NFL Top 100 shock: A.J. Brown falls 51 spots, Sweat surges
The NFL's peer-voted Top 100 for 2026 dropped Nos. 80 through 77 this week, and A.J. Brown's 51-spot freefall to No. 80 stole the storyline. New England's blockbuster acquisition tumbled from No. 29 a year ago, while Baker Mayfield slid out of the top 50 to No. 77 and Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat surged 17 places to No. 78 on the annual player-ranked list.
Key Takeaways
- A.J. Brown landed at No. 80 on the 2026 NFL Top 100, a 51-spot drop from No. 29 last summer after a drama-filled final season in Philadelphia.
- Baker Mayfield checked in at No. 77, falling out of the top 50 after appearing there on last year's list, despite never missing a start for Tampa Bay.
- Josh Sweat rose to No. 78 after a career-best 12-sack season with Arizona, climbing 17 spots in his second straight Top 100 appearance.
- Travis Kelce ranked No. 79, earning his 11th consecutive Top 100 nod at age 36.
- No Philadelphia Eagles have appeared on the 2026 list yet, reinforcing debate over the team's offseason trade of Brown.
Why did A.J. Brown plummet on the NFL Top 100?
Brown's ranking collapse is the most jarring move in this batch of reveals. A year ago, the wide receiver sat at No. 29 after a Super Bowl-winning campaign with the Eagles. Now, as the Patriots' new No. 1 receiver for Drake Maye, he sits at No. 80 — squarely in the bottom half of the league's most-watched player poll.
According to NFL.com, Brown's final Philadelphia season featured "more noise off the field than on it," yet he still led the Eagles in targets (121) and catches while posting his fourth straight 1,000-yard season and his third straight with seven touchdown catches. NESN noted that even in a "nightmare season" for Philly's passing game, Brown surpassed 1,000 yards — but peers clearly viewed him as a step below his peak.
Yahoo Sports contributor Ryan Brown argued the 51-spot slide is not a minor blip. "That is the league collectively saying they saw a player who took a noticeable step backward," he wrote, citing knee injuries and playoff drops as factors Eagles fans witnessed firsthand.
How did Baker Mayfield and Josh Sweat move on the list?
At No. 77, Baker Mayfield dropped out of the top 50 he held on last year's list. NFL.com described the Buccaneers quarterback as "daring and dogged," noting he threw 16 of his 26 touchdowns with just two interceptions through the first nine games of 2025. Injuries to Mayfield and Tampa Bay's offense took a toll — he was a regular on the injury report despite starting all 17 games, and his 90.6 passer rating was his lowest as a Buc.
One spot above Mayfield, Josh Sweat's stock is climbing fast. The Cardinals linebacker posted career bests with 12 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2025, his first season in Arizona after signing a lucrative free-agent deal. NFL.com reported Sweat led Arizona with 42 quarterback pressures and caused three turnovers by pressure — nearly matching the rest of the Cardinals defense combined.
Travis Kelce landed between them at No. 79, marking his 11th straight Top 100 selection. The Chiefs tight end ranked 37th last year and remains among the position's elite despite turning 36.
Does Brown's drop validate the Eagles' offseason trade?
The timing adds fuel to one of the NFL's hottest offseason debates. Philadelphia traded Brown to New England this offseason, and Yahoo Sports noted that with no Eagles yet revealed and the countdown already at No. 80, players like Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts are expected to rank above their former teammate.
"If that happens, Howie Roseman is going to look like an absolute genius for getting off A.J. Brown when he did," the Yahoo piece argued. NESN struck a more optimistic tone for New England, suggesting Brown should thrive with a "purer passer" in Maye and could climb back up the list within a year.
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