NFL’s top players at all offensive positions

Quarterback Tom Brady After only 40 days of retirement in the 2022 NFL offseason, he chose to return for a season that could (maybe?) be his 23rd. His last tight season Rob Gronkowski Recently, I decided to put them down and use defensive tackle instead Aaron Donald After contemplating retirement, he inked a huge contract extension this summer, making him the highest-paid non QB in the game. We were struck by how the legends of the game compare at their respective positions.

We asked 50 journalists, analysts and experts to name the NFL’s greatest player at every position. Our goal was to reduce the field down to one GOAT at every position, including wide receiver, wide receiver, cornerback, edge rusher and kicker. This is where we start with seven offensive positions. Defense and special teams will be revealed on Wednesday.

After we had tallied all the ballots, and named each offensive position’s best player of any time, our readers weighed in and gave their reasons. Plus, Jeff Legwold broke down why each GOAT was chosen, and ESPN Stats & Information dove into the numbers to pick out key stats to know. We’ll start with the quarterback, which should not surprise anyone.

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Results from the vote: Brady won 44 of 50 votes (88%)

Career: New England (2000-2019); Tampa Bay, 2020-present
Pro Bowl Selections 15
Career stats: 318 games, 84,520 passing yards, 624 passing TDs, 203 INTs

He’s the GOAT quarterback Brady is a seven time Super Bowl winner in ten trips. He is also a three-time NFL MVP and the league’s career record holder for passing attempts and completions. In his entire career, Brady has won 10 or fewer games in a single season only once. That was in 2002. In his playoff starts, his teams had a record of 35-12. — Jeff Legwold

Find out: Brady is the only NFL quarterback to have more than 200 career wins. He has 243 career wins, which is more than the four NFL current franchises (Ravens at 233; Panthers at 205; Jaguars at 180; Texans at 139);

What our voters had to say

“The seven championships rank at the top of Brady’s resume. He has the attributes of high-level quarterback play. It’s the repetitive mechanics and processing pre- and post-snap as well as the ability to throw with accuracy. Brady is the embodiment of greatness at this position and has been doing it for over 20 year on the most prestigious stages. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst

Brady is the GOAT because he holds the NFL record for seven Super Bowl titles. But, he also has the NFL’s most yards and touchdowns. He is the only player to have been selected for 15 Pro Bowls, and one could argue that he has a Hall of Fame resume from two decades. Brady was named to both the 2000s’ and 2010s All-Decade Team. — Evan Kaplan, Stats & Information

“The statistics speak louder than the statistics. The longevity speaks for itself. It’s the way Brady always finds a way to make a few more plays in difficult situations, such as a snowstorm or a cut throwing hand. — Jenna Laine, Buccaneers reporter

“Football may be the ultimate team sport but Brady has stood out by winning seven Super Bowls. This is borderline impossible. Brady’s unwavering longevity is beyond comprehension. His game has improved with each season. This was an easy decision for me.” Field Yates, NFL analyst

The runners-up

• Joe Montana (four votes): Sal Paolantonio hosts NFL Matchup and says he voted Montana over Brady because “he had 11 touchdown passes in the Super Bowl and no interceptions.” It is difficult to match perfection at the championship level. Paul Gutierrez, Raiders reporter also asserts that Montana is the greatest QB of all time. He cites “four Lombardi Trophies in nine Years when rules benefitted defense and the promise to win every game with Montana at the helm.”

• Peyton Manning (two votes): Louis Riddick, NFL analyst, states that Manning has changed the way we view a QB’s ability to lead an offense on the field in actual time. Manning ran every play at the line-of-scrimmage. No other QB has ever made defensive coordinators think about their own tactical/sketchical abilities in the same way Manning did. Jeremy Fowler, an NFL reporter, voted for Manning. He said, “He was the first five-time MVP recipient, changed how NFL offenses were run, and won 67.6% his games during his career.” Two years after undergoing neck surgery, Manning threw for 55 touchdowns in 2013. This is now part of league legend.

Results from the vote: Brown received 23 votes out of 50 (46%)

Career: Cleveland (1957-1965).
Hall of Fame 1971
Pro Bowl Selections 9
Career stats: 118 games, 2,359 runs, 12,312 running yards, 106 rushing touchdowns, 20 receiving touchdowns

He’s the GOAT running back Brown was only 29 years of age when his final season began, in 1965. Many were stunned when he retired. Over his career, he averaged 5.2 yards a carry and was named league MVP three years in a row. In addition to that, he was also selected for the Pro Bowl every single year of his professional career. Brown, the league’s most prolific rusher, retired with three touchdowns in his last game, the 1966 Pro Bowl. Legwold

Find out: In eight of his nine NFL seasons, Brown was the NFL’s leader in rushing yards. In NFL history, no other running back has led the league with more than four rushing yards.

