Top 30 NFL players over 30 entering 2024 season: Tyreek Hill, Trent Williams, Chris Jones lead rankings

Parr: Few humans of any age have dominated like Hill. He’s the only player in NFL history to post 1,700-plus receiving yards in multiple seasons, with the blazing-fast wideout hitting the mark in each of his campaigns since joining the Dolphins (1,710 in 2022; 1,799 in 2023) even though he missed a game last year due to an ankle injury. Whether he’s flying down the field on deep throws or making defenders miss with his speed and wiggle after the catch on shorter routes, Hill poses a challenge to the opposition that cannot be replicated.

Look at how things change for the Miami offense when he’s not playing. Tua Tagovailoa had a 23.7 percent QB pressure rate with a 4.3 percent sack rate with Hill on the field and a 30.9 percent QB pressure rate with a 6.5 percent sack rate with him off the field in 2023, per Next Gen Stats. I don’t know how long it will be before age diminishes Hill’s explosiveness or whether he’ll play long enough to earn G.O.A.T. status, but I do know there’s only one Cheetah.

Blair: Williams is the third-oldest player on this list, and the oldest non-quarterback — but there’s no doubt he belongs here, sitting above many premier talents who only recently exited their 20s. He is legitimately one of the best players in the league, and there is a real argument for him to be ranked No. 1, not just because he paves the way for Christian McCaffrey and keeps Brock Purdy clean, but because he represents perhaps the Platonic ideal of the 30-and-over star. 

Think back to where Williams was when he turned 30, on July 19, 2018. Heading into what ended up being his final season suiting up for Washington, Williams ranked 57th on the Top 100 Players of 2018. Since then, he’s survived a cancer diagnosis, joined the perennially contending 49ers, made first-team All-Pro three times and debuted in the Super Bowl. He also just earned his 11th Pro Bowl nod, one short of setting a record among tackles. He basically reached an entire career’s worth of accomplishments after hitting the big 3-0, and his reputation (along with his Top 100 standing) soared accordingly. Maybe soon, he’ll be headlining the Top Couple of Guys over 40. 

Bhanpuri: Jones is arguably the No. 1 interior defensive lineman in football — regardless of age. As the undeniable linchpin of the Chiefs’ defense, the two-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champ has led (or co-led) the unit in sacks in each of the previous six seasons. Few humans on the planet possess Jones’ mixture of size and quickness — a brutal combination that has been embarrassing grown men on national television for years. Seems wholly unfair to be 6-foot-6, 310 pounds and be as quick off the ball as Aidan Hutchinson (both averaged .81 seconds per get-off in 2023, per NGS), who’s 40 pounds lighter. Jones commands a pretty penny in large part because he always seems to perform his best on the biggest stage. As special as Patrick Mahomes has been, without No. 95 on the other side, we’re not using “Kansas City” and “dynasty” in the same sentence right now.

Bhanpuri: Because of the disastrous way Dallas’ season ended (which was hardly on Dak’s shoulders alone), it’s easy to forget that the Cowboys’ QB1 finished the year ranked among the league’s best in most traditional and advanced passing metrics. In fact, Dak was an MVP candidate — even front-runner — late into the campaign, comfortably securing his fourth season with 10-plus wins and moving into third place in total wins (73) since entering the league in 2016, behind only Tom Brady (79) and Patrick Mahomes (74). And yet, the three-time Pro Bowler somehow finds himself in the final year of his contract, with free agency seemingly a real possibility. I feel very comfortable saying at least half the league, including a handful of teams that just procured shiny new options under center, wouldn’t think twice about paying Prescott $50 million-plus per year should Dallas not come through with the big bucks before March 12, 2025. 

Filice: This is your favorite quarterback’s favorite quarterback. Just ask C.J. Stroud. Combining incredible arm talent with innumerable arm angles, Stafford can do things with a football most QBs wouldn’t even consider. Add in the man’s well-documented toughness and a play style dripping with derring-do, and it’s easy to see why Stafford consistently gets love from quarterbacking contemporaries. However, the former No. 1 overall pick hasn’t always been a magnet for mass appeal. Far from it. Over a dozen years in Detroit, Stafford routinely piled up passing yards in Lions losses, spawning the derisive nickname of “Stat Padford.” But the haters had to eat crow when a trade to the Rams immediately produced a Lombardi Trophy. Stafford’s sophomore campaign in Los Angeles was an injury-abbreviated disappointment, but the quarterback bounced back in a major way in 2023, playing some of the best football of his entire career after Thanksgiving while guiding the Rams back to the playoffs. What can we expect in his age-36 season? That the preternaturally gifted passer will spearhead a top-five offense.

