Top 100 NFL players entering the 2020 season: No. 100-91

98. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Pittsburgh Steelers

This past season was far from Pouncey’s finest. The eight-time Pro Bowler is more likely to be remembered for his retribution against Myles Garrett than stellar play in 2019. The 31-year-old faced a two-game suspension for his actions during the Cleveland-Pittsburgh brawl, but that only raised Pouncey’s profile within football circles.

While he earned a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2018, Pouncey, along with the rest of Pittsburgh’s offense, struggled without Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers only allowed 32 sacks, placing their offensive line among the ten best in that category, but finished in the bottom five in rushing yards for the second year in a row.

In the past, I would’ve put Pouncey well within the top 70 players in the NFL. After a disappointing season, the two-time First-Team All-Pro drops to No. 98.

97. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

By 2016, Beckham’s name sat among the game’s best active receivers. In November, The Undefeated’s Kayla Johnson even wondered if Beckham could become the greatest receiver of all-time. He earned top-10 spots on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016 (No. 10) and the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 (No. 8). Then, the three-time consecutive Pro Bowler came crashing down to Earth.

Beckham only played four games in 2017 before playing 12 in 2018. With Eli Manning declining, the wide receiver’s production suffered. However, he still averaged 87.7 receiving yards per game. New York traded the dramatic receiver to Cleveland for a first-round pick, a third-rounder, and Jabrill Peppers.

When Beckham lined up alongside his college teammate Jarvis Landry in Cleveland’s stacked, young offense, fans began trumpeting Super Bowl expectations. The Browns went 6-10, and Beckham averaged the fewest receptions and yards per game of his career.

Odell apologists can blame Baker Mayfield and Cleveland’s offense as much as they like, but Beckham wasn’t even a lock to make this list. He narrowly edged out two receivers who earned honorable mentions.

For those of you still clinging to the Beckham from four years ago, consider that Tyler Boyd and Stefon Diggs outproduced the LSU product over the past two seasons in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.