Trio of Cardinals land in top 30 of NFL Network’s Top 100 list
Jun 11, 2018, 10:04 PM | Updated: 10:21 pm
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
Not one, but three Arizona Cardinals are considered to be some of the NFL’s top dogs, according to the league’s players.
Through 10-player intervals, the NFL Network revealed its latest section of players, Nos. 30-21, with Chandler Jones, Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson all making the list Monday night.
After being ranked 85th in last year’s top 100, sack machine Jones made a big leap, jumping to No. 28 in 2018.
He was the NFL sack leader in 2017 💪@chanjones55 is #28 on the countdown!#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/bdayKyclfM
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 12, 2018
Jones led the NFL with 17.0 sacks and also set a career high with 52 solo tackles.
He finished third for Defensive Player of the Year, only behind Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald and Jacksonville Jaguars’ — and former Cardinal — Calais Campbell.
The six-year veteran played his first four seasons with New England before coming to the Cardinals in 2016. He recorded 28 total sacks in his first two seasons with Arizona and has registered double-digit sacks in four of his six seasons as a pro.
Arizona fans didn’t have to look too far for the next Cardinal on the list in Fitzgerald.
One of the all-time greats!@LarryFitzgerald is #27 on the countdown!#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/eA9xwBToTz
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 12, 2018
To no surprise, Fitzgerald also saw a jump in the rankings, going from 45th in 2017 to No. 27 this year.
Fitzgerald surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2017 for the ninth time in 14 seasons and was three catches short in total receptions last season. He finished the year with 109 receptions for 1,156 yards and six touchdowns.
And who could forget his quarterback skills when he connected with former Cardinals wideout Jaron Brown on a 21-yard strike in Week 16.
The last Cardinal to be revealed Monday night was Patrick Peterson.
The 3rd member of the @AZCardinals tonight!
Playmaking CB Patrick Peterson (@P2) flies into the #23 spot!#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/ksnR9wFD8J
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 12, 2018
Peterson has now been honored a total of seven times by his peers over the course of his career.
He was the only Cardinal to not improve on last year’s ranking, however, dropping from 19th to No. 23.
In 2017, He had 34 tackles, a fumble recovery and one interception. He also knocked down eight balls.
But that’s not all.
In his seventh Pro Bowl appearance, Peterson snagged two picks, one from Alex Smith and the other from Derek Carr.
