In 2022 I revamped my all time NBA/MLB rankings and am adopting similar methodology here. I've developed a Total Value number crafted from (1) career performance (2) per game performance (3) postseason performance.
The basic unit of measurement is pro-football-reference's Approximate Value and Weighted Approximate Value.
Qualifiers.
Approximate Value dates from 1960- so, all player performance from then forward are evaluated here, for players who played both pre and post 1960 I look to approximate pre 60s record. A player didn't need to play most of his career post 1960, but did need a substantial amount of post 1960 work. So, no Otto Graham, yes Night Train Lane. Also, 100 AV is the floor to qualify, there has to be a floor, both for administration of the list and because the per game performance starts to really skew the overall rating at the lower levels (my guess is, for most of the names you think are just ranked too high, the reason is they were short impactful career guys who didn't get the acclaim for being as impactful as they were). So, that means -- no Dick Butkus, no Gronk, no Earl Thomas, no Calvin Johnson (Mahomes will be here after the 2023 season)
Also - quarterbacks...look, they're just super valuable. The 10th best QB every year is honestly probably the 10th most valuable player in the league. Successful starting QB is easily the most valuable performer in all major US sports.
Also, because of the per game component - it's possible for active players to fall down the list, post prime play knocks your per game value down.
One more thing - I may have missed guys; I attempted to look at every player in NFL history with an Approximate Value of 100+ and the guys whose pre 1960 work could be approximated to add to their post 1960 work to reach 100. I've got a list of over 400 computed, but if I missed a few guys that wouldn't shock. Will I update going forward? Hell, I don't know. It took forever.
Through 2022.
Players are listed with the teams they played min 5 seasons. First tiebreaker is AV, second tiebreaker is Weighted AV, there is no third tiebreaker.
250. JOE THEISMANN QB TOTAL VALUE 125
1974-85
Redskins
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champion
249. CLIFF BRANCH WR TOTAL VALUE 125
1972-85
Raiders
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champion
248. MARSHALL YANDA OG TOTAL VALUE 125
2007-19
Ravens
2 Time All Pro
Super Bowl Champion
247. KENNY STABLER QB 125
1970-84
Raiders
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champion
246. RYAN TANNEHILL QB 126
2012-
Dolphins
245. FLETCHER COX DT 126
2012-
Eagles
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champion
244. EDDIE MEADOR CB/S 126
1959-70
Rams
2 Time All Pro
243. FRED BILETNIKOFF WR 126
1965-78
Raiders
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
Super Bowl MVP
242. JOHN BRODIE QB 126
1957-73
49ers
1 Time All Pro
241. JOE JACOBY OT 127
1981-93
Redskins
2 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ
240. NEIL SMITH DE 127
1988-00
Chiefs
1 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
239. KEVIN WILLIAMS DT 127
2003-15
Vikings
5 Time All Pro
238. BOYD DOWLER WR 128
1959-71
Packers
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
5 Time NFL Champ
237. RICHMOND WEBB OT 127
1990-2002
Dolphins
2 Time All Pro
236. SONNY JURGENSEN QB 127
1957-74
Redskins/Eagles
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
235. STEVE WISNIEWSKI OG 127
1989-2001
Raiders
2 Time All Pro
234. BRIAN DAWKINS S 127
1996-2011
Eagles
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
233. JOHN HADL QB 127
1962-77
Chargers
1 Time All Pro
1 Time AFL Champ
232. JOHN STALLWORTH WR 128
1974-87
Steelers
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ
231. GREG LLOYD OLB 128
1988-98
Steelers
3 Time All Pro
230. TONY ROMO QB 128
2004-16
Cowboys
229. HOWIE LONG DE 128
1981-93
Raiders
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
228. RICHARD DENT DE 128
1983-97
Bears
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
227. LANCE BRIGGS OLB 128
2003-14
Bears
1 Time All Pro
226. NDAMUKONG SUH DT 128
2010-
Lions
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
225. CALAIS CAMPBELL DE 128
2008-
Cardinals
1 Time All Pro
224. KEVIN MAWAE C 128
1994-2009
Jets
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
222. (tie) KIRK COUSINS QB 129
2012-
Redskins/Vikings
222. (tie) ANDRE TIPPETT OLB 129
1982-93
Patriots
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
221. RALPH NEELY OT 129
1965-77
Cowboys
3 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
220. DERMONTTI DAWSON C 129
1988-2000
Steelers
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
219. PATRICK PETERSON CB 129
2011-
Cardinals
3 Time All Pro
218. SAM MILLS ILB 129
1986-97
Saints
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
217. BOB BAUMHOWER NT 130
1977-86
Dolphins
1 Time All Pro
216. WILLIE LANIER ILB 130
1967-77
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
215. RANDY GRADISHAR ILB 130
1974-83
Broncos
2 Time All Pro