What our voters had to say

Brown was the NFL’s leader in rushing 8 times, total TDs 5 times, and scrimmage yards 6 times in nine NFL seasons. He also won MVP in 33%. Brown’s defense couldn’t keep up in an era when everyone ran the ball faster than they threw. — Michael Proia, Stats & Information

Brown is the only running back to have done more in a shorter time period than any other NFL running back. He holds the NFL record (104.3) for rushing yards per match, and although he retired only after nine seasons, he never missed another game. — Kevin Seifert, Vikings reporter

“Brown was a firstteam All-Pro in eight years and a three-time MVP recipient. This decade of absolute dominance has not been lost.” — Jake Trotter Browns reporter

The runners-up

• Barry Sanders (14 votes): Eric Woodyard, Lions reporter, leaned towards Detroit’s running back. He suggested that voters type in Barry Sanders highlights to YouTube and then relax. Seth Wickersham, an NFL writer, also supported Sanders. He said, “There has never ever been a player who could be five yards behind the line-of-scrimmage and retreating, surrounded with five defenders closing quickly, blockers on ground and rendered useless, and be able to find an escape out of it, score a touchdown, and do it so often that fans came back to.” You can expect it.”

• Walter Payton (six votes): Seahawks reporter Brady Henderson supported Sweetness in what he called the “hardest vote for any position.” Why Payton? He says that Payton won my vote over Smith due to his receiving skills and because of his longevity, which gave him an edge over Sanders and Brown.

• Emmitt Smith (three votes): “Durability. Dianna Russini, an NFL insider, says Smith was the most productive and durable player. “Eleven consecutive 1,000 yard seasons.”

• Also receiving votes: Marshall Faulk (two), Eric Dickerson (one), LaDainian Tomlinson (one)

Results of voting: Rice received 45 votes out of 50 (90%)

Career: San Francisco (1985-192000); Oakland 2001-2004; Seattle (2004)
Hall of Fame 2010
Pro Bowl Selections 13
Career stats: 303 games. 1,549 receptions. 22,895 receiving yards. 197 receiving TDs. 10 rushing touchdowns.

Why he is the GOAT wide receiver Rice was the league’s leader in receiving yards six times, and six times in receiving touchdowns. Rice is still the league’s all-time leader for receiving yards and touchdowns. He was at his best during the most dramatic moments. He was a part of 29 playoff games, and had 22 TD receptions. This included eight Super Bowls. Legwold

Find out: Rice was one of only two receivers to win the Triple Crown of Receiving (lead NFL in yards, TDs and catches), Offensive Player-of-the Year, and Super Bowl MVP (Cooper Kupp).

What our voters had to say

He’s the most no-brainer. Rice could have stopped playing after 11 years, but he ended up playing 20. His receiving yardage would still be good enough to place him third on the all time list (16.377). Bill Parcells said that Rice went to Canton with roller skates. Rich Cimini, Jets reporter

“Rice has more receiving yards than any other wide receiver, but it is when you look through his 22,895 career yards that the real reason he is the GOAT is what you see. He has had 14 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (including 11 straight), 2,245 receiving yards during the playoffs (the greatest ever) and more than 1,200 receiving yard at age 40. — Courtney Cronin, Bears reporter

Rice’s 13,394 receiving yards between the ages of 30 and 41 would be the 16th-most in NFL history. As it stands, Rice’s 22,895 career receiving yards are a record that is unlikely to be broken. He is the unquestioned GOAT receiving receiver because of his long prime and his high skill level. — Marcel Louis-Jacques Dolphins reporter

Rice’s exceptional combination of excellence and longevity makes him one of the most admired players of all time. Rice has every major receiving record in league history, and he performed well on Super Bowl stage repeatedly. But Rice was still producing like one the best wideouts of all time, even when others were long-since retired. — Nick Wagoner, 49ers reporter

The runners-up

• Randy Moss (four votes): “Only the best of all time could have his last name turned into a verb,” says ESPN Stats & Information’s Evan Kaplan, referring to You got Mossed. “No NFL player ever received more touchdowns in their first four years, and his 23 TD catches for 2007 are the most in a single year in league history.” Jordan Reid, an NFL draft analyst, says Moss “completely transcended” the position and that there was no player at the position who caused more fear than Moss.

