With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league's true insiders made their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the fifth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players moved up or fell off last year's lists.
A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, nearly 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties.
Each section included quotes and nuggets from the voters on every ranked player -- even the honorable mentions. The objective was to identify the best players for 2024. This was not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today?
We rolled out a position per day over 11 days. The schedule: running backs (7/8), defensive tackles (7/9), edge rushers (7/10), safeties (7/11), tight ends (7/12), interior offensive linemen (7/13), offensive tackles (7/14), quarterbacks (7/15), off-ball linebackers (7/16), wide receivers (7/17), cornerbacks (7/18).
The best player of the Top 10 series era is retired.
Aaron Donald consistently garnered more first-place votes than any other player in the four years of polling since we started this exercise in 2020. He's now departed, destined for Hall of Fame induction in 2029. And let's not forget about Fletcher Cox, a former No. 3 on this list who also retired.
What Donald did on the field won't be matched anytime soon. He took on more than 2,000 double-teams since 2017 and still smashed the defensive tackle field in pass rush win rate every year.
A new No. 1 has emerged to seize Donald's place on this list, and like Donald he has a Super Bowl pedigree and a Hall of Fame trajectory.
The competition at defensive tackle was fierce after the top spot, appropriate in a league where teams have prioritized the position in scheme and salary cap -- interior rushers can dominate a game. This year's voting showed that nearly two dozen players were worthy of top-10 consideration.
Below are the results and the context behind this year's interior defensive line class -- considering 4-3 tackles and 3-4 defensive ends -- after polling scouts, executives and coaches.
1. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 2
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 2
Jones stamped his first No. 1 in a major way, earning nearly 80% of the first-place votes. He once stole votes from Donald, and is now in a class by himself.
Jones ranks first in the 2024 field in pass rush win rate for defensive tackles (19.6%), and the 29 incompletions created by his pass rush ranked tied for second among defensive tackles.
"His size and consistent dominant effort is just so hard to block," an NFL executive said of Jones. "He's such a mismatch because of how long and strong he is, and he can win from every spot -- edge, over center, in the B gap."
Jones leads all defensive tackles with 35 sacks over the past three years.
2. Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 4
The Jets' offensive woes can't mask Williams' impact -- he was a force in 2023. Williams' 29 incompletions created by his pass rush ties him with Jones. His 38% run stop win rate was tied for second at the position, and his 29 pressures ranked fourth among interior rushers.
"Really good first step, and his size and athleticism overwhelms guys," an NFL scouting director said. "And he plays very hard, which is sometimes unique for guys at the position. Doesn't really have any weakness."
Williams won a close battle for second but had more first- and second-place votes than the field, save Jones.
3. Dexter Lawrence II, New York Giants
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 8
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 6
That's two elite tackles in the greater North Jersey area, with Lawrence racking up 12 sacks and 49 quarterback hits over the past two seasons while dominating the run game.
Lawrence, who earned a four-year, $87.5 million extension last offseason, ranked second among defensive tackles with an 18.6% pass rush win rate.
"He's just an awesome football player," an AFC scout said. "A unique combo of power, balance and lower-body flexibility, and you combine that with his football acumen and you have a premier player."
Added an NFL coordinator: "Elite feet to go with his size and athleticism. It's like he's violently dancing out there. He will miss a few plays here and there, near sacks. But he mostly delivers."
4. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 3
Simmons is the classic eye-test player. His stats aren't always gaudy, but coaches and scouts know he wrecks game plans.
"When he's focused and sets out to make a lot of plays, he's pretty much unblockable," a head scout with an NFL team said. "I think he'll have a big year, similar to [Justin] Madubuike in that same Baltimore scheme last year."
Added an NFL personnel evaluator: "His power is probably the best in the league. I don't think he's played his best recently, though."
Simmons' 37% run stop win rate was impressive, and his 21.5 sacks over the past three years ranks seventh among defensive tackles.
5. Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 7
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: Unranked
After three years as a complementary player, Madubuike took his star turn in 2023.
The Ravens DE had more pass-rush opportunities with Calais Campbell gone and Tyus Bowser hurt, and he delivered with 13 sacks, leading all players on this list. Madubuike also ranked second among defensive tackles in quarterback pressures with 33.
"Disruptive in both phases, but power was his most improved tool [in 2023]," an AFC executive said. "Playing with a ton of confidence right now."
