"The Top 100 Players of 2025" -- voted on by the players themselves -- is underway on X and NFL+! The top 10 will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. ET live on NFL Network. Check back on Tuesday for the 38th- and 37th-ranked player.
2024 stats: 16 games | 154 tackles | 4 tfl | 1.5 sacks | 1 INT | 1 FF | 1 FR
Very little has gone wrong for Smith since he joined the Ravens via trade midway through the 2022 campaign. In two full seasons since, Smith has made two Pro Bowls, twice been named a first-team All-Pro and compiled over 100 tackles more than any other Raven. He’s a bit vulnerable in pass defense compared to sniffing out ball-carriers, but that can be forgiven when he’s flying around quarterbacking the top-ranked D against the run as he did last year.
NFL Pro Insight for Smith: Roquan Smith recorded a tackle that resulted in a negative play for the offense on 18.5% of his run defense snaps last season, the highest rate among defenders with at least 200 run defense snaps. His 57 run stops ranked fifth in the NFL.
2024 stats: 17 games | 63.2 pct | 3,727 pass yds | 7.0 ypa | 20 pass TD | 12 INT | 233 rush yds | 6 fumbles
Those concerned with Stroud’s sophomore slump are missing the bigger picture. With him under center, a team that had managed only 11 combined victories in three seasons prior to his arrival won 11 in a season (including playoffs) for a second straight year. He’s already produced two blowout postseason wins. He experienced a step back in 2024, but he also played behind PFF’s 29th-ranked offensive line and lost all three of his best receivers to injury at various points. The Texans have addressed both groups this offseason, and Stroud possesses all the talent to capitalize with a redemption arc.
NFL Pro Insight for Stroud: C.J. Stroud finished third in the NFL with 699 yards on passes outside the pocket. Stroud attempted passes from outside the pocket at the fourth-highest rate (19.2%) despite spending an average of 2.81 seconds in the pocket on dropbacks, sixth-longest in the league.