As the 2019-20 season closes the NFL decade, we have seen special players come through. We watched as some of our favorite players move on, such as Peyton Manning and Ed Reed. We have also seen some early retirements with Calvin Johnson and Andrew Luck. Here are the top five players from the 2010’s:
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady
The ageless wonder has been around for almost 20 years and has continued to dominate the league. His postseason comebacks against the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks have been fantasy-like. In 2017, Brady was the oldest player in NFL history to win MVP. To his name, he has merited 8 Pro Bowls, 2 MVP’s, 2 Super Bowl MVP’s, and has 2 All-Pro nominations.
Houston Texans DE JJ Watt
Watt is a all-time great defensive lineman that is one of the best in this era. He has been disruptive in the league since his arrival in 2011. Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner, with 92.5 sacks to his name. In addition, he has secured 5 Pro Bowls. He has been a staple on the Texans defensive front.
Oakland Raiders WR Antonio Brown
Brown has many contemporaries, but none have dominated in a way that he has over the second half of this decade. The former sixth-round pick from Central Michigan is a 7-time Pro Bowl player with 5 All-Pro nominations to his name. With a staggering 837 receptions, 11,207 receiving yards, and 74 touchdowns, Brown has been a force on the field. In 2013, he was the only receiver in NFL history to have 5+ receptions and 50+ yards in every game in a single season.
Denver Broncos LB Von Miller
Von Miller has been one of the best outside linebackers of this era and can completely take over a game. A prime example would be Super Bowl 50, where he exposed the Carolina Panthers offensive line. As a result, he was rewarded with the Super Bowl MVP honors. Since Miller entered the league in 2012, he has already become the Denver Broncos franchise leader in sacks with 98.
Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith
When it comes to an offensive lineman, it doesn’t get much better than Tyron Smith. He was drafted with the 9th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He is often regarded as the best left tackle in the NFL. In 2014, Smith was the first offensive lineman in over a decade to get Player of the Week.
Photo Credit: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
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