justin Herbert right where he was scrambling and gets the sack.

His highlight reel from this season is almost 10 minutes long and full of plays like the ones I've highlighted, or this amazing TFL where Charles Cross acutally gets a grip on Jones, but he's able to fight through anyways with just raw strength and speed to get drop the back for a loss, or this sack from the same game where he literally just lifts the guards hands off of him to open a window for him to blow by for a sack. It should probably go without saying that the stats back up his incredible on the field play. He led all interior defensive linemen in sacks with 15.5, had the most pressures (14 more than the next closest IDL), most hurries, etc. The leader of Sack Nation had his best year statistically 2022, and takes the crown as the top interior defensive linemen for the first time in his career (1st team all pro to boot) as well as finishing as a DPOY finalist.

LEGACY

Over a 7 year career with the Chiefs, Chris Jones has amassed 65 sacks and 65 tackles for loss, 3 second team all-pro nods, and a first team all pro nod this year. That's good for top 5 in Chiefs history for sacks, putting him in good company with guys like Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Neil Smith and the late Derrick Thomas.

For those accolades, as well as the fact that he's been the best defensive player on a contending Chiefs team for five years now, he's more than worthy of a spot in the team's Ring of Honor, but if he keeps up his level of play he could find himself in Hall of Fame conversations.

Please Brett Veach, keep this man a Chief for life. He's nothing short of a motherf---ing beast and your defense wouldn't be the same without him.

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