Pre 2017-18: Top 5 Players at Each NFL Position

The National Football League has a lot of talent. That goes without saying. However, each year, players emerge and regress. Each year, players move up and down in how they are viewed. However, there are many who stay at the top for a long time. So, here's the top 5 in the NFL, according to me, at every position in football (excluding long snapper).

Quarterbacks

Honorable Mention: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

4. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots - Brady is arguably the greatest player in NFL history, so he deserves to top the quarterback list. He makes some plays and has some games that just amaze you.

Running Backs

Honorable Mention: Devonta Freeman, HB, Atlanta Falcons

5. DeMarco Murray, HB, Tennessee Titans

4. LeSean McCoy, HB, Buffalo Bills

3. Ezekiel Elliott, HB, Dallas Cowboys

2. Le'Veon Bell, HB, Pittsburgh Steelers

1. David Johnson, HB, Arizona Cardinals - This may be an "unconventional" choice, as NFL players voted Johnson third to Elliott and Bell, but Johnson can do everything. He's explosive and can beat you in more ways than Bell can. He's the most polished receiver of the three and can run more physically than Bell as well as more elusively than Elliott.

Wide Receivers

Honorable Mention: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

4. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

2. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

1. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers - Antonio Brown is fundamentally one of the greatest receivers of this century. He does everything a receiver needs to be able to do, and constantly makes highlight-reel plays.

Tight Ends

Honorable Mention: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans

5. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers

4. Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

1. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots - Gronkowski is, when healthy, a complete freak athlete. He can drag 4 defenders 20 yards, can deliver a mean stiff arm, and can just run straight past (or through) a guy. He's got great hands and is a top-notch threat.

Offensive Tackles

Honorable Mention: Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans

5. Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams

4. Donald Penn, Oakland Raiders

3. Trent Williams, Washington Redskins

2. Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns

1. Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys - Smith is a beast in pass and run protection, and helped his team boast the top 2 candidates for OROTY in 2016.

Interior Offensive Linemen

Honorable Mention: Alex Mack, C, Atlanta Falcons

5. Matt Paradis, C, Denver Broncos

4. Kelechi Osemele, G, Oakland Raiders

3. Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys

2. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys

1. Marshal Yanda, G, Baltimore Ravens

Inside Linebackers

Honorable Mention: Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers

5. Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs

4. NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers

3. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks

2. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

1. Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots - This is likely the most questionable pick of the lot, but it comes with an explanation. Hightower can do a lot of things that nobody else on this list can do. He can cover some, and is arguably the NFL's greatest blitzer. He can line up on the edge, shred running plays, and break up passes better than even Kuechly.

Outside Linebackers

Honorable Mention: Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings

5. Lavontae David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Jamie Collins, Cleveland Browns

3. Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys

2. Vic Beasley, Atlanta Falcons

1. Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Safeties

Honorable Mention: Harrison Smith, FS, Minnesota Vikings

5. Tyrann Mathieu, FS, Arizona Cardinals

4. Kam Chancellor, SS, Seattle Seahawks

3. Earl Thomas, FS, Seattle Seahawks

2. Landon Collins, FS, New York Giants

1. Eric Berry, SS, Kansas City Chiefs

Cornerbacks

Honorable Mention: Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos

5. Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos

4. Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers

3. Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

1. Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Defensive Ends

Honorable Mention: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

5. Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins

4. Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks

3. Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

2. Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders

1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

Defensive Tackles

Honorable Mention: Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans

5. Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins

4. Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals

2. Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles

1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

Kickers

Honorable Mention: Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers

5. Blair Walsh, Seattle Seahawks

4. Steven Hauschka, Buffalo Bills

3. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots

2. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens - Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and he claims this spot partially due to Gostkowski's shaky 2016 campaign.

Punters

Honorable Mention: Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs

5. Sam Martin, Detroit Lions

4. Matt Bosher, Atlanta Falcons

3. Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams

2. Marquette King, Oakland Raiders

1. Sam Koch, Baltimore Ravens - Koch has mastered many different punting techniques that pin the ball constantly inside the 20 and wreak havoc.