Myles Garrett has reached the top of the NFL once again, but this time he has gone all the way to No. 1.
The Los Angeles Rams defensive superstar has been voted the No. 1 player on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026, earning the highest ranking of his career. The annual list is voted on by NFL players, making Garrett’s selection particularly significant because his peers across the league have recognized him as the best player entering the 2026 season.
Garrett‘s rise to the top comes after one of the most dominant seasons of his career. In 2025, while playing for the Cleveland Browns, the defensive end recorded 23 sacks, breaking the NFL’s single-season sack record. He also led the league with 33 tackles for loss and won his second Defensive Player of the Year award.
Myles Garrett No. 1 NFL Top 100 Players 2026
The No. 1 ranking represents a major jump for Garrett.
He was ranked No. 8 on the 2025 NFL Top 100 Players list. One year later, he has climbed seven positions to become the league’s top-ranked player.
That jump reflects just how impressive his 2025 campaign was. Garrett wasn’t simply producing sacks; he was consistently creating problems for opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks.
His 23 sacks surpassed the previous single-season mark of 22.5 sacks, previously shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
For a defensive player to finish ahead of elite quarterbacks and offensive superstars makes the achievement even more impressive.
Why Did Garrett Become No. 1?
There are several reasons Garrett deserves the top position.
First, his ability to affect a game goes beyond the traditional sack statistic. A dominant edge rusher can force quarterbacks to make quicker decisions, disrupt passing plays and create opportunities for teammates.
Garrett’s 2025 season demonstrated that type of defensive influence.
He finished the season with a league-record 23 sacks and 33 tackles for loss. His performance also helped him earn another Defensive Player of the Year award and his fifth First-Team All-Pro selection.
His consistency has also played a major role.
Garrett has been one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers throughout his career, and the 2025 season showed that he could still reach another level.
Josh Allen Finishes No. 2
Garrett narrowly beat some of the biggest stars in football for the top position.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished No. 2, while Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was No. 3 and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was No. 4.
Allen’s second-place finish shows just how competitive the top of the rankings was.
Quarterbacks traditionally receive significant recognition because of the importance of their position. However, Garrett’s record-breaking defensive production was enough for NFL players to put him ahead of one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks.
Garrett’s Move to the Los Angeles Rams
Garrett will enter the 2026 season in a completely different environment.
The Rams acquired him from Cleveland during the offseason in a blockbuster trade. The move immediately made Los Angeles one of the most interesting teams heading into the new season.
The Rams already had major offensive stars, including Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua. Stafford ranked No. 4 on the Top 100, while Nacua came in at No. 7.
Adding Garrett gives Los Angeles another elite player who can potentially change games on his own.
The combination of Garrett’s pass rush ability and the Rams’ offensive talent could make the team one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 NFL season.
A Historic Achievement for Garrett
Garrett’s No. 1 ranking is also important from a historical perspective.
According to reporting on the 2026 rankings, he becomes only the third defensive player to finish No. 1 since the NFL Top 100 list began in 2011. J.J. Watt previously achieved the feat in 2015, while Aaron Donald did it in 2019.
That puts Garrett in an extremely exclusive group of defensive players.
The achievement is even more impressive because offensive players, particularly quarterbacks, often dominate conversations about the league’s best overall player.
Garrett’s selection shows that his defensive impact was considered strong enough to overcome that positional advantage.
Garrett Has Become an Elite NFL Superstar
The No. 1 ranking is not based on one great season alone.
Garrett has spent years establishing himself as one of the NFL’s most dangerous defensive players. His combination of size, athleticism, speed and power makes him extremely difficult for offensive linemen to handle.
His 2025 season simply took his career to another level.
The Browns originally selected Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, he has developed into one of the most feared pass rushers in football.
Now, after reaching the top of the NFL Top 100, Garrett has another opportunity to prove that he belongs among the greatest defensive players in league history.
What Can Garrett Do in 2026?
The biggest question now is whether Garrett can follow his record-breaking 2025 campaign with another elite season.
Repeating 23 sacks would be extremely difficult. However, Garrett doesn’t necessarily need to match that number to remain one of the NFL’s most impactful defenders.
His presence alone can change how offenses prepare.
Teams will have to identify where Garrett is lined up, consider double teams and potentially adjust their blocking schemes. That attention could create opportunities for other Rams defenders as well.
The pressure will be high, but Garrett has already demonstrated that he can perform at an extraordinary level.
Rams Have Three Players in the Top 10
One of the most interesting parts of the 2026 NFL Top 100 is the Rams’ presence near the top.
Los Angeles has three players in the Top 10: Myles Garrett at No. 1, Matthew Stafford at No. 4 and Puka Nacua at No. 7.
That gives the Rams elite representation on both sides of the football.
Stafford is coming off an MVP season, while Nacua produced a massive 2025 campaign with 129 receptions and 1,715 receiving yards.
Garrett now gives the team a defensive superstar at the very top of the rankings.
Final Thoughts
Myles Garrett No. 1 on NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 is a fitting reward for a player who produced one of the most dominant defensive seasons in recent NFL history.
His record-breaking 23 sacks, second Defensive Player of the Year award and continued dominance helped him beat Josh Allen and the league’s other elite stars.
Now the challenge begins.
Garrett enters the 2026 season with a new team, new expectations and the distinction of being voted the NFL’s No. 1 player by his peers.
If he can continue dominating with the Los Angeles Rams, his place among the greatest defensive players of his generation could become even harder to debate.
