Dec 31, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Miami Dolphins large receiver Tyreek Hill (10) on the sidelines through the first half towards the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Financial institution Stadium. credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports activities On Friday evening, Tyreek Hill was introduced because the No. 1 participant within the NFL.
Each preseason, the NFL releases their Prime 100 rankings, the place NFL gamers vote on their friends to create a prime checklist of total gamers heading into the season.
Enable me to preface by stating that Tyreek Hill would possibly simply be one of the best large receiver I’ve ever seen. Like many individuals, when he was traded from the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins, I used to be very curious to see if he may have success with out Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes facilitating issues offensively.
He proved any doubters unsuitable.
He’s caught 119 passes in every of his two seasons with the Dolphins. Final season, he was one yard shy of 1,800 receiving yards. He scored 13 touchdowns. At 30 years previous, he’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down, and is eyeing one other massive payday to remain in Miami.
It’s additionally the offseason. I perceive that these lists are populated to offer followers and pundits alike a possibility to debate and preserve the NFL entrance and middle of our minds.
However let’s be actual with ourselves. Hill is just not the NFL’s greatest participant. It’s Mahomes.
Outrageously sufficient, Mahomes was the No. 4 ranked participant on this checklist. Lamar Jackson and Christian McCaffrey had been additionally ranked increased.
Whereas these gamers who voted can’t simply rattle off all the greatest QBs within the NFL as the highest gamers, let’s not neglect that that is an important place in skilled sports activities.
“It’s a quarterback league.”
That’s what we all the time hear. Effectively, in a quarterback league, the No. 1 participant ought to be the passer who simply gained back-to-back Tremendous Bowls.
Oh yeah, and that was after Hill’s departure from Kansas Metropolis.
Ever since Hill’s departure two years in the past, the Chiefs haven’t had a real No. 1 large receiver. Having Travis Kelce at tight finish definitely helps issues, however it’s completely absurd that Mahomes misplaced the best receiver of this technology and nonetheless discovered a approach to win two rings.
He threw a career-high 14 interceptions final season, so perhaps his friends are holding that towards him. It’s laborious to search out another reasoning.
Cleveland Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett was behind Mahomes within the No. 5 slot. He’s the reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr and was the highest-graded defender.
It’s actually no slight towards Hill, however in an NFL dominated by quarterbacks, he’s merely not one of the best participant. The proof is within the outcomes that he’s not probably the most impactful, as his former workforce has gained two championships and he hasn’t even gained a playoff sport.
Hill will undoubtedly have a stellar 2024 season that inches him nearer to soccer immortality in Canton, Ohio. Mahomes is simply 28 years previous, capturing for his third straight Tremendous Bowl. There are ranges to this.
