All three of the New York NFL teams were relatively successful last season. Not only did the NY Giants and Bills both make the playoffs, but the Jets were in the hunt and had their best season in years. The rivalry these three teams have is always fun to witness year in and year out.
To add fuel to this fire, we're going to rank the 10 best players between the three teams heading into the 2023 season. These guys are not only the best for NY, but are also some of the best players in the entire NFL:
Honorable Mentions: Tre'Davious White, Garrett Wilson, C.J. Mosley, and Jordan Poyer
Whether it be due to injuries, a down season, or something else, these four guys unfortunately didn't make the cut. Don't get us wrong though, they are all incredibly talented in their own rights. Almost any other year, they likely would have made it.
However, in the case of Tre'Davious White and Jordan Poyer, they dealt with injuries throughout the year. They will all be big difference-makers for their respective teams. However, it's difficult to put them over so many talented players with the way their 2022 season went. Now, onto the Top 10...
10. Jets QB Aaron Rodgers
While he may have had a bit of a down season compared to what we're used to from him, Aaron Rodgers is still easily deserving of being named a top 10 player in New York. In his first NFL season outside of Green Bay, it will be interesting to see how Rodgers adjusts to the new environment in East Rutherford.
Last season, Rodgers completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. This is not necessarily a bad season, however, for the standard Rodgers has, it's reasonably below average. This also are not the kind of stats that people in Green Bay were hoping to see out of him.
We're excited to see what Rodgers can do with this Jets team in 2023. Pairing him with two up-and-coming stars in Wilson and Breece Hall will make for a deadly trio that will give opposing defenses nightmares on a weekly basis. Rodgers has high expectations with the Jets, especially with Gang Green featuring such a strong defense.
9. Bills LB Von Miller
If Von Miller had not missed the final five games of the 2022 season, alongside the playoffs, he would likely be much higher on the list. However, the unfortunate injury he suffered in Week 12 makes it difficult for us to put him past nine right now.
In the 11 games we saw out of Miller last season, he was electric. Not only did he rack up 45 pressures and eight sacks, but he also racked up 21 total tackles and a forced fumble as well. It's become clear that the Bills are using Miller as a pure pass-rusher and nothing else, however, he is still incredibly effective off the edge despite his age and injury history.
He may not be at a DPOY level like in previous seasons, but there are no doubts that Miller is still an elite pass-rusher that any team would love to have. If the injury he sustained last season does not effect him too much, there's no reason to say he won't still be a defensive game-changer in 2023. A healthy Miller will prove to be a big problem for the rest of the AFC East.
8. NY Giants RB Saquon Barkley
Had Saquon Barkley not slowed down as the season progressed last season, he would easily be much higher on this list. However, there was a very noticeable drop off as the season went on and we simply cannot ignore that.
Despite this drop off, Barkley still finished the season with 295 carries for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Alongside this, Barkley caught 57 passes for 338 yards and zero touchdowns. This all led to Pro Bowl honors for the second time in his career.
Entering 2023 with a new-and-improved Giants offense and a chip on his shoulder, Barkley should have an incredibly dominant season. Not only did the team's offensive line make some improvements, but the additions to the receiving core will make it much more difficult for teams to stack the box against Barkley in the run.
Before Week 1 arrives, though, Joe Schoen must figure things out with his contract. Barkley is currently away from the team, but fans are hoping an extension can get agreed to soon.
7. Bills LB Matt Milano
For years now, Matt Milano has been one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL. However, last season he finally got the recognition he deserved, making his first Pro Bowl in addition to earning a spot as a First Team All-Pro member. With the loss of Tremaine Edmunds, it's likely that Milano's importance to the Bills' defense will only be made more clear.
Last season, Milano racked up 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and two sacks. Alongside this, Milano was also one of the league's best linebackers in coverage. In 569 coverage snaps, Milano allowed 51 receptions on 70 targets for 431 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions. Those are some pretty impressive numbers.
This sort of versatility is something that has become more and more important at the linebacker position in the modern NFL. Milano is a stud, versatile linebacker and will continue to dominate opposing offenses for years to come. It could prove to be another big year in '23 for Milano with Buffalo.
6. Jets CB Sauce Gardner
It's not very often that we see a defensive rookie come in and be one of the best players in the NFL in just their first season. However, Sauce Gardner proved in his rookie campaign why he was worth taking fourth overall in the draft. Straight up, he had a first year to remember in East Rutherford.
Not only was Gardner a great player, but he is already arguably the best corner in the NFL. In his rookie season, Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year, made a Pro Bowl, and was also a First Team All-Pro. Through 17 games, Gardner racked up 73 combined tackles while allowing just 34 receptions on 74 targets for 361 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and 14 pass breakups.
This sort of production out of any corner is hard to find, let alone a rookie. As his career goes on, Gardner could very easily find himself as the best player in New York. For now, he comes in at six behind some truly incredible players. The future is quite bright for the youngster and a monster sophomore season should be on the way for him.
5. NY Giants OT Andrew Thomas
Coming off the heels of a much-improved sophomore season, Giants fans were expecting to see another jump out of Andrew Thomas. While he certainly made a jump, I'm not sure many expected him to be THIS good. Not only was Thomas great for the Giants, but he was arguably the best tackle in all of football at just 24 years old.
In 619 pass-blocking snaps, Thomas allowed just 21 pressures and three sacks. While the league and its voters somehow didn't recognize how great of a season he had, true NFL fans know he was deserving of a Pro Bowl selection. Thomas did make a Second-Team All-Pro, which is understandable considering that Trent Williams was on the first team, but there are zero excuses for his denial of a Pro Bowl.
Thomas is only going to get better and better as his career goes on. Considering how devout of talent the Giants offensive line was just three years ago, we sure are glad that Dave Gettleman got the pick right when he took Thomas fourth overall not too long ago. Thomas is going to be a beast for the Giants and Brian Daboll this fall and winter.
4. Bills WR Stefon Diggs
Keep in mind, that the top four are all incredibly close and can easily be interchanged with one another. Stefon Diggs is still arguably a top-three WR in the NFL and it showed this past season as he made his third Pro Bowl alongside a Second Team All-Pro selection.
In 16 games, Diggs caught 108 passes for 1,429 yards and 11 touchdowns. Considering the lack of consistent WR talent on the Bills aside from Diggs, it's impressive to see him dominate. Teams consistently send extra defenders at him and it simply doesn't matter. He always finds a way to make big plays for the Buffalo offense.
Maybe he'll prove us wrong this season and show that he should be even higher than number four. However, the sour way in which he went out in the postseason makes it harder for us to put him much higher as of now. However, that doesn't mean we don't think Diggs is doing to be downright impressive for the Bills in '23.
3. Jets DL Quinnen Williams
Jets fans likely won't be happy about this one, but they should be thankful that Quinnen Williams made the jump he did in 2022 considering how solid he was in previous seasons. Last season, Williams didn't make our top 10, now, he is by far and away a top three player in NY, alongside being a top three player at his position.
Last season, Williams racked up 46 combined tackles, 13 sacks, 52 pressures, and two forced fumbles. Alongside this, Williams also made his first Pro Bowl, alongside a First Team All-Pro selection. The jump he made this season was truly special and if Williams and the Jets can come together on an extension, he will continue to dominate in East Rutherford for a long time.
At just 25 years old, Williams is already arguably the best player at his position. With players like him, and someone who will be mentioned soon, the nose tackle position is arguably the best it has ever been in terms of pure talent. Williams should be getting his massive extension soon too. He deserves to be paid like one of the best DTs in the game.
2. NY Giants DL Dexter Lawrence
The argument about whether Williams or Dexter Lawrence is the better nose tackle will be a crazy debate for years. However, for now, we have to put Lawrence above. Lawrence may not have a First Team All-Pro selection like Williams, but we have plenty of reasons to justify why Lawrence may just be better.
In 16 games last season, Lawrence racked up 61 tackles, nine sacks, 63 pressures, and two forced fumbles. The accolades Williams has may be nice, but it's worth mentioning that Lawrence had more tackles, QB hurries, QB hits, and total pressures while also playing alongside a much worse defensive line.
These two go hand in hand with the new era of versatile nose tackles. The way in which the position has been revived over the last couple of seasons has been great for the sport. NFL fans have some pretty incredible defensive line talent to watch for the next decade or more. With Lawrence, he's also entering the 2023 season with a new four-year, $90 million contract to his name.
1. Bills QB Josh Allen
Josh Allen may have had a somewhat disappointing season for his standards. However, the positional value makes it difficult to not have him as the best player in New York football. Despite this "down season," Allen was still a top five player at his position and came third in MVP voting, so it's hard to really call it that.
Last season, Allen completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 4,283 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Alongside this, Allen ran the ball 124 times for 762 yards and seven touchdowns. The way he dominates on the ground and through the air makes for some of the most entertaining football to watch.
The talent between the Jets, Bills, and Giants is arguably the best the three teams have seen at one moment in time. Fans of these teams have incredibly fun teams to watch for years to come and the debates between these fans will be crazy to watch unfold.