214. STEVE HUTCHINSON OG 130
2001-12
Vikings/Seahawks
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
213. LEMAR PARRISH CB 130
1970-82
Bengals
1 Time All Pro
212. STEVE LARGENT WR 130
1976-89
Seahawks
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
211. RONDE BARBER CB 130
1997-2012
Bucs
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
210. DAVID BAKHTIARI OT 131
2013-
Packers
2 Time All Pro
209. MIKE MUNCHAK OG 131
1982-93
Oilers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
208. JOHN RIGGINS RB 131
1971-85
Redskins/Jets
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
207. JOE FLACCO QB 131
2008-
Ravens
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
206. CHRIS HANBURGER OLB 131
1965-78
Redskins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
205. JOHN RANDLE DT 131
1990-03
Vikings
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
204. FRANK GIFFORD RB 132
1952-64
Giants
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
203. TRAVIS KELCE TE 132
2013-
Chiefs
4 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
202. JIM PLUNKETT QB 132
1971-86
Raiders/Patriots
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
201. MICHAEL VICK QB 132
2001-15
Falcons/Eagles
200. STEVE GROGAN QB 132
1975-90
Patriots
199. DONNIE SHELL S 132
1974-87
Steelers
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ
198. CORTEZ KENNEDY DT 132
1990-2000
Seahawks
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
197. LARRY WILSON S 132
1960-72
Cardinals
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
195 (tie) CHARLEY TAYLOR WR 132
1964-77
Redskins
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
195 (tie) JONATHAN OGDEN OT 132
1996-2007
Ravens
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
194. HARRY CARSON ILB 132
1976-88
Giants
Hall of Fame
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
193. WALTER JONES OT 132
1997-2008
Seahawks
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
192. JARED ALLEN DE 132
2004-15
Vikings
4 Time All Pro
191. ROMAN GABRIEL QB 132
1962-77
Rams/Eagles
1 Time All Pro
190. AENEAS WILLIAMS CB 132
1991-2004
Cardinals
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
189. JIMMY JOHNSON CB 132
1961-76
49ers
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
188. DAVE ROBINSON OLB 133
1963-74
Packers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time NFL Champ
187. JASON KELCE C 133
2011-
Eagles
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
186. SAM HUFF ILB 133
1956-69
Giants/Redskins
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
185. DICK SCHAFRATH OT 133
1959-71
Browns
3 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
184. TORRY HOLT WR 133
1999-2009
Rams
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
183. HALOTI NGATA DT 133
2006-18
Ravens
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
182. CORNELL GREEN CB/S 133
1962-74
Cowboys
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
181. DREW BLEDSOE QB 133
1993-2006
Patriots
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
180. MICK TINGELHOFF C 133
1962-78
Vikings
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
179. LEROY KELLY RB 134
1964-73
Browns
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
178. WILBER MARSHALL OLB 134
1984-95
Redskins
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
177. DON MAYNARD WR 134
1958-73
Jets
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
176. LC GREENWOOD DE 135
1969-81
Steelers
2 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ
175. RON YARY OT 135
1968-82
Vikings
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ
174. CHRIS DOLEMAN DE 135
1985-99
Vikings
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
173. JIM LANGER C 136
1970-81
Dolphins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
172. MATT LIGHT OT 136
2001-11
Patriots
1 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ
171. BUCK BUCHANAN DT 136
1963-75
Chiefs
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
2 Time AFL Champ
170. STEVE MCNAIR QB 136
1995-2007
Titans
169. ADRIAN PETERSON RB 136
2007-21
Vikings
4 Time All Pro
168. LARRY ALLEN OG 136
1994-2007
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
167. DEACON JONES DE 136
1961-74
Rams
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
166. WILL SHIELDS OG 136
1993-2006
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
165. JEFF GARCIA QB 137
1999-2009
49ers
164. JERRY MAYS DE 137
1961-70
Chiefs
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time AFL Champ
163. ERIC DICKERSON RB 137
1983-93
Colts/Rams
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
162. CHUCK HOWLEY OLB 137
1958-73
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
161. LARRY GRANTHAM OLB 137
1960-72
Jets
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
160. LEO NOMELLINI DT 137
1950-63
49ers
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
159. ROD SMITH WR 137
1995-2016
Broncos
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
158. TOM NALEN C 137
