Every offseason, CBS analyst Pete Prisco releases his list of the Top 100 NFL Players of the Year. The New England Patriots had multiple players featured throughout the years, but the 2020 version is down to only two (plus two honorable mentions): cornerback Stephon Gilmore and guard Joe Thuney, both of which coming off the best seasons of their career and are projected to return to play considerable roles on the team this year.
Prisco’s rationale behind their inclusion on his list reads as follows:
6. CB Stephon Gilmore: He was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for a reason. He’s a lockdown corner who was a big reason why the Pats defense was so good for much of the season, tying for the league lead in interceptions with six.
65. G Joe Thuney: On a bad offensive line last season, he was clearly the bright spot. That’s why the Patriots put the franchise tag on him to keep him.
Gilmore’s and Thuney’s quality cannot be denied: the two are among the best players in the league at their respective positions — something that can also be said about the Patriots’ two honorable mentions: safety Devin McCourty and wide receiver Julian Edelman. Together with the two ranked members of the team, they are expected to play integral roles in 2020 and on a team that will have to rally around a new starting quarterback.
Speaking of the old starting quarterback, Tom Brady, he is one of two ex-Patriots mentioned: the greatest quarterback of all time and new Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB was ranked 19th, linebacker Kyle Van Noy mentioned in honorable fashion.