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What ranking makes an NFL player "elite?" Top 5? Top 10? To some degree, it depends on how many people play a certain position.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to determine the top 10 players at each of 11 position areas.
More than 70 voters participated, and using a combination of top-10 votes, interviews, research and film study, ESPN came up with the top 10 players at each position right now.
Which Indianapolis Colts players are among the elite?
When does Colts training camp start?: Colts announce camp schedule: Themes, joint practices, tickets and parking
"Taylor was pumping out top-three votes this year in appreciation of a stellar six-year campaign despite shaky quarterback play around him. He appeared on all but one of the ballots, and nearly 30% of his votes were within the top three.
"Taylor has 69 career rushing touchdowns. Only Derrick Henry (84) has more since 2020.
"'Really special in space,'" an NFL coordinator said. "'Once he hits the second and third levels with some space to operate, he's uniquely talented.'"
"That showed in 2025, when Taylor's four rushes of 40 or more yards trailed only Jahmyr Gibbs.
"The presence of Daniel Jones has helped Taylor, both in play-action and in the passing game. Taylor caught a career-high 46 passes last season."
"Warren was considered a can't-miss prospect coming out of Penn State in 2025. And it appears draft evaluators were correct.
"'He lived up to expectations,'" an NFC scout said. "'He's a true Y who can handle the point-of-attack run game assignments but carried over his versatile, game-impacting receiving ability that showed up during his Penn State days.'"
"Warren had 817 receiving yards — 125 of which came after first contact — in Year 1, ranking third among all rookies. He accounted for 42 first downs and one dropped pass on 111 targets.
"'He can kick your ass in the run game on one play and win as a receiver on the next,'" an NFL personnel evaluator said."
"Once again, Gardner is the most polarizing cornerback on the list. He's a star player who is paid like one and garnered two first-round picks in a midseason trade from the New York Jets to the Colts. He has long been a Pro Football Focus favorite. He has rare length for the position and breaks up passes at a high rate.
"But his turnover production is poor — only three interceptions in four NFL seasons — and several evaluators have pointed out he misses tackles and holds too much.
"'Sauce lost the sauce,'" an NFL offensive coach said. "'Now, he got traded for a reason — he's a long strider and has the confidence to overshadow his weaknesses. He can press and play Cover 2. But he's not going to tackle all the time, he's not going to crack replace, and when playing zone, sometimes he's not playing it correctly. It's just hard for him to hold up over the course of the game.'"
"Some coaches noted that a full season with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, a defensive backs coach by trade, will help his consistency.
"To be sure, Gardner's nine pass breakups on 293 coverage snaps (3.1%) last season led the league based on percentage. And his 39 passes defended since entering the league in 2022 tie with Denzel Ward for second most by any player over that span, trailing only Alontae Taylor (40)."
"'Not many move like him,'" an NFL personnel evaluator said. "'He moves like a much smaller man. But he's not making plays at the same rate he was.'"
"No real drop-off in his play. He's still elite — just older and injured." — an NFL offensive line coach
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How many elite players do the Colts have? ESPN ranked 11 position groups
Continue reading...
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to determine the top 10 players at each of 11 position areas.
More than 70 voters participated, and using a combination of top-10 votes, interviews, research and film study, ESPN came up with the top 10 players at each position right now.
Which Indianapolis Colts players are among the elite?
When does Colts training camp start?: Colts announce camp schedule: Themes, joint practices, tickets and parking
ESPN ranks Colts players at every position area
Jonathan Taylor, running back: No. 5
"Taylor was pumping out top-three votes this year in appreciation of a stellar six-year campaign despite shaky quarterback play around him. He appeared on all but one of the ballots, and nearly 30% of his votes were within the top three.
"Taylor has 69 career rushing touchdowns. Only Derrick Henry (84) has more since 2020.
"'Really special in space,'" an NFL coordinator said. "'Once he hits the second and third levels with some space to operate, he's uniquely talented.'"
"That showed in 2025, when Taylor's four rushes of 40 or more yards trailed only Jahmyr Gibbs.
"The presence of Daniel Jones has helped Taylor, both in play-action and in the passing game. Taylor caught a career-high 46 passes last season."
Tyler Warren, tight end: No. 5
"Warren was considered a can't-miss prospect coming out of Penn State in 2025. And it appears draft evaluators were correct.
"'He lived up to expectations,'" an NFC scout said. "'He's a true Y who can handle the point-of-attack run game assignments but carried over his versatile, game-impacting receiving ability that showed up during his Penn State days.'"
"Warren had 817 receiving yards — 125 of which came after first contact — in Year 1, ranking third among all rookies. He accounted for 42 first downs and one dropped pass on 111 targets.
"'He can kick your ass in the run game on one play and win as a receiver on the next,'" an NFL personnel evaluator said."
Sauce Gardner, cornerback: No. 9
"Once again, Gardner is the most polarizing cornerback on the list. He's a star player who is paid like one and garnered two first-round picks in a midseason trade from the New York Jets to the Colts. He has long been a Pro Football Focus favorite. He has rare length for the position and breaks up passes at a high rate.
"But his turnover production is poor — only three interceptions in four NFL seasons — and several evaluators have pointed out he misses tackles and holds too much.
"'Sauce lost the sauce,'" an NFL offensive coach said. "'Now, he got traded for a reason — he's a long strider and has the confidence to overshadow his weaknesses. He can press and play Cover 2. But he's not going to tackle all the time, he's not going to crack replace, and when playing zone, sometimes he's not playing it correctly. It's just hard for him to hold up over the course of the game.'"
"Some coaches noted that a full season with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, a defensive backs coach by trade, will help his consistency.
"To be sure, Gardner's nine pass breakups on 293 coverage snaps (3.1%) last season led the league based on percentage. And his 39 passes defended since entering the league in 2022 tie with Denzel Ward for second most by any player over that span, trailing only Alontae Taylor (40)."
"'Not many move like him,'" an NFL personnel evaluator said. "'He moves like a much smaller man. But he's not making plays at the same rate he was.'"
DeForest Buckner, defensive line: Honorable mention
"No real drop-off in his play. He's still elite — just older and injured." — an NFL offensive line coach
ESPN rankings for Colts players at other positions
- Daniel Jones, quarterback: Received votes
- Alec Pierce, wide receiver: Received votes
- Laiatu Latu, pass rusher: Received votes
- Bernhard Raimann, tackle: Received votes
- Off-ball linebacker: No Colts
- Safety: No Colts
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How many elite players do the Colts have? ESPN ranked 11 position groups
Continue reading...