The Ravens rewarded Madubuike with a four-year, $98 million deal this offseason.
Added an AFC coordinator: "Mindset and opportunity -- the kid put in the work with his body and overall football information. Was locked in all year."
6. Christian Wilkins, Las Vegas Raiders
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
The one thing holding back Wilkins had been his sack production. He didn't have it through his first four years, and the Dolphins didn't pay him last offseason.
So, Wilkins flipped the script with nine sacks in 2023, leading to a massive four-year, $110 million free agency deal with Las Vegas.
"Gives you a little bit of everything -- just a solid all-around player," an AFC executive said. "Might be a notch below the top, top guys as far as high-end traits, but he really turned a corner over the last year-and-a-half as a rusher."
Wilkins' 30 pressures in 2023 ranked third among interior rushers, despite the fact that he faced 218 double-teams, fourth among defensive tackles.
"Underrated athlete who's technically sound," an AFC offensive coach said. "He'll be worth the investment for the Raiders."
7. Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Brown was a menace in the middle for the Panthers, leading the league with a 47% run stop win rate.
While the sack production isn't there -- Brown has eight sacks in four years -- the disruption very much is. Carolina decided to build the defense around him instead of pass-rusher Brian Burns, who was traded to the Giants.
"You feel him more than you see the sack numbers," a veteran NFL scout said of Brown. "When you play him and watch him, he's really good. Wouldn't surprise me if he has more sacks in the future. Carolina is always losing in games, so teams don't throw the ball as much on them late."
8. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 30 | Last year's ranking: 7
Buckner is a model of consistency, registering at least seven sacks every year since 2018.
His 52 sacks during that span rank near the top among interior rushers. And his 15.6% pass rush win rate as an interior defender was third on this list.
"He's the guy that's probably never in the top three but will always be in the top 10," an NFL scouting director said. "Consistent. Really productive. Plays with the best motor of any of the D-linemen."
9. Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention
Clark, who ranked No. 6 on this list in 2022, returns to his rightful spot among the top 10.
Always an elite run-stopper, Clark added a career-high 7.5 sacks on his way to his third Pro Bowl in 2023.
"I don't feel like he gets enough credit," an AFC executive said. "Better defensive tackle than most. He has a lot of the similarities that the real guys have at the top. Size, power, athleticism, can play multiple spots."
10. Javon Hargrave, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 31 | Last year's ranking: 5
Hargrave earned the biggest defensive contract in free agency last offseason (four years, $84 million) thanks to his breakout 11-sack season with the Eagles.
And while his production dipped slightly in his first season in San Francisco, he's still second among active defensive tackles in sacks over the past three years with 23. Scouts describe him as "twitchy" and "powerful."
"He's always had a deep rush toolbox with a good feel to affect the QB," an NFC executive said. "He was a little quieter when we prepared for him than he was in Philly, but he remains an issue as an interior rusher."
Honorable mentions
Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "Dominant run defender and his pocket push -- to help whoever is rushing on the outside look good -- is what makes him great. Easy for linebackers to play behind him because he constantly draws doubles. He had a down year last year but was still a major problem." -- NFL coordinator
Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders: "Probably had a down year vs. the run but was on a terrible team, and he's got legit pass-rush skills compared to many others on the list. Still has some prime years left." -- NFL scouting director
Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles: "Was more disruptive than the stat sheet would show [six sacks]. Extremely explosive and tremendous upside if he can keep his head on straight and just stay in shape. He was beating All-Pro guards when he was fresh." -- AFC executive
Daron Payne, Washington Commanders: "Excellent run player. Strong and powerful with instincts. Good power rusher, especially in one-on-one situations." -- NFL personnel director
Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers: "Still a very good all-around player with power, and an obvious locker room leader. Age is a factor [35] but [he] has to be accounted for on every snap, still very powerful." -- NFL coordinator
Christian Barmore, New England Patriots: "A run-stopper with sack production and big upside. Can rush from the inside. Has some Chris Jones to him." -- NFC scout
Also receiving votes: Arik Armstead (Jacksonville Jaguars), Zach Sieler (Miami Dolphins), Ed Oliver (Buffalo Bills), Leonard Williams (Seattle Seahawks), Grady Jarrett (Atlanta Falcons), Dre'Mont Jones (Seattle Seahawks)