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The Philadelphia Eagles did not need another reminder that their roster is loaded.
They got one anyway.
Philadelphia led ESPN’s ranking of the NFL’s top 100 players entering the 2026 season with eight selections, finishing ahead of the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers, who each had six.
At the opposite end of the exercise were the New York Jets. They were the only NFL team without a single player on the list. The two results paint very different pictures of franchises entering the season with very different expectations.
Eagles’ loaded roster receives another endorsement
Philadelphia led the league in top-100 selections for the second consecutive year. That depth matters more than simply having one superstar near the top. A team can game-plan around a dominant receiver, pass rusher or defensive back. It becomes considerably more difficult when high-end talent is spread throughout the roster.
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2026The Eagles’ representation included quarterback Jalen Hurts, although his placement created an interesting subplot. Hurts fell from No. 38 last year to No. 97 after an uneven 2025 season. ESPN still noted that Hurts has compiled a 57-25 record as a starter and trails only Josh Allen in total touchdowns since 2022. Philadelphia also will ask him to lead a new offensive system under coordinator Sean Mannion.
DeVonta Smith landed at No. 93 as he prepares to operate as the Eagles’ clear No. 1 receiver following A.J. Brown’s departure. ESPN projected Smith to catch 91 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns.
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The Jets, meanwhile, produced the list’s most awkward goose egg. New York hopes that will change quickly after using the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey. Sports Illustrated separately named Bailey one of the league’s 10 young breakout candidates after an impressive training camp.
Rankings do not decide games, and the Jets certainly would not be the first team to outperform bleak preseason expectations.
Still, every other franchise found at least one representative. New York did not. For the Eagles, the list confirms that another deep playoff run should be the expectation. For the Jets, it provides a rather blunt measurement of how much young talent must develop before the franchise earns the same respect.
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