Top 100 NFL players entering the 2020 season: No. 40-31

32. Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

It took Heyward a few seasons to get acclimated to the NFL. He didn’t become a full-time starter until his third season, which is rare for first-round picks in the 2010s. While Heyward served as a productive defensive end, he didn’t make the Pro Bowl until his seventh season. Around that time, the Steelers began giving him more snaps at defensive tackle.

After missing more than half of the 2016 season, Heyward returned with a vengeance in 2017. The Ohio State product tallied 25 sacks, 54 quarterback hits, and 218 tackles in his first six seasons. In the last three years, he notched 29 sacks, 63 quarterback hits and 179 tackles. Moving Heyward to defensive tackle was one of Pittsburgh’s best moves last decade.

In 2019, Heyward made his third consecutive Pro Bowl and earned his second First-Team All-Pro selection from the AP in the past three years. He is one of five defensive tackles from the 2010s with multiple AP First-Team All-Pro selections. The others include Aaron Donald (five), Ndamukong Suh (three), Geno Atkins (two), and Haloti Ngata (two).

Heyward produced the most complete season of his career in 2019, amassing nine sacks, 23 quarterback hits, 33 pressures, and 83 tackles.

31. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Elliott’s best season came during his rookie campaign. That year, he ran for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns. The AP and PFF gave him First-Team All-Pro selections. However, despite leading the NFL in rushing yards per game in 2017 and 2018, the only other All-Pro bid Elliott received was a Second-Team All-Pro nod from the AP in 2018.

Through the first four years of his career, Elliott set a blistering pace for his fellow running backs. The Ohio State product averaged 96.5 rushing yards per game and amassed 7,024 yards from scrimmage and 48 total touchdowns. Elliott isn’t even a month removed from turning 25 years old.

Based on his current pace, Elliott could easily enter Hall of Fame discussions before turning 30. However, his trophy shelf remains relatively bare compared to those of the great running backs who came before him. Even Todd Gurley’s trophy case easily outclasses Elliott’s.