- Tom Brady is the undisputed featured quarterback: Brady is not only the highest-graded quarterback of the PFF period, but in addition the highest-graded participant total because the clear selection for QB1 on this record.
- Aaron Donald leads a protection filled with stars because the highest-graded defender in PFF historical past: Donald’s dominance in his 10-year profession could by no means be replicated, contemplating a few of the PFF data he set throughout his time within the league.
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Estimated Reading Time: quarter-hour
We’re 1 / 4 of the best way into the 2000s, which has accounted for a number of lifetimes within the NFL world, giving us many superstars, Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. Now, we’re creating one of the best staff attainable of gamers from the previous 25 years.
PFF’s grading of each participant on each play in each sport began in 2006, so this isn’t a real quarter-century record, however there might be exceptions for many who are deserving however performed from 2000-2005. PFF’s best-in-class database powers the numbers behind these profession grades, which assist contextualize one of the best gamers of the 2000s.
QUARTERBACK: Tom Brady (98.6 Career PFF Grade)
It’s no shock that the best quarterback of all time earned the best profession total grade throughout all positions in PFF historical past.
Brady accounts for half of the six highest season-long PFF passing grades within the PFF period, between his 2017 (93.4), 2007 (93.9) and 2016 (94.2) campaigns. No statistic fairly holds as much as seven Super Bowl victories, however Brady’s 2.0% turnover-worthy play fee on greater than 12,000 PFF-graded dropbacks is a outstanding feat.
Honorable Mention: Peyton Manning
Tom Brady’s Final 10 NFL Seasons
RUNNING BACK: Derrick Henry (96.8 Career PFF Grade)
Henry’s inclusion because the highest-graded operating again in PFF historical past is made all of the extra spectacular by the truth that he’s nonetheless going at 30 years previous and simply engineered the best-graded season of his profession in Year 9.
In his first 12 months with the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, Henry led the league in each PFF total grade (94.1) and PFF speeding grade (93.5) for his place whereas posting a career-high 6.0 yards per keep it up 367 makes an attempt. His 3.6 yards after contact per try in his profession is the second-best mark of all time amongst 159 qualifying operating backs — behind solely Nick Chubb (3.8), although Henry has dealt with almost double the variety of carries.
Honorable Mention: Marshawn Lynch
WIDE RECEIVER: Antonio Brown (94.9 Career PFF Grade)
Brown is the highest-graded broad receiver within the PFF period, doing in order the final word goal earner throughout his 12 NFL seasons, with the best profession goal fee (27.1%) amongst 181 qualifying broad receivers since 2006.
In 2015, Brown was the primary participant within the PFF period to see greater than 200 targets in a season (playoffs included). He delivered 1,953 yards and the best PFF receiving grade in a season (92.6) on the time. Brown ranks within the high 5 at his place since 2006 in profession yards per route run (2.45), yards after the catch (4,903) and total receiving yards (13,209).
WIDE RECEIVER: Julio Jones (94.8 Career PFF Grade)
Jones loved 5 straight seasons (2015-19) with at the least a 90.0 PFF receiving grade, a feat that hasn’t been replicated. No different broad receiver has greater than three such seasons of their NFL careers.
Jones’ dominance over that stretch is without doubt one of the extra spectacular accomplishments in PFF historical past, along with his 2016 season standing out, particularly. He set a report for PFF receiving grade in a season (93.4) at that time, beating Antonio Brown’s 2015 mark. Jones’ 2.53 yards per route run for his profession continues to be the highest mark for a large receiver who has performed greater than six NFL seasons since 2006, and his 409 profession explosive receptions (15-plus yards) are nonetheless probably the most in PFF historical past.
WIDE RECEIVER: Tyreek Hill (93.8 Career PFF Grade)
Hill is coming into Year 10 of his NFL profession and boasts a big pattern measurement of dominance, that includes the third-best PFF receiving grade for his place and a number of other single-season data.
Hill broke Julio Jones’ PFF report for receiving grade in a season by delivering a 93.8 mark, and he additionally set a report in yards per route run in a season (3.72) — a title beforehand held by Steve Smith for 15 years (2008).
