The NFL has now announced its complete annual top 100 players list going into the 2021 season and Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald came in at No. 2.
The only player ahead of Donald is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes while Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end TJ Watt and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen rounded out the top 10 in that order.
For Donald, this is his third straight year being in the top three, fourth straight year in the top 10 and seventh straight year overall in the top 100. He came in at No. 3 last year, No. 1 in 2019 and No. 7 in 2018.
This is the fourth straight year that Donald has been the highest defensive player on the list, which comes as no surprise considering he has won three of the last four NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.
In 2020, Donald won the award after finishing with 13.5 sacks, 28 QB hits, 14 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
This list was voted on by players across the league, so it’s clear that they hold Donald in a very high respect for his dominance over the last decade.
In addition to Donald, the only other Rams player to make the list was cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who came in just outside the top 10 at No. 13 overall.
