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The countdown of the NFL’s top 100 players for the 2024 season entered the top 50 Friday, and a star running back who changed teams, game-changing wide receiver and two quarterbacks who were traded for each other headline the newest group.
Players themselves voted on the list, and those ranked No. 50 through No. 41 were released Friday.
Derrick Henry, Jared Goff, Ja’Marr Chase and Matthew Stafford were among those selected:
Henry will be firmly under the spotlight this season after signing with the Baltimore Ravens after playing for the Tennessee Titans during the first eight years of his career. While he is 30 years old with plenty of carries on his resume, he still surpassed 1,000 rushing yards last season for the fifth time in six years.
The Alabama product ran for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 28 catches for 214 yards.
While it is fair for Baltimore to be concerned with the reality he led the league in rushing attempts for the fourth time in five years, playing in an offense with Lamar Jackson means Henry might not face as much wear-and-tear as he did in Tennessee.
Baltimore is going to rely on the reigning MVP to make plays with both his legs and arm, and that will likely mean fewer carries for the veteran running back.
He isn’t the only notable player from the AFC North on this list, as Chase checks in at No. 45 after reaching the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive year to start his career. He finished last season with 100 catches for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns, although he is under the spotlight in training camp for contract reasons.
Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported the wide receiver sat out his second straight practice Thursday, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted he wants a new contract.
Goff received one of those new contracts this offseason after leading the Detroit Lions to an NFC North crown and within one win of the Super Bowl. He even defeated Stafford’s Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs, although the former Lions signal-caller still checks in ahead of him on this list.
Stafford is the one with a Super Bowl title and the longer resume, so that’s not exactly surprising. But they aren’t far apart after being traded for each other ahead of the 2021 campaign.
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