Filice: A route artisan whose basketball-inspired releases terrorize cornerbacks and titillate tape munchers, Adams has long been defined by his ability to create separation. But with the 31-year-old having just missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2016, we’re left to wonder if he’s on the decline. Now, the guy still logged a 2023 slash line of 103/1,144/8; clearly, he didn’t fall off a cliff. But how about his signature trait as a premium separator? Well, Next Gen Stats provide some illuminating intel on that front. For the ’23 season, Adams’ separation at the pass’ release remained in line with his career average, while his separation upon the pass’ arrival was easily his lowest on record (NGS data goes back to 2016). Translation: Davante was still getting open, but the ball wasn’t arriving when/where it needed to be. Makes sense, considering his quarterback situation. After cooking the league for years with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers and then posting some of the best numbers of his career in 2022 with four-time Pro Bowler Derek Carr, Adams spent last season catching passes from Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O’Connell. That wasn’t always the most enjoyable experience for the three-time first-team All-Pro, as conspicuously chronicled in Netflix’s Receiver series. QB remains a question mark for the 2024 Raiders, so documentarians would be wise to keep cameras trained on No. 17. But I’m still confident in his singular ability to put corners in a blender.

Parr: The term “dual threat” is most often attached to ultra-athletic quarterbacks in NFL parlance, but the label could certainly be a fit for Kittle, too. You want a tight end who can catch the ball? Kittle has 6,274 career receiving yards, third-most by a TE in his first seven seasons all-time behind Travis Kelce (6,465) and Jimmy Graham (6,280). You need a tight end who can make a block? No player at the position was better at clearing defenders in the run game last season than Kittle, according to PFF.

The TEU alum was quieted in Super Bowl LVIII, but let’s not overlook his highlights on the big stage. He made an unreal grab in the Divisional Round of the 2022 season against the Cowboys and pancaked one of the league’s best defensive players in the NFC Championship Game this past postseason. Kelce might go down as the greatest tight end of all time, but he can’t match Kittle’s all-around game right now.

Filice: Over the course of four consecutive springs, Philadelphia drafted Brandon Graham, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox and Johnson. These “core four” linemen came to define Eagles football through multiple coaching regimes. But with Kelce and Cox retiring in March and Graham assuming a rotational role in recent years, Johnson is the last man starting. And he’s not just starting — he’s thriving, having earned All-Pro recognition for three seasons running. The injuries have piled up during Johnson’s career, but typically, if he can walk, he can play — and when he plays, he dominates. Over the past six seasons (playoffs included), the right tackle has yielded a grand total of five sacks, per PFF. An athletic mauler in the run game to boot, Johnson has helped Philly field a top-10 ground attack in each of the last four years.

Bhanpuri: When you think of the key moments that triggered the Texans’ worst-to-first turnaround, Tunsil’s three-year extension probably doesn’t come to mind. But Houston’s brass knew exactly what it was doing last offseason when it made this dancing bear the highest-paid tackle in NFL history — just weeks before the team secured franchise cornerstones C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with the second and third overall picks, respectively, in the 2023 draft. The four-time Pro Bowler’s consistency, reliability and leadership fastened a fluctuating Houston offensive line last year, paving the way for Stroud to light the league on fire as a rookie. Although a knee injury sidelined Tunsil for three games early in the campaign (he’s since had surgery to address the problem), the veteran was impenetrable during the stretch run, earning PFF’s top pass-blocking grade among tackles over the final six weeks of the season. Although not quite as stout as Trent Williams or Lane Johnson in the run game, Tunsil’s ability to keep Stroud clean more than makes up for his deficiencies in other areas.

Blair: If Kelce were younger, I would actually be more concerned about his diminished statistical output in 2023, when he failed to clear 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2015, and his per-catch mark (10.6) dipped below 12 for the first time in his career. I’m not completely hand-waving the knee and ankle injuries he dealt with last season; health is obviously something to track when it comes to any player moving deeper into his 30s. I just think Kelce is at the point in his career where volume matters less than his ability to impact the offense in crucial individual games and moments. 