• Also receiving votes: Don Hutson (one)

Results of voting: Gronkowski received 23 votes out of 50 (46%)

Career: New England (2010-2018); Tampa Bay (2021-2021).
Pro Bowl Selections 5
Career stats: 143 games, 621 receiving yards, 9,286 receiving yards and 92 receiving touchdowns

Why he is the GOAT tight end It is easy to forget that Gronkowski came into the NFL with questions following back problems in college. However, he flourished in his time playing with Tom Brady in the Patriots’ offensive. Gronkowski was a formidable player at the line-of-scrimmage. He had 17 touchdown catches and averaged over 15 yards per catch in his four seasons. Gronk had at least one touchdown catch during 15 of his 22 playoff games. He retired for the second consecutive summer. Legwold

Find out: Gronkowski’s three seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions were the most among tight ends.

What our voters had to say

“The GOAT tight ends must be as devastating as a blocker or pass-catcher. This helped eliminate a large portion of the candidates. Gronk is a great example of this. Bill Belichick, Patriots coach often claims that greats perform their best in the most important moments. Gronkowski has 1,163 receiving yards during the playoffs, easily the largest number of tight ends in NFL History. — Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter

Gronkowski’s 11 seasons of combined physical blocking and touchdown production is unmatched. He was large and agile, making it difficult to defend down the field. He looked at times like a freight train. Gronk stretched the field vertically and won battles with safeties. He also held up against defensive ends during the run game, something not seen by many tight ends in 2022. — Dianna Russini, NFL insider

His impact extends beyond his career stats. Gronkowski is the NFL’s most prominent tight end because of his ability as a catcher, a clutch player and a fearsome blocker. — Josh Weinfuss, Cardinals reporter

The runners-up

• Tony Gonzalez (21 votes): Dan Graziano, NFL reporter says Gonzalez ranks third among all receivers, sixth in receiving yards, eighth in receiving touchdowns and eighth overall. Gonzalez, the modern tight-end, is a supercharged wide receiver. He deserves credit for being the man who already occupies a wide receiver area on these all time lists. What makes Gonzalez stand out from the rest of the pack? Alaina Getzenberg, Bills reporter, points out “his sustained success over his 17 year career, exceeding 900 receiving yards within nine seasons.”

• Kellen Winslow (two votes): Mike Tannenbaum, an NFL analyst, says that Winslow “helped transform the tight end position.” His traits transcend all eras and he would have made a great player in any age.

• Also receiving votes: Mike Ditka (one), Antonio Gates (one), Ozzie Newsome (one), Shannon Sharpe (one)

Results of voting: Munoz received 27 votes out of 50 (54%)

Career: Cincinnati (1980-1992)
Hall of Fame 1998
Pro Bowl Selections 11
Career stats: 185 games, with 184 starts

Why he is the GOAT offensive tackle After having had three knee surgeries during his college career, Munoz was named to both the NFL’s 75th anniversary and 100th anniversary teams. In 11 consecutive seasons, he was named All-Pro. Munoz displayed incredible traits and was almost an unfailing champion at the elite level. Legwold

Find out: Munoz’s left tackle protection helped the Bengals’ offense rank in the top ten in scoring seven times and top ten in yards nine times from 1981 to 1990.

What our voters had to say

“Munoz is long considered to be one of the greatest offensive linemen in the game. He was elected to the NFL All-Time team in 2000. Team By the Hall of Fame selection panel, and ex-Bengals tight end Bob Trumpy said that Munoz “absolutely devastated defensive players in this league.” — Ben Baby, Bengals reporter

“It was very simple for me: He was as dominant at his position in the NFL as any other player. He was a mauler, with the feet of a dancer and could easily overpower or beat men with his mobility. Munoz is the standard against all offensive tackles. — Michael DiRocco, Jaguars reporter

He was a dominant figure in his era, winning nine All-Pro selections. He is undoubtedly the most well-known icon of the Bengals’ 1981-1989 Super Bowl teams. This is rare for an offensive lineman. He was an inspiration to all of the elite candidates who came after him.” — Mike Triplett Saints reporter

The runners-up

• Jonathan Ogden (10 votes): Imagine you’re walking to the line and you see that the man directly in front of your is 6-foot-9, 345 lbs and smiling. Marcel Louis-Jacques, Dolphins reporter, says that Ogden’s 12 season opponents witnessed this. Sarah Barshop from the Rams also selected Ogden. She stated that Ogden was one lineman who demonstrated just how important protecting a quarterback’s blind side. Ogden was consistent throughout his career, being a Pro Bowler every year, except for his rookie season.

• Orlando Pace (four votes): According to Todd McShay, the 6-foot-7 blindside protector at the Greatest Show on Turf “boasted an uncommon combination of mobility and final strength,” as NFL draft analyst Todd McShay said. “When Pace entered the NFL twenty-five years ago, no one of his size could move as well as Pace.