Honorable Mention: Calvin Johnson
TIGHT END: Rob Gronkowski (94.0 Career PFF Grade)
While Julio Jones holds the report for many seasons with at the least a 90.0 PFF receiving grade (5), Gronkowski holds the report throughout all positions with six such campaigns, between 2011 and 2017.
Gronkowski’s 14.8 yards per reception over his profession is one of the best mark within the PFF period amongst qualifying tight ends. He additionally boasts probably the most receiving touchdowns within the PFF period (107), having delivered 20 in 2011 alone, 17 of which got here within the common season — additionally probably the most all time.
Honorable Mention: George Kittle
LEFT TACKLE: Joe Thomas (96.8 Career PFF Grade)
Thomas is actually top-of-the-line of all time at his place, having delivered the best profession PFF pass-blocking grade of any offensive lineman within the PFF period (95.9).
Thomas allowed only a 4.0% strain fee in his profession, the second-best mark amongst all offensive tackles with at the least 5,000 pass-blocking snaps. He holds the PFF report for many seasons (six) with a pass-blocking grade above 90.0. For context, honorable point out Trent Williams, who has six seasons of 90.0-plus PFF total grades, has only one season with a 90.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grade.
Honorable Mention: Trent Williams
LEFT GUARD: Logan Mankins (93.2 Career PFF Grade)
Mankins is the highest-graded left guard to play greater than 7,000 offensive snaps within the PFF period, particularly on the again of his run blocking. No left guard has delivered the next PFF run-blocking grade for his or her profession than Mankins since 2006 (93.1).
The long-time New England Patriot was most dominant between 2007 and 2010, when he posted 4 straight seasons with at the least a 90.0 PFF run-blocking grade. He was the highest-graded run blocker amongst all offensive linemen over that span (95.4), and the second-highest-graded offensive lineman total (95.4).
Honorable Mention: Evan Mathis
CENTER: Nick Mangold (95.3 Career PFF Grade)
Mangold burst onto the scene in 2006 as a rookie, posting a 94.0 PFF pass-blocking grade, which nonetheless stands as one of the best mark for a middle.
From that time on, Mangold established himself as one of the best middle within the PFF period, posting the second-highest profession PFF pass-blocking grade for the place (93.0) and rating within the high 5 on the place in profession pass-blocking effectivity (99.1), profession strain fee allowed (1.9%) and profession knockdown fee allowed (0.5%) amongst 55 qualifiers since 2006.
Honorable Mention: Jason Kelce
Nick Mangold’s Career PFF Grades
RIGHT GUARD: Marshal Yanda (93.6 Career PFF Grade)
Across 13 NFL seasons — all with the Baltimore Ravens — Yanda by no means posted a PFF blocking grade or PFF total grade beneath 72.2 in a season, standing out as a poster baby of high-end consistency.
Yanda’s finest pass-blocking marketing campaign got here in 2016, when he allowed the bottom strain fee in a season (1.0%) for his place (minimal 450 pass-blocking snaps) and did not let up a single sack or quarterback hit. He stands as the one offensive guard to rank within the high 5 in profession PFF total grade (93.6), profession PFF run-blocking grade (91.7) and profession PFF pass-blocking grade (91.3) amongst 274 qualifying gamers since 2006.
Honorable Mention: Zack Martin
RIGHT TACKLE: Lane Johnson (92.8 Career PFF Grade)
Johnson is coming off his twelfth NFL season, which resulted in his second Super Bowl victory and one of the best PFF total grade (88.9) of his profession. It was the cherry on high of a dominant profession during which he owns one of the best knockdown fee allowed (sacks plus quarterback hits) amongst offensive tackles with at the least 4,500 pass-blocking snaps (1.1%).
Johnson’s 2024 season proved that he’s ageing like a advantageous wine, as certainly one of simply three gamers (Andrew Whitworth and Tristan Wirfs) to publish two of the 15 lowest strain charges allowed in a season for the place since 2006 — one in 2022 (1.8%) and the opposite in 2024 (2.6%).
