Three Tennessee Titans recently made ESPN’s list of the top 100 players in the NFL for 2022, but each of them were criminally underrated.
The list, which is compiled by the votes of 50 NFL experts and based on how good they think players will be this coming season, has running back Derrick Henry at No. 61, safety Kevin Byard at No. 83, and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons at No. 92.
Considering all three players are among the best — if not the best in the case of Byard and Henry — at their respective positions, these rankings are far too low.
Henry, who managed to finish in the top 10 in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns in 2021 despite missing the final nine games, falls behind two other backs on the list in Jonathan Taylor (No. 18) and Nick Chubb (No. 47).
Prior to an injury-shortened season that proved to be the only defense that can stop Henry, the Alabama product won back-to-back rushing titles and was one of the most dominant forces in the entire league.
Looking ahead to 2022, Henry is fully healthy and there’s no reason to think he won’t return to his elite form. As we’ve said time and time again, let’s see Chubb or Taylor outproduce Henry over the course of a full season before crowning them better.
Byard was arguably the best safety in the NFL last season, so it comes as a surprise that not only is he ranked this low, but that six other players at the position are ranked higher.
The list includes Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 23), Derwin James (No. 43), Justin Simmons (No. 57), Jordan Poyer (No. 58), Budda Baker (No. 66) and Antoine Winfield (No. 77).
Byard earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro nods in 2021, and was in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year at one point. He posted elite coverage and overall Pro Football Focus grades, both of which were tops among safeties. At 29, Byard is in his prime.
Simmons’ ranking is egregious because he emerged as one of the best interior defenders in the NFL in 2021, notching a career-high 8.5 sacks. Simmons also showed up on the national stage, tallying three sacks in a playoff loss.
Despite all that, there are four interior defensive linemen ranked ahead of him, including Aaron Donald (No. 2), Chris Jones (No. 40), DeForest Buckner (No. 62), and Cameron Heyward (No. 82).
The only one who we have no argument against being ranked higher than Simmons is, of course, Donald, who was the only player ranked ahead of Simmons when ESPN listed their top 10 defensive linemen in July, which was based on votes by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
This is just the latest top 100 list the Titans trio has made. NFL Network’s list, which was voted on by players around the league, did a much better job.
Henry landed behind Taylor once again there, but at least he was ranked 12th overall in what is a much more accurate ranking. Byard landed at No. 34, but at least he was the highest-ranked safety there. Simmons was also very underrated on NFL Network’s list, coming in at No. 54.
The good news is the season is about to start and we won’t have to see silly lists like these for another year.
