It's no surprise that Tom Brady's seven Super Bowl rings have put him at the top of the list of the 25 greatest NFL players of the 21st century.
Six quarterbacks cracked the top 25, and four cracked the top 10. Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (No. 2) and Peyton Manning (No. 4) cracked the top five with three and two Super Bowls, respectively.
However, wide receivers did not fare as well. Only Randy Moss (No. 5) and Calvin Johnson (No. 6) cracked the top 25.
Who were the biggest surprises (and snubs) on this list? Which young players are poised to be picked for the next spot? ESPN's NFL experts take a look at the 25 best NFL players since 2000.
1. Who is the biggest surprise on this list?
And Graziano: I don't know if I can say any of them are a surprise, but I think it's noteworthy that the list includes three tight ends. It says a lot about the way the position has evolved so far this century, and specifically in the last decade with Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce.
Jeremy Fowler: Marshall Faulk. Incredible player, but some of his best seasons came before the 21st century, culminating with an MVP run in 2000. He recorded just two 1,000-yard seasons in the 2000s, and while he peaked in 2000-01, totaling 47 touchdowns during that span, his play dropped off dramatically after that point. A running back with more production in the 2000s, such as Edgerrin James, would have been a better fit.
Lindsey Thiry: Offensive tackle Joe Thomas is a highly skilled player, no doubt, but it's hard to quantify the impact of an offensive lineman compared to a skill position player. It's surprising that Thomas made the list without having made any quantifiable contributions to his team, which during his tenure went through multiple quarterback changes and never made the playoffs. Thomas should be in the top 50, but it's hard to say he had more of an impact on a game than the players who took the ball. My apologies in advance to all the offensive linemen who are furious reading this.
By Kalyn Kahler: I'm surprised that Joe Thomas is the only offensive lineman to appear on this list. One could argue that Hall of Famers Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Walter Jones should be here as well. Offensive line play never gets the recognition it deserves.
2. Who was ignored?
Fowler: Ben Roethlisberger. Three quarterbacks in NFL history have at least two Super Bowls and 60,000 passing yards: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Roethlisberger. The first two occupy the No. 1 and No. 3 spots on this list. Roethlisberger is an outsider. He’s always been the odd man out in this conversation, but he deserves a spot on the list — as does running mate Antonio Brown, one could argue. He had a historic run from 2013 to 2018.
Gratian: Terrell Owens was the second-highest rushing touchdown player of the 2000s, was named an All-Pro five times in that decade and was one of four players to score at least 100 touchdowns in that span.
Thirty: Several players could fill this answer, including former Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who was also overlooked from this year's Hall of Fame class despite ranking fourth since 2000 with 116 receiving touchdowns, behind only Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Owens. So for the sake of this list, let's go with T.O. Since 2000, the Hall of Fame wide receiver ranks second behind Moss with 123 receiving touchdowns, not to mention Owens ranking third in that category and receiving yards. –Thirty
Kaehler: Brian Urlacher. The Hall of Fame Chicago linebacker was the Bears' most important player for much of his 12-year career. Chicago didn't win the 2006 Super Bowl, but it did so thanks to its Urlacher-led defense, which made up for quarterback Rex Grossman's 20 interceptions that season. Urlacher finished in the top five in Defensive Player of the Year voting four times, winning once.
3. What would you change about the top 25?
Kaehler: I think Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers should be ranked higher. I know quarterbacks always win MVPs and get plenty of praise, but I think they should be ranked third and fourth on this list, respectively, behind Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes.
Thirty: Peyton Manning should move up to No. 3 and Aaron Donald to No. 4. Donald is, without a doubt, the best defensive player since the turn of the century and arguably the best defensive player of all time. As a reporter who covered him daily for six seasons, his ability to affect every play in practices and games was evident. However, Manning should be one spot ahead of Donald on this list, because he won two Super Bowl rings compared to Donald's one, and he touched the ball on every play.
Fowler: More receivers. It's such an integral position, one that's rapidly increasing in value. It's right up there with the pass rusher position in monetary value, arguably the second most important in the game. Yet only two receivers make the list. Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Larry Fitzgerald, Brown and Julio Jones are among the players with compelling arguments. They set the stage for the big money wide receivers make today.
Gratian: I could argue that JJ Watt is in the top five, ahead of the receivers. I think Aaron Donald surpassed him, but Watt was the dominant defensive player of his era until Donald came along. He should have won at least one MVP.
4. Fact or fiction: Is Tom Brady the undisputed GOAT?
Fowler: He’s the greatest of all time, though it’s not widely disputed. Super Bowls are such a big criterion in these drills that it’s hard to argue against him. No player has maximized his skill set more enthusiastically than Brady. But if you’re going by other criteria — prolific performance, mental mastery of the game, legacy/impact on how the position is played — Peyton Manning has a case to make. And Mahomes’ track record is undeniable. Still, I’d pick Brady in most categories, but it’s a conversation, that’s all I’m saying.
Thirty: Fact. Can you even argue with it? Brady's seven Super Bowl rings are the most in NFL history. He proved his greatness by winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, then bet on himself again when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and led them to their first Super Bowl title in 18 years.
Kaehler: Until someone else wins seven Super Bowl rings, it's a given.
Gratian: Fact. Mahomes hasn't even reached half of Brady's total Super Bowl titles. I'm like a lot of other people who believe Mahomes can get there, but sustained excellence over time means something, and Brady is the definition of it.
5. Which player outside the top 25 is most likely to do so next time?
Fowler: Chris Jones. The Chiefs defensive tackle is unique among interior defensive linemen, and he's the standard-bearer now that Donald has retired. If Mahomes and Kelce are on the roster, Jones should be, too. He's a catalyst for the Chiefs' three Super Bowl rings, and at 30, he has plenty of good years left in him. So do Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Myles Garrett, TJ Watt and others who dominate their positions.
Kaehler: There are plenty of exciting young quarterbacks to choose from, but I'm sticking with Joe Burrow because if he can stay healthy, I expect him to add multiple Super Bowls to his resume before he's done.
Thirty: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is electrifying. In four seasons, Jefferson has catapulted to the top of the receiving rankings with an average of 98.3 receiving yards per game. To make the following list, the key for Jefferson — who signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history — is staying healthy. He missed time on injured reserve last season with a hamstring injury. The key to greatness, among other intangibles, is availability.
Gratian: Assuming he doesn't get too bogged down catching passes from a rookie quarterback, you have to agree with the direction Jefferson is headed. And JJ Watt's younger brother, TJ, has a chance to be ahead of him on this list if we do it again in a few years.
