The NFL season is still a few months away, which means it’s time to trot out the annual player rankings from NFL Network and Pro Football Focus. That also means it’s time for the rest of us to dissect and question those rankings – like why PFF and NFL Network disagree so much on Broncos defensive back Chris Harris.
The Pro Football Focus list is already complete, with three Broncos making the cut. Aqib Talib squeaked in at 46, Chris Harris blew away expectations by earning the No. 14 spot, and Von Miller locked down the No. 7 spot, solidifying a top-10 ranking for the second consecutive year. The most notable Bronco missing from this list would have to be safety T.J. Ward, who many see as a top defensive talent in the league.
The Pro Football Focus rankings have been a widely discussed topic so far this year due to the top two spots being held by J.J. Watt, who only played three games in 2016, and Aaron Donald, who has strung together a few strong seasons to begin his NFL career but is still looking to make the jump to an elite overall player and not just an elite young player.
NFL Network’s list goes a little deeper, expanding to a top 100, but is not quite finished. With the top 30 spots still undecided the Broncos have two players in the first 70. Chris Harris landed at number 63, which raises some questions when compared to his ranking at 14 on the Pro Football Focus list. Talib is the other Bronco already on the NFL Network list with a rank of 37, about even with his Pro Football Focus ranking.
With the top 30 still yet to be revealed Bronco fans can only speculate as to who else will make the cut. As mentioned before, T.J. Ward is a great defensive talent, so he could also make a splash by sneaking in the top 30 as they are released in the coming weeks.
Last year Miller ranked No. 15 on NFL Network’s list in 2016. If the Pro Football Focus list is any indicator then Von Miller is a virtual lock to find himself in the top 10.
