It is fair to say that every NFL fan looks forward to their annual top 100 players list at the start of every season, and in this year's list Saquon Barkley tops the table, and Ladd McConkey finishes it, and only five teams across the whole league have zero players in the list, one team in particular being the Chicago Bears. Every year there is always room for debate, "how did he get in” and “how didn’t he get in” and here are two Chicago Bears who were unlucky not to make the top 100.
The Bears were a team who were poised to have a solid season last year, tipped to be a team on the outside looking in on the playoffs, however that didn't go to play for Caleb Williams in his rookie year, finishing 5-12, and finding themselves at the bottom of the NFC North once again. However, despite how badly the season ended up going, there were some great players, and some shining sparks, and now heading into the Ben Johnson era in Chi-Town, there are a few more bright sparks to come, and here are two of those bright sparks who definitely have arguments to have made the top 100.
Joe Thuney, Guard
One of the new and more exciting acquisitions for the Bears this offseason was multi-time Super Bowl champion, and all-star guard Joe Thuney, a player who was traded to bolster the Bears O-Line, and create a new found sense of security for QB Caleb Williams. Thuney is arguably among the top five guards in the league amongst former teammates like Trey Smith, and definitely has the credentials to make the list. Last season Thuney posted the highest pass block win rate in the NFL with 98.2%, not allowing any sacks at all in 2024 to go along with it. He has impeccable protection, and has been extremely consistent over his nine years in the NFL, and last season was definitely one to remember for Thuney. Regardless of how good he is as a player, and how flashy he is, it is no doubt that he is a top 100 player in the NFL, and he isn't the only guard to have been unlucky either. Thuney was an all-star who gave more to the Chiefs than you could imagine, but not making this list really shows how little guards are really appreciated.
Jaylon Johnson
Probably the most surprising of the three, and probably one of the biggest snubs in general was cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Across the entire list, the three cornerbacks named were Dereck Stingley Jr, Pat Surtain II, and Sauce Gardner, a respectable three who deserved their spots, but Johnson didn't even crack number 100. Johnson is probably the fourth best corner in the league behind these three in my opinion, maybe fifth behind Trent McDuffie, but his performances last year, let alone the competition he has to face was more than enough to have earned himself a spot on the list, and yet again has been snubbed for a second year in a row.
Johnson only allowed 32 receptions on 49 targets last season, but aside from that, it was his leadership, and how much of an impact he had defensively for Chicago which makes him one of the best players in the league. Also matching up against the likes of Justin Jefferson, and Amon Ra St Brown are no easy feats, and Johnson proved time and time again that he was more than capable of locking them down, and causing problems for them offensively. Johnson is a player who has major impacts as a one on one corner, and as a zone coverage guy, and to not be named one of the 100 best players in the NFL, behind the likes of Aaron Jones and Tua Tagovailoa is something that just doesn't add up. Johnson will continue to be a force for the Bears secondary, and is probably one of the biggest snubs of all in the list.
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