Top 100 NFL Players of 2016: 60-51

60. LB. Lavonte David

David is an elite Will linebacker that has been in the perfect system that fits all of his attributes. He’s a very good coverage linebacker that is thriving in this new NFL where nickel defenses are the new base defenses. David is also a highly-productive tackler that flies all around the field and is 1 of the best sideline to sideline guys in the game. He finished 3rd in the league in total tackles. He wasn’t quite as great as he was in 2014, but David still had a fine year in 2015.

59. OLB. Pernell McPhee

I knew from watching McPhee with the Ravens his last 2 seasons there, especially in 2014, that he had potential to be a star in this league. The only question was whether or not he could do it in a full-time starter role. Well, in his 1^st year in Chicago out of the shadows of Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, McPhee shined and dominated as expected. McPhee is an absolute brute as a edge setter. If you ever need tape to show how a 3-4 OLB should play the run just put this guy’s film on. Tight ends have absolutely no chance when they try to block this guy and a lot of tackles don’t fare too much better. Where McPhee is still very underrated by a lot of fans is as a pass rusher. He only had 6 sacks but that doesn’t begin to do him justice for how effective he is at rushing the passer. McPhee isn’t the fastest or quickest guy, but he’s big, strong, and has big hands and he utilizes those traits to beat blockers with hustle and hand violence. McPhee has some impressive power rush moves and has the ability to just jolt lineman when he strikes them. The Bears actually got a hell of a bargain with the contract they signed him for.

58. DE. Jabaal Sheard

The Patriots traded away defensive end Chandler Jones this off-season. It’s true that there was some financial motivations for making the move, but 1 of the primary reasons they could feel comfortable letting Jones go was also because they knew they had another good edge defender still on the roster. Not only that, but they kept the better player. Jones might have had more sacks than Sheard, but I believe Sheard was the better player. Sheard was a beast against the run in 2015. His ability to shed blocks was on full display as he made good use of his big hands to beat blocks and effectively set the edge for the Pats. He’s also a very good pass rusher and if he can play and start 16 games next year, I expect his sack numbers to go up.

57. OG. Richie Incognito

A lot of players and fans don’t like this guy because of his past transgressions, but there’s a reason he was picked up so fast after his suspension was over and that’s because everyone knows he’s a great talent. Incognito was an absolute beastly run blocker in 2015 that was road grading everyone. He’s always been a great run blocker, but he made huge strides as a pass blocker in 2015, probably having the best year of his career in that aspect.

56. CB. Desmond Trufant

Trufant’s name isn’t brought up much when talking about elite cornerbacks, but it should be. Trufant made his first pro bowl in 2015 and it was well deserved. He only had 1 interception last year and that was more of a product of both his coverage ability and the lack of talent around him. Despite playing behind 1 of the worst pass rushes in the league, Trufant was a dominant player. According to Pro Football Focus he didn’t allow 1 catch over 30 yards all year nor did he allow any receiver he went up against to accumulate over 50 yards in a game.

55. DE. Jurrell Casey

Not a lot of people talk about Casey among the ranks of top defensive lineman, but they should. He had 54 tackles and 7 sacks and has been 1 of the best 3-4 ends in the NFL for a while now. He doesn’t have the typical stature that comes with a dominant 3-4 end, but at 6’1 Casey gets it done anyway. He gets out of his stance quickly and into opposing lineman’s pads which helps him overcome his lack of ideal length. Casey packs a very powerful punch when he makes contact and engages and that combined with how active he is really helps him shed blocks and be a difference maker as both a run stopper and pass rusher.

54. LB. Thomas Davis

Davis had a rough start to his career trying to overcome injury after injury, but he has finally reached a point of consistent dominance in his career. He has now played 4 straight seasons where he played in 15 games or more, so I think it’s now safe to no longer refer to Davis as injury-prone. He has always been a great athlete at the position and, with his defensive back background from his college days, he’s always been 1 of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL. However, Davis has now developed into an elite run stopper as well. There might not be a better Will linebacker when it comes to pursuit in the NFL. I’m always impressed by the level of discipline Davis plays with in terms of playing his running lanes properly. A lot of really fast linebackers like Telvin Smith and Ryan Shazier, though really talented, haven’t quite mastered this skill yet and can often be seen either out of position or over running plays. Davis has become a perfect blend of athleticism and proper technique.

53. Lesean McCoy

McCoy might be the most exciting back to watch in the NFL. When it comes to elusiveness and making defenders look silly with ankle breaking cuts and other open field moves, there is none better than McCoy. There have been many games where the defense has had him locked in their sights with a tackle seemingly imminent only for McCoy to still be on his feet running forward a few seconds later with the would be tackler stumbling in his rear view. McCoy is a dual threat guy as well. He isn’t quite on the level of Charles or Bell or Danny Woodhead or Dion Lewis but he’s effective catching the ball in his own right.

52. QB. Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers had to work under some very tough circumstances in 2015. His team had the worst offensive line in the NFL last season due to both injury and underachieving from the guys that did play. Rivers was sacked 40 times and probably pressured triple that amount. His best tight end missed the first 4 games due to suspension and his best receiver only played 8 games total. Yet that didn’t stop Rivers from finishing 2nd in the NFL in passing yards and throwing 29 TDs to 13 interceptions while completing over 66% of his passes. Rivers still showed his usual gifted skill set despite the tough conditions. He still boast one of the quickest releases in the game, which is probably why he was still able to have some individual success without great protection. He also is still one of the most accurate passers in the league. With his full arsenal of weapons for all 16 games and improved offensive line play Rivers could have a much bigger year in 2016 and so can the Chargers.

51. Dez Bryant

Dez was obviously injured last year so we didn’t get to see him at full strength, but let’s be clear – he’s still 1 of the elite receivers in the game. Dez Bryant is like the Russell Westbrook of receivers in terms of his on-field competitiveness and fire. I don’t even count anything I saw from Dez on the field in 2015 because he should’ve had surgery and been shut down for the year after week 1. However, the competitor and winner inside him just wouldn’t let him quit. He had to go out there and try and do what he could to help his team.

Twitter: @The_Coach_Buck