A down year from a relatively unproven 20-something might indicate serious long-term issues under the hood, but Kelce indisputably knows how to win when it counts. He will presumably lose speed and explosiveness as he gets older, but for now, he has the savvy and experience to still beat his man anyway, especially working with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. If I absolutely needed a play to be made through the air, there are few combos I’d trust more than that trio, which is why Kelce, to me, owns a top-10 ranking on this list.

Filice: Back in 2020, shortly after San Francisco traded Buckner to Indianapolis for the No. 13 overall pick in that year’s draft, 49ers GM John Lynch opened up about the move: “Probably the toughest thing I’ve done since I’ve been a general manager here. … One that I don’t think you can really prepare yourself for, when you move on from a player who embodies everything that you want to be about.” Lynch’s pain has been Chris Ballard’s gain, as this towering game wrecker has been a steady source of interior pressure in Indy, earning first-team All-Pro honors in his debut Colts campaign and making the Pro Bowl in two of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, the defensive tackle San Francisco used that 2020 first-rounder on, Javon Kinlaw, logged four fruitless, injury-riddled seasons with the 49ers before signing a one-year deal with the Jets this offseason.

Bhanpuri: Evans has been so consistently good for so long that it’s easy to take his production for granted. The Bucs, to their credit, know what they have in the five-time Pro Bowler, wisely wasting little time and no expense this offseason in locking up their franchise stalwart. Evans earned every penny of his lucrative extension, having just extended his 1,000-yard streak to 10 consecutive seasons, while posting double-digit TDs for the third time in four years (and fifth time in his career). Drops were an issue in 2024, but some of those miscues can be attributed to growing pains with new QB Baker Mayfield. The two weren’t on the same page at times during the first half of last season, but they found their groove as the year wore on, with the future Hall of Famer generating the fifth-most receiving yards (782) and second-most TDs (eight) in the league in Weeks 9 through 18. With no glaring signs of slowing down, and Mayfield entrenched under center, Evans has the potential to climb a few spots in this ranking by next offseason — and will continue to work his way up this list, too.

Parr: Some folks might have written Mack off as a fallen star after he failed to post double-digit sacks in four straight seasons. Khalil didn’t write back. Instead, he authored a career-high 17-sack season in 2023 (fourth-most in the league). He also racked up 80 pressures (eighth-most), which was his highest output in that category since his most recent first-team All-Pro campaign in 2018. And before anyone starts throwing out “one-dimensional” allegations, it’s worth noting Mack led all edge rushers with 19 stuffs (run plays resulting in no gain or loss), per Next Gen Stats. He did all of this with his fellow Chargers edge menace, Joey Bosa, sidelined for half the season, which allowed offenses to place more of their focus on stopping No. 52.

I know six of Mack’s sacks came in one game against a lost Raiders O-line and he did take a pay cut this offseason, but his deal still places him among the 15 highest-paid edge rushers in average annual value. The man’s not done yet. Cue the Mark Morrison track!

Parr: Opportunities to acquire a player who made six of the last seven Pro Bowls for a fourth-round pick do not come around often. To his credit, Bears GM Ryan Poles pounced, landing Allen at that bargain rate in a deal with the Chargers this offseason, helping set an enticing table for first overall pick Caleb Williams. The rookie quarterback is going to love to see a wily veteran with a doctorate in route running go to work.

Indeed, Allen is reaching an age where a decline in performance is anticipated, particularly for a receiver with a history of injuries. However, he showed no signs of slowing down last year. Despite missing four games, Allen achieved a career-best 108 catches, the sixth highest in the league, and topped the NFL with an average of 8.3 receptions per game. Although he has only played in every game three times in his 11-season career, this fact only enhances the impressiveness of his achievements. Allen has logged five seasons with over 100 receptions. Only Antonio Brown and Brandon Marshall, with six each, have ever done better.

Bhanpuri: Cousins was playing the best football of his career before tearing his Achilles against the Packers at the end of October. Through eight games — three of them without Justin Jefferson — Captain Kirk’s efficiency and productivity were undeniable, with the veteran quarterback ranking first in touchdowns (tied with Tua Tagovailoa), second in yards, third in passer rating and fourth in completion percentage over expected, per NGS. Had Cousins’ season not been cut short, and instead, he’d continued on his torrid pace, Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford surely would’ve had company in this list’s top QB tier. But it’s hard to predict how a 36-year-old Cousins will rebound less than a year removed from such a significant injury. So while we, like Atlanta, recognize the substantial upside the four-time Pro Bowler brings to the table, we also don’t mind following the Falcons’ lead and hedging a bit.

