Top 100 NFL players entering the 2020 season: No. 100-91
By Samuel Teets
96. Eddie Jackson, S Chicago Bears
In 2018, Jackson received a First-Team All-Pro selection for his role on a dominant Chicago defense. Kyle Fuller and Khalil Mack also earned All-Pro spots that season while Akiem Hicks made his first Pro Bowl. Chicago finished with the league’s best rushing defense and led the NFL with 27 interceptions and five interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Jackson made two of those pick-sixes himself. The former fourth-round pick also returned a fumble for a touchdown, giving him five defensive touchdowns in his first two seasons. However, Chicago’s dominant defense did not carry over into 2019.
Jackson’s production dropped from six interceptions in 2018 to two this past season. His passes defensed also dropped from 15 to five. The Alabama product did not score a touchdown or receive an All-Pro selection. When NFL Network revealed the Top 100 Players of 2020, Jackson’s name did not appear. He still gets credit for being a top-10 safety, but that doesn’t erase a poor showing in 2019.
95. Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions
The man affectionately referred to as Babytron led the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns this past season. Golladay gets his unique nicknames from comparisons to former Lion, Calvin Johnson (Megatron). While Megatron dominated the league with his imposing 6-5, 237-pound frame, Golladay began showing similar characteristics this past season.
The former third-round pick made 65 receptions for 1,190 yards in 2019. Keep in mind, he only had Matthew Stafford for the first eight weeks. The remainder of the season, Golladay fielded balls from David Blough and Jeff Driskel. Neither threw more touchdowns than interceptions. In his first eight games, Golladay made 35 receptions for 640 yards and seven touchdowns. He still produced 30 receptions for 550 yards and four touchdowns during the final eight weeks.
While Golladay doesn’t possess the same raw potential as Odell Beckham, he’s outproduced the veteran over the past two years. If Stafford remains healthy for all 16 games, we could see a 1,300-yard season from his favorite receiver.