Honorable Mention: Mitchell Schwartz
INTERIOR DEFENDER: Aaron Donald (97.2 Career PFF Grade)
Donald is the highest-graded defensive participant of the PFF period and some of the dominant gamers the league has ever seen. He holds eight PFF data for his place, particularly as a move rusher, because of proudly owning all six of one of the best season-long pass-rush grades ever amongst inside defenders.
Donald delivered 9 straight seasons with at the least a 90.0 PFF pass-rush grade, a feat that will by no means be repeated. He is certainly one of simply three inside defensive linemen to publish greater than 100 quarterback pressures in a season, and he did it 4 instances in his NFL profession.
INTERIOR DEFENDER: J.J. Watt (93.9 Career PFF Grade)
Watt cut up his time between edge defender and inside defensive lineman, the latter of which is the place he options on this record, as his most dominant seasons at that place are the one ones to return near rivaling Aaron Donald.
The second-highest-graded inside defensive linemen within the PFF period delivered a report 119 quarterback pressures for the place and a 92.9 PFF pass-rush grade in 2014, which ranks simply exterior Donald’s six finest seasons of all time. Watt additionally put collectively three of the 5 seasons with probably the most sacks for the place, resulting in the third-most sacks (120.5) within the PFF period, together with the playoffs.
Honorable Mention: Chris Jones
EDGE DEFENDER: Von Miller (95.1 Career PFF Grade)
The honor of probably the most profession sacks (139) within the PFF period additionally occurs to belong to the highest-graded edge defender of all time. Miller’s profession spans 13 seasons, precisely 10,000 defensive snaps, and continues to be going.
He owns 9 seasons with at the least a 90.0 PFF total grade — by far probably the most on the place, as the following closest participant (Khalil Mack) has six. Miller joins Nick Bosa as the one edge defender to rank within the high 5 in profession strain fee (16.5%), profession pass-rush win fee (16.7%) and profession PFF pass-rush grade (93.9).
EDGE DEFENDER: Myles Garrett (94.8 Career PFF Grade)
Garrett is arguably the simplest move rusher within the PFF period, incomes the best profession mark for the place (95.5) via his eight NFL seasons. He has now posted six straight seasons with at the least a 90.0 PFF pass-rush grade, rating first at his place 3 times and no worse than within the high 10 in each season exterior of his rookie 12 months.
Garrett’s profession 20.9% pass-rush win-rate is the highest mark amongst edge defenders — and a couple of.4 proportion factors increased than the following closest qualifying participant (Nick Bosa).
Honorable Mention: Khalil Mack
Myles Garrett’s Career PFF Grades
LINEBACKER: Patrick Willis (94.3 Career PFF Grade)
Willis completed his NFL profession with the best PFF total grade ever for the place and is the one linebacker to rank within the high 5 in profession PFF total grade, profession PFF run-defense grade (94.5), profession PFF protection grade (94.1) and profession missed deal with fee (5%).
He was by no means worse than a top-three-graded linebacker total for six straight seasons, from 2008 to 2013, and was No. 1 in that regard twice.
LINEBACKER: Ray Lewis (91.8 Career PFF Grade)
Lewis’ profession dates again additional than PFF grading, starting in 1996, although he’s deserving of creating the quarter-century staff when projecting the beginning of his profession — 5 first-team All-Pro appearances and two Defensive Player of the Year awards — to the PFF period.
Once PFF’s grading started, Lewis produced top-of-the-line profession grades for the place, rating among the many high 5 linebackers since 2006. His 2009 season was his finest captured by PFF, as he delivered a 91.4 PFF total grade — the highest mark that 12 months and tied for the third-best season all time for the place.
Honorable Mention: Bobby Wagner, Luke Kuechly
CORNERBACK: Richard Sherman (94.8 Career PFF Grade)
Sherman is the highest-graded cornerback of the PFF period, each total and in protection (95.2). He was the league’s top-graded cornerback 3 times (2012, 2013 and 2019) in his illustrious profession.
