Cornerback was voted by his peers as the 37th–best player in the league last season, a slight drop from his No. 34 ranking on the NFL’s top 100 list for 2016.
Talib, making his third career appearance on the list (he was No. 78 in 2014) joins fellow Broncos corner Chris Harris (No. 63) as, so far, the team’s lone reps on the latest rankings.
Thanks fellas!!! As talented as this league is, 37th ain't bad!!!
— AqibTalib21 (@AqibTalib21)
Last year Talib, 31, bounced back after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the offseason to have one of his most dominant seasons yet. He totaled 43 tackles, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and 12 pass-breakups to earn his fourth career Pro Bowl nod and his first first-team all-pro selection. Only two other corners — Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman — have been Pro Bowlers in each of the last four seasons.
The other numbers are even more impressive: Talib’s 33 career picks are the most by a cornerback since he was drafted in 2008, and his nine career pick-sixes are tied for the fourth-most in NFL history. His five as a Bronco are the most in franchise history.
Talib was rated by Pro Football Focus as the behind only teammate Chris Harris last season, but was selected by the site as all around. Per PFF, Talib was the only full-time starting CB to not allow a single touchdown in coverage last season, and he held opposing quarterbacks to a 49.5 passer rating when throwing his way.
But it wasn’t Talib who elicited the most reaction among the names revealed Monday.
Texans pass-rusher J.J. Watt, the third-best player in 2016, came in at No. 35. It’s a sharp drop, sure, but Watt played only three games last year because of a back injury.
I played 3 games… this list is a joke.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt)
Buddy buddy system lol
— T.J. Ward (@BossWard43)
Most liked top 100 lol
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr)
I know im disliked Fasho. It's all good though. You gone respect it! ✊🏾
— T.J. Ward (@BossWard43)
Damn, how some1 a top 100 player of 2016 & didn't play but like 2 games 🤔 must've had 20 sack, 11 pics, 8 tds and 900 receiving yards 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Robert E. Ayers Jr (@RobertAyersJr)
NFL Network know they be making that list up.. 😂😂 Players vote on the top 20 players.. How they come up with the other 80?
— Robert E. Ayers Jr (@RobertAyersJr)
https://twitter.com/_tonyjefferson/status/871905790583599106
When u turn on 2k17 top 100 and laugh at everyone's reactions 😳😂😂😂 jj a beast… Hell of a resumé … funnnny
— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94)
https://twitter.com/ZSTACY_/status/871909736001802240