Blair: On Jan. 4, Henry turned 30. Three days later, he played like someone hell-bent on making this 30 over 30 list, rumbling for 153 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries (8.1 yards per attempt) in Week 18. That’s the seventh-most rushing yards by a player 30 or over in one game in the past 10 seasons. 

I will allow that Henry is probably not going to sustain a 150-yard average as a tricenarian. That said, I do feel good about his chances to join a surprisingly robust lineage of 30-and-older rushing weapons that includes Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and, more recently, Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore. Some caution is warranted over his past usage rate (2,185 career touches). Still, it’s hard not to be in awe of anyone who thrives at one of the most physically demanding positions in sports at an age when many non-pro athletes begin to feel sore just after sleeping in their beds all night. (That admiration extends to Raheem Mostert — who just led the NFL with 18 rushing TDs at age 31 — even though he didn’t make the cut here.)

Blair: Rodgers has packed plenty of narrative arcs into his NFL tenure, going back at least to his Round 1 free fall in the 2005 NFL Draft. His Week 1 Achilles tear last season turned the Jets chapter of his career screwy, but now has has two clear and compelling storylines to work on: 1) coming back from injury while 2) playing quarterback at a high level at the age of 40, which is something that only a handful of people have done before. 

The chance that Rodgers could rediscover the form that made him the oldest player to win back-to-back MVP awards (in 2020 and ’21) is what pushed him this high on our list. The uncertainty around how he’ll perform as the oldest active player in the NFL after recovering from a serious injury is what kept him from rising any higher. Again, the sample size of over-40 QBs is small. Might Rodgers get close to the incredible numbers Tom Brady averaged after turning 40 (4,605 passing yards, 32 TDs, 10 picks)? Sure. But the Jets would likely be thrilled if Rodgers merely hit Drew Brees’ post-40 averages (2,961 yards, 26 TDs, five picks).

Parr: No player has more catches since 2020 than Diggs (445). He’s recorded 100-plus receptions and eight or more touchdown grabs in four straight seasons, which is tied for the second-longest such streak in NFL history (behind only Antonio Brown’s six and tied with Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison). 

So, that begs the question: Why the heck isn’t he higher on this list? Call us prisoners of the moment if you’d like — and you might be proven correct in that assertion — but we can’t ignore how the bulk of last season went for Diggs. In Weeks 1 through 6, he was his usual, wildly productive self, boasting a 74.2 percent catch rate, 8.2 catches per game, 103.3 receiving yards per game, 12.7 yards per catch and five TDs. However, those numbers plummeted in Weeks 7 through 18: 61.7 percent catch rate, 5.3 catches per game, 51.2 receiving yards per game, 9.7 yards per catch, three TDs. He had just 10 catches for 73 yards and no TDs in two playoff games, and was dealt to Houston this offseason. 

Was the end of his time in Buffalo an indication that he just needed a change of scenery after clearly being frustrated there, or was it a sign of something deeper that won’t be easily fixed with a change in zip code? We’re hedging a bit here.

Blair: Since entering the NFL in 2015, Cooper has cracked the top 10 in receiving yards just three times (2016, 2019, 2023), never climbing higher than eighth. He’s also quietly become one of the steadier producers in the game, reaching the 1,000-yard mark in seven seasons, putting him in league with veteran pass catchers who are lauded for their reliability; he’s tied with Travis Kelce for second-most such seasons in that span, behind only Mike Evans (nine). 

So while some might look at Cooper’s career averages (74 catches, 1,054 yards and six TD catches per year) and see an underwhelming ceiling, especially for a player drafted fourth overall, I see a nice, safe, high floor — and I wouldn’t overlook the value of such a thing in Cleveland, where high floors in the passing game seem somewhat miraculous, even in the organization’s current era of competitive football. In 2023, with scores of teammates sidelined, Cooper stood tall, becoming the first Browns player to put up consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in franchise history. That kind of security is worth paying for — and celebrating in these rankings.

Filice: Overshadowed by the dynamic pass rusher who lines up across the formation, Lawrence just continues to provide the Cowboys with reliable, unsexy excellence. While Micah Parsons racks up sacks at a rate that generates Lawrence Taylor comps, the 11th-year veteran apply nicknamed “Tank” keeps setting a hard edge on the strong side. He’s just a beast in the trenches and an absolute force against the ground game. Among all qualified edge defenders last season, Lawrence received the second-highest PFF grade in run defense, barely trailing Maxx Crosby.

