After Aaron Rodgers Inclusion Bamboozled Jaylon Johnson, Nick Wright Heralds Baker Mayfield Argument to Diminish NY Jets QB

The recent NFL list is perhaps not sitting well with many players. “The NFL’s Top 100 list is bulls**t.” Angry Jaylon Johnson said this after he was snubbed from the top 100 players list. But his snubbing wasn’t the only reason for his anger. Then what was it? Well, it was the New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. His entry at rank 92 on the NFL Top 100 list is a major factor for his discontentment.

Johnson said, “I don’t know how you make Pro Bowl, All-Pro and not [be] a Top 100 guy. I could’ve been 101 I guess, but goddamn, Aaron Rodgers didn’t even play in the season and he was voted [92nd].” Similar to him, many have raised questions about Rodgers’ entry in the prestigious ranking, especially when his 2023 season abruptly ended with an Achilles injury just four snaps into his Jets’ debut game. Therefore, picking up this topic, analyst Nick Wright too discussed whether Rodgers deserved a spot or not, highlighting Baker Mayfield’s standing in the league!

Are there many misfits in the list?

In a recent episode of First Things First, on August 5, 2024, Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes, and Eric Mangini discussed Jaylon Johnson’s frustration as well as Aaron Rodgers’ rank in the list. Wright sympathized with Jaylen Johnson’s disappointment over being snubbed, noting that others in his position group were also left out despite deserving recognition.

He highlighted that even Trent McDuffie, who had an All-Pro season last time, was excluded, while DaRon Bland ranked surprisingly high at 31, despite his struggle to keep up with the receivers. Similarly, Wright firmly believed that Rodgers also should not be on the list, especially ahead of Baker Mayfield, who was not ranked on the list despite his playoff wins.

He gave a comparison to his statement as well, where he showed that Mayfield recorded 10 wins and 9 losses in his last healthy years including the playoffs. Rodgers in his healthy years only made 8-9 records. In passing yards per game, Mayfield had 248.9 YPG, while A-Rod had 217.4. Hence, he argued, “So, Baker was flatly better last year than Rogers was in his last year in Green Bay. That’s undeniable.”

Wright further emphasized that since Baker entered the league, he has had a better playoff record (2-2) in the last six years than Rodgers has had over the past six years (2-3). Hence, Wright argued that “the younger, healthier player on the team, with the better coaching staff and the more dynamic weapons” should be ranked higher than Aaron Rodgers.

So, if many believe that Rodgers shouldn’t be on the list this time, then why is the quarterback listed at 92?

Why is Aaron Rodgers at 92 in the NFL Top 100?

Even with a torn Achilles that limited his debut season with the Jets to just four snaps, Aaron Rodgers’ name on the list came as a shocker for many. However, according to his fans, he remains a titan in NFL history. His four MVPs, ten Pro Bowl selections, and a Super Bowl speak volumes for him. Yet, this year’s Top 100 list has left professionals and experts scratching their heads, many believe this NFL ranking has considered performances from 2000 to 2024.

Hence, Rodgers’ storied career, marked by leading in passing touchdowns (475) and holding a remarkable touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.52), should be enough for a spot in the list. Additionally, a recent column by the Jets tried to justify his inclusion by highlighting past achievements. It read, “The Jets’ quarterback played for the Packers for 18 seasons before being traded to New York in April 2023. Rodgers, a four-time MVP, who was No. 51 in last year’s rankings, has been among the top 10 nine times and top three four times. He was the top-ranked played in the 2012, No. 2 in 2015 and No. 3 in 2020 and 2021.”

Given the timeline of the highlights in the reported debate, players like Jaylon Johnson are bound to feel frustrated. They feel snubbed despite their standout performances. In Johnson’s case, he made it to the Second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl in the 2023 season. But, could not find his name among other corners like Jalen Ramsey (No. 25), DaRon Bland (31), Sauce Gardner (38), and others. What do you think of Aaron Rodgers’ inclusion among the Top 100? Do you agree with Nick Wright’s theory? Let us know in the comments.