With the 2024 NFL season approaching, Pro Football Network ranked the league’s top 100 players.
While the list includes some of the NFL’s brightest young stars, plenty of seasoned NFL veterans made the cut. Which players over 30 years old made PFN’s NFL Top 100? Let’s take a look.
Players Over 30 Years Old in PFN’s NFL Top 100
1) Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins (Seventh overall)
Tyreek Hill led the NFL in receiving yards (1,799) and receiving TDs (13) and finished second in receptions (119), all while running just the 41st-most routes of any wide receiver. His efficiency was astounding, as his 3.85 yards per route run mark blew the modern record out of the water.
If there’s a defining image from the 2023 NFL campaign, it might be Hill streaking down the field, blowing past every defender for a score.
2) Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers (10th overall)
Although he’s 36 years old and just wrapped up his 13th pro campaign, Trent Williams remains the best offensive tackle in the NFL. With 10 consecutive Pro Bowl berths and three straight first-team All-Pro nods under his belt, Williams has built a Hall of Fame résumé.
Williams is still the most physically dominant left tackle in football, and his ability to wash out blockers allows the San Francisco 49ers to deploy a creative run attack.
3) Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (16th overall)
Chris Jones occupied two blockers a whopping 73% of the time, the highest rate in the league. With offensive linemen focused on Jones, other Kansas City Chiefs pass rushers like George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Charles Omenihu were able to reach opposing QBs.
Of course, Jones did alright for himself, posting 10.5 sacks in 16 games. His 42 sacks and 103 QB hits over the last four years rank first among defensive tackles.
Jones might have a better shot of winning a Defensive Player of the Year award now that Aaron Donald is out of the league.
4) Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs (21st overall)
Although Travis Kelce couldn’t match his 2022 statistics last year, he still ranked second among tight ends in yardage (984), third in receptions (93), and scored five touchdowns, continuing to add to his Hall of Fame résumé in his age-34 campaign.
Kelce’s unparalleled connection with Mahomes and his ability to find open space make him the NFL’s top tight end entering 2024.
5) Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (25th overall)
Davante Adams is still the best route runner in the game, and his release package is unparalleled. He earned three consecutive first-team All-Pro nods to begin the decade, but his production took a hit in 2023 (mainly due to the Las Vegas Raiders’ QB play).
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He’s posted at least 100 catches and 1,000 yards in five of the last six years, including four straight. While Vegas’ quarterback situation didn’t improve this offseason, Adams should continue to receive plenty of opportunities. In 2023, he ranked first league-wide in air yards share (44.2%) and second in target share (33.1%).
6) George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers (28th overall)
Catching passes in San Francisco’s highly schemed offense, George Kittle posted 15.7 yards per reception; Kyle Pitts was the only other TE with at least 40 targets to put up even 12 yards per catch. Let’s not forget that Kittle remains the NFL’s best blocking tight end and could probably play offensive tackle if needed.
7) Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (32nd overall)
Will 2024 be Dak Prescott’s final go-round with the Dallas Cowboys? Jerry Jones and Co. seemingly haven’t come any closer to extending their franchise quarterback after he led the NFL in touchdown passes (36) last season.
A second-team All-Pro in 2023, Prescott will have one more shot at increasing his value before potentially hitting the open market next offseason. One of the most intelligent signal-callers in the league, Prescott’s pre-snap diagnoses, post-snap awareness, and physical talent make him a consistent top-10 option under center.
8) Jalen Ramsey, CB, Miami Dolphins (36th overall)
While the Los Angeles Rams asked Jalen Ramsey to do a little of everything, he played almost exclusively on the boundary after being traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2023. Ramsey tore his meniscus in training camp but returned in Week 8, mainly looking like the same elite CB we’d seen in years past.
Ramsey allowed just a 53.8% completion rate and 51.1 passer rating after coming back from his knee injury. Few corners boast Ramsey’s superior blend of coverage and run-defense skills, which could make him an excellent safety when the time comes. However, a potential position change is still a few years away.
9) Lane Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (42nd overall)
The definition of a technician, Lane Johnson has been the most dominant right tackle of his era. He’s a “set it and forget it” RT who’s been critical to Philadelphia’s success up front.
The Eagles are rolling with youth on the interior following center Jason Kelce’s retirement, making Johnson all the more important at tackle.
10) Demario Davis, LB, New Orleans Saints (45th overall)
A late bloomer in the NFL, Demario Davis has become a genuine force since signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2018.
While he’s entering his age-35 campaign, Davis is still among the most productive linebackers in the league. He’s received a first- or second-team All-Pro nod in five consecutive seasons and has been named a Pro Bowler the last two. His 6.5 sacks in 2023 ranked second among off-ball linebackers.
11) Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams (52nd overall)
Matthew Stafford looked cooked in 2022 but recovered for an exceptional 2023 campaign with the upstart Los Angeles Rams. He ranked second in PFF’s big-time throw rate while posting the fourth-best turnover-worthy play rate, a deadly combination that earned Stafford the second Pro Bowl nod of his career.
Injuries will be a concern as he ages, but Stafford is one of the toughest players in the NFL.
12) Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams (59th overall)
Cooper Kupp won the NFL’s receiving triple crown with a 145-1,947-16 line in 2021, but injuries, age, and absurd usage have caught up to him as he enters his age-31 campaign.
He’s missed 13 games over the past two seasons and is now the second-best pass catcher on his team. Can Kupp stay healthy and rebound in 2024?
13) Joe Thuney, G, Kansas City Chiefs (60th overall)
Although the Chiefs’ offensive tackles struggled in 2023, the club’s interior line remained strong.
Joe Thuney’s 99% pass-block win rate ranked first among guards, and he was only penalized twice on more than 1,000 snaps (neither was accepted). Mahomes is excellent at avoiding pressure, but having a guard like Thuney up front helps.
14) Zack Martin, G, Dallas Cowboys (67th overall)
A lock to enter the Hall of Fame when he eventually retires, Zack Martin is arguably the best NFL guard of the past 15-20 years. He’s beyond sound in pass protection, and his athleticism is regularly on display in the Cowboys’ run game.
Dallas will heavily rely upon Martin, a six-time first-team All-Pro, as it works in two rookie offensive line starters in 2024.
15) Khalil Mack, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers (68th overall)
Talk about turning back the clock. After averaging just eight sacks per season from 2019 through 2022, aged pass rusher Khalil Mack racked up 17 sacks for the Chargers in 2023 while playing solid run defense.
He’ll be 33 next year, but Mack’s production wasn’t a fluke, as he ranked ninth in pass-rush win rate.
16) Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens (69th overall)
While Derrick Henry has played exclusively in the AFC South, he already feels like an AFC North running back. He’s led the league in rushing attempts four times in the last five years, including in 2023.
Capable of true brute force, Henry has managed double-digit touchdowns six times and crossed 1,000 yards in five seasons. In 2020, he topped 2,000 yards, led the league in rushing TDs (17), won the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award, and earned a first-team All-Pro nod.
17) Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (74th overall)
One of the most consistent players in NFL history, Mike Evans has famously eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in every season of his decade-long career.
In 2023, Evans led the NFL with 13 receiving touchdowns, ranked fifth in contested catches (30), and was the only receiver in the league to average 2+ yards per route run while posting a 15+ yard aDOT.
18) DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys (78th overall)
While Micah Parsons is the more dynamic Cowboys pass rusher at this stage, don’t forget about DeMarcus Lawrence. He’s the hidden gem of Dallas’ defensive front.
Lawrence’s relentless hustle is the key to his mauling run defense, and he’s earned Pro Bowl nods the last two seasons.
19) Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets (80th overall)
Trying to predict how Aaron Rodgers will perform in 2024 is almost impossible. While he won back-to-back MVPs as recently as 2020 and 2021, Rodgers is now 40 years old, coming off a torn Achilles, and still trying to get his New York Jets stint off the ground.
The talent is probably still there, but Rodgers’s myriad question marks — punctuated by his mercurial personality and odd offseason — make the legendary QB a total mystery.
20) Tyron Smith, OT, New York Jets (84th overall)
Injuries have always been an issue for the 33-year-old Tyron Smith, who hasn’t completed a full slate of games since the 2016 campaign.
However, he’s typically excellent when available. Smith handled 1-on-1 pass-blocking situations on 84.5% of his snaps last season, the third-highest among left tackles, per Next Gen Stats. His 6.7% pressure rate allowed on those snaps was the best mark in the NFL.
21) Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans (87th overall)
Stefon Diggs’ 2023 statistics were undoubtedly concerning. He posted his fewest yards (1,183) and yards per reception (11.1) since 2018, his second-to-last season with the Minnesota Vikings. Diggs went from seventh to 31st in yards per route run from 2022 to 2023; he slipped from fourth to 67th in ESPN’s tracking metrics.
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The Houston Texans, perhaps knowing they needed to motivate the four-time Pro Bowler, altered Diggs’ contract upon acquiring him this offseason, ensuring he’ll become a free agent next spring. With a chance at one more significant payday on the horizon, Diggs should be locked in.
22) Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers (98th overall)
Cameron Heyward finally showed signs of aging in 2023, as he missed six games and posted just two sacks, his fewest since 2012.
However, when healthy, the 35-year-old is still an effective pass rusher and stout against the run. Heyward totaled 20.5 sacks from 2021 to 2022 and has earned four All-Pro nods since 2017.
23) DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts (100th overall)
One of the most effective interior defenders of his generation, DeForest Buckner put up 52 sacks over the past five seasons; only Aaron Donald had more among DTs.
Buckner, Myles Garrett, and Chris Jones are the NFL’s only players with at least seven sacks in each of the last six years. Buckner also led all defenders with seven batted passes in 2023.