Lawrence’s future with the Cowboys is uncertain in the final year of his contract. However, his ten years in Big D have been indisputably successful, receiving his third and fourth Pro Bowl acknowledgements in the last two seasons.

Parr: It seems wrong that Davis has been a first-team All-Pro only once (2019) in his 12 seasons. I know he might not have the flashiest game, but how many players are more reliably great than the Saints’ six-time team captain? He’s been the steady hand guiding a top-10 scoring defense in each of the last four years, and he’s a true iron man, missing only one game in his career. He’s played the sixth-most snaps of any defensive player since the start of the Next Gen Stats era (2016) and ranks third in tackles during that span (907).

It would make sense for him to be slowing down entering his age-35 season, but the off-ball ‘backer seems to be aging like a fine wine. He’s the only player to record 100-plus tackles and six-plus sacks in each of the last two seasons. Davis obviously knows how to blitz into the backfield to make a play, but don’t sleep on his ability to drop back, either. Targeted EPA measures the expected points added when a player is targeted as the nearest defender in coverage, and Davis led all linebackers with a mark of -18.4 last season. The guy is basically taking points off the board, folks.

Bhanpuri: Kupp’s spot on this ranking, and place among a deep receiver group, probably generated the most discussion of any player in this year’s exercise. Where do you put a former Super Bowl MVP just two seasons removed from one of the greatest individual campaigns in NFL history, but who’s since played in just 22 of 35 Rams games and might no longer be the best wideout on his own team? Despite flashing in a few games last year, Kupp clearly wasn’t operating at the All-Pro level we’ve come to expect. And, at 31, perhaps he’ll never reach those heights again. But even if the former triple-crown winner is unable to reclaim favorite-target status within the Rams’ offense, it seems silly — foolish, even — to write him off after a pair of relatively down years. Dude’s as tough as it gets, and his work ethic is legendary. Nobody on L.A.’s schedule wants to face a healthy version of him in ’24.

Blair: For most of his 13 seasons in Pittsburgh, Heyward has been a force, logging 277 career pressures and 63 career stuffs, per Next Gen Stats, ranking fifth in both categories among defensive tackles since he was drafted in 2011. The question is, what do we do with Heyward’s 2023? He missed the early portion of last season with a groin injury and was not nearly as productive as usual upon return. Is he ready to again be a core member of the Steelers’ defense?

At this point, I think it’s fair to give the benefit of the doubt to a player with Heyward’s bona fides, and I’m not just saying that because I watched him convincingly bull rush perennial Pro Bowler Quenton Nelson while reviewing Heyward’s pressures in 2023. In 2022, Heyward racked up 10.5 sacks, and he remains tied for second in franchise history with 80.5 sacks. He made six straight Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times in the six seasons preceding ’23. It seems safe to bank on a healthy offseason (and his desire to prove he is worthy of the new contract he is currently seeking) restoring Heyward’s prowess.

Filice: Quite simply one of the most unique defensive players in the NFL. Undersized with unremarkable speed and strength, Mathieu’s tangible skills leave plenty to be desired. But the intangibles — the instincts, tenacity, versatility and leadership — jump off the screen. The Honey Badger is a freakin’ DOG on the gridiron, offering transcendent playmaking ability. And despite the small stature and feisty play style that theoretically should be at odds with each other, Mathieu has become a model of durability, having eclipsed 1,000 snaps in each of the past seven seasons (playoffs included). Mathieu’s return to Louisiana — where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist before getting kicked off the LSU team after reportedly failing multiple drug tests — has proven redemptive, as the New Orleans native has provided the Saints with eight takeaways during a pair of high-quality campaigns.

Parr: If you’ve been perusing this list wondering when we were going to recognize some of the best guard play in the league, I have fantastic news for you! We have what some might call a guard run to close out our rankings, and it starts with Thuney, a four-time Super Bowl champion who made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons. He earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in 2023, and he’s received the highest PFF pass-blocking grade among guards in each of the last three seasons.

He’s started all 129 games he’s played in, missing just two regular-season contests along the way. He also missed last season’s Super Bowl with a pectoral injury, but he played in the title game the year prior and was outstanding against Pro Bowl competition. Thuney has spent all but one season of his career protecting either Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes. The G.O.A.T. QBs know he’s someone they can trust.

Blair: For the first four seasons of his career (2014-17), Bitonio lined up next to Joe Thomas, plugging along while the Browns went 11-53, easily the worst record in the NFL in that span. After Thomas retired, Bitonio picked up the stoic-lineman baton, earning six straight Pro Bowl nods between 2018 and 2023. Bitonio might not get as much credit (or pity) as Thomas for soldiering through difficult times, with the Browns enjoying much more overall success (including two playoff appearances) in the intervening years, but he has been a similarly dogged source of stability, starting 102 straight regular-season games between 2017 and Week 5 of last season.

Bitonio is surprisingly set to equal Thomas in terms of seasons played (11). Having already played 144 regular-season games, he could potentially draw close to Thomas’ total of 167, ranking sixth in Cleveland’s all-time list, by the conclusion of the 2024 season. Bitonio’s consistent exceptional performance, which situates him alongside Thomas as a key figure of the modern-era Browns, secures his position as the second guard on our list.

Filice: Entering Year 13, David has been perennially underrated throughout his professional career. Everybody knows it. So … does that actually make his underratedness overrated? Possibly. But the fact that he has only made one Pro Bowl remains a staggering indictment on the honor. Over the last dozen seasons in an increasingly pass-happy NFL, linebacker duties have changed, but David has remained the same three-down force, racking up tackles and shutting down throwing lanes. No wonder he just signed his fifth contract with the Buccaneers. In fact, fresh off a season in which he stuffed the stat sheet with 134 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and five passes defensed, the 34-year-old actually received a raise. Presumably, the longest-tenured player on Tampa Bay’s roster will serve as a team captain for an 11th straight season. Gimme ALL THE STARS on his “C” patch!

Filice: Milano’s presence on this list might raise some eyebrows, but it shouldn’t. The 2017 fifth-round pick was something of a pleasant surprise in his first few seasons with the Bills, but he became a certified stud in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors alongside a pair of established linebacking stars in Fred Warner and Roquan Smith. This carried over into the early goings of last season, with Milano snagging a pick in each of Buffalo’s first two games before piling up 10 tackles and a forced fumble in the Bills’ impressive Week 4 blowout of the Dolphins. Then Milano broke his leg in the ensuing London loss to Jacksonville, ending his season and dealing a serious blow to Sean McDermott’s defense. Milano, who turns 30 later this month, returned to practice in a limited capacity for mandatory minicamp, hopefully putting him on track for full participation in training camp.

Milano, at 6-foot and 223 pounds, might not have fit the linebacker role in the NFL of your father’s era. However, in today’s NFL, he perfectly embodies the ideal qualities for the position. He is a dynamic athlete who can cover from sideline to sideline, has excellent instincts as a blitzer, and is completely at ease in coverage.

Bhanpuri: I desperately wanted to get Mike Hilton and Justin Tucker on the list — at least in one of these final two spots. But as much as I love Hilton’s game and Tucker’s bravado, Martin’s exemplary career and snap-to-snap importance made for too strong an argument. The longtime Cowboy’s technical excellence, grit and consistency have earned him seven first-team All-Pro selections (with an active streak of three straight) and nine Pro Bowl nods over 10 NFL seasons. Although the future Hall of Famer’s performance dipped in 2023 from the star-high standards we’ve come to expect, he’s still a rock-solid pass protector and the undisputed veteran voice and leader on the most visible O-line in the league.

Parr: I can’t think of a better way to close out these rankings than with a tribute to a Reader. Seriously, though, D.J. is a stud. He doesn’t have the accolades that others on this list — and some who were left off of it — can place on the mantel, but it’s not his job to do the things that get the glory. Reader’s task is to make sure his team wins at the line of scrimmage, and he’s great at it, which is why the Lions were willing to guarantee a 30-year-old interior defensive lineman more than $9 million even though he was coming off a torn quad that might keep him from being ready for the start of training camp.

Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what his former defensive coordinator, the Bengals’ Lou Anarumo, had to say about Reader in February: “You can’t look at D.J. Reader in that position and say, ‘Let me look at his numbers.’ Even though he has good numbers for the position, he is just dominant when it comes to taking on blocks, taking on double teams, and not getting moved. And that allows other people to make plays — and when you don’t have that, it creates other issues.”