New England Patriots safety Nate Ebner called Terrelle Pryor one of the best athletes he’s ever faced, which got us thinking. Who are the top 10 athletic players in the NFL?
Despite Pryor becoming the first player to have at least 120 receiving yards, at least 30 passing yards, and at least 20 rushing yards in a single game since 1959, the Cleveland Browns receiver did not make the cut. Athleticism is defined as the quality of having the kind of strength and energy that makes a great athlete, according to vocabulary.com. These players do things that most cant.
Here are the top 10 athletic players in the NFL.
10. Aaron Rodgers
He might not look it but Aaron Rodgers is one of the most athletic players in the NFL. His ability to extend plays outside the pocket makes him a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. The Green Bay Packers quarterback has a knack for making big-time throws on the run, like the Hail Mary passes he threw against Detroit and Arizona last season.
9. Russell Wilson
What he lacks in height, Russell Wilson makes up for in athleticism. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback is only 5-foot-10, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league. A perfect example of his athleticism is the touchdown pass he threw to Jermaine Kearse in the divisional playoff against Carolina last season. Wilson has fooled defenders with that spin move many times before.
8. Aaron Donald
Defensive tackles are not supposed to be able to run the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, but the Rams’ Aaron Donald did and that’s one reason he’s one of the most athletic players in the NFL. The other is extraordinary strength, which he uses to dominate opposing offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage. After recording 69 tackles, 11 sacks, a pass defended and a fumble recovery in 2015, Donald was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row.
7. Von Miller
The Denver Broncos outside linebacker is arguably the quickest pass-rusher in the league and that is what makes him athletic. Von Miller’s average time to sack versus Carolina in the Super Bowl was 2.97 seconds. Additionally, at the 2011 NFL combine, Miller posted a 4.53 40-yard dash time and his 11.15-second 60-yard shuttle broke the combine linebacker record. Speed and quickness is the name of the game for Miller, who is the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 50 career sacks.
6. Khalil Mack
In 2015, Khalil Mack was the first player ever to be named All-Pro at both outside linebacker and defensive end in the same season, which goes to show his dominance and that he is athletic enough to play both positions. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Mack posted a 40-inch vertical and a 4.65 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL combine, showcasing his explosiveness for teams at the top of the draft. He was selected fifth overall by the Oakland Raiders, who could have a future Defensive Player of the Year on their hands.
5. J.J. Watt
The definition of a gym rat, J.J. Watt has put countless hours into working out and it has paid off for him. The Houston Texans defensive end has won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times. At 6-foot-5, 289 pounds, Watt creates a lot of chaos at the line of scrimmage and forces opposing teams to double team him. He also has some skills on offense. During the 2014 season, Watt caught three touchdown passes. Unfortunately, Watt injured his back and is out for the rest of the season, but he’ll come back ready to dominate again in 2017.
4. Patrick Peterson
It’s not easy playing cornerback in the NFL, having to track down the top receivers, but Patrick Peterson makes it look easy sometimes. The Arizona Cardinals had one of the best pass defenses last season, holding opponents to 230 passing yards per game, and Peterson having the best year of his career in 2015 had a lot to do with it. And with interceptions like this one, it’s easy to see why he’s among the top athletes in the NFL.
3. Antonio Brown
Undersized and undervalued, Antonio Brown had to work hard to get where he is now. The 5-foot-10, sixth-round draft pick out Central Michigan worked his way up from a punt returner to the best receiver in the NFL. Six years later, Brown is still returning punts for the Pittsburgh Steelers in addition to making plays on offense. Did we mention he killed it on Dancing with the Stars? He’s one of the top athletes in sports, period.
2. Odell Beckham Jr.
When people expect spectacular catches from you, then you must be pretty athletic. Odell Beckham Jr. set the bar high when he made one of the greatest catches ever his rookie season against the Dallas Cowboys. The New York Giants receiver snagged a pass that looked to be out of reach with three fingers, and thus the legend was born. Beckham needs a few more highlight plays to grab the top spot of the best athletes in the NFL, but he’s nearly there.
1. Cam Newton
Cam Newton is one of a kind. The Carolina Panthers quarterback is 6-foot-5 and weighs 245 pounds, making it almost impossible to bring him down. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons, who last season tried to stop Newton from picking up a first down on 3rd-and-8 with his legs but failed. Newton passed for 35 touchdowns and ran for 10 more in 2015 en route to winning the MVP. Anybody that size who can do a complete front flip into the end zone and land on their feet has to be athletic. Newton is just a freakish athlete, there’s not much else to say.