1994-2007
Broncos
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
157. BOOMER ESIASON QB 137
1984-97
Bengals
1 Time All Pro
156. MARCUS ALLEN RB 137
1982-97
Raiders/Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
155. RICKEY JACKSON OLB 137
1981-95
Saints
Hall of Fame
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
154. PHIL SIMMS QB 138
1979-93
Giants
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
153. CURTIS MARTIN RB 138
1995-2005
Jets
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
152. CARSON PALMER QB 138
2004-17
Bengals/Cardinals
151. TERRELL SUGGS OLB 138
2003-19
Ravens
1 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
150. BOB BROWN OT 139
1964-73
Eagles
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
149. RICHARD SEYMOUR DE 139
2001-12
Patriots
3 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ
148. RICH GANNON QB 139
1987-2004
Vikings/Raiders
2 Time All Pro
147. DEMARCUS WARE OLB 139
2005-16
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
146. DERRICK THOMAS OLB 139
1989-99
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
145. JASON TAYLOR DE 139
1997-2011
Dolphins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
144. KHALIL MACK OLB 140
2014-
3 Time All Pro
143. ROGER CRAIG RB 140
1983-93
49ers
1 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ
142. TIKI BARBER RB 140
1997-2006
Giants
1 Time All Pro
141. LOGAN MANKINS OG 140
2005-15
Patriots
1 Time All Pro
140. ISIAH ROBERTSON OLB 140
1971-82
Rams
2 Time All Pro
139. REGGIE WAYNE WR 140
2001-14
Colts
1 Time All Pro
138. ANTONIO BROWN WR 141
2010-21
Steelers
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
137. JULIO JONES WR 141
2011-22
Falcons
2 Time All Pro
136. ORLANDO PACE OT 141
1997-2009
Rams
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
135. GARY ZIMMERMAN OT 141
1986-97
Vikings/Broncos
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
134. ALAN FANECA OG 141
1998-2010
Steelers
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
133. RON MIX OT 142
1960-71
Chargers
Hall of Fame
9 Time All Pro
1 Time AFL Champ
132. MEL BLOUNT CB 142
1970-83
Steelers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ
131. CHARLES WOODSON CB 142
1998-2015
Raiders/Packers
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
130. TROY POLAMALU S 143
2003-14
Steelers
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
129. RAY NITSCHKE ILB 143
1958-72
Packers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
5 Time NFL Champ
128. MEL RENFRO CB/S 143
1964-77
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
127. THURMAN THOMAS RB 143
1988-2000
Bills
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
126. LOMAS BROWN OT 143
1985-2002
Lions
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
125. CHAMP BAILEY CB 143
1999-2013
Broncos/Redskins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
124. RICHARD SHERMAN CB 144
2011-21
Seahawks
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
123. JOHNNY ROBINSON S 144
1960-71
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time AFL Champ
122. DAN HAMPTON DT/DE 144
1979-90
Bears
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
121. JIM KELLY QB 144
1986-96
Bills
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
120. DONOVAN MCNABB QB 144
1999-2011
Eagles
119. LEN DAWSON QB 144
1957-75
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time AFL Champ
Super Bowl MVP
118. JACK YOUNGBLOOD DE 144
1971-84
Rams
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
117. JIM TAYLOR RB 145
1958-67
Packers
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
4 Time NFL Champ
116. LYDELL MITCHELL RB 145
1972-80
Colts
115. TROY AIKMAN QB 145
1989-2000
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
3 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP
114. WILLIE ROAF OT 145
1993-2005
Saints
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
113. PAUL KRAUSE S 145
1964-79
Vikings
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
112. YALE LARY S/P 146
1952-64
Lions
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
3 Time NFL Champ
111. ZACK MARTIN OG 146
2014-
Cowboys
6 Time All Pro
110. ANDY ROBUSTELLI DE 146
1951-64
Giants/Rams
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
2 Time NFL Champ
109. TONY DORSETT RB 146
1977-88
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
108. WARREN MOON QB 146
1984-2000
Oilers
Hall of Fame
107. JULIUS PEPPERS DE 146
2002-18
Panthers
3 Time All Pro
106. MIKE HAYNES CB 147
1976-89
Patriots/Raiders
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
105. WILLIE BROWN CB 147
1963-78
Raiders
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
104. GENE UPSHAW OG 147
1967-81
Raiders
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
103. JEFF SATURDAY C 147
1999-2012
Colts
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
102. TRENT GREEN QB 148
1997-2008
Chiefs
101. JOE NAMATH QB 148
1955-67
Jets
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
Super Bowl MVP
