Eight 49ers grace NFL Top 100 list for 2023

After a lengthy rollout, the NFL has finally unveiled its full list of Top 100 players in 2023. And no surprise, the San Francisco 49ers are featured heavily on it.

NFL Network finished their Top 100 series Monday, unveiling the final 10 players on the list. Voted by the players themselves, the list begins with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith and ends with Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Having the top defense in the league last season, it’s no surprise that San Francisco is featured throughout the rankings. Eight 49ers in total made the list, four on offense and four on defense.

This comes after the 49ers had several members rank near the top on ESPN’s rankings, and the upcoming video game, Madden NFL 24. The squad also featured throughout the Pro Football Focus rankings as well.

NFL Top 100 in 2023 for #49ers:

4. DE Nick Bosa
14. LT Trent Williams
15. LB Fred Warner
19. TE George Kittle
35. RB Christian McCaffrey
61. WR Deebo Samuel
78. S Talanoa Hufanga
79. LB Dre Greenlaw

Loaded, loaded roster this season.

— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) August 8, 2023

Defensive end Nick Bosa is first up, coming in at No. 4 overall on this year’s rankings.

The 25-year-old was the most dominant defensive player last season, racking up 18.5 sacks and 48 quarterback hits. He earned his first Defensive Player of the Year honors for his play in 2022. Surprisingly, Cleveland Browns’ pass rusher Myles Garrett was ranked higher by PFF at No. 5.

The Ohio State alum is in line to receive a massive contract extension this season, likely making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

Trent Williams is the next Niner mentioned on the list, coming in at No. 14 overall.

Despite turning 35 years old, Williams has only improved his play since joining the 49ers in 2020. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, only six OTs have earned multiple first-team All-Pros after age 30: Walter Jones, Anthony Munoz, Andrew Whitworth, Joe Thomas, Willie Roaf, and now Williams. This past season, the Texas native only allowed 19 pressures in 17 games played.

Nicknamed “Silverback,” the offensive lineman has four years remaining on his deal with the 49ers, which will likely be the final contract of his illustrious career.

Going back to defense, Fred Warner comes in at No. 15 overall.

The BYU alum solidified himself as the best middle linebacker in the game in 2022, showcasing his ability to be everywhere on the field. The 49ers’ defensive leader, Warner racked up 130 combined tackles, 10 pass defenses, and two sacks en route to his second All-Pro selection of his career.

The People’s Tight End, George Kittle, comes in next, ranked 19th overall heading into the 2023 season.

Playing with three different quarterbacks last season, the Iowa alum still managed to end the year with 11 touchdowns, tied for third amongst TEs. He also had 765 receiving yards on 60 catches. Only Kansas City Chief, Travis Kelce, is ranked higher than him at the position (No. 5 overall).

Approaching age 30, Kittle has amassed more than 5,000 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in six seasons in the NFL. He has three years left on his deal, making more than $12 million this upcoming season.

Next is running back Christian McCaffrey, coming in at 39th overall in the NFL.com rankings.

McCaffrey, 27, finished 2022 with 1880 total scrimmage yards, the most since his 2019 All-Pro season. He also added 13 scores and 85 catches to his name. Coming over from Carolina at the trade deadline, CMC has quickly become a leader in The Bay, setting the tone at each & every practice.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is the next 49ers on the list, sliding into the 61st spot.

The South Carolina alum sees his ranking slide after an injury-filled 2022 season left him with disappointing results. He finished the year playing 13 games for 864 scrimmage yards and five total TDs. Samuel inked a three-year, $71 million deal to remain with the 49ers before the start of training camp last season, vowing to make up for a self-proclaimed “awful” 2022 season, this year.

Switching back to defense, third-year safety Talanoa Hufanga makes his first appearance in the rankings at No. 78.

A first-year starter in 2022, the Oregon native exploded onto the scene with his lightning-fast instincts and ruthless aggression from the secondary. The player finished with 97 combined tackles, nine pass-breakups, four interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles last season. Hufanga earned his first All-Pro selection for his efforts, adding another elite player to an already impressive 49ers defense.

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is the final Red & Gold player to make crack the Top 100, ending up at No. 79 overall.

The Arkansas alum also had a breakout year in 2022, becoming a fearsome tandem with Warner. He recorded 127 combined tackles, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one interception. Greenlaw signed a two-year, $19 million extension during the 2022 season, keeping him in The Bay past the 2024 season.

Click here to read the full rankings from NFL.com.

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