• Walter Jones (three votes): Jordan Raanan, Giants reporter, acknowledges Jones may have flown under the radar but noted that Jones had an unmatched “combination run-and-pass-blocking dominance.”

• Also receiving votes: Jackie Slater (two), Forrest Gregg (one), Willie Roaf (one), Joe Thomas (one), Gary Zimmerman (one)

Results of voting: Allen won 21 of 50 votes (42%)

Career: Dallas (1994-2005); San Francisco (2006-2007)
Hall of Fame 2013
Pro Bowl Selections 11
Career stats: 203 Games, 197 Starts

Why he is the GOAT offensive guard Allen once stated that his field mission was to “make the other guy quit.” It was a mission accomplished as Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Famer, used his combination of power & mobility to launch some of his most memorable runs. Allen played 121 games as a left guard, 45 as a right guard, 20 as a left tackle, and 11 at right tackle over his entire career. Many Cowboys workers claim that Allen’s legendary bench press of 705 pounds was performed by them. Legwold

Find out: Allen was part of an offensive Cowboys line that helped Smith rush to a Cowboys single-season record 1,773 yards in 1995. Since then, DeMarco Murray has topped it with 1,845 yards.

What our voters had to say

He could control the interior defensive line and also get to the second level to find linebackers. Most impressive was his pursuit of Saints 250-pound linebacker DarionConner to stop Troy Aikman touchdown interception. — Todd Archer, Cowboys reporter

Allen is an offensive lineman who best encapsulates 1990s. No offensive guard better illustrates elite play at the position than the 11 time Pro Bowler and seven times All-Pro. Allen was the ideal combination of brute force, agility, poise, and violence at point of attack. He is the example I use to evaluate offensive guard play. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst

“Allen was so dominant physically that it wasn’t hard to see that he would punish opposing defenders with tears during a game. Tears. That’s enough. — Chris Mortensen, NFL insider

The runners-up

• John Hannah (nine votes): Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders chose Hannah for this article because he “was named All Pro for 10 consecutive seasons and anchored the 1978 Patriots’ offensive line that set a NFL record for total running yards (since broken in 2019 by the Ravens). Seth Walder, Analytics writer, looked at Allen’s All-Pro nods. “Hannah was All-Pro in 10 seasons, while Allen in seven.”

• Gene Upshaw (eight votes): “It’s difficult to classify offensive-linemen of different eras due to the differences in size, speed and the players against them,” Michael Rothstein, Falcons reporter.

• Also receiving votes: Bruce Matthews (three), Alan Faneca (two), Steve Hutchinson (two), Randall McDaniel (two), Jim Parker (two), Jerry Kramer (one)

Results of voting: Webster received 15 votes out of 50 (30%)

Career: Pittsburgh (1974-1988); Kansas City (1889-1990);
Hall of Fame 1997
Pro Bowl Selections 9
Career stats: 245 Games, 217 Starts

Why he is the GOAT centre: Webster shared center time with Ray Mansfield during his two first NFL seasons. But he began the final season of 1975, and didn’t miss another game until 1986 after he was injured in an elbow accident. Webster, 50, was a team captain for the Steelers’ dynasty which won four Super Bowls. He died in 2002. Legwold

Find out: Webster was a fifth-team All-Pro five years in a row, from 1978 to 83.

What our voters had to say

Webster won the edge because of his perfect combination of individual success, championship titles and longevity. He is the only NFL offensive-lineman with at least four Super Bowl rings and four All-Pro selections. Iron Mike had 150 consecutive starts and played the most Steelers games (220), until Ben Roethlisberger overtook him. — Doug Clawson, Stats & Information

Webster was the person who made Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain era so memorable. Webster was the perfect package because of his consistency. — Jeremy Fowler, NFL reporter

“The center position is critical to the success and continuity of an offense. This is something that is often overlooked. Webster excelled in run-and pass-blocking, and was the core of the Steelers offensive line thanks to his exceptional play strength. Eric Moody is a fantasy writer

The runners-up

• Jim Otto (13 votes): “Otto was one of three players to play in every one of his team’s 140 games during the AFL’s 10-year run (1960-69),” says ESPN Stats & Information’s John Parolin. “Bruce Matthews (14) Merlin Olsen (14) & Reggie White (13) are the only AFL/NFL player with 12 consecutive Pro Bowls more than Otto’s 12.

• Chuck Bednarik (11 votes): Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter, says that “Maybe I allowed Bednarik’s entire body of work to factor in too heavily when i voted for him the GOAT centre.” “Bednarik, a two-way player was an All-Pro selection at both linebacker and center.”

• Also receiving votes: Dermontti Dawson (five), Dwight Stephenson (five), Mel Hein (one)

On Wednesday, we will have the GOAT for every position in special and defensive teams.