Top 100 NFL players entering the 2020 season: Nos. 20-11

Nos. 20-11 on the top 100 players entering 2020 features two quarterbacks over 40 years old and two stud All-Pro safeties.

The NFL is in good hands. While an elite guard of veterans continue guiding the league into a new decade, plenty of younger players are already clamoring up the NFL hierarchy. Nos. 20-11 on the top 100 feature both veterans searching for one more ring and the next generation of legendary players, looking to make their marks in the pros.

If you don’t see a player you believes deserves a top 20 selection, he probably appears in a previous edition of the top 100. This is one of the series’ final installments, meaning you’ve missed a lot of action already. The oldest articles present the full context for this list, so they’re worth a read.

A former Super Bowl champion and perennial Pro Bowler opens Nos. 20-11 of the top 100.

20. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

In his 19th season, Brees underwent surgery on his throwing hand during the middle of the season. The future Hall of Fame quarterback missed five games. He finished the year with fewer than 15 starts for the first time since 2003, when he split starting time with Doug Flutie on the San Diego Chargers.

Despite missing time, Brees made the 13th Pro Bowl of his career. He also led the NFL in completion percentage for the third consecutive season, connecting on 74.3% of his pass attempts. Brees set the single-season record by completing 74.4% in 2018.

While he’s one of the most accurate players in league history, Brees also improved his efficiency as a passer over the past three seasons. During that time, he hasn’t thrown double-digit interceptions and averaged a 111.3 passer rating. Coincidentally, the Saints have three consecutive heart-breaking playoff defeats.

Brees is already 41 years old, but he’s not the oldest quarterback who appears in this edition of the top 100.

19. T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pro Football Focus (PFF) selected Watt as the outlet’s Breakout Player of the Year. The younger Watt set career-highs across the board with two interceptions, eight passes defensed, four fumble recoveries, 14.5 sacks, 36 quarterback hits, and 59 pressures. He also tied for the lead-league with eight forced fumbles.

Watt’s breakout campaign led to his second Pro Bowl bid and First-Team All-Pro selections from the Associated Press (AP), PFF, and Sporting News. The AP gave Watt a First-Team spot at defensive end and a Second-Team All-Pro selection as a linebacker. He also finished 2019 with PFF’s highest pass-rush grade of any edge rusher (91.7), proving he belongs in an elite class.

Watt proved during his first three seasons that he’s a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate who can make game-changing players every week.