The NFL dropped its annual Top 100 Players list on Monday and the backlash started almost immediately. The reason: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson landed at No. 69, a massive drop from his No. 2 spot on last year’s edition.
Jackson is a two-time MVP. He’s arguably the most electric dual-threat quarterback the league has ever seen. And some group of current NFL players apparently decided there are 68 guys playing better football than him right now. That did not sit well.
ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak was among the first to call it out. He released his own Top 100 ballot earlier this month and had Jackson ranked fourth overall, behind only Myles Garrett, Will Anderson Jr. and Josh Allen. So you can guess how he felt about No. 69.
Fans and analysts let the league have it
Social media didn’t hold back. One fan named Anthony Riverdaro posted that you can’t convince him there are 68 players better than Jackson. He pointed out that even in what counted as a down year last season, Jackson tossed 21 touchdowns against seven interceptions with a 3-to-1 ratio and accounted for 21 total scores in 21 games. His verdict? “69 is insane.”
Another user, @OrionSLIOS, said he doesn’t think anyone on the planet could name 68 active players better than Lamar Jackson right now. That’s blunt but it’s hard to argue with the general sentiment.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III piled on after the rankings came out. His take was short and direct: “Lamar Jackson is not the 69th best player in the NFL. BURN THIS LIST TO THE GROUND.”
The league’s reveal video featured players like Harold Fannin Jr., Joel Bitonio, Zay Flowers, Eric Kendricks and Kyle Van Noy talking up Jackson’s talent. But that praise felt disconnected from where he actually landed on the list.
Context matters more than the number
Jackson’s 2025 season was cut short by injuries. He played 13 games after dealing with a hamstring issue early and then a severe back contusion later. Still, he threw for 2,549 yards with 21 touchdowns and only seven picks. He also ran for 349 yards and two scores on 67 carries. Numbers that most quarterbacks would take in a full season.
Now entering his age-29 season, Jackson has another chance to remind people what he can do when healthy. He’s already got two MVP trophies on his shelf. The only thing missing is a Super Bowl ring. And if he puts together a strong 2026 campaign, next year’s Top 100 list might look a lot different.
Or maybe the NFL will just stick him back at No. 69 and let everyone argue about it all over again.
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