100 Days until kickoff: The 100 most important NFL players

84 The 2025 NFL MVP continues to make wondrous, mind-bending throws at 38 while working simpatico with Sean McVay. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46) in 2025, but it’s easy to forget his status seemed in limbo for much of the preseason due to a back injury. How will he hold up in 2026? 85 Maye leaped to stardom in 2025, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72%) and yards per attempt (8.9). He’s a big-game hunter downfield, and he has the strength and athleticism to make things happen out of structure, not unlike the player he dethroned in the AFC East, Josh Allen. Maye’s next step is limiting negative plays, especially after a sack-filled postseason. 86 Darnold’s unprecedented journey from bust to journeyman backup to Super Bowl champion is a testament to him above all else. He still has a penchant for turnovers, but he’ll also stand in the pocket and rip aggressive, accurate throws when needed. Most importantly, he had just a 5.4% sack rate in 2025, a career low. With Kenneth Walker III gone, Darnold will have more on his plate in 2026. 87 With a tremendously talented arm and a penchant for avoiding sacks, Love presents an enticing skill set that sometimes wows but sometimes leaves you wanting just a bit more. The Packers have consistently been one of the most run-heavy teams under Matt LaFleur, but perhaps that changes this year, allowing Love to take another step. 88 Williams cut out the biggest issue in his game — sacks — in 2025, thanks to individual improvement and major improvement around him: Ben Johnson and several offensive linemen certainly helped. The next step is improving his accuracy (58% completion percentage) and continuing to make strides playing in structure. The arrow is pointing upwards. 89 When not under pressure, Goff is a strong-armed, precise passer who can dissect defenses, especially in the intermediate areas of the field. Under pressure, though, he can fall into all sorts of trouble. The Lions will hope an upgraded offensive line can keep him clean. He also has a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing. 90 Nix’s devastating ankle fracture may well have cost the Broncos a trip to the Super Bowl. Now, he’ll be back with a vengeance and a new friend in Jaylen Waddle. Nix has a bit of a wild side, venturing downfield that gives Sean Payton a few grey hairs, but also leads to some big plays. Standing behind one of the league’s best offensive lines, he directs an efficient offense. He also has a penchant for making big plays in big moments. 91 ESPN and the NFL certainly expect Mahomes back from his torn ACL in Week 1, considering Chiefs-Broncos landed on “Monday Night Football” to open the season. Even amid another frustrating offensive season, Mahomes showed why he is one of the best. Whether the Chiefs have upgraded his surroundings enough remains to be seen. 92 Herbert gutted it out through another season behind another porous offensive line, but he should have had much better surroundings. Not only are bookend tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back, but there are three new interior starters and, perhaps most importantly, new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who should breathe life into what had been a very limited offense. Herbert’s big arm and pocket mobility remain major pluses. 93 Jackson battled a bevy of injuries in 2025, ultimately playing in 13 games. Many of his numbers were down, and his sack numbers were way up. Jackson has a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle, who figures to bring some of Ben Johnson’s tendencies to Baltimore. He also has a pair of big, physical rookie wide receivers in Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, as well as first-round rookie guard Olaivaveiga Ioane. 94 How one feels about Purdy could depend on which games they watched. One week, he’s a daring, whirling dervish playmaker making big-time throws downfield even without a cannon of a right arm; the next week, his risk-taking backfires in bunches. Oftentimes, you get both: In the playoff win over the Eagles, he made lots of plays, including two touchdown passes, and also had two awful interceptions. At his best, he’s a top-10 quarterback. At his worst, it gets ugly. 95 Prescott is a cerebral passer who’s willing to dip into the gunslinger mentality at times, and he has the arm talent to make it work. After an abysmal, injury-shortened 2024, he cut his turnovers and sacks down and notched his second 4,500-yard, 30-touchdown campaign in the last three years. With George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson and Javonte Williams as his weapons, Prescott should put up big numbers again if healthy; he hasn’t had consecutive full seasons since 2018-19. 96 For all the criticism of Hurts — unwilling to throw over the middle, wants to run the offense his way, struggles in the quick and intermediate games, or even the “carried by his supporting cast” allegations — he’s a Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP, a player who takes care of the ball very well and a weapon with his legs, especially near the end zone. This season, with Sean Mannion implementing a more under-center, play-action-heavy look, will be a barometer of Hurts’ ability to adapt to and succeed in areas he hasn’t explored much. 97 Burrow played in just eight games last year due to a nasty turf toe injury, and he left another postseason-less year frustrated with himself, his injuries, and the roster as a whole. This offseason, though, he sang the praises of the roster. With Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown and his entire offensive line back alongside a revamped defense, Burrow knows there’s urgency to get Cincinnati back to contending. 98 Allen remains the poster boy for heartbreaking playoff defeats, and he’s hoping that as the Bills open a new stadium, they can open a new chapter on what’s been an oh-so-close franchise. With DJ Moore in tow, Allen should be able to push the ball downfield more, and he remains one of the NFL’s best with his scrambling and playmaking. He’s a perennial MVP frontrunner at this point. 99 Lawrence ascended as one of the NFL’s very best down the stretch of last season, putting on a show with laser beams downfield and production with his legs, too. The flashes have always been there, and 2025 was the longest stretch of strong play he’s ever produced. Cutting out mistakes is key as the Jaguars, who didn’t do much this offseason, will look to Lawrence to be even better. 100 The Texans have arguably the NFL’s best defense, a Pro-Bowl wide receiver, an overhauled offensive line and a major upgrade at running back. It’s going to come down to Stroud, who is yet to repeat his magnificent rookie season. He threw five interceptions in last year’s playoffs. The Texans could win a Super Bowl with Stroud playing at a Sam Darnold-esque level, but it’s a major question as to whether Stroud — who still takes way too many bad sacks — can get there.