Typical protection stats don’t all the time do Sherman’s efficiency justice, as offenses did their finest to keep away from him within the passing sport. When he ranked within the high 10 in protection snaps in a season, he ranked within the high 25 in protection targets solely as soon as (2012). And he by no means positioned within the high 50 in targets when taking part in a top-10 snap depend. His profession yards allowed per protection snap determine (0.78) ranks because the second-best mark within the PFF period amongst 137 qualifying cornerbacks.
CORNERBACK: Antoine Winfield (94.5 Career PFF Grade)
Winfield’s NFL profession started in 1999, although even his seven remaining seasons within the PFF period yielded top-of-the-line profession marks of all time. He was among the many 10 highest-graded gamers for his place in 5 out of seven years, and the top-graded participant at his place 3 times between 2006 and when he retired in 2012.
While Winfield owns a top-10 PFF protection grade all time (92.3), the place he’s distinctive on this record of cornerbacks is that he additionally owns one of the best PFF run-defense grade (94.7) out of 355 qualifiers on the place since 2006. Winfield’s 107 run protection stops are tied for the second most of all time amongst cornerbacks, whereas his 2.47-yard common depth of deal with towards the run ranks as one of the best mark amongst 137 qualifiers since 2006.
CORNERBACK: Darrelle Revis (94.4 Career PFF Grade)
Revis Island peaked between 2008 and 2014, throughout which he was one of many 10 highest-graded cornerbacks in each single season and the top-graded cornerback in PFF protection grade twice.
Revis’ finest season got here in 2009, when he posted a 93.4 PFF protection grade — nonetheless one of the best mark of the PFF period for the place, as are his 24 move breakups that season. Revis ranks behind solely Richard Sherman (50.1%) in profession completion fee allowed since 2006 (50.6%).
Honorable Mention: Champ Bailey
Darrelle Revis’ Career PFF Grades
SAFETY: Troy Polamalu (93.0 Career PFF Grade)
Both safeties on this record started their careers earlier than PFF grading in 2006, so some projection is concerned right here. Polamalu made the Pro Bowl twice and was both a first- or second-team All-Pro in 2004 and 2005.
Even with out these seasons recorded by PFF, Polamalu earned the highest profession PFF protection grade (94.0) and a top-five profession PFF total grade amongst 127 qualifying safeties. Most spectacular is that he owns one of the best first-down-plus-touchdown fee (28.9%) among the many similar qualifying safeties when focused and one of the best receiving yards allowed per protection goal determine (5.6).
SAFETY: Ed Reed (92.3 Career PFF Grade)
Much like Polamalu, Reed started his profession earlier than PFF grading commenced. We missed out on his 2004 Defensive Player of the Year season and two All-Pro and Pro-Bowl performances.
In the years that adopted, Reed delivered the second-highest profession pressured incompletion fee (19.3%) of the PFF period amongst 116 qualifying safeties. His 93.4 PFF protection grade in 2009 was the third-best mark ever captured for the security place by PFF, whereas his 91.8 PFF total grade that 12 months is tied for the fourth-best single-season mark.
Honorable Mention: Eric Weddle
KICKER: Matt Prater (95.1 Career Kicking Grade)
Prater has logged greater than 700 mixed area targets and additional level makes an attempt in his NFL profession with a 97% accuracy fee on additional factors and an 86% accuracy fee on area targets, resulting in a top-two area aim/additional level grade (95.1).
Prater is certainly one of simply three kickers within the PFF period with at the least 80 area aim makes an attempt of lower than 30 yards who by no means missed a kick from that vary. He is the one kicker to slot in that cohort and have at the least 90% accuracy from 30-39 yards and at the least 75% accuracy from 40-49 yards and 50-plus yards.
PUNTER: Pat McAfee (95.3 Career Punt Grade)
McAfee is the highest-graded punter of the PFF period by a big margin, with the following closest participant being AJ Cole (89.3). That six-point hole is the biggest of any place on this record.
McAfee’s 4.54-second common hangtime on 611 qualifying punts is a top-five mark all time amongst qualifying punters, and he added 214 punts that landed contained in the opponent’s 20-yard line. His 46.4 common punt yards per try was additionally a top-15 mark within the PFF period.