5 Bengals who should have been considered for the NFL’s Top 100 players list

The NFL Top 100 Players of 2018 is complete, and it only features two Bengals.

That’s expected for a team that’s endured back-to-back losing seasons, but that doesn’t mean the Bengals don’t have players worthy of such an honor.

It’s no secret this show is more of a popularity contest. After all, it’s voted by the players, and the Bengals aren’t exactly a popular group of guys.

Everyone knows and respects A.J. Green and Geno Atkins, hands down two of the league’s best at their respective positions. They could have been playing for the Browns while they went 1-31 over the last two seasons and still made this ranking.

However, some other Bengals absolutely deserved to be in the 2018 list, and they’ll hopefully make it in 2019.

William Jackson

The most obvious is William Jackson, who quietly was one of the league’s best cornerbacks in 2017. By now, you know all about how strong his play was in 2017, so much that Pro Football Focus already ranks him as a better player than Green.

There’s no doubt Jackson should have been on the top 100 this year. If he plays in 2018 like he did last year, it’s really hard to see him not making the list next year.

Carlos Dunlap

After Jackson, there’s not a lot of obvious candidates for the list. Carlos Dunlap has had some great seasons, but he was limited to just 7.5 sacks and seven pass deflections last year, a step down from his eight sacks and 15 pass deflections in 2016. He did finish 23rd in Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the top edge defenders.

Clint Boling

Clint Boling has become one of the best left guards in football, but he also played with one of the worst offensive lines in football last year, so him not getting any respect in this ranking makes sense. He finished 24th among all offensive guards in PFF’s ranking for 2017.

Carl Lawson

Carl Lawson had a great rookie season, but it wasn’t quite enough to warrant being on this list just yet. He was a role player for most of the season that just happened to be very good in said role, but the top 100 list is mainly reserved for full-time players. He still has a shot at making it in 2019 with a big sophomore season.

Tyler Eifert

Tyler Eifert is a top 100 player when healthy, something he’s become unable to do in recent years. Since he hardly played last season, he obviously wasn’t going to be considered this season.

What Bengals not named Green or Atkins do you think should have made the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018?