Harrison Smith – S
2019 NFL Top 100 Ranking: 83
2020 NFL Top Projection: 85
For this endeavor, the NFL players have an odd paradox. They handsomely award rankings to elder statesmen–some of the time.
As an example, the players voted Drew Brees as the second-best player in the NFL on the 2019 Top 100 list. Objectively, Brees was not the second-best player in football heading into last season. So in that regard, the seeding felt like a polite lifetime achievement award. Fair enough.
Yet for Harrison Smith, he hovers in the 80s. This is not cringeworthy, but if an old Brees is virtually the best player in football, then an aging Hitman should reside higher than the 80s.
Smith should remain on the Top 100, but he’ll likely tumble a few spots. Last year he had 75 combined tackles with three interceptions, he was elected to his fifth straight Pro Bowl, and he brought home an exemplary Pro Football Focus grade of 89.8.
Smith could slide down these rankings, but not by much.