Jul 27, 2022; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks down to the field during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN ranks Patrick Mahomes as No. 1 player for 2022; Tom Brady ranked 20th

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 8/29/22

In NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2022 list, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was ranked No. 1. Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes didn't even crack the top five, coming in at No. 8 on the list.

ESPN released their top 100 players list for the upcoming campaign on Monday morning and their order was quite different. The list was compiled by "an ESPN panel of more than 50 NFL experts" to "rate players based on how good they will be in the 2022 season compared with their peers."

Mahomes tops the ESPN rankings for the third year in a row.

"Mahomes is a great playmaker in part because of his ability to complete unconventional throws. He has completed passes without looking at his intended receiver, throwing left-handed and in numerous other unorthodox ways. No other quarterback has produced like him through 63 career starts, and he is primed for another big season," ESPN NFL Nation Chiefs reporter Adam Teicher wrote. "And Mahomes will be energized by a number of factors in 2022: the significant moves made by all AFC West rivals, having a mostly new group of wide receivers, a career-low QBR (62.2) last year and his miserable second half in last season's AFC Championship Game against the Bengals."

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen were placed second, third, fourth and fifth respectively on the ESPN rankings.

Donald, Rodgers and Kupp earned those same rankings on the NFL Network list, though Allen was down at No. 13.

One of the biggest, most notable differences between the two rankings however, was Brady being No. 1 for NFL Network and all the way down at 20th for the ESPN list. Brady was ranked 20th in 2021 as well and ended up finishing second in the MVP voting.

"Brady led the NFL in just about every major statistical category last year, including passing yards, completions and touchdowns passes," Jenna Laine wrote. "He has shown no signs of decline after a 40-day retirement stint, and while he won't have future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski to throw to this year, the Buccaneers did add receiver Julio Jones."

More must-reads: