It is that time in the offseason when the NFL reveals its top players as part of its yearly Top-100 list. Your favorite players from across the league vote on their peers and compile a list to find the 100 best overall players. In this year's edition, three players from the Atlanta Falcons made the list, with one of them being a new addition to the team. Let’s take a look and recap where the Falcons landed amongst the best 100 players in the NFL:
No. 88 - G Chris Lindstrom
A force in the trenches 💪#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/su6xEOgUta
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 23, 2024
Lindstrom remains one of the best blockers in the league after earning his third consecutive 80.0-plus overall grade and finishing with a 98% efficiency rate for the second straight year. Earning Pro Bowl honors for the second straight season, he allowed just three sacks, two QB hits and 10 hurries while starting 16 games. Last offseason, the Falcons signed Lindstrom to a five-year extension, and he’s made sure to prove he’s worth it.
No. 81 - QB Kirk Cousins
Kirk clocking in ⏱️#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/DjK7smkiUg
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 23, 2024
In a year that saw seven starting quarterbacks sustain season-ending injuries, Cousins appeared in eight games before suffering a torn Achilles. The veteran QB finished his final season in Minnesota with 18 touchdowns, 2,331 passing yards and five interceptions before signing a whopping four-year deal with the Falcons as a free agent this offseason. With a new head coach and offensive coordinator behind him (and a rookie QB waiting in the wings), all eyes will be on Cousins this year.
No. 74 - S Jessie Bates III
.@jlbiii3 standing on business 😤#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/klhnEyk4Vr
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 24, 2024
Sometimes the grass is greener on the other side, especially in Atlanta for Bates. In his first season with the Falcons, Bates received his first Pro Bowl selection in his sixth NFL season. The safety had a career year by setting new highs with six interceptions, three forced fumbles and 132 tackles.
Overall, it is nice to see a solid representation for the Falcons, even though it may only be three players. When the NFL revealed the rankings that included the Falcons, however, many fans around the league felt that the placements were too low for both Lindstrom and Bates respectively.
Lindstrom is without a doubt one of, if not, the best offensive linemen in the entire league and to see him placed only at No. 88 feels a bit insulting to the type of player he is. Bates on the other hand had a tremendous first year in Atlanta, having been a consistent player on the field and a reliable leader in the locker room, for Bates to not reach the top 70 is absurd.
This upcoming season is the time for the team to make a statement and truly showcase all of their talented players. Fans could very well likely see Bates, Cousins and Lindstrom land on this list yet again next year, but this time around, be joined by players like Bijan Robinson and Drake London, who did not make this year's list.
Only time will tell.
